In a maternity hospital in New York.

"Miss Cole, after the uterine procedure, you need to maintain a light diet, avoid overexertion, and most importantly, abstain from sexual activity." The nurse glanced around as she spoke. "Where’s your husband? Isn’t he here to support you during the surgery?"

Gianna, pale-faced after losing her child, clutched her abdomen and forced a bitter smile as she replied, "He’s busy."

Men avoiding responsibility in such situations was nothing new. The nurse didn’t press further but carefully repeated the post-procedure care instructions and the date for her follow-up appointment.

As Gianna left the observation room, her second cousin called. She stepped into a corner to answer.

"Gia, Grandma’s dementia has worsened. She spends her days staring at Aunt Eve’s photo in a daze. If you’re willing to come to Washington to keep her company for a while, it might help her condition..."

"Alright. I’m willing to stay with Grandma until she peacefully passes at a ripe old age," Gianna replied softly but firmly.

The person on the other end hesitated. "Until she passes? Did Vince mistreat you again?"

When Gianna didn’t respond, his tone turned cold. "Don’t forget, Aunt died saving him. If he dares to treat you unfairly, the Hamilton family will never let it slide!"

"Second Brother, I’ll handle things between him and me. Don’t worry." Gianna’s abdomen throbbed painfully, but she bit her lip and endured. "It’s just that applying for a divorce and dealing with other matters will take some time—about two weeks."

There was a pause before he replied, "Alright. I’ll come pick you up then."

After hanging up, Gianna sat quietly in the corner, staring at the last ultrasound image of her baby. The tears she had shed upon learning the baby’s heart had stopped had long dried up, leaving only endless guilt and sorrow.

Perhaps this was Heaven’s way of warning her.

No matter how tightly one tried to hold on to something, it was futile if it was not meant to be.

She sat in the hospital’s waiting area for hours before returning to her downtown home at six in the evening.

The apartment was a marital home purchased by Vince’s mother for the two of them. But now, the sounds coming from inside were of him laughing and joking with another woman.

"I’m not scared at all! A horror movie like this isn’t enough to faze me!" Roxan’s laughter was both coquettish and prideful.

Vince’s doting chuckle followed. "Silly girl..."

Gianna paused with the key in her hand. A wave of nausea rose in her chest, stronger than the cramping pain in her abdomen. She took a deep breath to suppress her emotions and unlocked the door.

As she stepped into the entryway, Roxan suddenly let out a playful scream and threw herself into Vince’s arms. The two tumbled onto the sofa, nearly ending up lip to lip.

Gianna remained expressionless as she calmly took off her coat and hung it on the rack, not sparing them a glance. But as she bent down to change her shoes, she noticed her newly bought women’s slippers were missing.

Roxan, cheeks flushed, glanced at Gianna with feigned nonchalance before demurely standing up. "I got so engrossed earlier that your sudden entrance startled me, Gianna." She then turned to Vince and asked, "Vince, did I hurt you when I bumped into you?"

Vince shook his head, looking slightly exasperated.

As if remembering something, Roxan flitted to the entryway like a butterfly and blinked her innocent almond-shaped eyes at Gianna. "Oh, I’m sorry, Gianna. I wore your new slippers by mistake. You don’t mind, do you?"

She then deliberately lifted the hem of her long dress, fully exposing the slippers. With a playful smile, she added, "They’re lovely but a bit big for me."

Gianna frowned slightly, but before she could speak, Vince sat up and said indifferently, "It’s just a pair of slippers. There’s no need to be so petty."

Roxan pouted in dissatisfaction. "I wasn’t asking you. Stay out of women’s business!"

The two exchanged flirtatious glances, their sweetness resembling a couple in the throes of a passionate romance.

On the other hand, Gianna stood between them, the biggest, brightest third wheel.

At their wedding two years ago, Roxan had gotten drunk, pushed away anyone trying to help her, and staggered toward Vince with a glass of wine. Her eyes were red, her voice hoarse as she said, "Vince, I wish you and Gianna a lifetime of happiness and many children."

As soon as she finished, crystal-like tears slid down her cheeks, and she collapsed on the spot.

On instinct, Vince caught her and scooped her into his arms.

The wedding hall fell into utter silence.

Standing under the spotlight, Gianna felt every gaze pierce her like a slap across the face.

Vince glanced back at her but offered no explanation. Instead, he turned to his mother and said coldly, "This wedding is what you wanted. But when it comes to my private life, I expect you to stay out of it.

"Roxan is my friend. I’m taking her home now."

With that, he carried Roxan out of the venue, leaving Gianna and his mother to deal with the chaos.

Michelle was furious.

By the time Gianna finished seeing off the guests and pacifying the reporters, she returned home utterly exhausted. What greeted her, however, was the sight of Vince bringing Roxan back to their marital home.

The new apartment, once cheerfully decorated for their wedding, had been turned upside down by the drunken Roxan. Even the house slippers meant for the lady of the house were now on Roxan’s feet.

And there Gianna stood, at the entryway, like an outsider.

"What are you standing there for? Get over here and help! Or do you expect me to change Roxan’s clothes myself?" Vince barked.

Gianna recalled her mother’s dying words and swallowed her grievances. She stepped forward to help, all the while knowing Roxan was only pretending to be drunk.

Yet Vince was completely oblivious.

