“I’m not going to hurt the baby!” I shouted, my voice hoarse, my palms up as Alicia shrieked.

“She’s lying!” she cried, clinging protectively to the crib as if I were some monster. “She tried to grab him—she’s unstable!”

“I was just—”

“Enough!” my mother-in-law’s voice cut through mine like a whip. “I’ve had enough of your theatrics, Victoria. You’ve been hysterical since the day my son died.”

Her words hit harder than I expected. Hysterical. As if my grief, my desperation to hold a baby that looked so much like my own stolen son, was nothing but madness.

“I said I was not going to hurt him—”

“Lock her in the basement,” Tina ordered coldly, turning to the butler.

My breath caught. “What?”

Hunter—pretending to be Harold—stood there, silent for a moment. For a split second, I thought he’d defend me like he used to. But instead, he muttered, “It’s for her own good. Let her calm down.”

My heart stopped. He agreed.

Two of the house staff grabbed my arms, ignoring my struggles, dragging me toward the cold metal door. “No—please! I’m not crazy! I didn’t do anything!” I screamed, but no one listened.

The door slammed shut behind me.

The basement was pitch-black. The air was damp, heavy with the stench of mold. My bare feet brushed over rough concrete and… something that moved. My pulse spiked as I heard the unmistakable skitter of cockroaches across the floor. A rat squealed from somewhere in the corner.

I backed up until my spine hit the wall, arms wrapped tightly around myself, trembling. And then I felt it—a sharp sting on my ankle. I gasped, looking down just in time to see the thick, winding body of a snake disappear into the shadows.

A scream tore from my throat before my knees buckled. The darkness swallowed me whole.

I woke to the antiseptic sting of hospital air. My vision blurred before it sharpened enough to see a nurse leaning over me.

“You’re lucky you got here when you did,” she said gently. “You were bitten by a snake. The venom was spreading fast.”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “How… did I get here?”

“The butler called emergency services. But you need to rest now.”

Rest? Rest when the people who were supposed to protect me had thrown me into a pit like I was trash? I scanned the room, half-expecting Harold—no, Hunter—to be there. Or even my mother-in-law. But the nurse’s next words told me everything I needed to know.

“No one’s been here since you were brought in.”

By the time I was discharged, my body still felt heavy, but my mind was set. I wasn’t going back to that house to cower.

The butler was waiting at the gates when the driver pulled up.

“They’re all at an auction, Madam,” he said carefully, as though my very presence was a scandal.

“An auction?”

“Yes. Miss Alicia is hosting a special charity event tonight.”

Charity. I almost laughed.

The venue buzzed with that particular kind of chatter that came from people dripping in diamonds and self-importance. Waiters weaved through the crowd with champagne flutes, and the stage glowed under soft golden light.

My eyes found Alicia instantly—center stage, wearing a crimson silk gown that clung to her like a second skin. She held a microphone, smiling sweetly at the audience as a large canvas, one of her paintings, was wheeled into view.

“This piece,” she began, her voice dripping with false modesty, “is my proudest work to date. I hope tonight it finds a home worthy of its story.”

The bidding started. Paddles went up. Numbers climbed. But as I stood there watching her bask in attention, something inside me shifted.

This wasn’t her night anymore.

I stepped forward, my heels clicking against the polished marble, and when the auctioneer glanced at me in surprise, I took the mic.

“I have something else to add to tonight’s auction,” I announced, my voice carrying through the room. “A Montgomery family heirloom.”

Gasps and murmurs spread like wildfire.

“This,” I continued, slipping my wedding ring from my finger, “was given to me by late husband Hunter Montgomery on our wedding day. It is worth millions… but its price tonight will be more than gold.” I let my gaze sweep the stunned crowd. “Because whoever buys this ring…” My lips curved into a defiant smile. “…will be the man I marry.”

The silence was electric. I caught the briefest flicker of shock on Harold—Hunter’s—face across the room, his expression hardening.

The ring was brought forward on a velvet cushion. People whispered. Some smirked. Others leaned forward, hungry for the scandal.

When the bidding ended, the ring was gone—snatched up by a stranger—and with it, the last tangible tie to a man who had already buried me in lies. For the first time, I felt something that almost resembled freedom.

Harold—Hunter—found me in the hall moments later, his voice sharp. “Why? Why would you sell something that important? That ring was my brother’s gift to you! It’s the symbol of his love for you. Do you even understand what it meant? What would you think he would feel after knowing that you did… and you’re gonna marry someone?”

“Why do you care?” I shot back. “You’re not Hunter.”

