A message popped up on Kennedy's phone.

Marianne glanced at it and caught a glimpse of his reply: [Oh, she loves it! Suzie, you did a great job picking that gift!]

She couldn't help but notice how this usually cold and distant man now had a phone full of cute cat emojis.

With a blank expression on her face, she shut the phone and tossed the gift box aside. No yelling, no crying—just a suffocating silence.

For once, Kennedy was caught off guard. Something about Marianne seemed… different.

"Now that I gave you the gift, I should get back—Suzie needs me. She can't handle things on her own."

He said it like he was testing her, waiting for a reaction.

But Marianne's voice came out calm. "Kennedy, let's break up."

Her expression was unreadable. Her words sounded like she'd practiced them a hundred times.

Kennedy blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm serious," Marriane replied. "Let's end this, Kennedy."

Her eyes, usually soft and timid, now gleamed with an unfamiliar resolve.

"You're breaking up with me because I stayed with Suzie when she wasn't feeling well? Is that it?" His face turned red as he grabbed her wrist tightly. "Don't forget—without me, how will you even survive? I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Don't bring it up again."

She didn't understand. 'Isn't this what he wanted? Shouldn't he be relieved I'm the one walking away?'

Before she could say anything, Kennedy's phone buzzed again. This time, a series of texts lit up the screen.

[Uncle Ken, you don't need to come take care of me. I'll be fine.]

[By the way, how do I turn off the gas stove? Uncle Ken, the house smells weird…]

The text made his face pale. Letting go of Marianne's wrist, he grabbed his keys and bolted for the door.

The sudden movement knocked Marianne off balance, and she stumbled, her hand brushing against the gift box she'd prepared. The lid fell open, revealing a tiny pink bunny-themed baby outfit.

Kennedy paused for a moment, glancing over his shoulder. "What's that?"

A flicker of panic crossed Marianne's face, but she quickly smirked and said sarcastically, "What else? A bunny costume. Why don't you let your darling Suzie wait, and we can have some fun instead?"

Kennedy scowled. "Suzie might be in danger, and this is what you're thinking about? Marianne, do you even have a heart?"

With that, he slammed the door behind him. The loud bang made Marianne's stomach churn.

"Yeah, I guess I don't have a heart anymore," she muttered to herself. "It's been broken beyond repair long ago."

Slowly, she stood up, gathered the baby clothes, and called an orphanage to come pick up a donation.

If Kennedy had stopped—just for a second—he would've seen what those clothes meant. But he couldn't even spare her a moment.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed. A message from Dr. Obrien.

[Marianne, based on your health, it's best to schedule the procedure around the 50th day of your pregnancy.]

Marianne still had to wait 20 more days. That thought made her restless.

Her plan had been simple: break up, get the procedure, and leave Kennedy's place.

But now she had to hide her pregnancy, find work quickly, and build up enough money to escape the Brydens for good.

At the same time, the doctor was texting Kennedy.

[Kennedy, I've been stalling as much as I can. Do something before it's too late. Take care of Marianne and fix this.]

Confused, Kennedy frowned at the message. 'Stalling for what?' he wondered.

But he was so busy that he could only glance at the text and turn his phone off.

He was on set, helping Suzanne prepare for her audition.

Out of respect for the famous actor, the director had agreed to let the young girl play a small supporting role.

"Uncle Ken," she whispered. "I'm so nervous my stomach's acting up. Did you bring the meds?"

Kennedy froze. The painkillers—he'd left them with Marianne the night before.

For a brief moment, her face flashed in his mind, and he felt something heavy settle in his chest.

Marianne used to be religious about texting Kennedy reminders—what to wear, how the weather was, what to eat. But today, she didn't send him a single text.

Normally, a quick errand would've been no big deal. Yet Kennedy insisted on dragging Marianne into it.

[Marianne, Suzie's stomach hurts. Bring over that box of meds from last night ASAP.]

He sent the message, but all he got back was a little red exclamation mark.

'Fuck… Did she block me?' Kennedy wondered, his brows pulling together, his face darkening.

'Damn it,' he cursed internally, realizing Marianne did block him. 'When it really came to Suzie, that woman always blew things out of proportion. Completely unreasonable!'

But he knew Marianne—she'd come crawling back soon enough, picking up right where she left off as his walking weather report.

Marianne had a makeup test scheduled with Director Angus, so she'd arrived at the set early. It had been years since she'd worked, and she wasn't exactly A-list anymore. Making people wait on her wasn't an option.

Unfortunately, Kennedy's crew was filming right next door.

"Scene one, take 36. Action!"

Kennedy was playing the male lead, rejecting the supporting actress's confession of love. The scene required her to steal a kiss from him.

It should've been easy—just a quick peck, like a bird snatching a crumb. But Suzanne managed to mess it up 35 times, her lips pressing against his over and over.

"Uncle Ken, I don't know how to kiss. I'm so nervous…"

"Uncle Ken, I still don't know…"

The crew was losing patience, but with Kennedy on set, no one dared to speak up.

"It's okay, Suzie. Let's try again," Kennedy said calmly, ruffling her hair.

When he glanced up—he saw Marianne walking toward him.

'Hah. I knew it,' Kennedy thought to himself. 'She came before I could coax her.'

"Aunt Marianne!" Suzanne called out with a bright smile. "Are you here to visit Uncle Ken? He's teaching me how to act!"

