I turned mechanically like a puppet whose soul had been drained and left that suffocating place.

All I wanted was to escape.

To escape this dazzling banquet, to escape the world that belonged to Killian and Elena.

I hid in the VIP lounge at the end of the second floor, wanting to calm my trembling hands and retrieve my coat.

Before the door could close, a slender hand blocked it.

It was Elena.

Her hospital gown looked jarring against Killian's black suit jacket, but the pitiful expression on her face was gone.

Replacing it was a chilling smugness.

"Sis Halen, leaving so soon?"

She locked the door and approached me step by step.

"Killian is still socializing downstairs, aren't you going to wait for him?"

I looked at her coldly.

"Move. I don't want to talk to you."

"Don't be so fierce."

Elena chuckled lightly, her fingers stroking the suit jacket that carried the scent of Killian's cologne.

"I just came to inform you. The birthday trip Killian promised you... the trip to Iceland to see the aurora tomorrow night, is mine now."

I looked up sharply.

"What did you say?"

"I said, I'm going to Iceland."

Elena leaned close to my ear, her voice lowered to a whisper, like a hissing venomous snake.

"I said I wanted to see the aurora, that it was my dying wish. Killian agreed without a second thought."

"As for you? You saw it too, just now on the terrace, he couldn't even bear to push me away."

"Halen, admit it. On his scale, a single tear of mine weighs much more than your dignity."

She didn't look like a seriously ill patient at all, even aggressively approaching me.

I raised my hand, wanting to push away her encroaching body.

Just as my fingertips touched the corner of her clothes.

Elena's expression suddenly changed.

She abruptly grabbed the glass of red wine on the table, splashed it fiercely on her own face, and then fell backward screaming.

"Ah—!"

Accompanied by the crisp sound of the glass shattering, she fell heavily onto the carpet, her palm pressing on the broken glass, blood gushing out instantly.

"What's going on?!"

The door to the lounge was slammed open.

Killian rushed in.

"Killian... save me..."

Elena cried, trembling all over like a frightened little deer.

"I just... just wanted to explain to Halen what happened just now... wanted to beg for her forgiveness..."

"I didn't know mentioning the Iceland trip would make her so angry... I won't go... I won't go... you won't blame me, right..."

Killian's pupils contracted sharply.

He strode over me, knelt on one knee, and carefully cupped Elena's bleeding hand.

Then Killian slowly stood up and turned to look at me.

Those peach blossom eyes that were usually full of affection were now frosted over.

"Halen."

His voice was deep, carrying a unique oppressive feeling and disappointment of a superior.

"I always thought you were a sensible, well-bred woman."

"Killian, she splashed the wine herself, she fell herself! She's acting!"

I eagerly tried to explain, tried to grab his arm.

But Killian took a half step back, avoiding my touch.

That evasive movement hurt more than any verbal abuse.

"Acting?"

Killian sneered, pointing at the bloodstains on the floor.

"To act, she hurts herself all over? She is a late-stage brain cancer patient, she can't even stand steadily!"

"And you? Halen, you are a healthy, strong person."

"For two flight tickets, for a so-called 'birthday', you could lay such a cruel hand on a dying person?"

He shook his head, that expression as if judging a hopeless criminal.

"Your jealousy disappoints me too much."

"I didn't..."

"Enough."

Killian interrupted me, his tone returning to that cold gentlemanly demeanor.

"Since you care so much about that aurora trip, then fine."

"As punishment for your vicious behavior, this trip is cancelled."

"I will take Elena to Iceland to recuperate and complete her wish list."

"Killian! That was the birthday gift you promised me!"

I shouted in despair.

"Birthdays can be celebrated every year, but Elena doesn't have much time left."

There was even immense heartache in Killian's tone.

"This is the apology you owe her."

After saying that, he bent down and picked up Elena from the floor, his movements gentle as if holding a rare treasure.

Elena nestled in his arms, looking at me over his shoulder.

Tears hung on her face, but the corner of her mouth raised in a victor's smile.

Silently mouthing two words to me:

"Deserved it."

Killian carried her to the door, paused in his steps, but didn't look back.

