###Chapter 3

The sound of running water filled the bathroom, mixed with faint, suppressed noises from outside.

I stayed in the shower for quite long until everything outside became completely quiet; until the tears on my face were washed away.

I lifted my head and calmly put on my clothes, my expression cold. I saw our room had been cleaned up. But Robert didn’t notice that there was still a small wet stain under the dressing table.

Disgusting.

I took out my phone and snapped a photo. I saved it together with the video I had recorded earlier.

I went downstairs to get a glass of water. As soon as I reached the hallway, I saw Robert coming out of the kitchen with a bowl of hangover soup.

Silvia leaned against him, pretending to be drunk. “It’s too hot,” she said softly.

He lowered his head and gently blew on the soup to cool it. She then complained that her hair was messy. So, Robert picked up a comb and carefully brushed it for her, like it was something he had done many times before.

My nose stung with bitterness. I remembered how, once, I drank so much at a business dinner to help him secure a deal that I ended up with stomach bleeding. He had only asked the housekeeper to cook porridge for me.

I once asked him to comb my hair. He laughed and said, “I’m a grown man. I don’t know how to do that.”

My legs felt numb, but I forced myself to stand still. I didn’t want to walk in and look like an unwanted extra in their love story. I didn't want to be the jealous wife in a bad novel.

Eventually, Robert half-carried Silvia to the guest room.

I turned to go downstairs, feeling dizzy. Suddenly, my foot slipped. I fell hard down the stairs.

“Ah!” A sharp pain shot through my stomach. I curled up on the floor. I felt something warm slowly flowing down my legs.

My face turned white.

“Madam!” Aunt Poppy, our housekeeper, ran over in panic. When she saw the blood, she froze in fear. “I-I tried to call Mr. Kleinn, but he told me not to disturb him no matter what. He said even if the sky fell, he was busy taking care of Ms. Kleinn.”

I bit my lip and asked her to call a taxi for me. I went to the hospital alone.

***

The nurse asked anxiously, “Where is the patient’s guardian? There’s a risk of miscarriage. We need a family member’s signature!”

I weakly opened my eyes and grabbed her sleeve. “I’ll sign… the baby… I don’t want to keep it.”

My voice was soft, but it wasn't exactly an easy decision. Besides, Robert already planned to persuade me into abortion. He had the heart to say that despite us having this child after so much effort...

If my child's father no longer wanted it, then I'd let my baby go.

The doctor hesitated. “But we can try to save—”

“No need.” I closed my eyes. Tears slid down silently.

On the cold operating table, the bright white lights made me dizzy. The sound of medical instruments was cruel. Each movement felt like something was being cut out of my heart.

I bit my lip until I tasted blood, refusing to make a sound.

***

When I woke up, it was already morning. Ignoring the nurse’s advice to rest, I took a taxi home.

As soon as I entered the house, a man pulled me tightly into his arms.

Robert looked worried. “Where did you go so early, sweetheart? You scared me to death!”

Wasn’t it you who said not to disturb you even if the sky fell?

I almost laughed. I almost told him he no longer had to worry about his “dear sister” being upset because of the baby. Even so, I said calmly, “I went out for some fresh air.”

“Next time, let me go with you. I worry about you,” he said with relief. He led me upstairs and quickly helped me change into the new dress.

Robert didn’t even notice that my stomach was no longer round.

Today was his mother’s birthday. It would also be the last time I attended a dinner with the Kleinns.

His parents never liked me. They blamed me for not giving them a grandchild. They also believed I had made Robert too obsessed with love… so obsessed that he almost died in the earthquake.

But, they wouldn’t need to worry about that anymore. What they should worry about was the scandal their family was about to face.

The moment I discovered Robert's betrayal, I swore that even if I went to hell, I would take him down with me.

“Where is your dear sister?” I asked sharply, looking around when I didn’t see Silvia.

