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.

On the way to the hospital, clarity returned to Liam's eyes.

He reached out and gently touched Regina's small face. "Wake up already, or Daddy might eat you up."

Regina pouted and sat up. "Hmph. I didn't even pass out. Are you disappointed?"

Liam chuckled and pinched her nose affectionately.

"You brat."

"Why did you let the police take her away? Aren't you afraid she'll really get mad at you?" she asked, covering her mouth.

Liam lowered his gaze. "Even if you weren't seriously hurt, she did push you. Winnie's too stubborn. Locking her up for a few days will take the edge off. Maybe then she'll stop being so sharp-tongued all the time."

Regina quietly let out a breath of relief. For a moment, she'd thought he'd seen through her scheme.

She nestled into his arms and whined, "I may not be hurt physically, but I'm traumatized. Feel my heartbeat…"

The driver discreetly raised the partition as the car filled with heat.

…

Winter sat blankly on the detention center floor. She prayed that Richard would be safe.

The officer who brought her in said Regina wasn't seriously injured. As long as Winter stayed there for 72 hours, she'd be released.

She had underestimated Regina.

It wasn't until late at night when she was jolted awake by fists and kicks that she truly understood how vicious Regina could be.

Regina had bribed the other women in the cell. "Teach her a hard lesson. Just don't kill her."

Winter bit down on her lip as the other inmates beat her up. She instinctively curled into the fetal position, protecting her stomach with everything she had.

They didn't stop.

A tall, heavyset inmate kicked her square in the abdomen. Winter let out a muffled cry as warmth spread beneath her.

When she was loaded into the ambulance, she was painfully aware of something slipping out of her body.

Tears slid down the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

…

Winter was unconscious for 12 hours. When she woke up, the nurse's first question was whether she wanted to call the police.

She had been tormented for three whole days. Bruises had bloomed across her body.

Regina was the apple of Liam's eye. Even if the truth came to light, would it change anything?

Maybe he would give Regina a few hollow words of reprimand.

Winter silently shook her head.

The only good news she got was a call from immigration. Everything had been approved. She could leave with Richard tomorrow.

Dragging her weakened body, she completed the discharge paperwork. When she pushed open the hospital room door, she saw Regina pacing back and forth inside.

"Why won't you just die already, old man? I've had people beat her to a pulp. She couldn't even fight back," she snapped. "She's just as useless as you."

Winter's lower abdomen still throbbed. Days of physical pain and emotional collapse crashed together in that instant.

She rushed toward Regina and slapped her. "Aren't you afraid of retribution, Regina?"

"I was just worried about you and your dad," Regina said, covering her cheek with a pitiful look.

A second later, Liam appeared in the doorway.

"How long are you planning to keep this up? Do you want another 72 hours in jail?"

His gaze fell on the bruises on her exposed skin. He frowned. "How did you get hurt?"

Panic flashed in Regina's eyes. She quickly grabbed his arm. "Ah! My chest hurts!"

Liam quickly steadied her. His face was tight with concern.

"I turn my back for one second, and you end up getting hurt like this," he said coldly. "Come here. I'll show you how to deal with people who hurt you."

He raised his hand. Two large men immediately entered the room and seized Winter by the arms.

Still holding Regina's hand, Liam swung his other hand across Winter's face. "See that? That's how you do it."

Regina hesitated. "I—I can't."

Without warning, Lian struck Winter again.

"Don't say that," he snapped, shoving Regina toward Winter. "Hit her. Keep going until she learns."

Regina blinked, then swung her arm without holding back.

Soon, the hospital room was filled with nothing but the relentless crack of her palm against Winter's skin.

No one knew how many times she had struck her. Regina's hand was swollen. She ran back to Liam and started stomping her foot. "My hand hurts."

Liam called for a nurse to bring an ice pack and pressed it against her hand himself.

Winter lay sprawled on the floor as she wiped blood from the corner of her mouth. When she looked up, the despair in her eyes made Liam pause.

"That's enough," he said.

As he turned to leave, Winter stopped him.

"My dad is being discharged. Admissions said you paid the bill. They need your signature before he can leave."

Liam scoffed. "He's getting discharged? Didn't you say he'd die without a heart transplant? You really don't know when to stop lying."

Winter struggled to her feet. Liam didn't even look at her as he signed his name at the bottom of the form.

"Don't push me again, Winter. If you do, I'll cut off your father's treatment for good."

He tossed the stack of papers into the air, then wrapped an arm around Regina and walked away.

Winter dropped to her knees and gathered the papers. When her fingers brushed against the words "Divorce Agreement", they trembled.

"The transfer paperwork is complete. We wish you good luck."

Winter pushed Richard's wheelchair onto the plane. Before boarding, she looked back at Harbor City one last time.

"Goodbye Liam and goodbye to the heart that I waited seven years for."