Juliet clung tightly to Stellan’s neck, her delicate fingers pressing into his shoulder. As they walked away, she glanced back at Elara, who lay motionless on the ground, her breath faint, her body barely holding on.

Stellan didn’t pause. If anything, his steps quickened, his grip on Juliet tightening.

"If she dies, she dies," his voice was cold, devoid of emotion. "You and the child are all that matter to me."

The words sliced through Elara like a blade, severing the last fragile thread of love she still held for him. The warmth in her eyes dimmed, and as darkness swallowed her, she let her lids fall shut.

---

When she woke again, she was in a hospital ward, the sterile scent filling her lungs.

"Doctor Whitmore, you’re finally awake!" A nurse’s relieved voice broke through the haze. "Any later, and we might’ve lost you."

The city was already buzzing with news—Captain Pierce’s car had burst into flames on a busy street.

"Luckily, a group of migrant workers was passing by. They risked their lives to pull you out. If not for them, you’d have burned to ashes."

Elara’s throat felt dry. She licked her lips, the bitterness in her chest heavier than before.

"Where’s Stellan?"

The nurse hesitated, her expression softening into pity.

"Captain Pierce hasn’t left your sister’s side since the accident. Juliet was so shaken she almost miscarried. He called in the best gynecologist, turned the entire hospital upside down for her."

Elara reached up, pressing her fingers against her forehead, a wry chuckle escaping her lips.

---

By afternoon, she forced herself out of bed, her steps unsteady but determined. As she reached the corridor, hushed whispers drifted from a group of nurses nearby.

"Captain Pierce truly spoils his fiancée. Her ward is overflowing with flowers and gifts."

"I heard the wedding date is set for the fifteenth. He even handed out wedding candy today."

"And Elara? She nearly died, yet Captain Pierce hasn’t even visited her."

"She deserves it. She abandoned him for another man, and now she has the audacity to try and win him back? Shameless! And let’s not forget—he’s her brother-in-law now."

Elara’s fingers tightened around the railing, her nails digging into her palm.

A presence loomed behind her.

She turned, meeting the familiar gaze of Juliet.

"You heard everything, didn’t you?" Juliet’s voice had lost its usual softness, now sharp and edged with triumph. "Stellan and I are getting married soon. If you have any sense, you’ll move out of the Pierce Family mansion before then."

Elara held her gaze, her own voice turning cold.

"Don’t worry. I’ll leave."

Juliet let out a light chuckle, her eyes glinting with amusement.

"I know you’re bitter. After all, you were the one who met Stellan first. But what can you do? You just weren’t good enough to keep him."

Elara’s expression darkened. "If Stellan knew the truth about what happened back then… do you think he’d still love you?"

Juliet’s smirk wavered—just for a second—before twisting into something even crueler.

"Go ahead. Tell him," she sneered. "Do you really think he’d believe you?"

Then, without warning, she staggered backward, her body tilting precariously.

And she fell.

Before Elara could react, Juliet had already collapsed onto the ground, tears streaking down her delicate face.

"Elara, I know you're angry with me because of Stellan," she choked out, her voice trembling. "But you were the one who looked down on him and left him. How can you blame me for stepping in?"

Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, she gasped softly, her fingers gently resting on her stomach. "If you love Stellan that much… I can get rid of the baby and give him back to you, okay?"

The words had barely left her lips when a sudden force slammed into Elara. She staggered backward, crashing onto the cold hospital floor. The IV needle ripped from her hand, sending blood splattering across her hospital gown in thin crimson trails.

"Elara, you dare lay a hand on Juliet?!"

Stellan’s voice was laced with fury. His sharp gaze bore into her like a blade, his whole body seething with rage. He loomed over her, his expression dark and menacing, as if he wanted to crush her beneath his heel.

"I… I didn’t push her," Elara gasped, her breath shaky. Pain radiated through her limbs as she forced herself to meet his gaze, her bloodshot eyes filled with disbelief. "She did it herself."