“My parents sent a car to pick her up early this morning,” Robert said. He seemed to notice my tone and kissed my cheek. “Relax. Silvy is just my sister. You know how much my parents spoil her. If I don’t take good care of her, they won’t forgive me.”

Yes. You take very good care of her. Even in bed. I was so sure his proud, reputation-loving parents would be very satisfied with his achievements.

When we arrived at the Kleinn's estate, Robert went to park the car.

I walked inside, then stopped.

The living room was lively. Theodore and Mary, Robert's parents, were sitting on the sofa. Silvia sat between them, leaning sweetly against Mary’s shoulder.

Mary took a jewelry box from a servant and carefully put a jade necklace and earrings on Silvia.

“Our Silvy is turning twenty soon. This is an early birthday gift from Mom. It's the Kleinn Family heirloom.”

Mary's face was full of love, pride and warmth. It was an expression I had never seen directed at me.

Theodore frowned with disgust. “It was supposed to go to my daughter-in-law… But when I think about that useless woman. Sure, she’s finally pregnant after so long, but her baby turns out abnormal. Ugh, it makes me sick!”

He added, “And she even dares to harass our daughter? I’ll teach her a lesson!”

###Chapter 4

I stood frozen at the doorway, feeling like I couldn’t breathe.

What did I even do wrong? The one that caused us difficulty in having a child was Robert.

Then, Silvia? Five years ago, when she was first adopted, Robert didn’t even like her. She was thin and fragile from long-term malnutrition. I was the one who felt sorry for her.

“Her mother is dead and her father disappeared,” I used to tell Robert. “She’s already suffered enough. You’re her family now, Robby. You should treat her better.”

I cared for Silvia like my real younger sister. Whenever I bought something, I carefully prepared an extra set for her. When Robert became impatient with her, I tried to act as a bridge between them.

Without me noticing, she grew into a healthy, beautiful young woman with a striking figure.

I trusted Robert too much. I never realized that the way he looked at her had already changed.

The moment Theodore and Mary saw me, their smiles froze. “You still had the guts to show up?” Mary rolled her eyes. “Good. Tell us honestly, did you abuse Silvy?”

“What? That’s ridiculous!” I shouted. “I never even scold her!”

“Still denying it?” Theodore stood up. His tall figure was intimidating. “Silvy told us herself. Those bruises on her body are because you were pinching her.”

Silvia hid behind Mary, lowered her collar slightly and sent me a mischievous smile.

I understood everything. Those weren’t bruises from me. They were love bites. Mary and Theodore discovered them, so she pushed the blame onto me.

How shameless.

Mary glared at me. “She was only staying at your house for a few days and you harassed her? You even called her a cheap woman who seduced your husband. Is that true?”

I trembled. “Isn’t that exactly what she is?”

Suddenly, Silvia’s eyes turned red. She covered her face and started crying. “Kayla, I didn’t know you hated me so much… You would accuse me and my brother of something dirty just to chase me away?”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. “Fine, I’ll leave. I’ll leave the Kleinns. I’ll never show up in front of my brother again!”

Mary immediately pulled her into her arms and comforted her. “The one who should leave is her, not you.”

With a gesture from Theodore, their family's lawyer stepped forward.

“Take back all the shares of Kleinn Corporations under her name,” Theodore said coldly. “Transfer them to Silvy.”

Silvia’s face flashed with joy. Then she quickly shook her head, pretending to be shy. “No, Dad, that’s too valuable. I can’t accept it!”

My blood felt freezing. “You have no right! Those shares belong to me!”

For three years at Kleinn Corporations, I had secured projects that others failed to win. Didn’t they know that? All because of one lie from Silvia?

Around us, Mary’s guests looked at me strangely. Waves of criticism and contempt surrounded me.

“Even if Silvy is adopted, she’s still a rich family’s daughter. She won’t let some bad woman harass her.”

