"Who else do you think I would marry if I don’t marry you? A wedding is not a joke! The entire city of London knows that our two families are going to be joined by marriage. How can you ask me to let the Renaldi Family lose face like this?"

"Amelia, I know you're upset, but do you think I'm happy? Do you think I wanted to sleep with another woman? If I hadn’t been set up, how would I suddenly end up with two children?"

"You know me. I never go to events where there are many women, even for work. What happened with Michelle was a real accident. How many times do I have to explain it?"

"I already took her private photos and released the video. I’ve tried everything I can to make it up to you. What else do you want me to do … give my life to prove my love?"

His voice grew more tired as he continued.

"I’m already exhausted. I don’t want my fiancée to keep going against me. Don’t worry, the two children will only be registered under your name. Michelle will just be the nanny and the one who takes care of them at home."

My tears fell and a bitter smile appeared on my face.

"So you mean I should raise your illegitimate children as my own? And not only that, but also live in the same house as your lover every day?"

"Sorry. I’m really not that kind of person."

After a pause, he shouted, "Fine! Remember what you said. Don’t come crying later. If you’re brave enough to walk away, then go!"

"Do you think any man out there is perfect? I’ve already given you Michelle and the children. I’ve done all I can. If you can accept it, we’ll get married. But if you can’t, then leave! I don’t care anymore!"

He hung up. Only the glowing screen of my phone stayed on, still showing our engagement photo as the lock screen.

The memories from the photo shoot came flooding back. I remembered how he knelt in front of me, his eyes full of love and promised to always stay loyal. But that love only lasted a year. Tears dropped onto the screen and my hands trembled as I called my parents.

"I’m sorry. I wanted to end the engagement with Benjamin."

They sighed. It was clear they had heard about Michelle being pregnant.

"If you want to end the engagement, do it. Our daughter will not suffer through this!"

"Even if you never get married, you’ll always be our little princess!"

After hearing that, I laughed with tears in my eyes. My nose was running like a child’s.

"Daddy, there's no need to cancel the wedding. I’m just changing the groom."

"You know Charles."

My mother sounded shocked and raised her voice slightly.

"Charles Woods? Isn’t he the one who hates the Renaldi Family the most? I heard they almost had a fight over a business deal and the Renaldi Family lost hundreds of millions pounds to it!"

I smiled and wiped my face.

"Yes. He did it because of me. So I’m willing to take another chance."

Late that night, I got a friend request on social media. The profile picture was of Michelle and Benjamin looking close.

I remembered how Benjamin once told me he didn’t like using real photos as his profile picture. Now I realized it wasn’t that he disliked real photos. Rather, he just didn’t like showing pictures of us.

I accepted the request. A message from Michelle came in right away. It was a photo. Benjamin was sleeping on a hospital bed. The two baby cribs were in the background. She followed it with a playful face emoji.

[I’m sorry, Miss Williams. Mr. Renaldi insisted on staying with me. The hospital room isn’t very nice, but he refuses to leave, no matter how much I try to talk him into it.]

[We’re going to be a family soon. I thought I’d add you on here to stay in touch. If you ever need anything, feel free to message me directly.]

I didn’t reply. My heart felt heavy. Two years ago, I had health problems and would faint every time I had my period. No matter what time it was, as long as I messaged him, Benjamin would rush to take me to the hospital.

However, Benjamin never stayed overnight. He said he couldn’t stand the smell of disinfectant in the hospital. It made him feel like a specimen soaked in chemicals. I was in so much pain that I was sweating all over, but no matter how much I begged him, he still refused to stay with me.

Now, Michelle had become the one who changed all his rules.

Perhaps I was too tired of everything because I actually fell asleep. When I opened my eyes again, it was because of Benjamin’s loud voice over the phone. He sounded angry and impatient.

“Amelia, I already told you that Michelle won’t affect your place in my life and neither will the children. Why did you message her and tell her to get out? Did you even ask me before doing that?”

“You can’t even accept two children. How do you expect me to trust you to take care of them later?”

His words made me feel cold inside.

I already understood everything, but I didn’t want to explain anymore.

“Yes, it’s my fault,” I said calmly.

“No matter what you think, I just can’t stand her. I don’t respect her.”

“You better keep her close to you every day. Just don’t let me find a chance to get back at her.”

Before he could respond, I hung up.

It was ridiculous. Eight years of love between us, but he didn’t even try to understand my feelings. He believed Michelle’s words over mine.

The time on the screen said it was just five in the morning, but I couldn’t sleep anymore. Benjamin used to know I slept poorly. He never messaged me before eight o’clock. Now, for Michelle, he was willing to change even that.

Benjamin kept saying Michelle would only become the nanny, but was that really true?

I felt numb and didn’t want to think anymore. I got up, checked out of the hotel and took a taxi back to the mansion. Because of the morning rush hour, I was stuck in traffic for almost two hours. When I finally opened the front door, I saw the decorating team Benjamin had hired.

