Aurelia's POV

I once thought this man had finally grown up, that he was ready to take responsibility. Turned out, he only quit smoking so he could prepare to have a baby with this girl.

My stomach twisted violently at that realization, and then I grabbed the wall as waves of nausea hit me.

Callum hurried forward to support me, speaking in a soft, careful tone. “Aurelia, I’m sorry. I know I’m wrong. I’ll give you time to process all this. As long as we finalize the divorce before Melina gives birth, it’ll be fine. I hope you understand. The baby in her stomach can’t grow up without a father.”

His familiar cologne mixed with the cold air and hit my senses, making me gag even harder.

I shoved him away and forced a smile. “What’s there to process? Let’s get divorced now.”

Then I glanced at Melina’s barely noticeable baby bump. “Her child can’t grow up without a father? Funny, mine can’t either. So, hurry up. The sooner we’re done, the sooner I can find a better dad for my son.”

Hearing that, something flickered in Callum’s eyes. “Aurelia…”

Before he could continue, Melina interrupted with a pout, “She already agreed, what are you waiting for? Bring out the divorce papers!”

While he stood there stunned, she quickly handed me a pre-printed divorce agreement.

I skimmed through it and laughed. “Not a single share of the company in my name?”

Callum kept his voice calm. “This company has always belonged to my family. And back when you were still in school, I supported you for eight years. Emotionally and logically, the company’s shares don’t concern you.”

I had always been grateful. Why else would I have married into the family when they were on the brink of bankruptcy?

Over the years, I earned dozens of patents, all of which outside companies were willing to buy for astronomical prices. But I gave every single one to his family for free for eight years.

Nine out of ten of his family’s clients came because of my patents.

And now, during this divorce, he wanted me to walk away with nothing.

“If you’re unwilling, I can give you a small portion of my personal shares—”

“No need. I’ll sign. We’ll divorce now.”

Once the marriage ended and you forgot your shares, his entire family will soon be nothing but an empty shell.

As I signed the last stroke of my name, Melina let out a mocking laugh. “I don’t know what you’re so proud of. You’re just a pregnant country woman. Once you leave Callum, how do you expect to survive?”

She lifted her chin smugly and added, “Unlike you, I have my family supporting us. With their help, Callum will become the richest man in this city in less than a year.”

I suddenly paused and glanced sideways at her. Her face looked familiar, like someone from an influential family I’d heard about, but I couldn’t quite place where.

Brushing that thought off, I tossed the divorce papers onto the table and turned to leave. But the moment I stepped out, Callum called after me.

“Aurelia, did you sign that forty-million contract today?”

I turned back, smiling faintly. “I did. But I just messaged the client and canceled it. Callum, we’re divorced now. I’m done working like a horse for your family. I hope you understand.”

For the first time today, his quiet patience snapped.

“Aurelia, do you really have to go this far?!” He gritted his teeth and yelled, then immediately pulled out his phone to call the client. The second the call connected, his voice switched to a polite, desperate tone.

Aurelia's POV

“Mr. Ashford… Hello, this is Callum Ellington from Vertex Tech—” Callum introduced.

But before he could continue, Mr. Ashford cut in, “Callum Ellington? Who are you? At Vertex Tech, I only deal with Aurelia.”

And right after that, the line immediately went dead. Callum redialed again and again, but every call was blocked.

In frustration, he slammed his phone down and glared at me, teeth bared. “Aurelia! Do you know how important that forty-million deal was? That’s almost our entire year’s profit!”

I spread my hands. “I know. But what does that have to do with me?”

Seeing him losing control, Melina hurried forward and rubbed his back, speaking in a soothing voice. “Callum, don’t panic. It’s only a forty-million contract. I’ll talk to my grandfather. Hell, make it four hundred million if you want, we can handle it.”

Uninterested in their drama, I kept a faint smile and walked away. But behind me, Callum shouted with rancor, “Aurelia, divorcing you was the right move! How did I not see how cruel you really are? You’re disgusting!”

As his voice trailed off, I called the person who’d gotten Melina into the company.

“Philip, what’s the background on that girl you hired?”

“Ah, she’s the last scion of the dying Lancaster Group,” he said. “Her grandfather begged you for five years but never got to meet you. So, he sent his granddaughter over to cozy up to you and build a connection. Of course, he’s after your patents, thinking if you can save the Ellingtons, maybe you can save the Lancasters too.”

