After 20 hours, I still hadn’t received any food or water. It felt as though everyone in the house had completely forgotten I even existed.

"I need water—just a little, please!"

The utility room was stifling and unbearably hot. My body was nearing dehydration, and I had no choice but to plead with the bodyguards. They only sneered at me.

“No water here, but there’s plenty of piss. Hahaha!”

Amid their cruel laughter, I forced myself to stay calm. Holding my broken ribs, I curled up in a corner, aching and determined to survive the next two days and nights.

I had to hold on—for myself, and for my children.

Just then, the utility room door opened. Vanessa walked in, clad in luxurious designer clothes, more radiant than she was three years ago.

"Tessa, you must be starving, right? Here's the lunch I specially prepared for you. Don’t be shy."

She tossed a large dog bowl at me with a smirk, then snapped her fingers. One bodyguard dumped a bowl full of rotten leftovers into it, while another grabbed my head and forced it toward the bowl.

“Vanessa, this is too much!” I resisted desperately, almost snapping more bones. The stench of decay made me gag.

“Too much? I’m just getting started.” Vanessa sneered. “Did you know Ethan only married you because we’d broken up? Even on your wedding night, he was in my bed.”

Her words stunned me. I suddenly recalled Ethan’s disappearance that night—he claimed he drank too much and slept in the garage. I’d believed him.

Realizing that my marriage was nothing but a cruel joke shattered something inside me.

“And you’ve met your twins now, haven’t you? I’ve trained them well, haven’t I?”

There was a flicker of madness in her eyes. It was clear who really belonged in a mental institution.

“Guess how old Riley will be when she lands in jail? And Jordan... ha!”

She laughed coldly, dragging her sharp nails across my cheek like she wanted to rip my face off.

“I can’t stand looking at her—it’s like staring at a younger version of you. But at least she’s useful. She’s already entered a few beauty pageants, and some talent agencies are interested... Don’t worry, Tessa. I’ll turn your daughter into my golden goose.”

“They’re just kids! You’re a mother too—how can you be so heartless?”

I screamed, hoping to awaken some shred of maternal instinct in her.

“Heartless?” She ground her stiletto into my face, forcing it closer to the foul slope.

“Once I raise them fully as mine, they’ll get all of Ethan’s love and inheritance. No one will take them from me.”

“You’ll regret this, Vanessa! You will!”

My chest heaved with fury as the taste of blood filled my mouth.

“Maybe,” she said coolly, “but for now, if you don’t eat every bit of this within thirty minutes, I promise you’ll wish you were never born.”

“I’ll never do it.” I refused the humiliation.

“Then your children will eat it instead.”

The moment she said that, I looked into her eyes and realized she meant every word.

I took a bite. The spoiled food turned my stomach instantly. Vanessa laughed maniacally, holding her phone in my face to film the scene. Her laughter lashed at me like a whip.

“These will go viral. People will love it.”

She finally left. As soon as the door slammed shut, I forced my fingers down my throat and vomited everything out.

Each retch sent stabbing pain through my ribs. The agony was so intense, I passed out.

I awoke to the reek of alcohol and the heavy weight of a man forcing himself on me.

“Tessa, you’re still so gorgeous. I missed you. You missed me too, didn’t you?”

Ethan, reeking of booze, mumbled as he clawed at my clothes.

“Get off me, you animal! This is rape!”

I fought him with all my strength and sank my teeth into his wrist. He screamed in pain.

“You filthy bitch! How dare you!” He slapped me so hard, my head slammed into the cabinet behind me, and I nearly blacked out again.

“Tessa, we’re still married. You’re my wife. This is your duty.”

He pressed down on me, his face twisted with lust.

“No!” I fought with everything I had. I was starving, broken, and exhausted, but I refused to give in.

Suddenly, my hand brushed against a rusted fork.

I was just about to stab him when the utility room lights flicked on.

Vanessa, wearing a silk nightgown and looking icy, stood at the door.

