The baby was fully formed, yet because Vivian delayed the approval, he suffocated inside my womb.

“Quincy, your due date isn’t even here yet! Isn’t this request for approval a little early?”

“Quincy, the baby hasn’t been born. You can always buy formula after the baby is born.”

“Quincy, you can’t act like those lowborn people, always lying for money. Mr. Lane earned that money with his blood and sweat!”

She rejected my requests each time, refusing to even take me to a doctor.

By the time Tyler came home, I was covered in blood, and the tiny feet of my child were still trapped in the bloody mess beneath me.

He blamed me, “Quincy, didn’t you have the sense to call for help? You were about to give birth and didn’t alert anyone?”

“Vivian had already assigned a birth attendant for you. You’re pathetic! Even one strand of Vivian’s hair is worth more than you are!”

The pain made me lose consciousness. The only thing left in my ears was Vivian’s instinctive murmuring.

“Tyler, I’m so jealous of Quincy. Even if childbirth hurts like hell, knowing I’d be bringing your child into the world for you, I’d do it gladly!”

My heart felt like it had been gouged out. Pain was piercing me to the core.

Tyler acted like nothing was wrong.

I lost my child. I could not afford to lose my adoptive father too.

“Vivian, I’m begging you! My father’s surgery…”

Before I could finish, she cut me off,

“Quincy, you should have accepted it by now. Your adoptive father’s condition has been stable for a long time. There’s no need to make a fuss with an extra surgery. He'd just suffer more.”

“Besides, five hundred thousand dollars isn’t small change. Everything has to follow the rules. Mr. Lane’s money doesn’t grow on trees.”

Her words implied that I was recklessly wasting money and didn’t appreciate Tyler’s hard work.

Then, Tyler looked at me with a complicated expression.

“Quincy, Vivian told me that your father’s condition is stable. Surgery isn’t necessary at the moment.”

“I can’t believe you’re the kind of person who lies so blatantly just to get a little extra money.”

He shook his head, disappointed, took his phone out, and transferred me five thousand dollars.

“Here. This is enough for you to spend.”

“And remember, my money doesn’t grow on trees! Stop causing trouble for Vivian. She did everything right. You, on the other hand, haven’t learned a thing!”

I collapsed to the floor, utterly shattered.

In the end, I never got the rest of the money.

My adoptive father missed the best window for treatment and died in the hospital.

Pain washed over me like a tidal wave, stabbing my chest like countless tiny knives.

This marriage was a poisoned chalice, sweet on the surface, deadly inside. I had to end it!

At the thought of this, I immediately started preparing the divorce papers.

Just as I picked up my phone to contact a lawyer, I noticed that Vivian had posted something on social media.

In the photo, Tyler sat elegantly across from her, knife and fork in hand, enjoying a lavish dinner. Her caption read: [Who’s got a boss this gorgeous? I do!]

The words were full of provocation. In the past, I would have flown into a fit of rage, demanding answers.

Now, I almost laughed mockingly. I even calmly gave her a like.

Tyler’s message came immediately afterward:

[Vivian won a raffle prize at the annual gala — a dinner with the CEO of the company. Don’t overthink it.]

Tyler was always like this. He acted faster than anyone else when it came to her.

Then he added: [What’s the point of just liking it? Leave a comment praising Vivian for being hardworking and responsible.]

A cold smile curled at the corner of my lips as my fingers flew across the screen.

[Miss Linton’s work ethic is truly admirable. The lady of the house is being set a daily food allowance of ten dollars, yet you’re enjoying a steak worth thousands. You really know how to treat yourself.]

[Every penny you pry out of me now will become shared assets when you finally take my place. Congrats! Keep going!]

That was the moment I tore all pretenses apart. I no longer cared about being the virtuous wife they loved to talk about.

My phone exploded with calls and messages.

I tossed it aside and started packing, only to realize I had fewer than five pieces of clothing worth taking with me.

The expensive clothes, jewelry, bags, and shoes were all locked away in the walk‑in closet.

Vivian, the so-called personal housekeeper, was the only one who knew the password.

After all these years, I had lived here like a tenant.

I would not even leave a trace behind.

Tyler arrived home quickly. He stormed in furiously and questioned me. “Quincy, why didn’t you answer my calls?”

Without looking up, I replied flatly, “I didn’t feel like it.”

The look on his face was almost comical. It was like he had just heard a joke.

“What right do you have to not answer? Everything you have now was given to you by me!”

“Without me, could you live this kind of life?”

