I stared at Henry for a long moment, realizing he wasn’t joking.

Thinking of the things I still needed to prepare for Andrew’s burial, I swallowed my resentment and humiliation, then bowed to Anya. “I’m sorry.”

Anya’s eyes fell on the necklace around my neck and she feigned curiosity. “Henry, doesn’t that look like a lucky charm? Since you can’t come with me to pray for the baby these next two days, why don’t you lend me yours for a while?”

My heart tightened. That necklace was made from Andrew’s severed finger.

Without hesitation, Henry reached toward me. “Give it to her.”

When I didn’t move, his brow furrowed. “Kate, can’t you hear me?”

“Anything else, I can give her. Not this.” I gripped the necklace tightly.

But Anya was set on taking it. Henry yanked it from my neck and shoved it into her hand.

The moment she saw it clearly, she flung it away in disgust.

I ran out like a madwoman, trying to catch it, nearly throwing myself off the third-floor balcony.

Henry grabbed my hair and yanked me back.

Behind me, Anya’s eyes flashed with jealousy.

“Kate, are you crazy? If you want to die, don’t do it in the house. That’s bad luck!”

I ignored Henry completely. Even when he almost tore my scalp, I didn’t make a sound.

Thinking of the severed finger necklace lying in a corner, I shoved Henry away, pushed Anya aside and rushed downstairs.

In the flowerbed, bright roses bloomed. Anya loved flowers, especially roses, so a year ago Henry filled the yard with them for her.

But I was allergic to pollen. Even after I begged Henry three times to consider my feelings, he refused.

He even called me pretentious in secret, saying, “No one else has allergies, but you do. Trying to act special?”

I endured the sting of my pollen allergy and tore at the rose bushes with my bare hands.

The thorns cut into my skin, but I didn’t care.

After a long while, thunder rolled overhead and the autumn wind slapped my face, blowing my tangled hair.

Soon, heavy rain poured down. I bit my lower lip, forcing myself to stay calm.

Just as I was about to lose hope, I saw something.

I pushed aside the roses and pulled out the broken, mud-stained necklace, holding it close to my chest. Instinctively, I looked up at the master bedroom on the third floor.

Through the closed window, I saw two figures, locked in an embrace, kissing passionately. The sight sent a jolt through my heart, leaving my mind blank.

I gripped the severed finger tightly.

Andrew, Mom will take you away.

Two days later, I woke up in the hospital.

I opened my eyes and saw Henry sitting by the bed, peeling an apple. Without even looking at me, he said, “You know your body isn’t well, yet you still do such shameless things. Don’t think this will make me pity you.

“If Anya hadn’t been so kind and worried you might die there, I wouldn’t have saved you. Now that you’re awake, go thank her.”

He finished peeling the apple, then began carving it slowly. “Anya was terrified when you fainted. The doctor said she miscarried and needs care.”

“Since you’ve been pregnant and given birth before, you should take care of Anya’s daily needs.”

My face was pale, my eyes empty as I listened to Henry’s endless words.

When I didn’t respond, his eyes flashed with irritation. “I’m talking to you. Didn’t you hear me? Or did you lose your voice after getting caught in the rain?”

I stayed silent and Henry waved his hand impatiently. “Don’t play stubborn with me. Don’t forget, your Vergara family fell long ago. You’re only alive now because my Taylor Family kept you.”

After Henry left, I glanced at the apples on the bedside table.

Before leaving, he had tossed the scraps at me with a smug look. “Anya doesn’t eat scraps and I don’t like apples. These are for you.”

My chest rose and fell with anger and I threw the scraps onto the floor. Why should I take what Anya didn’t want?

“Hey, Kate, are you mad?”

At some point, Anya had leaned against the doorframe, watching my frustration with amusement.

I turned my head away, ignoring her. She walked over on purpose and waved her phone in front of me. “Do you know what’s in here?”

When I stayed silent, she went on, “It’s a video of your precious son crying and calling for his mother. Do you want to hear it? No? You don’t look that upset anyway. But I have another fun one for you.”

I stayed silent the whole time, but then Anya played a recording from her phone.

“Henry, she always let Andrew bully me. Is it because she doesn’t like me? Do you want me to apologize or something?”

“You’re just too kind. If Andrew bullies you again, I’ll throw him to the wolves. I don’t like him anyway—he’d be better off dead.”

