“I saw it! It wasn’t this lady’s fault! It was that bad woman! She pushed this lady into me and broke my Captain America shield! Bad woman, you owe me a new toy!”

The young boy pointed straight at Cory, his shrill cries slicing through the air and instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

“It wasn’t me! I—”

Cory barely had time to explain before the boy suddenly lunged at her, pounding his tiny fists against her rounded belly.

He sobbed and shouted, “You’re a bad woman! You hit the lady, and you made me fall! You broke my toy! Pay me back! Pay me back!”

She instinctively shielded her belly and crouched down to try to reason with him. “I didn’t push her. I swear, it wasn’t me—”

But the kid wouldn’t listen. Out of nowhere, he bit her arm, clamping down hard and refusing to let go.

Cory winced in pain, her brows pinched tight. Her arm swelled up almost instantly, blood running freely from where his teeth had broken skin.

“Let go!” she choked out, trying desperately to pull away. But the boy clamped down even harder, refusing to release her no matter how she struggled.

Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out. “Jenelle! Are you alright?”

Marius came striding over, cold and tense, his pace urgent. He didn’t spare a single glance at Cory. Instead, he rushed straight to Jenelle, who was sprawled on the floor.

“I’m fine… I fell on my own.” Jenelle looked up at him, her voice soft and gentle. “It really wasn’t Vice President Brantley’s fault, Marius… please, help her.”

The more she tried to defend Cory, the more it sounded like she was covering for something—making it seem all the more like Cory was actually at fault.

Marius’s expression instantly darkened. He turned sharply toward Cory, his voice frigid.

“Cory, do you have any sense of decency left? Pushing someone last time wasn’t enough? Now you’re even starting fights in public?!”

Cory stared at him, stunned, her face draining of color. “You actually believe him? You won’t even ask me for my side of the story?”

“This isn’t the time for your excuses!” Marius snapped. “Apologize to the kid’s mother! Finish what you started!”

“I didn’t push anyone. I’m not apologizing.” Her voice trembled, but it was clear and unyielding.

Blood ran down her arm, her belly ached from the struggle. But she stood tall, refusing to lower her head.

“Mommy! She still won’t say sorry!” the little boy wailed again.

The middle-aged woman stormed up and shoved Cory hard. “Women like you don’t deserve to have children! Evil creature! Still trying to deny what you did?”

Cory stumbled back and fell heavily to the floor. Her knees hit the floor hard, and a sharp, twisting pain shot through her belly. Her face went instantly pale, like the color had been drained from her.

Marius instinctively stepped forward, a flicker of hesitation crossing his eyes.

But then Jenelle whispered softly, “Marius… my foot really hurts…”

His outstretched hand froze midair. Then, without another word, he turned away and gently lifted Jenelle into his arms, walking off without looking back.

“Cory, you need to reflect on your behavior,” he said coldly. “If Jenelle’s injury turns out to be serious… you’ll be held responsible!”

Cory sat on the freezing tile floor, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers whispering ugly rumors and glaring at her.

Her ears buzzed. The whole world seemed to be pointing fingers at her. And the pain in her belly was only getting worse, twisting violently like it was trying to tear her apart from within.

Worse, Marius never once noticed her blood-soaked arm, still dripping from the boy’s bite.

Finally, someone realized something was wrong and shouted, “Something’s wrong with her belly! Somebody call 911!”

At the hospital, the bright lights were blinding.

While Cory was rushed into the emergency room, a doctor barked orders.

“The baby’s in distress! There’s a risk of preterm labor! Where’s the family?”

A nurse rummaged through her bag and pulled out her phone. “The father’s number?”

Cory’s lips were pale as chalk. She barely managed to whisper the digits.

The phone rang for a long time before Marius finally picked up, and his voice was already laced with fury.

“How long are you planning to keep this up, Cory? Jenelle’s foot is so swollen she can’t even walk! And you’re still stirring up trouble?!”

Her lips trembled as she spoke through tears. “I didn’t push her. My belly… hurts. I think… I’m going into labor.”

“Oh, cut it out!” he snapped. “Even your jealousy has limits! You’re really using childbirth now just so I’d come see you? Stop this nonsense, Cory!”

Then came a loud click—the call was harshly disconnected.

The doctor looked at her gravely. “Ma’am, you’re in a critical condition. We need to operate immediately.”

