I was eight months pregnant when my water broke—the same day as the birthday of my husband’s adopted son.

To keep my child from being born on the same day as his adopted son, he forced me to wait until after midnight. He refused to take me to the hospital and locked me in the basement.

Adrian Shaw looked down at me. His eyes were dark and hostile.

“Elena, you're really good at picking the timing, huh? Of all days, you had to go into labor on Evan’s birthday.”

I begged him to take me to the hospital.

A trace of disappointment flashed across his eyes, and his voice turned cold. “You’re still trying to lie to me? I asked a doctor. Even if your water breaks, you don’t give birth right away. Some women don’t deliver for three days.

“All this scheming is just to secure your position as Mrs. Shaw, so your child can compete with Evan for his birthday and his place. You've really thought this through.”

I took a deep breath as despair washed over me. “The baby I’m carrying is yours too! Adrian, I’m begging you. Please, for the child’s sake, save her. As long as the baby is safe, I promise I’ll never show up in front of you again.”

His expression darkened. He bent down, grabbed my chin, and replied harshly, “Don’t play games with me.

“As long as you stay here quietly until after midnight, I’ll take you to the hospital. Once the baby’s born, you can finally use the child to secure your place and truly marry into the Shaw family.”

Later, when my contractions grew unbearable and I cried out in pain, he found me too noisy and took Evan and his mother out to celebrate instead.

By the time he remembered me and asked whether I had a boy or a girl, his secretary’s face paled. “Mrs. Shaw is… gone.”

I was eight months pregnant when my water broke—the same day as the birthday of my husband’s adopted son, Evan Shaw.

To keep my child from being born on the same day as his adopted son, he forced me to wait until after midnight. He refused to take me to the hospital and locked me in the basement.

Adrian Shaw looked down at me. His eyes were dark and hostile.

“Elena, you're really good at picking the timing, huh? Of all days, you had to go into labor on Evan’s birthday.”

I lay on the damp ground, my dress soaked with water, begging him to take me to the hospital because I could feel the baby couldn't wait to come out—it might be dangerous if I didn't give birth soon.

A trace of disappointment flashed across his eyes, and his voice turned cold. “You’re still trying to lie to me? I asked a doctor. Even if your water breaks, you don’t give birth right away. Some women don’t deliver for three days.

“All this scheming just to secure your position as Mrs. Shaw, so your child can compete with Evan for his birthday and his place. You've really thought this through.”

I took a deep breath as despair washed over me. “The baby I’m carrying is yours too! Adrian, I’m begging you. Please, for the child’s sake. As long as the baby is safe, I promise I’ll never show up in front of you again.”

His expression darkened. He bent down, grabbed my chin, and replied harshly, “Don’t play games with me.

“As long as you stay here quietly until after midnight, I’ll take you to the hospital. Once the baby’s born, you can finally use the child to secure your place and truly marry into the Shaw family.”

Then, he rose to his feet and turned to leave.

My pale hand clung tightly to his pant leg. I refused to let go. I tilted my bloodless face up at him and begged again, “Please… take me to the hospital.”

Adrian let out a cold laugh and kicked my hand away. Without a second thought, he turned and locked the door. His icy voice came from outside.

“Mrs. Zane, keep an eye on her. Don’t let her out without my permission.”

…

That kick sent me crashing hard to the ground.

Instinctively, I protected my stomach, but in the next second, a warm flow spread beneath me. I looked down. The pure white fabric of my dress was slowly blooming red.

I struggled forward, inch by inch, dragging myself across the floor and leaving a long trail of blood behind me. Summoning what little strength I had left, I crawled to the door and pounded on it with my fist.

“Mrs. Zane! Mrs. Zane, I’m bleeding! Please, let me out. It hurts so much. I think I’m about to give birth!”

Mrs. Zane pressed her ear against the door, listening to the sounds inside. Then, she rolled her eyes and replied mockingly, “Mrs. Shaw, stop putting on an act. Mr. Shaw already gave instructions. If I let you out, they’ll dock my pay. You can’t make things hard for someone like me.

“Alright, stop yelling. It’s all your fault anyway. The birthday party we spent so long preparing can’t even be held at home now. After Evan finishes celebrating, he’ll be back for the cake I’m making. I don’t have time to waste here with you.”

I clutched my clothes. The pain in my abdomen grew sharper and more unbearable.

When I heard that she was about to leave, panic finally overwhelmed me. I shouted after her, “Mrs. Zane! Don’t go! I’m really about to give birth! I know you can’t make the decision, but just call Adrian for me. I’m bleeding a lot. If I don’t get to the hospital now, the baby might not make it!”

“Even if you look down on me, how can you ignore the baby’s safety?! If something happens to the child I’m carrying, how will you answer Mrs. Shaw Sr.? Don’t forget. You’re here to take care of me!”

Mrs. Zane finally stopped when she heard my threat. After a moment, her impatient voice came from outside the door.

“I’ll call Mr. Shaw now. If he says you can’t go, it won’t be my fault when Mrs. Shaw Sr. asks.”

I nodded frantically, pressing myself against the door as I waited for her to make the call.

“Mr. Shaw, Mrs. Shaw says she’s bleeding and about to give birth. Should we take her to the hospital?”

Adrian had just finished ordering when he got Mrs. Zane’s call. His expression darkened with irritation as he snapped coldly, “Mrs. Zane, do you not want this job anymore?! I told you to keep an eye on her, not to plead on her behalf!”

Mrs. Zane’s face fell as she was scolded. She shot an annoyed glance at the basement door.