"Halen, take a taxi back yourself."

"Don't appear in front of me for a while."

The door closed.

The world went quiet.

I stood in the empty lounge, looking at the glaring bloodstain on the carpet.

The child in my belly seemed to sense my sadness and kicked me hard.

It hurt.

But not even a ten-thousandth of the pain in my heart.

That night, I didn't know how I got home.

I only knew that when the bell struck midnight and my twenty-fourth birthday arrived.

My phone screen lit up.

It was a special follow notification from Instagram.

Killian posted a photo.

Under the sky full of green aurora, he held the heavily wrapped Elena, his back view heartbreakingly affectionate.

The caption was brief:

"Accompanying you to complete your final wish list. Next stop, Blue Lagoon."

I looked at those words and suddenly laughed out loud.

Laughing and laughing, tears smashed onto the cold floor.

One week later, I went alone to the best private obstetrics and gynecology hospital on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

I originally wanted to do the first official prenatal checkup, wanted to listen to the heartbeat of that little life.

But the receptionist nurse held my insurance card, looking troubled.

"Mrs. Smith, I'm sorry... your medical insurance supplementary card has been frozen."

I froze in place: "Frozen? That's impossible, this is the unlimited black card under Killian's main account."

"It was an order signed personally by Mr. Smith this morning."

The nurse turned the computer screen towards me, a hint of sympathy in her tone.

"The system note shows that the credit limit of the main account was urgently called upon to pay a hefty bill from a Swiss laboratory... it seems to be a new type of targeted drug for brain tumors."

"Because the drug is expensive and not covered by medical insurance, Mr. Smith suspended all other non-emergency medical expenses under the family account."

I felt cold all over, my fingers clutching the edge of the counter tightly, my knuckles turning white.

He was willing to deny resources to his own flesh and blood to treat his benefactor.

At that moment, grief greater than death seized my heart.

"Help me schedule an abortion for next week."

I said calmly to the nurse, my voice devoid of any emotion.

---

Walking out of the hospital, I went back to the family manor.

I wanted to retrieve the jade jewelry set my mother left me for emergency use, after all, I was penniless now.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I entered the door, my father handed me an envelope.

Inside was a one-way ticket to Paris.

"Halen, your stepmother and I have discussed it."

Father sat on the high velvet sofa, his tone unquestionable.

"Elena wants to spend her last days happily. She has always envied the environment of the Smith manor and wants to live there before she passes away, spending time with Killian day and night."

"This is a ticket for ten days later, you go to Europe to relax and take some art courses."

I held that thin ticket, feeling incredibly ironic.

This was my father.

To please the current head of the Smith family, to make room for Killian and his "true love", he unhesitatingly drove away his own biological daughter.

"Halen, don't overthink it."

Stepmother wiped her tears hypocritically on the side, that compassionate look making me sick.

"We are also doing this to accumulate virtue. Elena is also a pitiful person, just take it as doing good deeds, fulfilling her last wish. When she's gone, Killian will still be yours, and that home will still be yours."

I looked at this hypocritical couple.

This was the family I once desperately wanted to protect.

"Understood."

I interrupted her performance indifferently.

"I will leave."

I didn't want Killian anymore.

I didn't care for this cold-blooded family anymore either.

Father was obviously surprised, not expecting the stubborn daughter who once dared to kneel all night in the rain for Killian to be so obedient this time.

His tone softened a bit: "That's right. By the way, Killian is throwing a party for Elena at the hotel in three days, remember to come and show some generosity."

"Okay."

---

Returning to the place where Killian and I lived together for four years.

I found a huge black garbage bag and started clearing out everything related to Killian in this house.

No longer cherishing them carefully like before, but throwing them in like garbage.

That was the hand-painted mask he gave me under the Bridge of Sighs when we went to Venice for our honeymoon.

It was the burnt oven mitt from the first time he cooked for me.

And that memorial album filled with our photos from the past four years.

Every page was evidence that I had loved him.

Every page now looked like a joke.

Just as I threw the photo album into the garbage bag.

The "beep" sound of the fingerprint lock unlocking came from the entryway.

