I stood by the window in the corridor, taking deep breaths, trying to ease the suffocating pressure on both body and mind. But waves of dizziness still washed over me.

“Tania, why are you here all alone? You look so pale… are you feeling unwell?”

Raline was standing right beside me, twisting the green bangle on her wrist, wearing a feigned expression of concern. Yet in her eyes—the ones so uncannily like Celine’s—was nothing but vicious pride.

I remained silent, turning to leave.

But she reached out, blocking my way, her eyes full of naked provocation.

“Sam kept me in the master bedroom all night… he always says I’m the most like Celine. Every time he looks at me, he gets so passionate—much more than when he looks at you.”

“Tania, you probably don’t know yet… I’m pregnant too. Don’t you think Sam will love my child even more?”

A surge of fury, anxiety and physical discomfort hit me all at once. I pointed at her, trying to make her leave, but no sound came out of my mouth.

Everything around me began to spin wildly.

In the last second before I completely lost consciousness, I heard Raline’s triumphant sneer—and, in the distance, what sounded like Sam’s hurried footsteps.

I forced my eyes open, the first thing I noticed was the heavy scent of candles in the guest room. Turning my head slightly, I was shocked to see both Sam and Raline standing by my bedside.

Sam sat on the edge of the bed, his brow furrowed, a shadow of worry—or perhaps concern—lingering in his gaze.

“Tania, how are you feeling? Is there anywhere that still hurts—”

Before he could finish, Raline softly interrupted, “Tania, the doctor said you stirred the baby. You really don’t know how to take care of yourself and your emotions fluctuate so much. You have to rest properly in bed.”

“The doctor also said that it might have been because you didn’t take care of yourself that your previous child—”

Sam’s expression changed instantly. The concern in his eyes toward me was immediately replaced by displeasure and suspicion.

Raline shot me a provocatively triumphant glance, then dropped another bombshell. “Sam… I’m pregnant too.”

Sam whipped his head toward her, his voice overflowing with ecstatic joy. “That’s amazing! Are you feeling unwell at all?”

The smile on his face was genuine, the kind I had never seen when I was pregnant.

Raline lowered her head shyly. “I just found out… I was planning to tell you on your birthday, five days from now.”

Sam jumped to his feet, pacing back and forth, his face alight with delight—before he finally remembered that I was still lying on the bed, just fainted and also carrying his child.

He turned to me with impatience written all over his face. “Tania, just lie here and rest. Don’t go anywhere. You can’t even take care of yourself or the baby. Don’t cause me any more trouble.”

With that, he immediately wrapped his arms around Raline’s waist. “Come on, Raline. Let’s go to the hospital for a full check-up. We can’t risk even the slightest mistake.”

The room was left empty once more, with only me and the thick, nauseating scented candles lingering in the air.

I lay on the bed, my hand instinctively resting on my stomach, where another life was growing, just like Raline’s.

But at that moment, I was treated as if I didn’t matter at all.

Another wave of weakness washed over me. My instincts screamed that something was seriously wrong with my body. I quickly called Kendrick.

“Kendrick… please come to the villa and take me away. I’m afraid I can’t protect the baby. Take me to a private hospital.”

Kendrick arrived quickly, his usual carefree charm replaced entirely by deep worry for me.

Half carrying, half supporting me, he took me to the private hospital run by his family—a name that carried weight in the medical world.

“Don’t be afraid,” Kendrick murmured, his hand warm around my icy one. “I’ve already brought in the best divorce lawyers in the country. The property division is underway and in just a few more days everything will be settled.”

“When you’re free, do you want to watch the snow in Switzerland? See the Northern Lights in Scandinavia? Or live in a quiet seaside town? As long as you say yes, I’ll go anywhere with you.”

I didn’t speak. Tears filled my eyes as I squeezed his hand back with all my strength. Kendrick always appeared to protect me at the exact moment I needed him most.

At the hospital, after a series of detailed examinations, the head of obstetrics came in holding the report.

“Miss Grande, we found a rare alkaloid in your blood. This substance is usually inhaled through the respiratory tract. Long-term or high-concentration exposure can cause nervous system fatigue, palpitations, emotional instability and greatly increase the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women.”

The doctor’s words sent my mind completely blank.

A rare alkaloid in my blood, a substance usually inhaled through the lungs.

It had to be that guest room, with its relentless, unnaturally strong odor.

Sam had deliberately made me stay in that room, insisting I “absolutely rest in bed” and forbidding me from leaving. He hadn’t even been willing to bring me to the hospital when I fainted.

Everything finally made sense.

This was a deliberate, cruel attempt to end the life of the child I carried.