That night, their wedding night, turned into a farcical drama involving three people.

Back in the present, Gianna found today’s replay of events utterly absurd. She looked past Roxan’s face to Vince, her expression cold and indifferent. "You’re right. It’s just a pair of slippers. I don’t need them."

Nor did she need Vince anymore.

Her tone was distant, a stark contrast to the soft and gentle demeanor she once had.

Vince frowned, his gaze turning cold. "You’ve been gone all day, and now you come back with an attitude? Gianna, wipe that fake sickly makeup off your face. I’m not buying this pity act."

Gianna chuckled dryly and shifted her gaze to Roxan. She didn’t speak, but the sarcasm in her expression was unmistakable.

Roxan, understanding the unspoken jab, feigned ignorance and played innocent. "Gianna, don’t take it to heart. Vince was just joking. He didn’t mean anything by it."

Turning to Vince, she added with a touch of reproach, "Vince, you shouldn’t always speak to Gianna like that. After all, you’re married." Her voice grew soft and pitiful, tears welling in her eyes. "If my presence is disrupting your life, I won’t come over anymore."

Seeing her distress, Vince immediately pulled her into his arms. "This has nothing to do with you. If anyone disrupted my life, it was her taking away my freedom to choose who I marry."

"Fine. I’ll apply for a divorce in a few days and give you your freedom. Satisfied?" Gianna’s tone was cold and detached. She was too exhausted and in too much pain to argue. All she wanted now was a good night’s sleep.

Without sparing the two another glance, she slipped into her usual slippers and walked to the guest bedroom she now called her own.

Vince was stunned, thinking he must have misheard her. When he called out to her, the door had already closed.

Lying on the bed, Gianna’s eyes burned with unshed tears. She couldn’t close them, no matter how hard she tried.

Memories from the past flooded her mind, making her already fragile body feel even more broken.

Gianna and Vince had known each other since childhood, growing up together, attending the same university, and eventually being driven apart by Roxan’s interference. Their relationship soured into mutual resentment, and their forced marriage was now a bitter entanglement.

She had endured enough and no longer wished to suffer any longer.

Gianna was a light sleeper. When she heard knocking on her door, she chose to ignore it, pretending not to hear.

The doorknob rattled with clumsy and heavy movements, irritating her.

She opened her eyes to see Roxan entering with a tray, carrying a cup of warm milk.

Roxan's tone was gentle. "Gianna, you must not have had dinner yet. Have some warm milk before going to sleep."

Gianna turned her gaze away, her voice icy. "Take it away. I don’t need it."

"Gianna, I know you’re upset with me, but please don’t take it out on your health," Roxan said earnestly, her tone laced with a hint of tears.

"Is playing dumb fun for you?" Gianna, tired of Roxan’s fake innocence, sat up and coldly glared at her. "Even kindergarteners know drinking milk on an empty stomach causes diarrhea. You, a grown adult in your twenties, don’t know such basic common sense?"

Despite being exposed, Roxan still clung to her pretense.

"I didn’t know that. Growing up, my family struggled, and milk was a luxury we only had during the New Year. It’s normal for me not to know."

After a few sentences, her eyes brimmed with tears again. "Gianna, I know you’ve always minded how close Vince and I are. But we’re just friends—he dotes on me like a little sister..."

"You know the truth better than anyone," Gianna interrupted sharply. "Since you’ve already crossed the line from friends to something more, don’t pretend to be innocent or pitiful. I’m not buying it."

Her blunt words tore away the last shred of pretense between them.

Roxan froze for a moment, tears streaming down her face.

"Yes, I admit you’ve known Vince ten years longer than I have. But the one he loves is me, and you’ve felt it too. Vince himself said that everything you have now—a marriage certificate and a place in his life—is only because your mother traded her life for it. Without her, you’re nothing."

Her words were light, but each one cut deep into Gianna’s heart.

Three years ago, after Vince's father, Antonio, suddenly passed away, TerraLink Group’s stock plummeted, and enemies within the boardroom sought to eliminate any remaining family influence. Assassins waited outside the Perkins family villa, targeting Vince. On that fateful day, Gianna’s mother happened to be with him and took the fatal blow meant for him.

That day, Gianna lost her only family.

To compensate for this, Michelle revived the childhood engagement between Gianna and Vince, forcing the two into marriage. The original intent was to have Vince care for her.

But Vince believed Gianna had used her mother’s sacrifice to break him and Roxan apart. For the next three years, he harbored resentment, treated her coldly, and caused her pain.

Perhaps she should have realized sooner and left before it came to this.

The sharp sound of glass shattering against tiled floors jolted her from her thoughts. Gianna turned to see the broken shards scattered across the floor, with Roxan slumping on the floor, her hands bleeding.

"Ah… it hurts so much," Roxan whimpered.

The scene was perfectly timed for Vince, who rushed in after hearing the commotion. He immediately helped Roxan up, his expression furious as he turned to Gianna.

"Roxan was kind enough to bring you some milk, and you made her get hurt?!"

Gianna didn’t defend herself. She merely stared back coldly.

There was no point in explaining herself. Vince’s bias had already condemned her. Why waste her breath?

"Don’t blame her, Vince," Roxan interrupted, her voice trembling as she clutched her injured hands. "I tripped over the chair leg myself. It has nothing to do with Gianna. Please don’t be angry with her."