Killian was back.

He was wearing that dark gray cashmere coat, his shoulders still carrying the cold air from outside.

Seeing the mess in the living room and the nearly full black garbage bag.

He paused in loosening his tie, his brows instantly furrowing, and walked over quickly.

"Halen, what are you doing?"

I didn't raise my head, nor did I stop the movements of my hands.

"I'm just organizing things. I don't like these anymore, so I want to replace them."

Killian strode forward, gently gripping my wrist, his actions tender as if soothing a frightened cat.

"Halen, don't be like this."

He sighed, pulling me into that embrace that carried a cold pine scent, his chin resting on the top of my head.

"I know that freezing your supplementary card makes you feel insecure, but that's life-saving money. Elena's situation is critical; I can't just stand by and do nothing."

"You know, I'm not that kind of irresponsible husband."

"After these few months pass, I'll restore all your credit limits, okay?"

He was always like this.

Even when depriving me of my rights and interests, he could speak so righteously, so affectionately.

As if my refusal meant I was being unreasonable, that I was making a scene without reason.

I broke free from his embrace and looked at him calmly.

"Killian, who you want to give money to is your own business."

"You don't need to explain to me."

Killian's brows furrowed slightly, seemingly confused and hurt by my cold attitude.

Just as he was about to reach out and touch my cheek, the exclusive ringtone suddenly rang.

That was the special alert tone set to prevent missing any news about Elena's condition.

He glanced at the screen, his expression instantly becoming solemn.

"Sorry, Halen. There's an emergency meeting at the company."

He adjusted my collar for me, his tone carrying a hint of apology:

"I'll be back early tonight. Stop cleaning up; leave this kind of rough work to the servants."

After speaking, he turned and left.

His steps were steady, his back straight, as gentlemanly as ever.

Even though he was rushing to see another woman.

---

Less than ten minutes after Killian left, my phone vibrated.

It was a WhatsApp message from Elena.

Just a photo.

In the photo, Killian was kneeling on one knee beside the hospital bed.

Those hands that had just embraced me were now holding Elena's pale ankle, fully focused on putting a diamond-encrusted Tiffany anklet on her.

His expression was focused and devout, as if what he was holding was a rare treasure.

The text that popped up afterward stung my eyes like needles:

[I said my feet were cold, so he went and bought this anklet, saying it could lock in my body temperature.]

[Halen, look, even if I don't fight or grab, his love always subconsciously flows towards me.]

I turned off my phone and looked at the gray sky outside the window.

The last trace of expectation in my heart was finally completely extinguished.

---

For the next two days, Killian didn't come home.

It wasn't until the third night, at the family dinner held for Elena, that I saw him.

The banquet hall of Smith Manor was resplendent.

Killian pushed the wheelchair slowly into the venue.

Elena had an expensive cashmere blanket covering her legs, her face pale, looking precarious.

Every time she coughed lightly, Killian would immediately stop, asking in a low voice if she needed water or if she felt cold.

That meticulous care made all the guests present cast admiring glances.

Everyone said that Killian Smith was a good man who valued relationships and loyalty.

The dinner began.

The long table was filled with exquisite French cuisine.

As the "hostess," according to custom, I served the final dessert—a mousse cake I made myself.

Elena looked at the tray in my hand, a glint flashing in her eyes.

"Halen, did you make this yourself?"

Her voice was weak, carrying a hint of fawning.

"It looks delicious. Can I taste it?"

Killian glanced at the cake, frowning slightly, seeming somewhat worried about her physical condition.

"Elena, the doctor said you need to watch your diet."

"It's okay, Killian."

Elena smiled and interrupted him, but her gaze was locked tightly on me.

"Halen made this specially for me. If I don't eat it, she will be sad. And I also really want to taste my sister-in-law's cooking."

Killian hesitated for a second, but eventually nodded, even considerately picking up the spoon for her.

"Just one bite then."

I watched them.

Watched Elena dig a large spoonful of mousse and unhesitatingly put it into her mouth.

"Cough... cough cough!"

Less than half a minute after eating it, the spoon in Elena's hand suddenly dropped.

