Cordelia scowled angrily. No wonder Maya had been so “well-behaved” just now; it turned out she was playing the wounded-strategy act!

Too bad for her, Cordelia wasn’t buying it.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?”

Hendrix’s brows tightened slightly. This was the first time Cordelia had ever talked back to him.

Before, no matter what he said, she always responded with that mild, easygoing temper.

As he thought about that, his expression darkened, and his voice grew colder.

“Hey, did you eat something explosive today? Why are you speaking so harshly?”

The anger burning in Cordelia’s chest made it hard to breathe. She was about to speak when Maya cut in.

“Hendrix, my sister’s pregnant. It’s normal for her to be a little moody.”

Her gaze slid to Cordelia’s still-flat stomach. She tugged at the corner of her lips in a barely-there smirk—one full of meaning.

“Hendrix, don’t argue with her because of me. After all, the baby she’s carrying is yours!”

At those words, some of the tension left Hendrix’s face. He turned to Cordelia, saying, “If you’re not feeling well, then rest a little longer. Once dinner is ready, I’ll have the housekeeper call you.

“Maya’s here for the first time. I’ll show her around.”

With that, he turned and left with Maya.

Right before the door closed, Maya shot Cordelia a bold, triumphant smile.

Cordelia took a few long breaths, forcing herself to calm down. Then she printed out the divorce papers. She’d find the right moment to get Hendrix’s signature.

At the dining table, Maya was there, too.

Cordelia immediately noticed the table was covered with all of Maya’s favorite dishes.

There was no need to ask; clearly, Hendrix had told the chef.

Cordelia barely had an appetite to begin with. Seeing this, she turned to leave.

Suddenly, Maya spoke in a fake-sweet, mocking tone.

“Della, Hendrix asked the kitchen to make all this delicious food just for you. You should eat at least a little!”

Cordelia let out a cold laugh. “Yeah. You’d better not waste your dear brother-in-law’s thoughtful gesture.”

Hendrix immediately heard something was off. He frowned at Cordelia.

“Maya’s a guest. Of course, we should treat her well,” he retorted. “You’re the older sister. Why are you always picking on your younger sister?”

That blatant favoritism hit Cordelia like a knife straight to the chest. It hurt so much she could barely breathe.

A moment later, Maya pushed Cordelia down into a chair.

“Della, even if you’re not hungry, you still need to eat for the baby.”

Maya finished speaking and ladled her a bowl of creamy mushroom soup.

Cordelia had no intention of playing along with this fake sisterly act. She stood up immediately.

Maya grabbed her.

In the tugging, the steaming hot soup spilled all over Cordelia’s chest.

The pain shot through her, forcing a gasp out of her throat, her features twisting.

But Maya yelped instead, “Ahhh! It hurts!”

The next second, Hendrix rushed over, shoved Cordelia aside, and pulled Maya into his arms.

His voice was frantic. “Maya! Are you okay? Where did it burn you?”

Caught off guard, Cordelia stumbled, her lower back slamming hard into the table corner. She clenched her teeth from the pain.

But Hendrix didn’t even look at her. His eyes were full of nothing but Maya.

Because of that, he didn’t see the way Cordelia was staring at him unblinking.

The burning pain spread across her body, but none of it came close to the pain crushing her heart.

So this was it.

Even someone as always-calm as Hendrix could lose control when he cared about the woman he loved.

This was the difference between being loved and not being loved.

Noticing Cordelia’s stare, Maya raised a brow and met her eyes. A victor’s smile flashed across her face before she quickly switched to a pitiful expression.

“I’m fine, Hendrix. Go check on my sister instead. I think she got burned because of me.”

Hendrix paused, finally remembering Cordelia existed. He let go of Maya and walked over.

When he saw the red, swollen skin on Cordelia’s chest, he inhaled sharply.

“You’re this badly burned and didn’t say anything? Does it hurt?”

Cordelia let out a mocking laugh. The movement made the pain lance through her lungs.

“And what difference would it make if I said something?”

Would Hendrix worry about her?

No. He wouldn’t.

Since that was the case, why humiliate herself by asking for his concern?

