On my wedding day, my fiancé received a call from his first love, Tracy Edward, while on the way to pick me up. He turned the wedding convoy around, picked her up, brought her to the venue and replaced me as his bride.

When I heard the news, my world shattered. I begged my parents to take me to the wedding event to demand an explanation.

On the way, tragedy struck. We were in a car accident. Though I was saved, both of my parents died on the spot because my mother shielded me in her arms.

However, the tragedy did not end there. Losing my parents had left me with severe PTSD. For two years, I couldn’t function and during that time, my ex-fiancé’s older brother, Blake Maxwell, never left my side. He took care of me, protected me and helped me through my darkest moments.

On the day I finally recovered, Blake set off fireworks that lit up the entire city. He knelt before me with a ring in hand and asked me to marry him. Two years of companionship had melted my broken heart. Tears streaming down my face, as I said yes.

Three years into our marriage, I finally became pregnant. Blake was overjoyed. He announced the news to everyone he knew, practically shouting it to the world.

That night, however, I overheard his conversation with his secretary which shattered my world all over again.

“Wasn’t she supposed to be on birth control?” Blake's cold voice demanded. “How did she end up pregnant? This child cannot stay. I promised Tracy that there will never be other women except her that can carry my child."

The trembling voice of his secretary responded, “Yet, Sir, if your wife finds out about, this won’t end well. Besides if the car accident from five years ago comes to light … if she learns it was orchestrated by us …”

Blake chuckled coldly and said, "I'll do anything for Tracy … anything! I've even married Julie, haven't I done enough?"

——

"Mr. Maxwell, Sir. This is the child that Mrs. Maxwell has longed for over the past three years. Losing it might destroy and kill her!” the secretary pleaded.

He continued, "You even arranged a car accident in order to let Miss Edward marry your brother without any hitch back then. Mrs. Maxwell even almost lost her life in that accident."

"Haven't you done too much?" he asked. "Now, are you saying you want to murder your own child?"

Blake's 's eyes were filled with dismay, his good-looking fingers gently rubbing a wooden box on the table. Then he said, "Whatever! All I care about is Tracy's happiness. Back then, in order for her to smoothly married the person she wanted, I had done all I could do to make sure that it was impossible for the Julie Wright's family to come to the wedding."

"It was my fault for not handling the accident well five years ago and leaving Julie alive." He sighed, "Yet, I married her, didn’t I? She’s set for life now. Isn’t that enough?”

Then he added, "As for her child, it can't be kept. Tracy is four months pregnant now. I won’t let my child become an obstacle to hers. Her happiness is all that matters for me. As long, she lives happily, there won't be any room for regret in my life."

With a cold voice he said, "Tomorrow, I’ll take Julie to the hospital and have the doctor claim the baby is unhealthy and can’t survive. She’ll be devastated, but she won’t have a choice ….”

I couldn’t bear to listen anymore. My legs felt like jelly as I stumbled back to my room. The moment I closed my room's door, my leg lost it power and I crumbled to the floor.

My marriage turned out just a lie from the start, my parents' death was actually not an accident at all. My husband was the person behind the murder of my parents and now he wanted to unalive my child.

For years, I blamed myself for my parents' deaths. I thought it was my insistence on going to the wedding that caused the accident. The guilt consumed me, leaving me in the grips of severe PTSD.

Throughout the whole two years, when I had the most severe PTSD attack, I had to be restrained tightly in bed by the doctor to stop myself from self-harm or even try to unalive myself.

During that time, it was Blake who stayed by my side. He kept telling me over and over that it wasn’t my fault, that it was all just a tragic accident.

It turned out the accident was not really an accident. It was proof of Blake’s twisted love for Tracy.

Now, to make sure that Tracy's child would inherit the Maxwell Corporation without any hindrance, he could even sacrifice his own biological child!

Beneath his seemingly selfless love, he had buried the corpses of my parents, my entire life and now, perhaps even the life of the child growing inside me. As that thought struck me, my trembling hands instinctively rested on my abdomen. Inside me, lay the child I had yearned for over three long years, yet it was also the child of my enemy.

I was so lost in the sea of despair that I did not take notice the moment Blake entered the room and saw me crumpled on the cold floor.

"Julie, the floor is cold. What happened to you? Are you feeling unwell?” he asked urgently. The overflowing concern in his eyes was so visible, just like they had been doing for the past five years.

Over the past five years, Blake had shown me nothing but devotion. Every cough, every slight discomfort and he would spend sleepless nights by my side.

I lowered my gaze, unwilling to meet his affectionate eyes as I said, “It’s nothing. Maybe because I was pregnant and felt uncomfortable, I did not stand properly just now."

He let out a sigh of relief and gently helped me up from the floor.

"Baby, you're a troublemaker," he said to my belly. "You're so naughty. You dare to make things difficult for your mother. Wait until we meet, Daddy will teach you a lesson."

“Don’t worry, Julie," he soothed me. "Tomorrow, we’ll go to the hospital for a check-up. We’ve waited so long for this little one and nothing can go wrong.”

As he said that, his gaze fell to my still-flat stomach and his face was glowing with tenderness. If I hadn’t overheard his conversation with his secretary last night, I would have believed he meant every word that he had just said.

Now, all I wanted to ask his was this, will we truly have the chance to meet this child? Are you truly waiting for this child for a long time?