Marianne cursed under her breath but stayed where she was, arms crossed. Suzanne's acting was terrible, and Marianne watched the young girl make a fool of herself

"Uncle Ken, Aunt Marianne doesn't like me hanging around you. Maybe we should skip this scene?" Suzanne suggested.

Kennedy disagreed. "Why should her opinion matter?"

As if to spite Marianne for daring to break up with him, Kennedy suddenly pulled Suzanne into his arms. Their lips met in a heated kiss as they entwined with each other.

"Cut! Perfect!" the director called.

Finally, the scene was done.

Marianne stood frozen, her nails biting into her palms.

The stress must've hit her baby because nausea came rushing in like a tidal wave. She clutched her belly, hand over her mouth, barely holding herself together.

Kennedy pushed Suzanne aside and looked Marianne's way.

Marianne forced herself upright and made her voice sound loud. "God, it's the middle of the day, and some people are already making me want to puke."

Of course, she still couldn't stand Suzanne.

Kennedy let out a long breath, but when he looked again, Suzanne was no longer beside him.

After seeing how seriously he kissed Suzanne, why did Marianne bother them?

Marianne found an empty corner to sit, wiping her mouth clean as her stomach settled.

"Aunt Marianne, I'm sorry! Kissing Uncle Ken is just part of the job," Suzanne chirped as she walked over.

Her tone was sweet, but the smug look on her face gave her away.

"Good for you. Hope it pays off big," Marianne shot back, her face unreadable.

"Then why are you sitting here all alone? Not feeling well?" Suzanne smirked. "Or are you just jealous?"

But Marianne wasn't in the mood to play nice. "If you've got time to worry about me, maybe focus on improving your acting instead. At least then the crew won't look ready to quit."

Suzanne blinked in disbelief. 'Since when did this quiet little mouse grow her claws?'

Then, she fired back, "No matter how bad my acting is, Uncle Ken will always back me up. What about you? What do you even have?"

Marianne stayed quiet, and Suzanne knew she had won.

"Uncle Ken will always remember his late first love and love me," Suzanne added. "I'm her daughter, and I look just like her. But you? Nobody loves you."

She flashed a sly smile and gave Marianne a pitiful look. "You need to realize, the living can never beat the dead."

'True,' Marianne thought, 'the living couldn't compete with the dead.'

But a person with a dead heart didn't need to compete.

"Well, good luck trying to take my place. I hope you and your dear Uncle Ken end up happy together," Marianne said coolly as she stood to leave.

But as she stepped away, Suzanne stuck out her foot.

In an instant, Marianne lost her balance. She fell straight into the lake, and cold water quickly surged around her.

"Ahhh!" she cried. "Help! Hel—"

The foul, freezing water rushed into her mouth, choking her, and leaving her unable to scream properly.

Her limbs went numb, and a sharp ache pierced her stomach.

Even though she knew the baby would eventually leave her body, she instinctively curled around her belly.

"My baby… my baby… hang on," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the splashing.

"Marianne!" a voice broke through her panic.

'Am I hearing things? It sounds like…' she thought, 'Kennedy?'

Just as she was about to sink completely, she felt a hand grab her, pulling her toward the surface.

From the shore, voices shouted.

"Mr. Bryden, don't jump in! You can't swim!"

"Sir, stop! We've already called for help!"

It was indeed Kennedy saving her.

His hand didn't stop gripping hers, pulling her up while the people on the shore reached for her.

That moment was like deja vu 10 years ago.

Back then, he jumped in without thinking, knowing he couldn't swim, just to save her.

"Marianne, don't worry. I'm here!"

Today, he made the same choice.

'Why?' She wanted to ask him so badly. 'Why save me when you don't even love me anymore?'

Before she could speak, Suzanne screamed and jumped into the water.

"Uncle Ken! You can't swim—what if you drown? I'll save you!"

Then she started flailing in the water.

"Uncle Ken… help me…"

"Suzanne! Where are you?" Kennedy immediately let go of Marianne and turned to where Suzanne had fallen.

Marianne reached for him, but he pushed her away.

The shore was so close. If only he had held on for one more second, she could've made it.

But without him to hold her up, the icy water dragged her back under, the shore and the shouting voices becoming distant.

As darkness enveloped her, one thought echoed in her mind.

'Suzanne was right. I can't win against her.'

Ten years ago, Kennedy had jumped in to save her without hesitation.

Now, 10 years later, he let her go just as easily to save Suzanne.

If that's how it was, what was left for Marianne to hold on to?

When she opened her eyes again, the blinding hospital lights made her dizzy.

Dr. Obrien came rushing over, immediately scolding her. "Marianne, do you realize how reckless you were? You almost lost the baby!"

"Whatever. If it's gone, it's gone." Marianne said, giving a half-hearted, lifeless smile. She couldn't even force a real one.

The doctor was stunned.

Marianne had been coming to her for years. Just recently, when Marianne got her pregnancy results, her eyes lit up with joy.

But now… all that light was gone.

"It's that damn Kennedy, isn't it?" the doctor muttered angrily. "Stop saying things out of spite. I'll call him right now and tell him to come stay with you!"

"No need. Don't bother him," Marianne interrupted.

'Don't bother him while he's with someone else,' she wanted to add.

"Marianne, what are you saying?!" the doctor snapped. "If something's wrong with the baby, he needs to know! It's his child! What's he so busy with?"