"You’re still lying?" Stellan’s voice dropped to a dangerous low, his disgust palpable.

Stellan cradled Juliet in his arms, his voice low and soothing.

"Juliet, don’t be afraid. I would rather die than marry someone like Elara. A cruel, shameless woman like her disgusts me—just looking at her makes me sick."

The crowd murmured in agreement, their judgment sharp and merciless.

"How shameless! She actually wants to steal her sister's man."

"Everyone knows Elara was the one who abandoned Captain Pierce first. And now she has the audacity to come crawling back?"

"Juliet is already pregnant, and she still wants to interfere? This isn’t just cheap—it’s despicable."

Their words sliced into Elara like a thousand blades. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms until pain grounded her.

It was like being stripped bare in front of the world—humiliated, trampled on, despised.

"It's not like that. It was—"

She tried to speak, to explain, but before she could utter another word, Juliet let out a pained gasp, clutching her belly.

"Stellan, my stomach… it hurts so much." Her voice quivered, laced with panic. "Is something wrong with our child? What should I do? I'm so scared."

Stellan’s gaze turned icier than ever as it fell on Elara, his voice laced with lethal intent.

"You’d better pray that Juliet and the baby are safe," he warned, his tone seething with barely restrained fury. "Because if anything happens to them… you will pay for it with your life."

With that, he turned his back on her, carrying Juliet away without hesitation.

Elara stood frozen, watching them disappear, her heart crumbling into irreparable shards.

In this world, a woman's reputation was worth more than her life.

And now, hers was ruined beyond redemption—tainted, trampled, spat upon.

Elara spent a full week in the hospital before she was finally discharged.

She didn’t go home right away. Instead, she took advantage of the eighth day of the first lunar month to go straight to work and apply for a household registration transfer.

This time, she wasn’t coming back.

As she stepped out of the police station, the lively chatter from the marriage registration office next door caught her attention. Without thinking, her feet carried her in that direction.

The entrance was packed with people, laughter and teasing filling the air.

"Captain Pierce, now that it's official, shouldn’t you kiss your bride?"

"Captain, my wife is pregnant too. Are you going to hand out wedding candies?"

"Kiss! Kiss!"

In the middle of it all, Stellan and Juliet stood together. Juliet's face was flushed with shyness, as if she had just won the greatest prize in the world.

Then, at that moment, Stellan’s gaze flickered past the crowd—straight to Elara.

Their eyes met.

Elara felt the air still around her. But just as quickly, she looked away. Without hesitation, she turned and walked off.

Outside, snow fell in thick, soundless sheets. The excitement and celebration behind her had nothing to do with her anymore.

Watching her retreating figure, Stellan suddenly felt something in his chest snap—like something precious had slipped through his fingers forever.

But instead of stopping her, he let go of Juliet and pulled her into a casual embrace, flashing a smile at the crowd.

"This is a matter between husband and wife," he said smoothly. "How can you all be so nosy?"

Laughter erupted around them, but his eyes no longer held the light they once did.

---

Elara returned to the Pierce Family mansion only to find it dressed in red.

Large, bold "double happiness" characters were pasted outside, red lanterns swayed at the entrance, and the entire house pulsed with a festive air.

As she stepped inside, she saw Aunt Celeste coming down the stairs, a familiar box in her arms.

Elara’s heart clenched. She recognized that box.

It was hers.

Aunt Celeste hesitated when she saw Elara, an apologetic look crossing her face.

"The head of the household said he will be marrying Miss Juliet soon," she explained hesitantly. "It wouldn’t be appropriate for you to stay upstairs anymore… so he asked me to move your things to the small room downstairs."

A small room. The one reserved for the nanny.

Aunt Celeste extended the box. "I also found this under your bed."

Elara reached out, taking the box into her arms.

