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.”

Cordelia finally snapped.

“She is not my sister! She is the daughter of a homewrecker!”

Maya had destroyed Helene’s life, leaving the lady unconscious. Even if Maya died, Cordelia would never donate blood.

But Hendrix didn’t give her the chance to refuse. He forced her into the chair.

“Della, it’s just some blood. It won’t affect you or the baby.”

Then he turned to the nurse.

“Draw it now. If anything happens to Maya, you’ll pay with your life.”

The McQuillens were one of Seattle’s most powerful families, and Hendrix was the heir. The nurse didn’t dare defy him and immediately picked up the needle.

Cordelia struggled desperately.

“Get away from me! Don’t touch me!”

But Hendrix pinned her down, his voice cold against her ear.

“If you want your mother to stay safe, give Maya your blood.”

Cordelia’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“You’re threatening me with my mom?!”

Hendrix didn’t respond, only urged the nurse again.

When the needle pierced her skin, Cordelia could almost hear her heart shatter.

In the end, the nurse drew two units of her blood.

Her vision blurred; her face turned ghostly pale, her lips drained of color.

Meanwhile, Maya—who supposedly needed the transfusion—looked perfectly flushed and healthy.

She leaned over and whispered in Cordelia’s ear.

“So what if you’re pregnant? If I want your blood, you’ll give it.”

Rage shot through Cordelia’s chest. She fainted on the spot.

At the sight, Hendrix’s heart tightened. He moved to pick her up, but Maya suddenly cried out, “Ahhh! Hendrix, my head hurts…”

Then she swayed dramatically and collapsed into his arms.

And just like that, Hendrix forgot all about Cordelia.

He picked Maya up and rushed out.

Cordelia had a terrifying dream.

In it, Hendrix had imprisoned her and forced her to give birth over and over again for him and Maya, turning her into nothing more than a walking womb.

The babies she carried for ten months and brought painfully into the world all called Maya “Mom.”

In the final scene of the dream, Maya and Hendrix walked into a wedding hall together…

“No!”

Cordelia jolted awake to find Hendrix sitting beside her.

Seeing her panic, he immediately grabbed her hand.

“Nightmare? Don’t be scared. I’m here.”

For a moment, she couldn’t tell dream from reality. She mumbled, “Hendrix… whose child am I carrying?”

His face froze instantly.

“Tell me,” she said coldly.

Hendrix quickly recovered and forced a gentle tone.

“Of course, it’s ours—our child. Don’t overthink it.”

Watching him fake that affectionate expression made her grind her teeth in hatred.

Compared to Maya, she despised him far more.

Just as she was about to slap him, Maya walked in, speaking in a soft, pitiful tone.

“Della… thank you for donating blood for me. I heard you fainted, so I came to check on you.”

Cordelia’s face turned cold.

“With acting skills like that, why don’t you become an actress?”

Hendrix’s brows tightened; his voice grew displeased.

“Maya came out of kindness. What kind of attitude is that? I’m the one who asked you to give her blood. If you’re mad, take it out on me.”

A flash of triumph flickered through Maya’s eyes. She bit her lip and whispered, “Hendrix, don’t argue with my sister. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come.”

She stepped back as if to leave, then “accidentally” stumbled.

Seeing her about to fall, Hendrix rushed forward.

As he moved, he bumped into Cordelia’s IV line.

The needle jerked violently, stabbing deep into her vein. The pain twisted her entire face.

But Hendrix didn’t even glance at her.

He scooped up the “unconscious” Maya and carried her out of the room.

He didn’t return for three days.

During those three days, he didn’t call. He didn’t text.

But Cordelia knew exactly what he was doing.

He had taken Maya to France.

They held hands strolling down the Champs-Élysées, went shopping, and celebrated Maya’s birthday at a high-end restaurant.

She saw everything on Maya’s Instagram.

Cordelia wasn’t angry at all. In fact, she was grateful.

Finally, she had evidence of his affair.

She sent every intimate photo and video to her lawyer, asking him to fight for as much property as possible.

When Hendrix finally returned to the villa, Cordelia was in the yard burning the things he had given her.

Watching his gifts consumed by flames, he frowned.

“Della? What are you burning?”