Winter hung up after hearing Liam's accusations. She looked at Regina, who was sprawled across the oversized bed. She was lounging under the air-conditioning and eating ice cream.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll take a picture of you like this and send it to Liam?" Winter asked.

Regina didn't even blink. "What's he going to do? Get mad? He'll probably say I'm cute and that I know how to enjoy life. I'm not like you. You always look miserable. He got sick of that a long time ago."

"This is the first time I've seen such a shameless mistress. Didn't you swear you'd rather die than be the other woman back then?"

Regina's face flushed. Humiliation turned to anger. She stepped toward Winter, then stopped three feet away from her.

A second later, she yanked the breathing mask off the bedside machine and shoved it into Winter's hands.

"The one unloved is the real mistress," Regina spat. "Let's see who he believes—you or me."

She dropped to her knees with a loud thud and slammed her head on the floor. "Winnie, please! Give it back! I can't breathe!"

Winter was still trying to process what was happening when a violent kick broke open the door.

Liam rushed in and scooped Regina into his arms. He snatched the mask from Winter before fitting it back over Regina's face.

"Regina, are you okay?"

Regina sagged against him. Her breathing was shallow. "It isn't Winnie's fault. She just lost control because I took her father's heart. She didn't mean it…"

Liam's gaze darkened. "You're just too kind. That's why people step all over you."

He turned to Winter. The warmth from his eyes was gone.

"I was the one who decided to give Regina the heart. If you're angry, take it out on me. Do you have any idea that you could've killed her?"

Winter remained calm. She pointed toward the camera in the corner of the room.

"It wasn't me. Check the cameras if you don't believe me. Besides—"

She paused. "It was just a breathing mask. She wasn't in danger. Have you forgotten that you shut off my dad's life support for ten full minutes?"

A flash of violence crossed Liam's eyes. "We’ll see how long you can keep being stubborn."

He started to get up, but Regina clutched his sleeve and shook her head weakly.

"Don't check. I don't want you to see me like this. I don't want you to hurt over this," she said, coughing. "I believe Winnie didn't mean to do it. Please give her another chance."

Her coughing fit left Liam visibly shaken.

"Alright, sure. We won't check the cameras, but I can't just let her humiliate you like this."

His voice hardened as he turned back to Winter. "She knelt and begged you. You'll kneel and apologize the same way."

Winter stared at him in disbelief.

"I'm not going to admit to something I didn't do, Liam. I'm not kneeling to her. You wouldn't sink so low as to threaten my dad again, would you?"

Liam stepped closer, and his tall frame cast a shadow over her. "There's no need to complicate things, is there?"

He gestured toward the door. Several large bodyguards rushed into the room.

His eyes met hers casually. "Make her kneel and apologize. Keep going until I say stop. Leave the door open. Make sure everyone knows what happens when someone hurts Regina."

The guards didn't hesitate. Two of them pinned Winter's arms while another grabbed her from behind.

She struggled violently at first. Her hair fell loose as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You'll regret this, Liam!"

Liam looked down at her from above. His expensive wool coat was still perfectly pressed. "The only thing I'd regret is not teaching you a lesson for Regina today."

The last of Winter's resistance drained away when she met his ice-cold gaze.

She went limp, letting the guards grip her hair and slam her head against the freezing marble floor.

Each impact exploded inside her skull. Pain tore through her forehead. It was as if her skull were about to shatter.

The noise drew people passing through the hallway to look inside the room.

Liam finally stopped the bodyguards when Winter's head was bleeding.

Regina hid behind him. She lifted her chin and smugly looked down at Winter, who was sprawled on the floor.

Liam pulled out a handkerchief with clear disgust and tossed it onto the floor. "This was just a warning. If this happens again, you won't get off so easily."

With that, he turned and focused on comforting Regina.

Winter clenched her teeth. Her long hair hung loose, hiding half of her face. She forced herself to stand. The moment she stepped out of the hospital room, her legs gave out, and she blacked out.

A blinding white light filled her vision.

