I didn’t say a word.

Suddenly, Lily staggered with a cry. “Ah!”

Lucas rushed to catch her and then turned to glare at me. “What are you trying to do now?”

Without responding, I handed him the document folder. “Sign.”

He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Lily clutched her stomach. “Ah! Lucas, my stomach... it hurts!”

Panic flickered in his eyes. Without even glancing at the document, he scrawled his signature, scooped her into his arms, and said, “I’m taking you to the hospital!”

I turned to leave, clutching the signed papers—only to be tripped violently from behind.

I crashed to the ground. My forehead slammed against a metal fixture, and a warm stream of blood began trickling down my cheek.

Lucas turned instinctively, eyes filled with hesitation as if he might come help me.

“Lucas! It hurts... please! The hospital!” Lily sobbed, gripping his sleeve tightly.

He froze, then turned away and carried her out without looking back.

I lay there, the blood in my eyes turning the world red and blurry.

Around me, people stared. Some looked amused. No one moved.

Grinding my teeth, I pushed myself up from the cold floor. It was only then that I noticed—my wedding ring was gone.

It must have slipped off during the fall. It had always been loose. I just hadn’t realized how loose.

Ignoring the gawking crowd, I limped out of the venue and flagged down a cab.

“To the hospital,” I said.

The driver looked alarmed. “Miss, your head’s bleeding!”

I wiped my cheek. My hand came away red. I gave a faint smile.

“It’s fine. I won’t die.”

At the hospital, the doctor frowned while dressing my wound. “Mrs. Turner, you’re still pregnant. Why are you doing this to yourself?”

Before I could answer, the television overhead blared a breaking news bulletin.

“Shocking report! President Turner’s wife faked her kidnapping and cheated on her husband! Suspected of carrying another man’s child and secretly seeking an abortion!”

My vision went black for a moment.

Before I could react, the door burst open.

Mrs. Turner stormed in and slapped me across the face. “You disgrace! You’ve humiliated our whole family!”

Reeling from the blow, I stumbled back. Before I could find my footing, men in black suits grabbed me and dragged me into the Turner family’s ancestral hall.

“Kneel!” Mrs. Turner barked.

I struggled, but my knees were forced down hard onto the freezing tiles.

She pulled out her phone, her voice sharp and unforgiving. “Lucas! Your wife’s scandal is all over the news! Everyone’s laughing at us!”

On the other end, Lucas’s voice was tense. “Mom? Weren’t you and Dad in Australia? Why—”

“What? We can’t come home now?” she sneered. “You see what kind of woman you married?”

“You’re too soft! She cheats on you, and you still defend her? Are you going to let her drag this family through the mud?”

I raised my head and screamed at the screen, “Lucas! Say something! It’s not true—this is your—!”

“Nina,” he interrupted, his voice low and hoarse, “Just bear with it for now. I’ll make it up to you later.”

The midsummer ancestral hall was like an oven. I knelt there on burning tiles, sweat mingling with the blood still seeping from my forehead.

Then came a stab of pain deep in my abdomen. Warm liquid ran down my legs.

“My baby... my baby!” I scrambled to the door and pounded on it, frantic. “Let me out! Please, save my child!”

Mrs. Turner’s cold voice came from outside. “Didn’t you say you aborted it already? Why didn’t you finish the job?”

Sobbing, I dug my fingernails into the wooden door, leaving smears of blood in the cracks. “It’s Lucas’s baby! It’s his! It’s his!”

But the only answer was the sound of retreating footsteps, growing farther and farther away.

I spent the entire night alone, soaked in blood.

By morning, the door finally creaked open.

A man in black stood there, face emotionless. “Ma’am, I’ll take you to the hospital.”Lying on the operating table, I opened my eyes and felt life inside me slipping away, little by little.

My phone buzzed beside me. A message from Lucas appeared on the screen:

"Nina, I'm sorry. I’ve wronged you. I’ll explain everything to Mom later."

My fingers trembled, and a single tear rolled down the side of my face.

The day I received the divorce certificate, I dialed a number I hadn’t touched in five years.

The call connected, and a familiar deep voice, warm and amused, came through.

"So, you’re finally willing to come back to me?"

A week later, Lily appeared at the press conference for her new drama, proudly showing off her pregnant belly.

Clinging to Lucas’s arm, she beamed under the flashes.

"Thank you for your blessings. After the baby’s born, I’m heading to Hollywood to advance my career..."

Amid the lights and noise, I stepped quietly into the venue.

The lively crowd fell silent.

Lucas’s face stiffened. "Nina? What are you doing here?"

Without a word, I approached him and placed the divorce certificate in his hand.

His eyes widened. He quickly grabbed my wrist and whispered,

"Nina, stop this! Didn’t I say I’d make it up to you once this was over?"

Just then, the doors flew open.

A black Rolls-Royce stopped outside, drawing gasps from the crowd.

"It’s Jonathan Carter! Head of the Carter family!"

Lily’s eyes lit up. She rushed forward eagerly.

"Uncle! What brings you here?"

I remained where I stood.

Jonathan’s gaze swept the room and landed on me.

He walked over, extending his arm. I took it naturally.

Lucas stepped forward in shock, voice shaking.

"Nina! Are you insane? He’s Lily’s cousin!"

Jonathan shot him a cold look.

"A man like you doesn’t deserve for my daughter to be hurt."

The room erupted in murmurs.

I turned to face Lucas and spoke softly:

"I forgot to introduce myself. This is my father."

Lily went pale instantly.