When he heard her sarcasm, Hendrix’s expression shifted. His tone softened.

“Maya’s visiting for the first time. I just didn’t want her getting hurt and having your father blame me when she goes back, so I…”

“Is that so?” Cordelia cut him off. “Then you really are a great brother-in-law.”

She didn’t want to watch his performance any longer. She turned and headed upstairs.

A few minutes later, Hendrix walked into the bedroom with a medical kit. His voice was earnest this time.

“Hey, I’m sorry. I really messed up just now. I shouldn’t have overlooked you. I promise it won’t happen again.”

Cordelia stayed silent, staring at him with a cold expression.

If she hadn’t already learned the truth, she might’ve actually believed he’d just been careless for a moment.

But now, she didn’t feel even a trace of being moved—only hatred.

Seeing she wasn’t talking, Hendrix assumed she was still upset. He softened his tone.

“No matter what happens from now on, I’ll always put you first. Please forgive me, okay?”

Looking at his earnest expression, Cordelia suddenly remembered the day the embryo transfer succeeded.

He had gazed at her with the same tender eyes and made a solemn promise.

“Babe… you’ve suffered so much.

“You went through hell and finally got pregnant with our baby. I swear I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life. I’ll never let you down.”

Those words still echoed in her ears, but now, they felt like nothing but mockery.

A wave of crushing disappointment washed over her. Exhausted, Cordelia closed her eyes.

Hendrix thoughtfully helped her lean back against the bed, his voice unbelievably gentle.

“Let me clean your wounds. If it hurts, just tell me, alright?”

Cordelia’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

No matter how much it hurt, it would never hurt more than her heart.

With his eyes lowered, Hendrix carefully tended to her wounds, his expression serious, with hints of distress and guilt flickering in his gaze.

When he finished, Cordelia still didn’t open her eyes.

He immediately assumed she had fallen asleep. He gently pulled the blanket over her and quietly walked out.

As soon as the door shut, Cordelia opened her eyes, her gaze cold and clear.

A moment later, the roar of a sports car engine came from outside.

She turned her head toward the window—just in time to see Hendrix’s red Ferrari driving out of the garage.

In the passenger seat sat Maya, smiling sweetly like a blooming flower.

Hendrix had once said that the passenger seat was reserved for his wife.

And now… he actually…

Cordelia let out a self-mocking laugh.

His whole heart belonged to Maya. Why would she expect something as small as a passenger seat?

Everything he said and did had only been to deceive Cordelia.

At that moment, her heart felt like it was being sliced open.

It was nearly dawn when Hendrix finally returned. His handsome face was slightly flushed with alcohol, and he carried a faint trace of a woman’s perfume.

She didn’t want to pretend with him. She stayed in bed, feigning sleep.

Soon, the mattress dipped beside her.

Hendrix wrapped an arm around her from behind, his scorching hand slipping under the hem of her nightdress.

Cordelia immediately grabbed his hand and flung it away.

This was the first time she had ever rejected his advances.

Hendrix froze, his voice hoarse.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to,” she said bluntly.

He let out a low chuckle.

“Seriously, you’re jealous, aren’t you? Maya’s your sister. You’re pregnant, and it’s hard for you to move around, so as her brother-in-law, I figured I should make sure she gets home safely.”

After that, he picked up the chicken noodle soup on the nightstand, his voice gentle.

“The housekeeper said you barely ate today, so I picked up your favorite chicken noodle soup.”

Just then, Cordelia’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Maya.

[Hey, Della, I figured you were so mad you didn’t eat, so I asked my brother-in-law to bring you food.]

[We even tasted it for you. It’s so good! Eat more, okay?]

The provocation couldn’t be more obvious. Maya couldn’t hold herself back anymore, huh?

Cordelia bit down hard, forcing herself to stay calm.

Hendrix noticed nothing. He scooped up a spoonful of soup and held it to her lips.

“Come on, eat a little. Don’t starve the baby.”

The word “baby” stabbed into Cordelia like a knife.

She pushed him away. Her voice was completely devoid of warmth.

“I don’t want to eat.”

The bowl slipped from his hand and spilled onto the floor. Hendrix’s expression darkened.