“Kayla’s useless herself, so she’s jealous of the adopted daughter being favored. Maybe she was planning to take over the Kleinns' property all along. Now she’s pregnant with a defective child. Well, serves her right!”

I wanted to scream that my baby was healthy. We could go to the hospital and check right now!

But the words stopped in my throat. Because my baby was already gone. I had lost even the evidence to defend myself.

Helplessness and panic tightened around my chest. My vision went dark.

“Mom, Dad, why are you pressuring Ayla again? I already said our baby doesn’t matter. If you keep doing this, we won’t come back anymore!”

Robert’s cold voice came from behind me.

Almost instinctively, I turned toward him, hoping for support.

But Silvia was faster. She threw herself into his arms, crying as if she had suffered terribly.

“Brother, I’m sorry! I embarrassed you. I forgot that you’re married now. You’re not just my brother anymore…”

Robert froze for a moment, then caught her steadily. He looked down at her tear-stained face, his eyes full of concern. “Silly girl, what are you saying? Don’t cry. Tell me, who harassed you?”

Silvia wrapped her arms tightly around his strong waist and buried her face in his chest. Her shoulders trembled, looking innocent and fragile.

“I shouldn’t have disturbed you and Kayla’s private time. Brother, can you hug me one last time? After today, I’ll disappear. I won’t make Kayla angry again…” She pretended to be the victim, but her eyes glanced timidly at me.

Robert held her even tighter. His voice was so gentle it almost dripped with warmth. “You are never a nuisance. And don’t ever talk about going away. I won’t allow it.”

His gaze burned with emotion, as if he was about to say what he truly felt... that he no longer wanted to be just her brother.

I stood there like an outsider in all this matter.

Finally, Robert looked at me. But his eyes were full of blame. “What did you say to Silvy? Didn’t I tell you she’s just my sister?”

His gaze dropped to the hand I was holding over my stomach. His brows tightened. “Are you taking out your pregnancy frustration on her?”

I replied, “I didn’t—”

“I’m sorry, Kayla!” Silvia suddenly screamed, cutting me off. “I don’t want my brother anymore. I don’t want the shares of Kleinn Corporations either! I just beg you, please stop making things hard for me!” She cried pitifully.

The air around Robert turned cold. After a moment of silence, he spoke without any warmth. “Silvy is part of this family. She obviously deserves a share of Kleinn Corporations. Transfer half of Ayla’s shares to her.”

The lawyer handed me the contract.

“Ayla. Sign it.” Robert looked at me with a clear warning. As if saying that if I dared to touch Silvia again, I would pay the price.

He had already decided his stance. Now he pressured me.

But I only gave a faint smile. “I’ll sign.”

Two soft words. I was filled with deep disappointment. Finally, I lowered my gaze, my eyes red.

For a brief second, something pierced Robert’s heart.

I picked up the pen and signed my name with force, almost tearing the paper. I threw the document and the birthday gift I had carefully prepared toward Robert. I wasted no time to leave the place.

Robert held the thin documents, but it felt as heavy as iron. Like he was holding the document that ended our marriage.

“Ayla!” He reached out to grab me.

Silvia suddenly cried out in his arms, “Brother, my chest hurts! I think Kayla hit me just now!”

Robert immediately withdrew his hand and lifted Silvia into his arms. “I’ll take you to the hospital right now!”

###Chapter 5

“Ah!”

Someone rushed past and bumped into me. I fell with a heavy bump to the ground. My palms burned with sharp pain where the skin was scraped.

Upon looking up, I saw Silvia weakly leaning against Robert's shoulder all the while sneaking me a winner’s smile. Robert then carefully carried his adopted sister into the car. He didn’t even look back at me.

Strangely, the pain in my chest suddenly went numb.

I stood up. Under the pointing and mocking looks of the people around me, I straightened my back and walked out of my family's estate. I took a taxi and went home.

Once I stepped into the living room, I took off the wedding ring I had worn for three years and threw it into the trash bin. I soon packed my stuff as fast as I could. Halfway through, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Silvia.