Inside were all the small things Stellan had given her back when they were still together.

She held them tightly, her fingers trembling slightly.

Inside the box were enamel dolls, foreign exchange pens, delicate gardenia hairpins, and scarves—scarves that he had clumsily learned to knit just for her.

Each item had once been a token of his love.

Now, they meant nothing.

Elara turned without hesitation, walked out the door, and threw the box into the trash can beside her.

Just as she dusted off her hands, a familiar voice rang out.

"What are you doing?"

Elara froze for a brief second before turning around.

Stellan stood a few steps away, his hand resting protectively on Juliet’s waist as they approached.

She met his gaze with icy indifference.

"Just tossing out some unwanted garbage," she said coolly. "Does Captain Pierce really need to concern himself with that?"

Her voice was as cold as a winter’s frost, sending a chill through the air.

Stellan’s brows furrowed even deeper.

"I let you stay here because you're Juliet’s sister," he said, his tone sharp. "You should at least contribute something to this household. You can’t expect to live here for free."

He deliberately stressed the last two words.

Before Elara could respond, Juliet let out a soft gasp and tugged at his sleeve.

"Stellan, how can you say that to Elara?" she scolded gently, then turned to Elara with a sisterly smile. "You’re my sister. You’re free to stay at the Pierce Mansion for as long as you like."

Beneath her words was a clear message: Leave.

Elara felt a wave of nausea just looking at her.

"Don’t worry," she said, her voice steady but firm. "I won’t be here for long."

Her words made Stellan’s expression darken, a heavy pressure settling in his chest like a stone.

---

That night, just as Elara was about to rest, a knock sounded at her door.

Assuming it was Aunt Celeste, she got up and opened it—only to be hit with the sharp scent of alcohol.

Stellan stood in the doorway, bloodshot eyes locking onto her with a terrifying intensity.

"You're moving out?" His voice was hoarse, edged with suppressed rage. "Which wild man did you hook up with outside this time?"

Before she could react, he shoved her backward, kicking the door shut behind him.

Trapped between the door and his overpowering presence, Elara’s breath hitched.

"Why," he muttered, voice low and dangerous, "can’t you ever just be content?"

"You're drunk."

Elara tried to push him away, but Stellan’s grip tightened around her wrists, locking her in place.

"Tell me," he demanded, his voice laced with bitter jealousy. "Where do you plan to move? Who is it this time? A battalion commander? A brigade commander?"

His fingers dug into her skin, sending a sharp pain through her arms.

Elara clenched her jaw, ready to tell him the truth—that she was leaving for the countryside to support the cause. But before she could say a word, a delicate, pitiful voice echoed from the living room.

"Stellan? Where are you? I'm scared being alone..."

Juliet.

The moment her voice reached him, the wildness in Stellan’s expression disappeared. In an instant, his grip loosened, and he shoved Elara aside.

His gaze hardened as he looked down at her.

"You’d better behave," he warned coldly. "You’re my sister-in-law now. Every move you make reflects on me."

With that, he turned and left.

Elara stood frozen for a moment before her knees buckled, and she slid down against the door.

Outside, Juliet's voice carried through the thin walls, soft and coy.

"Stellan, this isn’t good... Elara is still living downstairs."

"What are you afraid of?" Stellan’s tone was impatient. "She wants to stay in the Pierce Mansion—she’ll just have to get used to hearing these things."

"But I'm pregnant!" Juliet protested, her voice tinged with shyness. "The doctor said it’s best not to in the first three months..."

"Doctor?" Stellan scoffed. "Isn’t there a doctor living in this house? Since she hasn’t said anything, it must not be a big deal."

Elara didn’t listen any further.

She pulled the blanket over her head, shutting out the voices, shutting out the pain.

It didn’t matter anymore.

Her hospital transfer was complete. Her train ticket was already purchased.

Tomorrow, she would leave.

Tomorrow, Stellan and Juliet would be married.