I couldn't deny that I shared some of the blame for the mess between David and me.

I shouldn't have coveted something that wasn't mine to begin with.

David's father, Ryan Federer, was a college buddy of my father, Vincent. After graduation, Ryan started his own business and made quite a name for himself, while Vincent took a government job.

Things took a dark turn when Ryan's company was targeted for a hostile takeover.

In an attempt to retaliate, someone hired a hitman, and Vincent was stabbed multiple times while trying to save Ryan.

He didn't survive, leaving behind a young me and my mother, Fiona.

Ryan felt guilty for what happened and took it upon himself to look after us. But as I grew up, my introverted nature made me a target for bullying at school. So, Ryan decided to enroll me in the same school as David, hoping he would keep an eye on me. David was a year older, handsome, wealthy, and a top student—he was the king of the school.

With his support, life got a lot easier for me.

When I tripped during gym class, he rushed to carry me to the nurse's office and personally applied ointment to my scrapes. Whenever I struggled with math, he patiently went over problems with me after school, never losing his cool.

But there were plenty of girls at school who had a crush on David. They noticed how he always defended me and how close we were. One day, they cornered me in an alley, and just as they were tearing at my clothes, David showed up. He sprinted toward me, took off his jacket, and draped it over my shoulders like a shield.

I'd never forget that moment. He stood behind me, gentle yet firm, and said, "Don't be scared. I'm here. I won't let anyone hurt you."

That day, the guy who never laid a hand on a girl broke his own rule for me.

There was something intoxicating about being chosen and protected like that.

That was when I realized I had feelings for him.

But the very person I thought would protect me ended up hurting me the most.

Once we reached college, our paths crossed less frequently. As graduation neared, Ryan somehow learned about my feelings for David and pressured him to marry me.

But to my shock, David resisted fiercely.

That was when I discovered the truth: his kindness toward me stemmed from his obligation to Vincent.

He told me he could take care of me because of the debt his family owed, but he refused to sacrifice his own life or the right to choose who he loved because of it.

From that day on, the David I once saw as my guardian turned cold, never giving me a kind look again.

Even though I liked him, I never wanted to force him into anything, but Ryan was relentless, insisting it was their family's obligation to me.

I didn't know what Ryan had said to David, but eventually, he had agreed to marry me.

There was no romance, no wedding.

On the day we got our marriage license, he leaned in close and mocked, "Congratulations, Mrs. Federer! You finally got what you wanted! But remember, you'll never have my heart." And he meant it.

Then Freya came into the picture.

David brought her on board as his assistant, and I soon learned she suffered from severe menstrual cramps, sometimes even landing in the hospital. Whenever those days rolled around, David would vanish without a trace, even from Ryan.

It was like clockwork; whenever Freya had her period, David would act like it was the end of the world, rushing around to get her medicine and feminine products, even rubbing her stomach to ease her pain. He was always hovering over her, forbidding her from drinking alcohol or anything cold.

I never imagined his obsession with Freya would end up costing my mother her life.

Vincent died trying to save Ryan, and now Fiona had paid the price too. Maybe my family was just cursed when it came to them.

If I could turn back time, I'd choose to never have met Ryan or David at all.

After moving out of David's place, I found myself back in the old, run-down apartment where I grew up with my parents.

Back then, we were a happy trio, but now, I was all alone.

A few days later, as I was getting ready to head out for a prenatal checkup, I swung open the door and came face to face with David, his eyes blazing with anger.

He shoved me aside, and I stumbled, falling to the ground. I instinctively cradled my belly, the pain making my face go pale.

Freya followed him in, casting me a look that was part amusement, part disdain.

Once inside, David searched the apartment, then turned to me, his voice booming. "Where's your mother? Tell her to come out and face me!"

I glared at him, my anger boiling over. "This is my home, not your playground. Get out with Freya right now, or I'd call the cops."

David sneered, "Your mother did something utterly insane. If it weren't for Freya being so kind, she'd be the one getting arrested today."