He jabbed a finger at me. “You’re too narrow‑minded. I only had dinner with Vivian, and yet you cursed her so viciously. How is she supposed to survive at work now?”

“Everyone at the company is gossiping about her. Women already have it hard in the workplace. If you dare slander her again, I’ll have your adoptive father kicked out of the VIP ward!”

A sharp pain twisted my chest as years of suppressed emotions finally collapsed.

I hurled my packed luggage at him. “Tyler, is this the good life you’re always talking about? I’m living worse than a dog!”

“I don’t even have one decent outfit to wear, not to mention eating well. Do you know my daily food allowance is ten dollars? Even your family’s maids are treated better than this!”

I dragged him to the closet and screamed while pointing at the locked door. “Open your eyes and see for yourself!”

“Even the closet in my own bedroom is locked, and only your precious housekeeper Vivian knows the password! What a wonderful life I’ve been living!”

“I’m not even as well‑treated as a mistress you keep on the side!”

Tyler frowned, staring at me in disbelief. “So this is why you want a divorce? The reason why you trashed Vivian’s reputation online?”

“After all that talk, don’t you just want more money?”

My arm dropped limply to my side.

“Believe whatever you want.”

I turned away and continued packing.

He let out a cold snort, “Fine. I’ll give you an extra fifty thousand dollars a month. No more approvals required. I’ll also have Vivian give you the closet password.”

“And I’ll bring in a top medical team from overseas for your adoptive father. Now will you behave?”

At that moment, I finally understood. He despised me deep in his bones.

In his eyes, I was nothing more than a woman willing to do anything for money.

I replied calmly, “I don’t want any of that. I just want a divorce.”

His voice turned sharp with irritation, “Quincy, don’t forget we signed a prenup. Divorce me and you won’t get a single cent!”

His tone was contemptuous. “Besides, your adoptive father’s biological son wouldn’t lift a finger for him anyway. If anything, he’d probably come asking you for money!”

Tyler was right. If my adoptive father’s real son had not been such an ungrateful leech, I never would have married Tyler in the first place.

We were never from the same world.

Everything I was doing now was simply returning life to where it had started.

“Do whatever you want.”

My indifference left Tyler unsettled. He could not understand how things had come to this, and how I was slowly slipping out of his control.

He wanted to reach out and stop me, but Vivian’s words suddenly echoed in his mind. “She’s always acting low-class. Plays hard to get with men, but really she’s just in it for the money.”

The pride of a top-tier tycoon would not allow him to lower himself, so he could only watch me walk away.

The moment I stepped out of Lane’s residence, my entire body felt light.

I would live on, carrying the unborn child I had lost, and my adoptive father’s final wish.

Before marrying Tyler, I was a well-known pianist in the city. I quit my career and announced my retirement at the peak of my fame for him.

Years had passed, yet my fans were still waiting for me.

I realized that it was time to embrace a brand-new life.

That very night, I announced my comeback concert.

The internet exploded. Even official media outlets stepped in to promote it.

Just like that, I put on the gown I had sealed away for years and stood once more before the familiar piano.

As my fingers pressed down on the keys, tears streamed through the audience.

They were not just listening to music, they were witnessing my return.

My world no longer revolved around Tyler. However, he panicked. He showed up backstage with Vivian in tow.

The moment Vivian saw me, she dropped to her knees with a loud thud.

“Quincy, this is all my fault. It was my fault causing you and Tyler to fight and consider divorce. I shouldn’t have come back. I might as well just die…”

As she spoke, she lunged toward the wall. Tyler reacted instantly, pulling her back.

“Quincy, I thought you’d turned over a new leaf. I didn’t expect you to still be mixing with these low-class people!”

“I told you that I don’t like you playing the piano. Vivian was just enforcing the rules I set. What? You think you’ve grown a backbone? You even ran away?”

I couldn’t care less. As such, I ignored his rage completely.

When I did not respond, he threatened me coldly. “It looks like I need to teach you a lesson so you don’t forget who’s in charge around here!”

He pulled out his phone and called his assistant. “Stop paying for Quincy’s adoptive father’s medical treatment immediately! Kick him out of the VIP ward! Without my approval, not a single dollar is to be spent!”

I laughed coldly. “Go ahead. Stop it if you want!”

Veins bulged on his forehead as his fingers clenched around the phone, turning white.

The next second, the assistant’s confused voice came through from the other end of the line, “Mr. Lane, didn’t you know? Mrs. Lane’s adoptive father passed away last week.”

Tyler’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. “What did you say?”