Cory closed her eyes tightly, biting her lip until no color remained on her face.

“I’ll sign it myself.” Her voice was so weak it was barely audible. “The baby… Save the baby… Please, you must save my baby!”

The red light outside the operating room flickered on, then off again.

Hours later, when a nurse brought over the newborn—no bigger than a kitten—Cory still hadn’t come back to herself.

She just stared blankly at the wrinkled little bundle of life as tears slid silently from the corners of her eyes.

Just then, her phone vibrated.

It was Marius.

“I’ve already apologized to the client you offended today,” he said coldly, in the same condescending tone as always. “Now go to Jenelle’s hospital room and apologize to her in person.”

Cory said nothing for a long time. Then the corner of her mouth lifted into a smile so faint, it looked almost like mockery.

He truly didn’t believe she had given birth; he had mistaken her utter despair for another petty plea for attention.

And now, there was no point correcting him.

She didn’t want to give him the chance to use her weakness to snatch the newborn and send it to his parents.

With that, she asked the nurse to print the divorce agreement and quietly signed her name.

The nurse tried to stop her. “You just gave birth. You should rest for at least a day.”

But Cory shook her head.

She only wanted a clean break. Once the papers were signed, she would leave immediately with her child.

With help, she made her way to Jenelle’s hospital room. The woman sat on the bed with rosy lips and perfect makeup.

Even her “sprained” foot was daintily propped on a thick cushion as she raised it slightly while Marius crouched beside her, gently massaging it.

Anyone with eyes could tell how tender he was.

In the doorway, Cory stood as she watched, her face looking paler than paper.

Her body, visibly slimmer after labor, was weak and worn—but Marius didn’t ask a single question.

He simply stood up and didn’t even glance her way. “Apologize to Jenelle now, Cory.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?” she retorted calmly.

Before Marius could erupt, Jenelle chimed in immediately.

“Oh, don’t be upset, VP, I’m fine… It’s just, I’ve been having nightmares these past few days. But this morning, when I saw that lucky charm on your neck, I felt so at peace.”

“Why don’t you let me wear that lucky charm for a while?” she asked. “No need for the apology then. How’s that sound?”

She gave a sly little smile, eyes brimming with veiled provocation.

She knew exactly what that charm meant to Cory. After all, Jenelle was Marius’s ex-girlfriend.

Cory looked down at the small pendant tied to her neck with gold chains. She and Marius had gone to the mountains to get it right after their high school graduation.

It had been pouring that day. She was drenched from head to toe, but he had carried her down the mountain, step by step.

Back then, he said, “As long as this charm is with you, I’ll protect you. Cory, I’ll make sure you’re happy your whole life.”

And now…

“Just let her wear it for a few days,” Marius agreed casually. “Jenelle’s health hasn’t been great, and these nightmares aren’t good for her.”

The voice of the man in front of Cory overlapped with the one in her memory, making it all seem like a cruel joke.

“Marius,” Cory asked softly one last time, “you really want me to give her this charm?”

“Don’t be jealous, Cory,” he replied. “You’re my wife, the one I married legally. No one can take your place.”

“Are you upset I’ve been distant lately?” he asked. “That necklace you wanted—remember? I got someone to bring it in. I’ll give it to you soon.”

To him, she was still clinging to him for gifts.

She quietly listened, then took off the charm and handed it over.

“Here. Let her have it.”

Marius beamed, leaning in to kiss her on the forehead. “I knew you’d be the understanding one.”

She turned her head to avoid the kiss, then calmly reached into her handbag and pulled out a document.

“While you’re at it, sign this for me. It’s a contract for a new project. The law firm’s been pressing for it, and I don’t have time to handle it.”

Her tone was composed, even natural, though her knuckles had gone white from gripping the document.

Marius didn’t even glance at the contents. He just picked up a pen and signed his name.

“Go home and rest more. Stop worrying about work all the time. You’re my wife, not a machine,” he said.

“Mm.” She carefully tucked the divorce papers away, smiling faintly. “Got it.”

She didn’t say another word; she just turned and walked away.

At the end of the hallway, she finally slowed her steps. She opened her phone and quietly blocked all of Marius’s contacts.

Thirty minutes later, a sleek Rolls-Royce pulled up smoothly to the hospital entrance.

Holding her newborn close, Cory climbed into the car without looking back.

This time, she would never return!