I shot back, "My mom hasn't done anything wrong. Why should she apologize?"

Freya stepped forward, tears brimming in her eyes. "Ada, I know you're jealous of how David treats me, but you can't just order your mom to sneak in and switch my medication. Don't you realize that kind of thing can kill someone?"

I stared at them, bewildered. "What medication are you talking about? I have no idea what you're accusing my mom of."

David's glare was sharp enough to cut. "You're still trying to play innocent? A couple of days ago, your mother snuck into Freya's room while she was out and swapped her medication for treating her anemia. The security footage caught it all. Last night, Freya collapsed and ended up in the hospital—all thanks to your mom."

With that, David tossed his phone at me, the video playing out in front of my eyes.

A woman in Fiona's clothes, her face and hair obscured by a scarf, walked steadily into Freya's room. The camera only caught her at the door, but when she emerged, she was holding a bottle of Freya's medication.

I burst out laughing, disbelief washing over me.

"That was not my mom! She can barely walk—there's no way she could move that quickly. Besides, my mom died a week ago! Unless she's risen from the dead, that woman isn't her!"

Freya was still trying to pin the blame on my mother. "Ada, I know your mom did this to get back at me for how things are between us. I don't blame her, but please, can you just make her return my medication? Without it, I could seriously be in trouble."

My response was to get up and slap her across the face. "Shut up! How dare you even mention my mom? Your period ended ages ago; stop pretending like you're still suffering. And I told you, that person in the video isn't her!"

As soon as I finished speaking, David suddenly launched a kick that sent me sprawling to the floor. The impact jolted my belly against the cold ground, and a wave of cold sweat washed over me.

I curled up, clutching my stomach, rolling on the icy floor, my face drained of color.

In his rage, David didn't notice anything amiss; his foot pressed down hard on my abdomen.

"Ada, you've lost your mind. Just a couple of days ago, your mom sneaked in and switched Freya's medication, and now you're telling me she's dead? If you're going to lie, at least make it a believable one."

Freya chimed in, her expression disapproving as she looked at me. "Ada, even if my period is over, the doctor said that medication helps ease the pain during that time. And even if you don't want your mom to hand it over, you shouldn't be cursing her like this."

Cursing? If only it were that simple—it would at least prove she was still alive.

I forced a pale smile, though it felt more like a grimace. "I told you, my mom is dead. She didn't steal the medication. If you don't believe me, go ahead and ask her yourself—if you can find her down there."

"You're asking for it!"

My words sent David into a fury.

He kicked me several more times, each blow aimed precisely at my belly.

I was only two months pregnant, and the jabs were enough to send a hot rush flooding out from beneath me.

I had once yearned for a child, hoping it would bridge the gap between us.

But now, I hadn't found the right moment to tell him.

After Fiona's death, I had decided to divorce David, still weighing whether to keep the baby.

But now, it didn't matter—his father had already made that decision for him!

David, oblivious to the chaos he was causing, yanked my hair, forcing me to look up at him. "Ada, stop being so stubborn. I'm asking you one last time—where did your mom hide the medication?"

I endured the pain surging through my body and shook my head.

With a cold laugh, he tossed me aside like yesterday's trash. "If you won't talk, then don't bother."

He stood over me, looking down with disdain, and then dialed his assistant. "Call the cops! I want Ada's mother found, no matter what."

On the other end, his assistant hesitated before responding, "Mr. Federer, I just found out that Mrs. Federer's mother passed away in a car accident a week ago. Mr. Ryan Federer is already on his way back."

"What are you talking about?" David snapped. "Just a couple of days ago, she was at my house. There's no way she just died out of the blue. What kind of favors has Ada been giving you to make you defend her like this?"

His assistant hurried to clarify, "Mr. Federer, this is absolutely true. I have obtained Mrs. Federer's mother's medical records from the doctor, and I'd send them over now.

"And… Mrs. Federer is two months pregnant!"