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.

I couldn’t take the pain anymore and collapsed to the ground.

In my blurry state, I thought I saw an 18-year-old boy handing me sanitary pads, his eyes red from worry.

“I didn’t know which brand you used, so I bought all of them. You can pick what you like.”

The rain washed away the memory, leaving only my cold body behind. I didn’t know how much time had passed, but I heard familiar footsteps.

Benjamin’s voice was cold.

“Have you finished pretending? If so, stand up.”

“Amelia, look at yourself. What makes you different from a jealous woman now?”

“You should learn to control your temper. I’m doing this for your own good.”

Before walking away, he threw a blanket over me.

He hadn’t gotten far when I heard a sudden shout from a bodyguard.

“Mr. Renaldi, there’s blood on the blanket!”

Benjamin stopped and rushed back to me. He pulled the blanket off and his face turned pale.

“What are you all doing? Call a doctor now!”

“Can’t you see my wife isn’t well? Are you all blind?”

His voice faded and I lost consciousness completely. I couldn’t tell whether my body or my heart hurt more. Memories from the past flashed through my mind like a movie.

The last image was Michelle smiling proudly.

“Amelia, you lost.”

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in someone's arms. Benjamin was holding me, his hand gently rubbing my lower abdomen. But his face looked cold and distant.

When he saw me awake, he frowned.

“Didn’t you know your period started? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“If I hadn’t noticed, were you planning to let yourself die in the rain?”

“Amelia, when will you stop being like this?”

I pushed him away and gave a small, cold smile.

“Does it really matter?”

Benjamin opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of a baby crying came from the nursery. His expression changed quickly. He stood up and got ready to leave. I smiled faintly.

“Benjamin, your acting is terrible. It makes me feel sick.”

He paused, but still walked out.

“I’ll talk to you after I calm the baby. I haven’t changed. You’re the one who has.”

Benjamin didn’t come back for two hours.

A doctor came to give me medicine and casually mentioned that Benjamin was busy choosing a new baby formula. He said Benjamin was comparing different brands and checking all the ingredients carefully. The doctor also mentioned he had never seen Mr. Renaldi so nervous about anyone before.

I laughed quietly. Because I had never seen it either. Luckily, Benjamin wasn’t around, so I started packing my things.

I threw away all the gifts he had given me. Only a few sets of clothes were left. As I got ready to call a taxi and leave, I passed by the nursery.

Then, I walked in. Perhaps, I had once imagined what a child between Benjamin and me would look like. Since I was leaving, I thought it would be okay to look once.

I leaned near the crib and gently poked the baby’s soft cheek. The baby had Benjamin’s exact eyes and eyebrows. Tears fell before I even noticed.

Suddenly, the baby started crying loudly and blood ran from his nose. I reached out to call for help.

At that moment, the door was kicked open.

Benjamin slapped me hard across the face. His expression was full of anger.

“I thought you had learned your lesson. These two children aren’t even a month old. How could you put drugs in their milk?”

“Amelia, when did you become so cruel? I barely recognize you anymore!”

“Get out! Don’t ever enter the nursery again without my permission!”

After those words, Michelle rushed in and knelt before me, begging with tears in her eyes. She asked me to let her child go. She said she was willing to die to say sorry.

When I saw the strange look in Benjamin’s eyes as he watched me, I felt frightened. All my explanations got stuck in my throat. The love I once felt was gone in an instant.

“Benjamin, don’t you believe me?” Michelle cried.

“How do you expect me to believe you? Amelia, please stop hurting my children. They did nothing wrong.”

I closed my eyes in despair. Then I smiled sadly and tears fell.

“Okay, as you wish.”

I picked up my luggage and walked away.

For seven days, Benjamin did not send a single message. In contrast, Michelle’s social media was full of new posts. She was traveling in Paris, the Maldives, Turkey and other places. He took her on every honeymoon trip we had once planned together.

On the morning of our wedding, Benjamin boarded the wedding car and drove to the hotel, just like before. But at the entrance, a security guard stopped him

“Do you have an invitation?” the guard asked.

Benjamin looked shocked.

“I am the groom. Why would I need an invitation?”

The guard looked at him strangely and pointed to a large wedding photo.

“The bride is Miss Amelia Williams and the groom is Mr. Charles Woods from Woods Corporation. What business is this to you? If you don’t have an invitation, leave. Don’t block the way!”

Benjamin’s face went pale.