She clutched her neck tightly with both hands, her breathing instantly becoming rapid and wheezing, her face flushing red.

"Elena!"

Killian reacted extremely quickly.

He didn't scream in panic but quickly got up and grabbed the sliding Elena.

He reached for her carotid artery and calmly assessed the situation:

"It's anaphylactic shock. Bring my first aid kit, it's in the car."

He gave instructions to the butler beside him, his voice steady and powerful.

Subsequently, he skillfully fished out the EpiPen carried with her from Elena's handbag and unhesitatingly injected it into her thigh.

The whole process was smooth and professional, shockingly so.

As the medicine was pushed in, Elena's breathing finally smoothed out a bit, but she still went limp in his arms, looking like she was on her last breath.

Killian wiped the cold sweat from Elena's forehead with a handkerchief, then slowly raised his head.

In those deep eyes, there was no longer the warmth of the past.

Only a suffocating coldness and disappointment remained.

"Halen."

He didn't shout loudly; his tone was even calmer than usual.

"What did you put in the cake?"

I stood there, still holding the tray.

"Elena is severely allergic to peanuts."

Killian looked at me.

That look was like examining a criminal.

"I... I didn't..."

"She trusted you, Halen."

Killian interrupted my defense, his voice carrying a painful moral condemnation.

"She treated you as family and ate what you gave her without any guard."

"And you used this trust."

He shook his head gently, as if utterly disappointed in me.

"I know you care about those two tickets to Iceland, but I didn't expect you to take revenge in this way."

"Elena doesn't have much time left, why do you still want to hurt her?"

"I... I didn't..."

"Enough, I'm so disappointed in you."

Killian stood up and picked up the weak Elena horizontally.

He adjusted Elena's skirt to ensure she wouldn't be exposed, his movements still impeccably gentlemanly.

The guests around whispered, and my father rushed up wanting to reprimand me.

But I couldn't hear anymore.

I only saw the man I wanted to spend my life with holding the woman who plotted against everything I had, trampling my dignity to pieces in the most decent way.

He didn't even give me a chance to explain.

Because in his logic, a gentleman should protect the weak.

And at this moment, Elena was the perfect victim persecuted by a "vicious wife."

After settling Elena, Killian took me to the private wine cellar underground in the manor.

Here it was constant temperature and humidity, displaying priceless Bordeaux wines, the air filled with the aroma of oak barrels.

"Halen, you've disappointed me too much."

Killian stood outside the heavy oak door, looking at me through an iron grate. His expression was still that suffocating calm and disappointment.

"You need a quiet place to reflect properly on your actions."

"I don't want my wife to be a woman who hurts others out of jealousy."

After speaking, he turned to leave.

"Killian, don't go!"

I grabbed the iron grate, my fingertips turning white from the force.

"I didn't do it, it was Elena herself..."

Killian interrupted me, looking at me with heartache.

"Think about it properly in this room. When you've figured it out, when you've admitted your mistake, I'll personally come to pick you up for breakfast tomorrow morning. I still love you, Halen. So don't hurt Elena anymore."

With a dull sound, the heavy soundproof door was closed.

The world fell into a dead silence.

I sat in the corner hugging my knees.

Until half an hour later.

The central air conditioner overhead suddenly made a huge roaring sound.

Immediately after, piercing cold wind poured down from the vent like knives.

The numbers on the thermometer started jumping crazily.

15 degrees... 10 degrees... 0 degrees... minus 5 degrees.

In just ten minutes, this place turned into a giant freezer.

I was shivering from the cold, my breath turning into white mist.

I realized something was wrong and rushed over to pound desperately on that heavy door.

"Open the door! Is anyone there?! Turn off the air conditioner!"

"It's too cold... it's too cold here!"

The sound of碎碎 high heels came from outside the door.

It was Elena.

She had bought off the servant in the control room.

"Halen, save your energy."

Elena's voice came through the door panel, carrying a trace of malicious pleasure.

"This is Killian's meaning. He said you need to 'calm down'."

"You're lying! Killian wouldn't treat me like this!"

"Really? Then you can try calling for help."