Suddenly, she noticed the blood seeping out through the crack beneath it. Her face turned deathly pale, and she screamed and trembled, “Blood… Blood! Mr. Shaw! She might be telling the truth. She’s bleeding! There’s so much blood coming out from under the door!”

Adrian froze for a moment, his hand clutching the phone frozen. After a tense moment of silence, he finally spoke, though his voice was hesitant.

“Wait for me…”

In a daze, I heard Evan’s childish voice come through the phone, cutting off both what Adrian was about to say and my last thread of hope.

“Dad, I want some ice cream.”

Adrian turned his head.

Sue Riley held the child in her arms and gave him a gentle look. “Adrian, is it Elena?

“Today is Evan’s birthday. Is she upset that you’re celebrating for him, so she’s making excuses to get you to go back? It's just like last time, when she stopped you from attending his parent-teacher meeting.

“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t insisted on keeping this child, Evan wouldn’t be mocked at school for not having a father.”

Adrian’s heart softened when he saw Sue on the verge of tears.

Evan ran over and threw himself into his arms, looking up at him with pleading eyes.

“Dad, can you stay and celebrate my birthday with me? This is my first birthday with you. Before, it was always just Mom. Everyone laughed at me for not having a dad…”

Adrian bent down and held him tightly. He looked at Sue with eyes filled with tenderness and concern, and said,

“I promised I’d celebrate with you, and I’ll keep that promise. No matter what happens today, nothing is more important than Evan’s birthday.”

Sue broke into a smile through her tears.

“Adrian, thank you.”

…

Outside the door, Mrs. Zane dared not say another word.

As I listened to his voice through the phone, the last bit of strength I had been holding onto finally gave out. My body slid slowly down against the door.

Just before I lost consciousness, I heard Adrian’s final instructions to Mrs. Zane.

“Mrs. Zane, I don’t have time to come back. I’ll call Dr. Cady to go to the house and check on her. Elena has a habit of lying. When Dr. Cady arrives, please follow his instructions. I don’t want you letting her go on your own. Make sure she’s properly cared for.”

I had a habit of lying?

The moment before I blacked out, tears slipped from my tightly shut eyes.

This was how I truly appeared in Adrian’s eyes. He did not trust me in the slightest.

At the time of Evan’s parent-teacher meeting, I did call him while he was on his way to school, but that was only because the baby had kicked for the first time. I merely wanted to share the moment with him right away.

Adrian had deliberately kept it from me, so I had no idea he was going to the parent-teacher meeting.

I still remembered how excited he had been when he pressed his hand to my belly to feel the baby move, but in his heart, he had already decided I was lying and competing with a child out of jealousy!

“Mrs. Shaw! Mrs. Shaw! Wake up!”

A pair of large hands shook me violently. My mind felt like a messy, boiling stew—chaotic and foggy—as I struggled to slowly open my eyes.

In front of me was Mrs. Zane. She let out a sigh of relief and patted her chest when she saw me open my eyes.

“Thank goodness you’re alive.”

Then, she complained, “You scared me half to death, Mrs. Shaw.”

I lowered my gaze to my belly, and a shocking red greeted my eyes.

Mrs. Zane’s expression shifted as she followed my gaze. She covered her nose and wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Mrs. Shaw, how did you knock over the painter’s bucket by the door? Such a strong smell… It's only because you don't clean the house yourself that you're so reckless.”

I glanced at the corner and saw a tipped-over red paint bucket on the floor. I must have accidentally knocked it over.

The basement was dark, and Mrs. Zane was blocking the light from the door. Her eyes widened as realization dawned, and she said, “Mr. Shaw was right all along! You deliberately tipped over the paint bucket to make it look like you were hurt, hoping I’d call him back!

“Luckily, he didn’t fall for it! Otherwise, you would have ruined Evan’s whole family birthday celebration!”

I glared at her. Pain gripped me so fiercely I could barely speak.

Mrs. Zane flinched at my look, then hurried off to fetch a mop to clean up, forgetting to close the basement door.

The stairs leading out were twisted and turned, but I had no time to think. If I did not save myself, I would die here.

I took a few deep breaths, hugged my belly, and shakily pressed my hands against the wall for support. Step by step, I made my way toward the exit.

I never realized there were so many steps to the stairs. Each contraction stabbed at me like a knife twisting inside my belly.

Adrian took my phone, so I could only leave the villa and seek help outside. By the time I reached the main road, my strength was gone, and I collapsed onto the ground, exhausted and disheveled.

People out walking after dinner quickly surrounded me. Some screamed in panic and immediately called emergency services.

Adrian’s business partner recognized me and gasped in surprise.

“Mrs. Shaw! How can a pregnant woman be like this? Was your house robbed?

“I’ll call Mr. Shaw right now!”

…

“Mr. Clarke?”

Adrian looked puzzled when he received the call.

Mr. Clarke immediately replied, “Mr. Shaw, intruders have broken into your home! Your wife is lying at the door, covered in blood! We’ve already called an ambulance. You need to get to the First Hospital immediately!”

Adrian listened to the commotion around him. His brows knitted tightly as he instinctively rose to his feet.

A slender hand grasped his wrist, hesitantly raising the phone. “Adrian, look at what Mrs. Zane said.”

Adrian saw the chat on the screen. His pupils constricted, and his expression darkened. His voice turned sharp.

“Mr. Clarke, you’re mistaken. There were no intruders. My wife got angry and spilled some red paint on herself. Please cancel the ambulance. I’ve already called our family doctor. He’ll be there shortly.”