I swallowed my grief and as I nodded weakly, I said, "Let's go to bed, Blake. I'm tired."

Blake believed me. He assumed that it was normal for me to feel sleepy in the early stages of the pregnancy.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed before his murmurs pierced the quiet of the night, "Tracy … Tracy …."

The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over and slipped from the corner of my eyes to soak my pillow then disappeared without a trace.

Reaching beneath the pillow, I retrieved my phone and typed a message to my brother, who stayed abroad. [Brother, help me. Please help me. I’ll come to you in the next few days. Please, wait for me.]

Early the next morning, Blake took me to the Maxwell Corporation's private hospital for a checkup. We had just arrived at the doctor's office, when Tracy walked out from the office. Her slightly protruding belly could be clearly seen.

Noticing that she was alone, Blake's brows knitted with concern. He then asked, "You’re four months along. Where’s Devon Maxwell? Why didn’t he come with you?” The worry in his voice could be clearly heard.

I laughed a self-deprecating laugh in my heart. I felt bitter. How had I not noticed this before? Was it because Blake’s act was too convincing, or was I simply too naive?

Tracy smiled faintly. It seemed she was very happy Blake concern about her. She said sweetly, "Recently, the corporation has a lot of things going on and there was a situation at the branch, so Devon had to fly over there yesterday.”

She glanced at me. “Why are you here, Julie? Are you feeling unwell?”

As soon as the question fell, Blake looked embarrassed and it seemed he was unsure how to respond.

“I’m pregnant. Blake was worried I might feel unwell or that there could be a problem with the baby, so he insisted on bringing me in for a check-up," I told her.

Though I knew I’d lost miserably in this relationship. However, for just a fleeting moment, I wanted to reclaim a sliver of dignity for myself.

As expected, Tracy's face turned pale when she heard my answer. "For real? You're pregnant?" she asked.

Realizing her reaction was too revealing, she quickly forced a smile, though it was anything but natural.

“Of course, it’s good news that you’re pregnant, Julie. I was just surprised. Go on and get your checkup," Tracy said.

While I was having the checkup, Blake gently patted my head to soothe me before he stepped out.

In the past, I might not have thought much of such a gesture. However now, as I watched his retreating back, suspicion crept into my heart like a shadow.

After the examination, I walked out to find the seat outside empty. I wandered through the hallway and eventually found him in the stairwell. He was standing close to Tracy.

Tracy's delicate brows were knitted tightly, her expression laced with dissatisfaction as she demanded, "You promised me she would never get pregnant. How could this happen?”

Blake pulled her gently into his arms and brushed away her frown with a practiced hand then coaxed her, “It was an accident. We’ve always been careful. I’ll take care of it, Tracy. I’ll personally ensure this child doesn’t see the light of day.”

His tone softened, almost pleading. “Don’t let this small issue upset you. You know it hurts me to see you like this.”

I stumbled back to the seat outside the examination room, my legs barely supporting me. His words kept echoing in my head. Small issue. He said it was a small issue. So, killing his unborn biological child was a small issue for him. Tracy's happiness was a big issue for him.

"Have the checkup finished?" he asked. “I just had to go to the toilet for a moment. Let me ask the doctor if the results are ready.”

His voice brought me back to reality, I nodded silently and watched as he disappeared into the doctor’s office. He emerged from the doctor's office after a long time with sorrowful eyes. He squatted in front of me at eye level with me. "Julie," he began cautiously, “I need to tell you something, but you have to promise me you won’t get upset.”

Then he continued, "The baby's test results are a bit bad, there are problems with its development, so we can't … keep this child."

Though I had braced myself for this, I had to try and save it. I locked my gaze on Blake's and said seriously, "I only ask you this just once. Please, be honest with me."

The moment Blake nodded solemnly, I emphasized every word I said, "This child … is there truly something wrong with it? Do we really have to let it go?"

For a split second, hesitation flickered in his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared and before I could see it clearly, he had already answered my question, "Yes."

I kept my eyes trained on his, as his words shattered me. I gave up the fight, closed my eyes and nodded woodenly.

Seeing my agreement, Blake immediately sprang into action and arranged the operation with the hospital.

I had to admit that the efficiency of the Maxwell Family's private hospital was excellent. It only took an hour before I was wheeled into the operation room.

When I woke up, the operation had finished and I was sent back to the ward. I placed my hand gently over my now-empty belly and without realizing it, tears started to rain down my face. The place that was filled with my child yesterday was empty now.

The door creaked open and Blake entered, walked toward me and wiped away my tears with his thumb gently.

“Don’t cry, Julie,” he murmured. “We’re still young, Dear. There will be more children in the future.”

His word was like a big hand that gripped my heart tightly. Will there really be more? Can I trust you?

Before I could voice my thoughts, a sickeningly sweet voice interrupted us, “Oh, Julie, don’t be so sad! The baby might be gone, but you still have Blake. Look at how much he cares for you."

She continued, "Even though the doctor said you didn’t need to stay in the hospital, Blake insisted. He was so worried about you that he arranged for you to rest here for a few days before he was convinced."

Then she added, "Coincidentally, I haven’t been feeling well either for the past two days. I’ll be staying here to take care of my pregnancy. Don't you think this is nice? We are keeping each other company."

When I raised my eyes, I could not help noticing the triumph that flashed in Tracy's eyes.