A sharp cramp suddenly came from my abdomen.

That pain wasn't unfamiliar, carrying a falling sensation of life being stripped away.

I clutched my belly, slid down the door panel to kneel on the ground, the cold sweat on my forehead instantly freezing into ice.

"Killian... Killian, are you outside?"

I pounded on the door panel with all my might, my voice changing tune due to fear and pain.

"Help... let me out..."

"I'm pregnant... Killian, I'm pregnant with your child... my stomach hurts so much..."

Silence outside the door for a few seconds.

Then came Killian's steady footsteps.

He was right outside.

He had been there all along.

"Halen."

Killian's voice penetrated the door panel, still as magnetic, yet terrifyingly rational.

"I thought after this half hour, you would have learned honesty."

"Killian, I'm not lying! It's really cold... I'm really pregnant... please open the door..."

I cried out, my nails scratching bloodstains on the door panel.

"Oh my, how can Halen be like this..."

Elena's weak and surprised voice sounded timely.

"To escape punishment, she even made up such a lie about being pregnant? She even drank champagne at the dinner just now... what pregnant woman drinks alcohol?"

"And this is a constant temperature wine cellar, how could it be cold? Is she... trying to win your sympathy?"

Killian fell silent.

Through that door, I could almost see him frowning and shaking his head.

"Halen."

After a long time, he sighed, his tone full of helplessness towards a naughty child.

"To get me to open the door, you actually told such a clumsy lie."

"You hurt Elena, and now you're trying to kidnap me with 'pregnancy'. This behavior is not decent."

"No... it's true..."

I curled up in pain, a stream of warm liquid gushing out from below, instantly frozen cold by the cold air.

"Everyone has to bear the consequences for their mistakes."

Killian stood outside the door, like a strict godfather teaching his erring believer.

"Since you are so scared, I will shorten the time."

"Tomorrow at dawn, I'll come to pick you up."

"Tonight, just stay inside and reflect properly on what honesty is."

Footsteps faded away.

This time, he really left.

He still maintained his principles, his "justice", his gentlemanly demeanor.

He thought he just confined me.

He didn't know, he personally locked me into hell.

"No... don't go..."

My voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz.

The abdominal cramps reached their peak, followed by an empty numbness.

Blood.

Lots of blood.

Thick blood carrying body temperature soaked through my evening gown, spreading on the floor, and then quickly coagulating into dark red ice residue.

I lay in the biting cold, looking at the vent overhead that was still roaring.

My consciousness began to scatter.

Killian.

If you knew that your so-called "punishment" killed your own flesh and blood.

Would you regret it?

A tear slid down the corner of my eye, freezing into ice before it hit the ground.

I thought.

Between us, it's completely over.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital room filled with the smell of disinfectant.

The emptiness in my abdomen told me the result even before I asked the doctor.

"Mrs. Smith, I'm sorry."

The doctor took off his mask, his tone professional and cold.

"You arrived too late. The prolonged exposure to low temperatures and excessive blood loss meant we couldn't save the baby."

I stared at the pale ceiling, not crying, not making a fuss.

There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart.

The ward door was pushed open.

It wasn't Killian who walked in, but his private lawyer, Mr. Jones.

He walked to the bedside in a businesslike manner, took out a pre-signed check from his briefcase, and placed it gently on my bedside table.

"Mrs. Smith, Mr. Killian is accompanying Miss Elena for her preoperative examination and cannot get away."

"I am very sorry for your loss. However, this was, after all, an accident."

"This five-million-dollar check is 'spiritual compensation' from Mr. Killian. He hopes you can adjust your mindset and not bring your emotions home."

I looked at the string of zeros, feeling incredibly ironic.

My child.

In his eyes, was worth only a flimsy check.

Even a face-to-face comfort became a luxury.

"Take it away."

I said hoarsely.

"I don't..."

Before I could finish, several orderlies suddenly barged in and started roughly packing my things.

"What are you doing?"

"Sorry, Mrs. Smith."

The head nurse stood at the door, avoiding my gaze.

"Mr. Killian ordered that you be transferred to a general ward downstairs."

