###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.

###Chapter 6

“Oh my God…” Robert took two back steps, looking like a helpless child. He apologized in panic, “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t know you went through all that. Why didn’t you call me back then?”

He added, “But still.... This isn’t Silvy’s fault! You shouldn’t take your anger out on her.”

I almost laughed. Even now, Robert was trying his best to protect that woman.

When anger reached the extreme, only exhaustion remained. I didn’t want to say another word. More explanation would only show that I was pathetically desperate for him.

“Stay away from me!” I slapped Robert hard. While he was still stunned, I rushed into the guest room and slammed the door.

Outside, I saw Robert’s shadow stayed under the small gap of the door for a while. Then his phone rang, his footsteps hurried away.

The world became silent again. My tears quietly soaked the pillow. Suddenly, my stomach started to twist in familiar pain. It was an old problem from years of overworking for the Kleinn Corporations.

The pain was so strong that I curled up on the bed. Half-conscious, my fingers unconsciously dialed Robert’s number. It rang for a long time before he finally answered.

“Robert… my stomach hurts…” I whispered.

“I’m sorry, Ayla. I can’t leave right now. Silvy is having a panic attack. I have to stay with her.” His voice was hoarse and tired. “The medicine is in the left drawer of the bedside table.”

On the other side of the call, I could hear a girl’s weak crying. Then the call was cut off.

I held my phone, not even knowing what stupid thing I just did.

After suffering all night, I finally fell asleep near dawn. Soon I got woken up by violent shaking.

Robert sat by my bed, looking exhausted, his voice cold. “Because of the rumors you spread at the Kleinns, Silvy is being attacked online.”

He continued, “You need to do a livestream and explain everything. Say you were jealous of her and framed her on purpose.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Robert rushed back home, not to check up on me, but to save his precious girl’s reputation?

“I won’t do it!” I refused hoarsely.

“I knew you’d say that.” Robert’s face darkened. His tone turned threatening. “Look at this.”

He showed me his phone on video call. On the screen was Silvia. Around her neck was a light gray scarf. My mother made that scarf for me with her own hands before she died. It was the only thing she left me.

My voice trembled. “Do you really love her that much? So much that you have to hurt me like this?!”

Something hurtful and guilt flashed in his eyes, but soon it was replaced by cold determination. “I love you, Ayla. But I will never let Silvy suffer.”

I suddenly laughed. This bastard always knew exactly how to hit my weakest point.

My voice became frighteningly calm. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

Robert had already prepared everything. The livestream soon started.

In front of the camera, my face was pale as paper. I read his script word by word. “I was jealous of Silvia. I didn’t want to lose my position as Mrs. Kleinn, so I spread rumors to hurt her reputation. She did not seduce my husband, her brother…”

The comment section exploded instantly. Endless insults flooded the screen. Looking at those hateful words, I couldn’t even cry anymore.

When the livestream ended, I collapsed by the sink and vomited violently, as if I wanted to throw up all my organs.

Footsteps came from behind. I raised my head and looked at him in the mirror, my voice broken. “Now, are you and your precious girl satisfied?”

Robert froze.

I wiped my mouth and said clearly, “Let’s get a divorce.”

He immediately looked away. His voice was stiff. “Divorce? Impossible. I will never let you leave me.”

I didn’t understand. He kept hurting me, but refused to let me go. What kind of love was this?

“Brother… Kayla? Am I disturbing you?” Silvia’s weak voice came from the door.

I glared at her. Robert immediately said, “Silvy came to return your things. You two should talk.”

“I have nothing to say to her!”

Robert became impatient. “Silvy is sometimes spoiled, but she’s kind at heart. You’re her sister-in-law. You should be more mature.”

Then he went to the kitchen, saying he would cook lunch for us. In all these years, he had never cooked for me. But just because Silvia acted cute once, he learned how to cook for her.

After he left, I looked at the scarf on Silvia’s neck and said coldly, “Give it back to me.”

The girl smiled. The innocent look disappeared. Her eyes turned cruel. “You’re really stupid. Why haven’t you left? Sooner or later, I’ll be the real lady of this house.”

How ridiculous. I didn’t even want to fight her for it.

I slowly relaxed my fists. “Give me the scarf. I’ll leave soon and give you your ‘family of three.’ Then you won’t have to be a secret mistress anymore,” I said with a mocking smile.

Silvia got angry, but soon her smile became even more evil. “Oh, you still don’t know why I was adopted by the Kleinns, right? You should thank yourself.”

My breathing stopped. “What do you mean?”

She crossed her arms proudly. “A few years ago, didn’t you anonymously donate bone marrow? What a coincidence, I was at the same hospital that day. After you left, I paid someone to fake the donation record.”

“The bigger coincidence is... the rich man who needed the bone marrow was Robert’s father.”

My head went dizzy. I could barely stand. “So… you took my place…”

“Thanks to you, I became the Kleinns' precious daughter.” She stepped closer, her smile twisted. “But what I want is more than that.”

She touched her flat stomach. Her eyes turned vicious.

Suddenly, she grabbed my arm tightly and pulled me under her, then threw me violently toward the edge of the bathtub!

“Ah!”

Two screams rang out at the same time.

A tall figure rushed into the room.

“Silvy?!”

Seeing Silvia holding her stomach in pain, Robert’s eyes turned red instantly. He didn’t help me, even though my head hit the bathtub and blood was flowing.

Instead, he rushed to hold Silvia, asking her anxiously if she was okay, shouting for doctors.

“My stomach hurts, brother… Kayla, she… she said she wanted to die together with me!”

“I didn’t! It was her—” I tried to explain.

“Shut up, Kayla! Do you even have a heart?!” he interrupted angrily. “Apologize to Silvy!”

My heart sank to the bottom. I shook my head firmly. “Never.”

He wanted to be her “brother” in name, but her secret lover forever, treating her like a princess.

Then what was I? Just a cover, a tool to maintain his image as a perfect husband. Why should I pay the price for their shameful love?

Robert then picked up my scarf. “Apologize. Don’t make me say it the third time.”

His bodyguard appeared at the door and handed him a lighter.

My heart stopped for a second. Rage exploded in my chest. “Stop! That’s the only thing my mother left me!”

He had already taken the lighter. His thumb rested on the wheel. “If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being cruel.”

Cruel?

What a joke.

Ignoring the blood soaking my back, I screamed with all my strength, “Then when you slept with your adopted sister and betrayed your vows! Weren’t you the cruel one?!”