There were two pictures: an ultrasound and a pregnancy report. Her words were so proud they almost jumped off the screen:

[I’m carrying his baby. You don't have anything to compete with me.]

Looking at the pictures, the first thought in my mind was a loud question.

Was that child really Robert’s? Ha! This woman doesn’t know that her “good brother” has severe infertility.

It was almost impossible for him to make a woman pregnant. Even the doctors called my unborn child a miracle at work.

I smiled coldly and dialed a long-forgotten number. “Help me investigate Silvia Kleinn. I want everything, especially her relationships with men.”

“Oh? Who is this? Oh, my dear Ms. Kayla Wayne. Didn’t you say you’d never talk to me again? Why are you suddenly interested in your husband’s adopted sister?”

The man on the phone said lazily as he mocked. Strange though, I felt relieved instead.

Trevor Weiss. My childhood friend. We grew up together in the slums, depending on each other. He was an orphan. My mother died early because of the affairs my father kept having. Eventually he went bankrupt and became an alcoholic. When we were thirteen, several black luxury cars came into our broken street and took him away.

Well... Trevor wasn't exactly an orphan at all. He was the illegitimate son of a rich man overseas. We met again five years after the abduction of my father.

He crossed the ocean just to celebrate my eighteenth birthday. Unfortunately, that night ended badly. He beat Robert without mercy in the restaurant. I was so angry that I cut Trevor off completely.

Now, holding the phone tightly, I realized that Trev was right. I was the stupid one. Because back then, he said very clearly: Robert was not a loyal man and would never love me for life.

“You really have sharp eyes. You were right. I was wrong.” My voice became low.

“Wait… are you crying? Please, I’m scared of women crying. What happened?” Trevor said half jokingly.

My tears suddenly poured out because of his casualness. I told him everything about Robert’s betrayal.

“Fine. Now you can laugh at me,” I muttered.

But his voice became serious, yet gentle. “Don’t cry, Ayla. Leave it to me.”

“…Okay.”

After hanging up, I continued packing. In four days, I would leave Robert forever.

***

Robert didn’t come back home that night. He was probably busy taking care of his “woman and child,” and hiding it from his parents.

The next evening, after I finished showering, I was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace.

“I’m sorry, baby. Work has been crazy these days,” the voice said.

Robert lifted my left hand and put a silver ring back on my ring finger. It was the same wedding ring I had thrown away.

“I know you’re angry that I gave Silvy some of our company's shares, but this ring is our promise for life. Don’t ever take it off.” He kissed my fingertips, looking so sincere as if he hadn’t been trying hard to get another woman pregnant.

Promise for life? What a joke.

His kisses were hot, moving along my collarbone. His breathing became heavy. In the past, his actions would make me give in instantly. Now, it only made me feel sick.

“Baby, you should apologize to Silvy. Even if you don’t like her, you shouldn’t harass her,” he said softly.

I suddenly pushed his hands away.

“I won’t apologize,” I said confidently. “I did nothing. Robert, this is my bottom line.”

Seeing my red eyes, he wanted to reply, but finally sighed.

“Forget it.” He tried to hold me again. “My parents want you to go to the hospital tomorrow and do the abortion surgery. Then we can have another healthy baby.”

How ridiculous. I would never have his child again.

“I don’t want to, Robert.”

He kept persuading me, afraid I would change my mind and refuse to make room for his “sister’s” bastard child.

I finally lost control and pushed him away with all my strength. “The baby is already gone, Robert! It happened when you were busy taking care of your drunk ‘good little sister’!”

“I fell down the stairs. There was so much blood… I was in so much pain. When I needed you the most, you were with her the whole day!” I had never been so hysterical. “Are you satisfied now? Do you still want me to apologize?!”

Robert froze completely. His eyes widened in shock. It was like something had grabbed his throat. For several seconds, I saw he couldn’t even breathe.