"This VIP ward faces south and has the best lighting. Miss Elena said she's afraid of the cold and wants to stay here to get some sun. Mr. Killian has already agreed."

I was trembling with anger: "I just had surgery too! I need rest too!"

"Halen, don't be so selfish."

The sound of a wheelchair rolling came.

Elena appeared at the door, pushed by Killian's assistant. She was wrapped in a thick blanket, wearing a victor's smile.

"Sis Halen, you have a strong constitution, a general ward is enough. But I'm weak, I need the best environment to recuperate."

She waved her hand, signaling the orderlies to be faster.

Then, she wheeled herself to my bedside, her gaze falling on the check.

"Tsk tsk, five million."

Elena leaned close to my ear, her voice as contemptuous as if teasing a stray dog.

"Halen, look, you're not that noble either."

"Killian gives a little money, and you have to obediently give up your place, obediently listen."

"Take the money and roll to the general ward, don't be an eyesore here. Oh right, you probably don't need a caretaker in the general ward, you can take care of yourself."

I looked at her exquisitely made-up face.

And looked at the check again.

Finally, I had no strength to argue anymore, nor the strength to tear up the check and throw it in her face.

I just wept silently, letting them drive me out of that sun-filled ward like throwing out trash.

---

After staying in the noisy four-person ward for three days, I insisted on being discharged.

Returning to the manor, I just wanted to shut myself in the studio.

There were the competition design drafts I had prepared for two whole years—my only hope to regain a foothold in the fashion world, and the capital I relied on to survive after leaving Killian.

However.

The moment I pushed open the studio door, I felt the sky collapse.

A mess all over the floor.

It looked like a blizzard had just passed through.

Except those white snowflakes were my design drafts, shredded into pieces.

That was hundreds of manuscripts!

The painstaking effort of countless days and nights!

Now they had turned into waste paper, covering the entire floor.

And the culprit, Elena, was sitting in the middle of the room, holding a pair of sharp scissors, looking at me innocently.

"Ah, Halen, you're back?"

Her hand shook, and the last intact draft was cut.

"What are you doing!!!"

I rushed over like crazy, pushed her away, and knelt on the floor trying to piece together the fragments.

"My drafts... my competition..."

"What's wrong?"

Killian arrived upon hearing the noise.

He saw the paper scraps all over the floor, frowned slightly, and then seeing Elena, who almost fell from my push, immediately strode forward to support her.

"Halen, what are you going crazy about now?"

"She cut my design drafts! They're all destroyed!"

I held up a handful of shredded paper, shouting at him in breakdown.

"That's my life! Why did she do this?!"

Killian looked down at Elena in his arms.

Elena immediately reddened her eyes, raising her right hand holding the scissors, which was trembling violently.

"I'm sorry... Killian, I also wanted to help Halen organize the studio..."

"But my hand... my hand is uncontrollable..."

"I wanted to cut the loose threads, but my vision blurred, and I cut the wrong thing... I didn't mean to..."

What a perfect excuse.

The doubt in Killian's eyes instantly dissipated, replaced by deep pity.

He held Elena's trembling hand and turned to look at me, his eyes full of disappointment and disapproval.

"Halen, you're being too aggressive."

He sighed, his tone rational to the point of coldness.

"Elena's brain tumor is pressing on her motor and optic nerves. Trembling hands and blurred vision are normal pathological reactions."

"She meant well and wanted to help you, but her body didn't allow it."

"Isn't it just a few drawings?"

Killian looked at my breakdown as if watching an unreasonable clown.

"You're a designer, the talent is in your brain, not on paper."

"Since they're destroyed, just redraw them. Why shout at a sick person over such a small matter?"

Redraw?

The deadline is in two days.

That was two years of blood, sweat, and tears!

He actually said it so lightly.

"Killian Smith."

I slumped in the pile of shredded paper, looking at this man I had loved recklessly for four years.

Finally.

I was completely disappointed in him too.

"Okay."

I wiped my tears and stood up from the floor.

"I don't blame her."

Because I knew.

That I became like this wasn't just Elena's fault, but more because of Killian's indulgence.