Through it, she saw a blurry figure. As it slowly came into focus, her heart stopped. It was Richard.

Winter jolted awake and reached for him. He was only a step away, yet she couldn't catch him no matter how fast she ran.

She chased him until she was exhausted. Richard's figure drifted farther and farther away.

"Dad! Don't leave me!"

…

"Ma'am, wake up," a nurse said disapprovingly. "You're pregnant. If your emotions become too volatile, you'd be putting both yourself and the baby at risk."

Winter's ears rang. She grabbed the nurse's wrist. "I'm pregnant?"

The nurse handed her the ultrasound report. "You're seven weeks pregnant. You need to be careful."

Winter stroked her flat stomach. She couldn't believe she was carrying Liam's child now, of all times.

She threw herself onto the bed and pounded the mattress repeatedly. A low sob escaped her throat.

While Liam stayed at the hospital with Regina, Winter returned to the place she could barely call home anymore.

Their wedding photo still hung in the living room. The colors had dulled with age.

It was just like them. Whatever love they'd had had long since gone stale.

She dragged a ladder over, took it down with some struggle, and cut it apart with a pair of scissors.

In the corner of the walk-in closet sat a wooden box. Inside were seven years of memories. There was a handwritten relationship journal, photo albums, the candles from his confession, and her bridal bouquet.

The entire box was proof that he had once loved her, but it also showed that he no longer did now.

She started a basin fire and fed the items, piece by piece, into the flame.

The flames swiftly devoured each item. Tears fell as the thick smoke singed her eyes.

"Who's burning something in here?"

Liam pushed open the closet door. Irritation was sharp in his voice. "Are you trying to burn the house down? Is this some kind of threat? Are you trying to guilt me into giving your father another heart?"

Winter pressed a hand to her chest. Strangely, his cold words no longer hurt.

She chuckled softly. She no longer loved him.

Liam frowned. "What are you playing at now? Regina's in the hospital. Can you stop acting out for once?"

Winter brushed ash from her clothes.

"I wasn't doing anything. Just cleaning out some trash," she said lightly.

Her calm unsettled Liam for the first time. He softened his tone.

"I'm already in touch with the best institutions. I'm sure we'll find a suitable heart for him soon. Can you stop fighting me? Can't we just live properly again?"

Winter lowered her gaze as a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Is that so? That's good to hear. Too bad, I don't want to."

She moved past him, but he grabbed her wrist.

"What's going on in your head? Regina's in—"

"Am I really that vicious to you, Liam?" she said, cutting him off. "Relax. I won't hurt her. This was never her fault."

Liam sighed in relief. "There's a private dinner tonight. Come with me."

He expected Winter to ask why he wasn't bringing Regina, then refuse.

Instead, she said nothing. She casually began choosing a dress.

She applied a touch of makeup and selected a blue slip dress that contrasted beautifully with her skin.

"Let's go," she said, slipping her arm through his just like before.

In the car, Liam stared at her in a daze.

He had almost forgotten that Winter had once been Harbor City's most dazzling beauty.

The moment they entered the ballroom, strange looks followed Winter.

In a corner, several well-connected socialites whispered among themselves.

"Does she even know that the mistress is here, too? This should be interesting."

"I feel bad for her. She thought she married some perfect man, but turns out he's the same as the rest of them."

"That mistress is awfully bold. Someone must be backing her. How would a poor college girl even show up here otherwise?"

That was when Winter realized Regina had arrived before them.

"Winnie! Over here!"

Regina strode toward them in her white velvet gown and four-inch heels.

When she was a few feet away from them, she suddenly twisted her ankle.

Liam immediately let go of Winter and caught Regina.

A wave of gasps spread through the room.

With how blatant they were while Winter was there, one could only imagine how shameless they were in private.

Regina pouted. "Hey, Winnie's still here. This is embarrassing."

Liam's hand tightened around her waist as he leaned closer to her ear. "Enough with your games. Save it for tonight."

Winter clenched her fists. Her nails dug into her palms.