“She seduced me!” Ethan immediately tried to shift the blame. “I only came to shut her up, but she... she started stripping and seducing me!”

“You slut who can’t live without a man! Tessa, your mother should see how cheap you’ve become.”

Vanessa shed all pretense of elegance and spat her insults venomously—but clearly, that wasn’t enough for her.

“She’s all yours.” She snapped her fingers mockingly at the bodyguard whose eyes were glued to my exposed body. “Have your fun. Invite more if you want—just don’t kill her.”

“Vanessa, isn’t this a bit too—” Ethan hadn’t expected her to go this far and tried to intervene.

But before he could finish, Vanessa’s eyes welled up with tears.

“You really do love her more! Ethan, what am I to you? A side piece? A plaything? I was such a fool to believe you only loved me! Fine. I’ll leave and take our son. Go enjoy your perfect little family of four!”

Ethan panicked and wrapped her tightly in his arms. “Vanessa, don’t say that! I only love you. I’d do anything for you. Tessa? She’s just a mutt who breeds well. If it makes you happy, do whatever you want with her!”

Vanessa appeared touched by his words and began sobbing harder—but behind his back, she looked at me with a victorious smirk.

Then she leaned in and whispered something in Ethan’s ear with a teasing glint in her eyes. He immediately scooped her into his arms and carried her upstairs to the bedroom, completely forgetting what he had left me to face.

The utility room door shut once again. The bodyguard eagerly tore off his tie, walking toward me with a vile grin. His massive frame blocked the light like a looming shadow.

“...Might sting a bit at first, but I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

He reached for me—but just as he was about to make contact, I plunged the rusted fork into my own neck, and blood sprayed everywhere.

“Ah!” The bodyguard, face splattered in blood, froze in shock, then screamed like a siren.

I couldn’t help but smile faintly. It was a prison trick—designed to look fatal, but avoid hitting anything vital.

But I am too weak now. Days without water, the fever, and sudden blood loss dragged me into a haze.

“If she dies, we’re done for!” I barely heard Ethan’s panicked shouting before I passed out completely.

When I arrived, I was lying in a hospital bed. My wounds were bandaged with care.

No one was in the room. A wave of hope surged in me—I climbed off the bed, determined to escape.

But as I peeked outside, I saw two of Ethan’s bodyguards stationed at the end of the corridor.

Luckily, the doctor’s office was across the hall, its door slightly ajar.

I waited for the right moment and slipped inside unnoticed.

No one was there. I spotted a phone on the desk and dialed the gentleman’s emergency number.

“Ms. Morgan? Are you safe now?” His voice was gentle, full of concern.

His kindness shattered the wall I’d held up. Tears spilled over.

“No... I’m not safe. Not even close.”

Every word made my neck throb with pain, and I trembled uncontrollably—but I couldn’t stop talking.

He was the only hope I had left.

“My husband’s girlfriend used my kids to threaten me. She made me eat rotten food like a dog. I stabbed myself to escape being gang-raped… Sir, I’m at the state hospital now. I... I don’t know if I can make it to our agreed meeting time.”

He was furious—his voice trembled with anger—but he stayed composed.

“Ms. Morgan, give me five hours. I’ll be there before sunset.”

I was about to thank him when I heard hurried footsteps approaching.

I quickly hung up and ducked behind the desk.

A young male doctor entered first—followed by Vanessa.

What stunned me even more was what happened next—they kissed, passionately, like lovers who couldn’t be apart.

I covered my mouth and nose, terrified even my breathing would give me away.

“...Baby, we need to stop,” Vanessa finally said, pulling away faster than him.

I saw the man’s name tag: “Ryan Blake.”

Then it clicked—I’d heard that name before. He was the son of Vanessa’s stepfather. Her half-brother.

“I hate hearing that name.” Ryan gripped her waist so tightly it looked like he wanted to merge her into himself.

“When are you going to leave, Ethan? I swear, I’m going mad. I can’t stand knowing my woman is in another man’s bed—or my son calling him father!”