Suddenly, a blurred memory snapped into focus. At several industry summits, I’d seen an older man bowing obsequiously in front of me, and behind him was a girl who wasn’t unattractive at all.

I let out a soft, bitter laugh. So, Callum and Melina were playing a game of mutual manipulation, each thinking they could use the other. How entertaining.

I was now in Philip Rowe’s office, telling him about Melina when his assistant knocked and slipped in, looking tense. He edged up to Philip and opened his mouth, but Philip shoved him aside. “This isn’t a room for outsiders. Say it.”

The assistant swallowed and said, “Sir, reporters have swarmed the company…”

“Swarmed? For what?” Philip frowned.

“They’re asking…they’re demanding an explanation from Ms. Crawford.”

Philip and I both pulled out our phones at the same time. When I saw the notifications, my heart dropped like it was tied to a boulder.

I’d made three of the top ten trending topics. The headlines were in blazing red.

[Betrayal! The Ellingtons' sponsored student of eight years goes rogue and voids a 40-million contract with a client just to satisfy her own grudge!]

[Mrs. Ellington betrays her husband and is carrying another man’s baby!]

[Aurelia Crawford, a schemer from the start. Her marriage to the Ellingtons was all an elaborate con!]

Messages from clients also poured in.

[Ms. Crawford, can you comment on the news? If not, our company may reconsider working with Mr. Ellington next quarter.]

[Ms. Crawford, we’re going to pause negotiations for now.]

Aside from those, anonymous insults from strangers also flooded me.

[Bitch! If I see you on the street, I’ll curse you every time!]

[Ungrateful, shameless wretch! I hope the baby in your stomach is born with serious health problems!]

I clenched my teeth and smashed my fist on the desk. There was no doubt. Callum and Melina were behind this.

Aurelia's POV

I had just informed a few clients that I was cutting ties with the Ellingtons, and before the news could even settle, the headlines exploded everywhere.

They wanted to corner me and leave me with no way out.

I grabbed my phone and headed for the door, but Philip caught my arm.

“Aurelia, you’re pregnant. Don’t go out there. I’ll handle it.”

But I pushed his hand away. “I’ve already crawled out of hell once. A little storm doesn’t scare me.”

The moment I stepped outside, I understood why Philip’s assistant had been so panicked.

It wasn’t just reporters.

Lined up at the entrance were several major figures from the city’s business circle—people with influence, the kind who never show up unless something big happens.

And among them were Callum’s parents.

Soon, Mrs. Ellington spotted me from afar, and her face immediately softened into a smile as she hurried toward me. The moment she reached me, she grabbed my hands.

“Aurelia, I don’t know how things escalated like this. It must be because of that forty-million contract, right? Did we upset Mr. Ashford somehow?”

Mr. Ellington chimed in, smiling like nothing was wrong. “She’s right. You can’t just cancel a deal like that and expect no consequences. So, be a good girl. Go apologize, get the contract back, and once the reporters leave, this will all blow over.”

I gently pulled my hands away and smiled. “Mr. Ellington, Mr. Ashford isn’t upset at all. I just signed that contract with his company under a friend’s name. He’s in a great mood, actually.”

I watched as their faces went from red to ghostly pale, and a cold, bitter smile tugged at my lips.

So, they were in on this, too.

All these years, I’d poured my blood and soul into saving their family, only to realize I’d been feeding a pack of ungrateful wolves.

Mrs. Ellington’s smile instantly disappeared. “Aurelia, what are you saying? You signed the deal under someone else’s company? You’re our daughter-in-law. Why are you helping outsiders?!”

I met her gaze, reached into my bag, and pulled out the divorce papers. “Sorry. I’m no longer part of your family.”

I handed them to her and stepped away.

But the crowd of reporters surged forward like a tidal wave.

In eight years, I’d stood in front of the media more times than I could count. So, I knew better than anyone that at moments like this, the more you talked, the more mistakes you made.

Knowing that, I just turned and headed for the back exit.

That was when a sugary, mocking voice called out behind me. “Well, well. Isn’t this the always-so-poised Ms. Crawford? What’s the matter? Feeling guilty, so you’re running away now?”

Melina appeared arm-in-arm with Callum, walking toward me with a smirk.

Even so, I ignored her and kept moving. But I’d barely taken two steps when someone grabbed my wrist.