Benjamin was talking to the workers with a serious tone, “Remember, the baby room must have the best materials. I won’t pay if anything goes wrong. And repaint that bedroom. Use powder blue. Kids like it.”

Michelle was leaning softly into his arms while holding the two babies. They were laughing together.

“Benjamin, look! The babies love the color you picked!”

“Isn’t Daddy smart? He knows what you want even when you don’t say it. Blood ties are truly amazing!”

Benjamin gently touched one baby’s nose. A bubble of snot landed on his hand, but he just laughed with joy in his eyes.

“Did you see that? He’s praising me!”

“You already know your daddy, huh? Say ‘daddy’ for me?”

I had never seen him this happy before. Not even when he proposed to me. That day, he had only smiled a little.

I had asked him, “Aren’t you happy to marry me? Why don’t you smile more? Most people cry when they propose because they’re so emotional.”

But he only gave me a cold look.

“A person in my position should not show too much emotion. It gives others something to use against me.”

My footsteps must have made a sound because they both turned around. Michelle suddenly knelt in front of me with both babies in her arms. Her eyes filled with tears.

“Miss Williams, please don’t chase me away. I can’t leave the children. I didn’t mean to get between you and Mr. Renaldi. I swear, I’m only here to care for the babies. I won’t interfere with your life.”

“Please, don’t separate me from them. Look how cute they are. They’re even smiling at you. Can you hold one? They like you like a mother … ”

Before I could react, she placed the baby girl into my arms. I froze. My body became stiff and I didn’t know what to do.

Benjamin lowered his head to check his phone. The baby in his arms suddenly slipped and fell to the floor, letting out a loud, sharp cry. He quickly picked her up and checked to see if she was hurt.

Michelle began crying and knelt in front of me.

"Miss Williams, if you're unhappy, come to me. Please don’t touch my children. I beg you. I’ll kneel for you!"

When she turned toward Benjamin and saw his angry expression, her tone changed quickly.

"Mr. Renaldi, please don’t blame Miss Williams. She just didn’t hold the baby properly. She didn’t mean it … "

Before she could finish, Benjamin’s face turned cold.

"Amelia, I already said Michelle was drugged. That’s why she made mistakes. You shouldn't blame her. If you’re angry, come to me! Why are you taking it out on a baby?"

"I didn’t care when you sent messages to Michelle threatening her. I even forgave you for dropping the baby. But this is your last chance. Today, you must apologize to Michelle!"

The baby girl cried even louder, like she knew her mother was in trouble. Benjamin helped Michelle up and put the baby in her arms. Then he turned to me and glared. His voice was colder than ever.

"Don’t you understand what I said? Apologize!"

"Amelia, I’ve really spoiled you."

I looked at him. My eyes were cold and calm. I just felt tired and sad.

"You want me to apologize? Benjamin, are you out of your mind?"

Michelle suddenly moved in front of me and begged, "Miss Williams, please don’t be upset with Mr. Renaldi. I know you didn’t do it on purpose. I don’t blame you."

"Just lower your head and say sorry. Don’t let me ruin your relationship … "

Before Michelle could finish, she slipped and fell hard to the floor. The two children rolled out of her arms.

"What are you doing?" Benjamin shouted at me and pushed me away.

His forehead hit the corner of the table and blood started to run down.

"I think you’ve gone mad! You’ve been treating Michelle badly again and again and now you hurt her while she’s holding children!"

"She gave birth to your child and she already said sorry to you. What more do you want?"

"Apologize now, or deal with the results!"

I held back my anger and spoke clearly, word by word.

"I will never apologize to your lover, Benjamin. You should forget about that right now."

"If you won’t accept kindness, then you’ll be punished!" he said coldly.

Then, Benjamin told the servant to take Michelle and the children away. He was so angry that he called ten bodyguards to drag me outside the door. One of them kicked my leg hard.

I lost balance and dropped to my knees. Two guards pushed down on my shoulders to stop me from getting up.

Benjamin stared at me with no emotion and said, "Then kneel here. Get up only after you realize your mistake."

"Watch her. If she tries to stand, none of you will keep your job!"

He turned around and went back into the house.

The sky was dark and soon, it started to rain. Cold water soaked through my clothes. I sat straight and refused to lower my head.

But my lower stomach hurt badly.

I realized something was wrong and grabbed a bodyguard’s pants.

"My stomach hurts ... Call Benjamin ... please … "

The bodyguard didn’t even look at me and kicked me again.

"Be quiet. Don’t pretend to be sick. Mr. Renaldi is busy making milk for his babies."

"You deserve this for upsetting his favorite woman."

From inside the house, I could hear a baby laughing and Benjamin telling a story. My head started to spin. A warm liquid began flowing from my body.