Regina snapped back to her senses and warmly hooked her arm through Winter's.

"Come on, Winnie. Let's grab something to eat."

Her posture made it seem as though Winter was the extra attendee tonight.

The instant Winter took a step forward, her shoulder strap broke.

In an instant, her chest was exposed.

Winter's face went deathly pale. She quickly covered her chest.

She looked up at Regina, who was standing to the side with an innocent expression. She managed to see her slip a razor blade in between her fingers.

Before Winter could call her out, Regina threw the blame at her first.

"Winnie, I know you're trying to get Mr. Jager's attention, but at least pick the right occasion. Were you trying to embarrass him on purpose by stripping like that in public?"

Winter shot back immediately, "Regina, you clearly cut my strap—"

"Enough, Winter!" Liam roared with disgust in his eyes. "I should have seen through you earlier. Using something this shameless just to draw attention is pathetic!"

Disappointment seeped into Winter's gaze. "Regina cut my strap. If you don't believe me, check her fingers. She's hiding a blade."

Suspicion flickered in Liam's eyes. "Regina, was it you?"

Regina shook her head.

"No. Liam, do you really not trust me?"

She widened her eyes, and tears spilled down her cheeks. "I shouldn't have come here in the first place. I'm the third person. I'll leave and never come back again!"

Liam immediately pulled her into his arms. "I only reacted that way because I didn't want you to be mistreated. I believe you."

Regina looked at Winter over his shoulder. Her eyes were crinkled in a faint smile.

"Winnie loves you too much. Don't blame her for it. I'll go help her get changed."

Liam looked down at Winter, who was crouched helplessly on the floor. "You wrongly accused Regina, and yet she's still speaking up for you. Think about your actions, Winter."

After changing, Winter walked past Regina and headed for the exit.

Regina stepped in front of her. "Who do you think you are to compete with me?"

Regina dropped her innocent act and revealed her true colors while they were in a quiet corner.

Winter smiled. "I'm not competing with you anymore. If you like Liam, take him."

Regina froze. She wasn't expecting her to give up so easily.

"At least you know your place," she said, stepping in front of Winter with crossed arms. She had her back to the staircase.

"I won't replace you until Liam completely despises you."

Winter didn't want to argue with her anymore. "He already despises me. All we're missing is a divorce certificate."

A dangerous glint flashed in Regina's eyes.

"Isn't your bed-ridden father still alive?"

Winter's mind filled with Richard's pale face. He had held on for seven years. He could've gotten a new heart.

"You don't get to talk about him," Winter roared.

A second later, Regina screamed for help and tumbled down the stairs.

Winter instinctively reached out, but only managed to grab the edge of her dress.

Guests rushed over at the sound. What they saw was Winter standing at the top of the stairs with her hand still outstretched, and Regina unconscious at her feet.

"Regina!"

Liam's face drained of color. He shoved through the crowd, scooped Regina up, and held her tight.

"Regina, you're scaring me!"

Winter didn't think Regina would go that far just to frame her. "Liam, I didn't—"

The air around him turned icy.

"You didn't do it. It wasn't you," Liam mocked. "Winter, do you even believe that yourself? I saw it with my own eyes. You can't stand Regina. You've targeted her again and again, and this time, you nearly killed her."

All eyes turned to Winter.

"Who would've thought someone so beautiful could be so rotten inside?"

"Pretty face, but ugly heart."

"That poor girl keeps giving in, but she just keeps pushing her."

…

"I say we call the police and have her arrested!"

Panic surged through Winter. Richard's condition could take a turn at any moment. She couldn't leave his side.

"Liam, it really wasn't me. She did it herself—"

Liam stepped closer to her and grabbed her chin. "You've disappointed me beyond words. You'll never learn unless you're punished by the law."

He pulled out his phone and made the call.

Winter trembled as she looked up at him. "Liam, you can't do this. My dad—"

He raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face. "Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with me."

The noisy crowd fell silent.

Winter froze. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

The police arrived soon after and led Winter away in handcuffs.