"Paging Dr. Smith to the ER...Dr. Smith to the ER, please."

The familiar intercom sound rang throughout the hospital corridor.

iona Smith, a twenty-four-year-old female doctor, was accustomed to the bustling scene at the Rende Hospital.

The antiseptic smell wafting in the air, the people talking in hush voices, the sounds of intercoms, the cries of the bereaved.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until she was called to the emergency room.

However, she had never once imagined that she would encounter the most ironic situation she would come across as a doctor, being entrusted with rescuing her husband's mistress, who was pregnant with their child.

She stood motionlessly in front of the emergency room, taking in Alice Miller's desperate situation. Blood covered Alice's thighs as she painfully clutched her protruding stomach.

At this moment, Fiona's mind went completely blank as her heart sank at the realization that her husband, whom she had loved for years, had cheated on her. Worse, they even had a child together.

Seeing Fiona remain unmoving, the nurse beside her frowned and asked, "Dr. Smith, what's the matter with you?"

Fiona didn't respond, so the nurse shoved her, saying with a hint of urgency in her voice, "Dr. Smith, snap out of it! The mother is in a dire state. If we wait any longer, she and her unborn child will be in danger!"

Hearing this, Fiona finally came out of her trance and glanced at the nurse for a while before saying in a hoarse voice, "You're right. Send her to the operating room."

Fiona composed herself and walked toward the operating table.

Meanwhile, despite the excruciating pain in her lower region, Alice could still recognize Fiona even though the latter wore a surgical robe and mask.

"Fiona Smith?! How could it be you?!" hysterical, she exclaimed.

Fiona could say the same. She also wanted to know why she had to be the one summoned to the ER among the doctors on call tonight.

She had loathed Alice for years, and this woman looked down on her as she relished the attention her husband was giving. But now, the tables have turned. Alice was lying on the hospital bed, needing her help so that she and her husband's spawn could survive. What a ridiculous twist of events!

'Why do I have to save my husband's mistress and their baby?' She thought bitterly, and a humorless chuckle escaped her.

Of course, she had to. Fiona was a doctor, and her duty was to save her patients, even if that patient was her husband's mistress. She had never imagined that the profession she had been proud of would one day bring her so much pain.

Seeing Alice's situation turning grim as time ticked by, Fiona regained her composure, adjusted her surgical gloves, and ordered the nurses, "Be ready. We will have an emergency operation for the patient."

When no one seemed to hear her words, Alice suddenly became agitated and shrieked, "No! No! Get out!" Although the pain in her abdomen was getting severe, and the blood was still flowing between her legs, Alice didn't seem to mind it.

"Do you hear me? I said get out! I don't want you to be my doctor! Ask another doctor to come here!" Alice screamed desperately. Her eyes looked wild as she pointed her fingers at Fiona.

Seeing Alice's condition worsening, Fiona turned deaf to Alice's demands as she ordered the nurse, "She's too agitated. Administer some sedatives."

Alice's energy was depleted, so she couldn't resist when the nurse grabbed her arm and injected her with a sedative. Her antics laid low, but nothing could seem to shut her mouth. Her eyes were pinned on Fiona, who looked calm as she examined her body. Suddenly she burst into mocking laughter.

"Do you know who this child belongs to? Of course, it's Kahl!" Alice tauntingly asked and paused.

Before losing consciousness, she added, "How pitiful of you! You're not even aware that I'm already carrying his child..."

Fiona didn't listen to Alice's provocation. She remained indifferent. Like a heartless machine, her fingers mechanically moved and operated Alice, doing all her best to save the mother and child.

However, halfway through the operation, the head nurse concluded, "Dr. Smith, the patient is only six months pregnant. There were a few mishaps before she was sent here, so I'm afraid we can't save the child. If we don't concentrate on saving her life now, there's a bigger chance of losing them both."

Fiona was also aware of this. She sincerely looked at the unconscious Alice, weighing the decision in her mind. The light on the operating table made her face ghastly pale. She had to make the call before their time ran out.

Fiona drowned in silence for a while. No one could guess what she was thinking. Then, Fiona said calmly, "Let's try our best to save the mother."

"Okay, doc," the nurses nodded.

After the operation, Fiona felt exhausted. She couldn't tell whether it was because she was physically or mentally exhausted from the shock she had received earlier. She took off her blood-stained surgical gloves and mask and left the operating room, despondent.

Her world entirely froze when she walked out of that door and noticed a familiar figure waiting in the corridor.

It was none other than her husband, Kahl Brown.

Kahl's hawk-like eyes were locked on Fiona with his thin lips slightly pursed. He gave off an invisible sense of oppression, prompting Fiona to stand there, not knowing if she should approach him or not.

Kahl didn't seem to notice her struggle and just gazed at her apathetically as if she were a stranger. While Fiona stared at him for a while, lost in his captivating ocean eyes that she had fallen in love with years ago.

An oppressive silence fell between Fiona and Kahl. None of them attempted to break it as they looked at each other, preoccupied with their thoughts.`

Fiona had always known that Kahl had a mistress. But it wasn't until Alice took the initiative to confront her then that she knew who she was.

However, that confrontation didn't hold a candle to Fiona's pain and sorrow when she knew that Kahl had let Alice carry his illegitimate child for six months.

Seeing how Fiona remained silent, Kahl coldly asked with his eyes full of indifference, "How is she?"

If not for wanting to know Alice's condition, Fiona was sure that Kahl would not take the initiative to talk to her.

Seeing Alice's critical condition earlier, Fiona suppressed her emotions and forced herself to be professional while attending to the patient. Now, faced with Kahl's concern toward that woman, Fiona didn't know what to feel anymore. She could only answer quietly, "Alice is out of danger, but the child couldn't make it. I'm sorry."