He flinched, just barely. “I am his brother. And I know how much he loved you—”

“Well, your brother is dead,” I said coldly. “And so is the part of me that cared. I’m moving on… and marrying someone else.”

I turned and walked away before he could reply.

But Alicia wasn’t done.

She caught up to me outside, yanking my hair so hard my scalp burned. “How dare you?” she spat. “How dare you ruin my night and make everything about you?”

I laughed bitterly, prying her hand away. “Don’t worry, Alicia. From now on, you can make everything about you. Because I’ll be gone.”

By the time I got home, my chest was still tight with anger, but I barely made it past the foyer before Tina stormed toward me. Her face was red, her eyes sharp as knives.

“Did you sell Hunter’s things?” she demanded. “The ring, his motorbike, the planes, all of his assets?”

“Yes,” I said flatly. “I sent them all to the auction.”

Her jaw dropped. “Do you have any idea how much those were worth? That’s money—money that belongs to this family!”

“He was my husband,” I replied, my voice cold. “I owned those things.”

“Where’s the money?”

“I donated it,” I said simply. “To charity.”

For a moment, the room went deathly still. Then her hand shot out, yanking my hair so hard I gasped.

“You evil brat!” she spat. “I knew it—you were just hiding your true colors all this time!”

I gritted my teeth, meeting her glare. “You’re the one hiding your true colors. You pretended to be kind, to care for me—”

“How dare you talk back to me?” she hissed.

The first slap came hard enough to make my vision flash white. Then another. And another. One. Two. Three. By the fifth, my ears were ringing. By the tenth, my cheek was on fire. She didn’t stop until she’d struck me twenty times, each blow chipping away at whatever strength I had left.

And through it all, Hunter pretending to be Harold was standing just a few steps away—just stared.

“Go on,” he said coolly. “She deserves it. Alicia told me what happened at the auction. How you tried to hurt her and even stole the night that was supposed to be about her painting.”

My legs gave out, my body folding under the weight of pain and humiliation. I could barely breathe. My hands trembled against the floor.

And still, no one helped me. No one stopped her.

But I’ll be okay. This will be the last.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand as I rested after what happened.

It was a message from Martin: Everything’s final. I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Make sure you finish whatever you’re dealing with.

My fingers hovered over the screen before typing back: Yes… there’s one more thing. But after that, I’ll be with you.

I dropped the phone onto the bed, my chest rising and falling with a strange mixture of relief and dread. I didn’t notice the shadow by the doorway until I turned.

Hunter—pretending to be Harold—was leaning against the frame, arms crossed. “Who were you talking to?”

I froze. “It’s none of your business.”

His eyes narrowed. “Is it the man who bought the ring? Who is he? Tell him I’m willing to buy it back.”

A bitter laugh slipped from my lips. “Why? It was never your business to begin with. I owned it.”

“I’m doing it for my brother’s memory,” he shot back. “You’re so quick to marry someone else when you could just… stay. I’d take care of you. You could be here, be a good aunt to my baby… with Alicia.”

I stared at him for a long, cold moment before laughing outright. “Your brother is dead. Which means our marriage is no longer valid. I don’t belong here.”

“What?” His expression twisted. “Where are you going? Are you leaving?” His eyes dropped to the luggage by the corner of the bed.

Before I could reply, Alicia’s shrill scream pierced the air from downstairs. “Help! Something’s wrong with Hash!”

Hunter turned pale. “Our baby!"

I didn’t move.

He grabbed his keys. “Do not dare leave, Victoria. We’re going to talk when I get back. There is no way you’re gonna marry someone else!” His voice was firm, almost threatening, before he ran out with Alicia in tow.

The moment the front door slammed shut, I snatched my phone.

Kidnap their child. That’s the last one. Once they hear about my dead body, it’ll be done.

Martin’s reply came within seconds. Understood. I’ll handle it. Be ready.

I grabbed my luggage. My legs felt like they were made of stone as I dragged the bag down the hall. Every step toward the door felt like shedding a chain.

By the time I stepped outside, a taxi was already waiting at the curb.

Hunter’s POV

The harsh scent of antiseptic clung to the air as I paced the hospital corridor, Alicia’s frantic voice echoing from inside the room. Hash’s tiny cries had turned hoarse, and the doctors were still running tests. My chest was tight, panic clawing at my ribs.

I had one hand buried in my hair when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Without looking, I answered. “What? I’m busy.”

“Sir—” The butler’s voice was breathless, urgent.

“I said I’m—”

“Sir, something happened.” His words cut through mine like a blade. “Miss Victoria… she got into a car crash.”

I froze. “What?”

There was a pause, and when he spoke again, his voice trembled. “…She’s dead.”