Julian froze. A look of sheer disbelief and profound hurt washed over his face.

"Clara, what are you talking about?" His voice trembled. "I know losing the baby has been a terrible blow, but you can't say things like that."

When I remained silent, his tone softened into one of weary resignation. "It's my fault. You're exhausted and emotionally unstable. I shouldn't have asked you to apologize. I know how much pain you're in. You just need to rest."

He sighed. Though he still held Penelope, his gaze was fixed on me, brimming with concern. "Please, don't say things you don't mean just to hurt me, okay?"

He ordered a maid to escort me to my room.

He compensated Penelope lavishly, even calling the family doctor to tend to her superficial scrapes. He still believed I had pushed her. A wave of sorrow so profound it felt like drowning washed over me.

At ten o'clock that night, he came into the master bedroom.

He carried a bouquet of white roses—my favorite.

He sat on the edge of the bed, gently resting his head on my shoulder as I lay with my back to him.

"Darling, please don't be angry anymore." His voice was hoarse, heavy with exhaustion and a vulnerability he rarely showed.

"I know you're hurting. I'm devastated about the baby too. That wasn't just your child; he was mine."

He wrapped his arms around my rigid body, his touch gentle but possessive.

"About Penelope… I know she was wrong. She never should have touched Leo's room. We can deal with that when you've calmed down. But hearing you talk about divorce today… it terrified me. It broke my heart."

"The doctor said that once you recover, we can have more children. Please, don't push me away. Please, don't torture us both with words you can't possibly mean, alright?"

Watching him hold me, his eyes red and his face a mask of profound love, was the cruelest irony.

He was always like this. This was why I had truly believed he loved me, and that Penelope was nothing more than a duty he bore.

But I wouldn't be fooled again.

Tomorrow, after I said a final goodbye to my son at the family cemetery, my brother was coming for me.

The next morning, we drove to the private cemetery on the suburban estate.

It was the Hayes family cemetery. We were there to place a small headstone for our unborn child.

Halfway through the somber ceremony, Julian received an urgent call from Owen. A group of short-sellers was launching a hostile attack on Storm Capital's stock. The situation was critical.

Conflict flickered across Julian's face, but his hesitation was brief.

"Clara, there's an emergency at the company. I have to go."

He gestured to Penelope, who stood a short distance away.

"Penelope will stay with you. I know her mind is… simple, but she's family. I'll feel better knowing someone is here with you. Don't worry, I'll be back as soon as I can."

Julian gave me a quick, distracted kiss on the forehead, then turned and hurried toward the helicopter waiting nearby.

A minute after he was gone, the vacant smile vanished from Penelope's face. She strode up to the small headstone and kicked over the bouquet of white roses Julian had just placed there. "Such rare flowers. As if your pathetic little bastard was worth it."