Laura Davis, Kahl's mother, just so happened to arrive at this moment and heard Fiona's words. Laura immediately rushed over and exclaimed, "What?! You failed to save the baby?!"

Fiona quickly turned her head and saw her mother-in-law and Megan Johnson, the nanny of the Brown family, rushing over.

Her heart turned cold upon seeing fear and dread on their faces. A wry smile curved on her lips. Of course, Laura knew Alice was Kahl's mistress. It would be strange for her not to know she was pregnant with his child.

Laura furiously charged at Fiona and madly accused her, "You're a great doctor! How can you not save their baby?"

Honestly, after knowing Fiona was the doctor in charge of the emergency operation on Alice, Laura felt a little ashamed for hiding Alice's pregnancy from Fiona. However, as soon as she heard what Fiona had said, her embarrassment vanished, and she blew her top.

Fiona couldn't believe how ridiculous they thought of her. Did they think she was a martyr that they could easily trample on? How could Laura demand her to save Kahl's mistress and their child like it should be a given?

"Mom..." Fiona grievously mustered.

"Don't even call me mom!" Laura hissed, "I don't have a useless daughter-in-law like you! You can't even save Kahl's child."

Fiona smiled dryly and pretended to be calm as she asked, "Mom, have you known all along that your son is having an extramarital affair with Alice? I'm your son's nominal wife, the Brown family's daughter-in-law, and that woman is nothing but a mistress."

"A mistress?" Laura shrieked and continued to scold her, "She's much better than you! Alice can at least carry his child. I'm warning you, watch your mouth!"

Standing on the side, Kahl abruptly exclaimed, "Enough!" His tone was icy, rooting the women before him to the floor. No one dared to go against his words. "If you are going to bark at each other, go back. We're still in the hospital."

After saying that, Kahl turned around and left, not bothering to give Fiona an explanation.

Fiona suddenly realized how foolish she was. Alice, her husband's mistress, had been pregnant for six months, and she was the last to know. Perhaps if not for Alice's mishap, Fiona would never know this fact until the child was born.

Knowing this, Fiona lost her strength and slumped against the corridor wall. An overwhelming sense of depression racked her insides as weak sobs escaped her lips.

It was an eventful night. Though feeling crushed, Fiona still had to return to work. The swarm of patients and critical hours had momentarily pulled her mind out of the mire. Somehow, the pain and grievances of families had calmed the bitterness in her heart.

When Fiona arrived at Browns' villa the next day's evening, only darkness and silence greeted her. Even after she had walked inside, Fiona didn't see anyone.

Laura accompanied Alice to the hospital, and it seemed that the Brown family's entire staff was assigned to look after Alice.

Thinking of this, Fiona couldn't help but inwardly mock herself. The difference in the treatments she and Alice received was quite apparent. Everyone would value Alice, yet they would ignore Fiona, Kahl's nominal wife.

Not in the mood to turn on the lights, Fiona headed directly to her bedroom upstairs.

But just as she reached the stairs, Fiona heard the faint metallic sound of the lighter igniting, and it came from the couch in the living room.

She slowly turned her head and saw a vague figure in the darkness.

The small fire from his lighter illuminated his handsome face as he lit the cigarette hanging between his thin lips.

It was Kahl.

Fiona didn't expect that he would be at home. She paused and tightly clutched the handrail, but she remained silent and let him speak.

Kahl didn't look at her and continued smoking. After an unknown time passed, he faintly said, "As you can see, Alice was pregnant with my child. Do you want to hear an explanation from me?"

Despite the words coming from his mouth, Kahl's voice sounded distant, revealing his indifference and impatience toward her.

Fiona's hand gripping the handrail turned pale as she tightened her fingers around it, her eyelashes quivering a little. Of course, she wanted to hear an explanation! Her heart was not of stone. Her husband had a child with another woman, and everyone except her was aware of it. She couldn't possibly remain unaffected after what happened.

However, with Kahl being insincere, getting an explanation from him was no longer needed. The least she could do was keep a little dignity to herself.

"No need. I want to have a rest," Fiona calmly replied.

Crushing the cigarette butt in the ashtray, Kahl got up from the couch and put his hands inside his pocket before dropping a cold emotional bomb on her. "Good, I don't think there's anything to explain either. Anyway, I'll have the lawyer draft our divorce agreement."

"Divorce?" Fiona repeated in disbelief, wishing that she had misheard Kahl's words.

"Yes, divorce." He emotionlessly confirmed and turned to her.

Shrouded in darkness, Kahl could only roughly make out Fiona's silhouette. But his eyes didn't miss the injured expression that momentarily flashed across her face when their eyes met. However, Kahl didn't seem to care.

"Given how things are, it's time we end this marriage," he continued, his tone akin to discussing a business deal.

Trying to keep her emotions at bay, Fiona asked hoarsely, "So you can marry Alice and give her a title, right?"

Perhaps Fiona had expected this to happen long ago. Still, she did not anticipate it to come so quickly. This sudden slap from reality was a little brutal for her to take in.

Kahl's eyes darkened slightly. He said with disdain, "It's none of your business. You just need to sign the divorce agreement."

Fiona felt her heart quiver. Suppressing her heart's sorrow, she softly whispered, "Alright."

Her reply dumbfounded Kahl. He didn't expect Fiona's decisiveness this time. Even though she knew he was having an affair, she always turned a blind eye to avoid arguing with him. Unbeknownst to him, it took all her energy to utter that single word.

Disbelief lingered in Kahl's eyes as he looked at Fiona. But he pretended it was nothing and covered it up, asking blandly, "Tell me, what are your conditions?"