Emma’s POV

"W-Where am I?" I blurted out weakly, my throat parched and scratchy.

The doctor said, "You're in the hospital." He opened his folder and glanced at me quickly, "Your name is Emma Hart, right?"

I managed a weak nod, still feeling confused and empty about what had happened to me.

The doctor continued, "You've been here just a few hours. You have everything here, including your ID, wallet, and phone. We tried to call the last person you called, but there was no answer. So, we waited for you to wake up."

My head hurt so much that I couldn't even bring myself to answer.

Think, Emma. What happened? Why am I here?

I gasped in horror as I suddenly remembered what happened to me. My lips trembled as the only concern now was my baby! My baby. The baby.

"I-Is my baby okay?" I asked with desperate concern while staring at the doctor's face.

He looked at me, his face heavy, and he sighed. "I'm sorry to inform you that the fetus didn't make it."

The room seemed to tilt, with the walls closing in as tears of hopelessness and pain burst in an instant. My heart throbbed heavily as I said, "No, that's not true."

"I'm sorry..."

Then a strangled escape sob escaped my lips as I said, "No....."

While panicking, I picked up my bag from the side table, opened my phone, and scrolled to find Benjamin's number. With tears flowing down my face, I dialed the number, but the phone continued to ring, and no one answered.

My hands trembled. I tried calling him again until my panic rose. I cried out, my voice filled with desperation as I said, "Benjamin... Please pick up the f*cking phone...."

The doctor and the nurses rushed to my side, and one of them injected me with something to calm me down.

The doctor whispered softly, "It's okay, Emma... It's okay."

I slowly closed my eyes and drifted back into unconsciousness.

HALF A MONTH LATER.

It's been two weeks and two days, and I still can't get over what happened, especially since it felt like it had only happened yesterday.

It took me half a month to get better, but no one called me. Not even Benjamin tried to find me or see if I was still alive.

Why is it so hard for him to love me?

Doctor Grey walked towards me and handed me my things. I would be completely helpless and dead if he hadn't saved me. So, all thanks to him.

"T-Thank you, Doctor," I stuttered out.

He smiled and said, "You're welcome, Emma. The papers for your release are ready. Take it easy for a few weeks, and if you feel any pain, don't hesitate to call me."

Leaving his clinic, I nodded and smiled as I walked down the hallway. But I froze at my feet as I heard two familiar voices in the admission ward. Unsure and angry, my heart slowly pounded as I slid open the blue curtain and saw Benjamin and Violet.

I gasped softly; it felt like they dug a dagger into my heart. I looked over and saw my fiancé holding Violet's injured left knee. He only came to the hospital for that reason, but he didn't even call or look for me when it came to me.

Violet acted innocently and asked Benjamin, in a soft voice, "What is Emma doing here? Did you tell her?"

Benjamin's eyes frowned disgustingly and said, "Emma..."

I scoffed bitterly while staring at them with hatred, then took a few steps back and walked away. But Benjamin got up, followed me outside, grabbed my wrist, and asked, "What are you doing? Are you stalking me?"

I shoved his hand away from me then I stepped back, and glared at him as I exclaimed, “Stalking? Don’t you mean… cheating? You’re cheating on me?”

I boldly accused him without even stuttering, and his face turned darker.

"Watch your mouth, Emma!" Benjamin said in a low voice as he grabbed my arm.

I forced a sour smile, but tears of pain, hopelessness, and anger couldn't help but fall from my eyes. Then, my voice shook as I said in a soft voice, "You made a promise to my parents before they died..."

And he slowly let go of me as he realized something in the past.

And I continued with an outburst of anger, "You promised to marry me and to take care of me for the rest of your life!”

A look of comical disbelief written all over his face as he saw how I just acted. “What—”

But I cut him off before he could say something, then wiped my tears and snarled, “So you better think it all over again in case you forgot.”

Emma’s POV

"I could only marry you on one condition," he murmured, casting me a chilling glare that could send shivers down my spine.

A soft scoff escaped my lips.

The fact that I had a miscarriage while he was unaware of it, spent half a month in the hospital without him even trying to find me, and now this—his f*cking condition to ruin my mood even more.

He continued, "Violet has cancer.”

I was shocked but it has nothing to do with me, so why would I care?

"And I want you to try a new medicine that has not undergone any critical trials---"

My eyes widened with shock, and I asked sarcastically, "Wait, what?"

He sighed, "She just came back because she has cancer and wants to spend her last days with me. So, I want you to do something for Violet's sake. I don't want her to die."

"But you want me to die just to test some medicines for her?" I asked with a bitter, heartbreaking voice. I can't believe Benjamin would do this to me. I've always been a substitute for Violet, and I finally had enough of this bullshit. I can't take this anymore.

I stepped back and stubbornly shook my head, "No. The wedding is off, and I'm done with you. I won't sacrifice myself just for your woman."

And I immediately walked away from him as fast as I could.

"Emma!" he called my name, but I didn't look back.

Tears streamed down my face as I kept walking. I had done everything for him, but now he'd do anything for his lover – the woman he cheated on me with. I had sacrificed everything, even my own dreams of becoming a singer. I had disregarded them all, choosing to support him. I even invested all my family's inheritance to help his company reach new heights.

But then... betrayal. All I got was him betraying me all over and over again.

***

ANDERSON’S VILLA.

The air hung heavy as I entered the Villa. I don’t even want to see them anymore, but when I opened the front door. I was surprised to see them already waiting for me in the living room.

Violet sighed softly, “Maybe there’s other way, Benj… we don’t need to force Emma if she didn’t want to—”

Benjamin cut her off, “Violet, there’s no other option.”

Benjamin walked towards me and said, "We need to talk, Emma…”

I raised an eyebrow, "If you're asking me the same thing, my answer is always no. Don't worry, I'm leaving tonight."

He grabbed my arm so tightly that I could feel his nails digging into my flesh, "Let go of me, you're hurting me!"

My tears suddenly spill from my eyes again as I think about our baby. The miscarriage, the threats— it all feels so cruel.

Now, I can’t help but think if he really truly cared for me, but I was wrong, he never cared for me right from the start.

I still remember how the doctor told me that it was impossible for me to conceive, but it beat all odds. I got pregnant, but then it got away from me all because of these twisted games Benjamin tried to play with me.

“You would get nothing from me if you didn’t comply!” Benjamin glared at me angrily.

I pushed him away and snarled, “I don’t care about your money, Benjamin! Leave me alone.”

Just as I was about to leave, Benjamin's assistant, Leo, walked in, carrying the experimental medication.

Rage and frustration welled up inside of me, and I let out a roar at him. "I'm not some lab rat doing all the tests for her!"

Benjamin gazed over me and ordered his guards to clutch me tightly. He said calmly, "But you can't do anything about it, right?"