“But I can’t explain that to Kate. What if she gets angry? I’m afraid she’ll get upset…”

“She’s an orphan with no parents, living off me. What right does she have to be angry?”

The recording ended.

A sharp pain shot through my chest and I curled up in bed.

Anya smirked in challenge and I raised my hand to knock the phone away.

Henry’s angry voice cut through the air. “Kate, I’m really doing you a favor. Anya came to see you out of kindness and you dare to bully her!”

Before I could speak, Henry left with Anya.

I stood up and caught a glimpse of Anya’s phone. Three minutes later, before Henry returned, I transferred all the video evidence from her phone to mine, deleted the chat history and erased every trace of my browsing.

When Henry came back, he saw the phone lying quietly on the other side. He picked it up and warned coldly, “If anything happens to Anya and the baby, I’ll come after you.”

At the word “baby,” my numb heart trembled faintly.

Ever since I was pregnant with Andrew, Henry had called him “bastard.” After I gave birth, I begged him to change and he reluctantly started calling him “wild child” instead.

After Henry left, I took out my phone and booked a flight for nine o’clock the next morning.

The next moment, the closed door burst open and Henry stormed in. Without a word, he dragged me out of bed.

He yanked the needle from the back of my hand, making me flinch in pain, but I stayed silent. Every time I cried out, Henry called me pretentious. Instead of comfort, I was thrown out roughly.

“Kate, you’re unbelievable! You actually dared to stab my Anya and our baby with dolls! Can’t you just leave Anya alone?”

I didn’t understand what Henry was talking about, not until he dragged me to my knees in front of the emergency room door.

Everyone’s eyes were on me, but I had no strength to struggle.

Henry yanked my hair hard, forcing me to kneel before a woman in a wheelchair.

I looked up and met Anya’s smug, taunting gaze. In that instant, I understood she had planned this.

“Apologize! If you don’t apologize to Anya today, don’t even think about standing up,” Henry said coldly, his voice full of anger.

Anya spoke in a soft, fake tone. “Henry, don’t do that. You’re scaring me.”

“Our child survived even after what she did. That means we’re meant to be together.”

“I’ve forgiven her, but the baby in my belly hasn’t. He’s still young and doesn’t understand. So let her bow to him three times and I’ll forgive her on his behalf, okay?”

Without giving me a chance to refuse, Henry grabbed the back of my head and forced it down hard.

As I looked up from the motion, a drop of liquid slid down.

Before I could react, Henry pushed my head down two more times.

My vision went black.

When I woke, it was already six in the morning.

I went straight to the hospital desk, signed the discharge papers and took a taxi back to the villa.

While searching for my ID in the guest room, a sharp smell of cigarette smoke filled my nose. I turned and saw the room quickly filling with smoke.

I rushed to the door and grabbed the handle, only to burn my hand on the red-hot metal.

Trembling, I pulled my hand back. From outside came Anya’s arrogant laughter.

I took out my phone and calmly turned on the recording.

I shouted at Anya, “Anya, what are you doing? Let me out now!”

“Let you out? Dream on! Your bastard is dead, so you should go with him. At least you’ll have company in the afterlife.”

“As soon as you’re gone, I’ll officially be Henry’s wife.”

Anya laughed a few times and walked away.

The fire spread quickly and thick smoke filled the room.

The first rays of sunlight touched me just as I handed the package to the courier.

After that, I turned and boarded the plane without regret.

At the banquet, Henry, dressed in a black couture suit, felt an uneasy panic when he saw Anya walk in wearing her custom-made wedding gown. It was as if something was slipping away.

Anya walked toward Henry with grace, her face as rosy as a blooming rose. “Henry, am I beautiful today? Do I look swollen from pregnancy?”

Suppressing his unease, Henry gently touched the tip of Anya’s nose. “You’re beautiful no matter what. As long as it’s you, it’s perfect.”

Anya smiled shyly and turned aside to wait for the banquet to begin.

Remembering my bloodied face from yesterday, Henry told his assistant, “Guard the gate. If that bitch Kate shows up, stop her immediately.”

“We can’t let her interrupt Anya and my wedding today. A jealous woman like Kate will definitely cause trouble if she finds out.”

“And that kid, Andrew—he’d stand up for his mother. Make sure you’re all in position.”

The assistant patted his chest confidently. “Don’t worry, Mr. Taylor. Andrew’s funeral was over a week ago. He won’t be disrupting you and Anya’s wedding again. Besides…”