“Baby, just a little longer.”

Vanessa cradled his face and kissed him softly. “I hate him more than you do. One more month. He’ll be ruined. I’ll take everything. Then the three of us can disappear—together.”

Vanessa and Ryan left quickly as if nothing had happened, and I took the chance to sneak back to the ward.

I climbed onto the bed with difficulty, my heart pounding wildly. What I had just heard shocked me—I'd never imagined Ethan had been so thoroughly played by Vanessa.

As I was thinking about how to use this to my advantage, the door suddenly swung open.

I hurriedly pretended to be asleep, but the person who entered just stood silently at the edge of my bed, unmoving.

Worried they might harm me, I slowly pretended to wake up. Opening my eyes, I found Ethan leaning over me, so close his lips nearly brushed my nose.

He clearly hadn’t expected me to wake up and quickly straightened in a panic.

“I just came to check if you were still breathing,” he said coldly.

His reaction gave me an idea—maybe I could use this to buy time until the gentleman arrived.

“Are you sure Vanessa’s child is really yours?” I asked directly, skipping the pretense.

Ethan’s expression darkened, and he looked at me sharply. “Tessa, are you trying to stir up trouble between me and Vanessa?”

“I’m just giving you a reminder.”

Before I could say more, Ethan suddenly grabbed my hand, his gaze intense. “Tessa, I know what you mean. If you agree to divorce and stop causing trouble, I might consider being with you again.”

His stupidity and arrogance almost made me laugh, but to stall for time, I forced a look of surprised joy. “Really, dear? You mean it?”

“Of course.” My reaction clearly pleased his inflated ego, and he went on, “I’ll get you an apartment. Not as big as our home, but comfortable. I’ll visit often—but you’ll need to be discreet. I am, after all…”

A knock on the door cut him off, and like a startled rabbit, he jumped away, quickly letting go of my hand and stepping back to act innocent.

Ryan entered, greeting Ethan with suspicious familiarity, then turned to me with concern, playing the role of a dutiful doctor.

But the way he looked at me was off—like a predator eyeing fragile prey. It made my skin crawl.

“Ms. Morgan, you’re quite lucky. The fork missed your artery and windpipe. But be careful—you’re already three months pregnant. If you develop an infection…”

“What? Pregnant? Tessa is pregnant?” Ethan cut him off in disbelief.

“You didn’t know?” Ryan said innocently, handing him the diagnosis report.

Ethan snatched it and flipped through it. The deeper he read, the darker his face became.

“I can’t be pregnant... no!”

Before I could finish, Ethan charged at me, eyes blazing. He grabbed my throat and screamed like a madman.

“You whore! You cheated! Tell me—who’s the bastard?!”

“No... I’m not pregnant!”

I choked out the words as pain surged through me. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, and the freshly stitched wound on my neck tore open, soaking my collar and gown.

“Ethan, stop it! This is a hospital! Let her go—you’re scaring the kids!”

Vanessa suddenly burst in and shoved him away. Jordan, who had followed her in, started crying in fear. Ethan noticed the noise outside and reluctantly let go.

Cough, cough! I collapsed on the bed, gasping violently for air.

“Tessa, you’ve got the guts to cheat but not the guts to confess? If you’re not pregnant, are you saying Dr. Blake lied?”

“He’s—”

I tried to speak, to expose what I saw earlier in the office, but then I noticed Vanessa’s hand gripping Jordan’s shoulder. Her sharpened nails hovered less than a centimeter from Jordan’s eye—ready to strike.

Vanessa gave me a smug smile. Jordan trembled all over, too frightened even to cry.

Then I heard a faint dripping sound—and realized with horror that Jordan had wet herself in fear.

“...Anyway, we’re divorcing. Who the father is has nothing to do with you.”

I looked straight at Ethan and said calmly. I knew he would take it out on me later—but to protect Jordan, this was the only choice I had.