“You’re still mad?” He sighed. “Della, what do you want me to do for you to forgive me?”

Suddenly, something came to Cordelia’s mind. She opened the nightstand drawer and pulled out the divorce papers, flipping straight to the last page.

“There’s a villa I like. Buy it for me—as an apology.”

Hendrix’s face lit up immediately. Without hesitation, he signed his name.

“Is that enough? If not, I can—”

Cordelia cut him off.

“One more thing. I want you to promise you’ll never have contact with Maya again.”

Clearly, Hendrix hadn’t expected Cordelia to say that. His brows tightened instinctively.

“Della, if you want the villa, I can give it to you. Why make things difficult for me?”

“Difficult?” Cordelia replied with layered meaning. “I’m your wife. Asking you to choose between me and Maya—does that really count as difficult?”

He had no response. His expression gradually turned cold.

She let out a faint, mocking laugh.

‘What? Wasn’t he always good at acting? Why stop now?’

A moment later, he tossed out one last line.

“You’re in a bad mood. I’ll stop bothering you. Get some rest.”

And then he got up and went to the guest room.

Cordelia didn’t care in the slightest. She took out her phone and contacted her lawyer.

The lawyer said that with Hendrix’s signature, she could end their marriage at any time.

The next morning, she mailed the divorce papers to the lawyer and officially entrusted him with the process.

Maybe she hadn’t slept well the past two days because a wave of dizziness suddenly washed over her.

Since Hendrix wasn’t home, the housekeeper noticed her condition and quickly told the driver to take her to the hospital.

After the examination, the doctor told her that she was in early pregnancy and must take in enough nutrients.

Cordelia ate a little something and was about to leave when Hendrix called.

She rejected the call immediately. But the next second, his voice came through the elegant diamond watch on her wrist.

“Babe, why did you go to the hospital? Is something wrong with the baby?”

Cordelia froze. Only then did she realize she had worn the watch out of habit that morning.

It was a gift from Hendrix after he learned she was pregnant.

Besides telling time, it had tracking and call features.

Hendrix had said that because she was pregnant, he needed to know her location at all times, just in case.

When he personally fastened the watch on her wrist, the expression on his face had been even more solemn than when he put a ring on her finger at their wedding five years ago. She had cried so much over that moment.

Now that she was looking back, she realized he hadn’t done it for her or the baby’s safety at all. It was all for control.

Before she could speak, Hendrix said, “Wait for me at the hospital. I’m coming right now.”

Cordelia stiffened.

Why was he coming?

Did the staff tell him she wasn’t feeling well?

Was he… worried about her?

She dug her nails into her palm, forcing herself not to be foolish again.

No matter how convincing his performance was, she must never trust him again.

Ten minutes later, Hendrix arrived at the hospital carrying Maya in his arms. The moment he saw Cordelia, he said, “Maya accidentally cut her finger. She lost a lot of blood. The blood bank is in crisis. Luckily, you two have the same blood type. You should donate some for her.”

Cordelia froze.

“No.”

During her last prenatal checkup, the doctor had warned her repeatedly—she had severe anemia. She must take her medicine. Otherwise, both she and the baby could be in danger.

Hendrix had been right there at the time, even promising to supervise her medication.

And he already forgot?

Ignoring her refusal, he dragged her into the blood-draw room and ordered the nurse to take her blood.

Cordelia completely broke down.

“I’m pregnant! And I have severe anemia! I can’t donate blood!”

Hearing this, the nurse immediately said, “Sir, pregnant women can’t donate blood. It would endanger both her and the baby.”

Hendrix hesitated, but right then, the supposedly “unconscious” Maya suddenly opened her eyes and weakly whispered, “Hendrix… my sister must still be mad at me. Don’t force her. Just let me die.”

Cordelia let out a cold laugh. She knew it—Maya was perfectly fine. She was just putting on another performance.

She didn’t want to watch their act any longer and turned to leave, but Hendrix grabbed her wrist.

“Della, I know you’re mad, but this isn’t the time to throw a tantrum,” he said. “Maya is your sister. You can’t just watch her die.”