I couldn’t stop trembling.

“Tania,” Kendrick suddenly crouched down and held my shaking shoulders tightly. His eyes were stormy with fury. “He was behind that strange scent in the guest room, right? It’s okay. Now that we know, it’s over. I won’t let him lay a finger on you again.”

I leaned into Kendrick, tears flowing uncontrollably. How much had this marriage already taken from me?

After crying, my mind cleared even more. I knew it still wasn’t the right time.

The property division agreement hadn’t been finalized. I had to endure. For the child and to safely leave with everything I deserved, I had to see this act through to the end.

When we returned to the villa, Sam and Raline were already there.

“Tania, get ready and accompany Raline to the maternity store. She just found out she’s pregnant and there’s a lot we need to prepare.”

This time, I didn’t resist. I lowered my eyes and murmured a quiet acknowledgment.

The maternity store was filled with a warm, charming atmosphere, with all kinds of delicate baby products. Yet at that moment, it only felt mocking and suffocating to me.

Sam’s attention never left Raline.

“Raline, isn’t this little outfit cute?”

“This baby bottle is imported—the safest material.”

“The crib must be solid wood; it’s better for the child’s health.”

He carried himself with a clumsy, inexperienced joy I had never seen before, carefully asking the store clerk about every detail and buying anything Raline glanced at twice.

Raline laughed coquettishly the entire time, leaning against him and sneaking triumphant glances at me.

The clerks immediately recognized Sam. They noticed the careful attention he gave Raline, then glanced at me trailing behind, who was pale, silent and unreadable. Their expressions shifted, tinged with something subtle, almost judgmental.

“So that’s Mr. Freight and his new favorite? Hmph, they really do look alike.”

“I heard she’s pregnant too? The treatment she gets is completely different.”

I gritted my teeth, keeping my face obedient and calm.

Just a little longer.

Once the agreement was signed and the divorce finalized, I took my child and left, soaring free and unburdened

After returning from the maternity store, I sat alone in the shadows of the empty living room, silently staring out the window.

Sam approached with a thin cashmere blanket and gently draped it over my shoulders. “It’s chilly tonight. Wear more. Your health comes first. You can’t take any risks.”

He sat down on the sofa across from me. “Tania, can we talk? Raline’s child is also my flesh and blood. I can’t treat them unfairly. I plan to officially announce everything at my birthday banquet, so they’ll have rightful inheritance.”

I lifted my eyes, coldly piercing through him. “How exactly will you introduce her? As the substitute you obsessively hunted down, locked away in a secret room, identical to Celine?”

Sam’s expression shifted constantly, but he quickly suppressed it. “Tania, I’ll give Raline a perfect identity. A pianist returned from overseas. Our meeting was fate. This way, it won’t damage the reputations of either your or my families.”

I lowered my eyes, formulating a plan. “Fine, I’ll cooperate at the birthday banquet.”

Since he had gone this far, he couldn’t blame me for making this his most unforgettable birthday.

His face lit up with joy at my agreement. “Tania, thank you for understanding me. Things can still be like they were before. I’ll take care of you and the baby.”

I paid no mind to him rushing toward the master bedroom. Silently, I slipped into the servant’s room at the end of the second floor and sent Kendrick a message.

[Kendrick, help me gather evidence. I’m going to reveal the whole truth at his birthday banquet.]

The next morning, when I opened the door, I was shocked to find the villa’s living room transformed into a wedding scene.

Fresh lilies and roses filled the air, a towering champagne display gleamed, countless pink helium balloons floated from the ceiling and in the center of the room sat a fondant cake topped with a tiny bride-and-groom figurine.

But what made my stomach turn the most was the figure standing at the center of it all—Raline, dressed in a pristine wedding gown.

I would never mistake that gown for anything else. It was the one Sam had custom-made for me when we got married.

Beside her, Sam wore a sharply tailored black tailcoat. When he saw me frozen at the doorway, he strode over, saying, “Tania, you’re just in time,” his voice carrying a strange, almost manic excitement. “Today is a special day. Raline and I need you to witness it.”

He forcefully dragged me to the center of the living room, straight in front of the officiant.

Sam’s gaze lingered obsessively on Raline in her wedding gown. “This is the romantic wedding I owe her. As the lady of this house, you should stand here and personally witness our happiness. Please bless us.”

I stared at the absurd scene before me, my stomach churning violently, nearly vomiting on the spot.

Sam’s face was gentle as he slipped the ring onto Raline’s finger. Just as the officiant read aloud, “For better or for worse…”

The helium balloons exploded overhead without any warning.

But the disaster didn’t stop there.

The chain reaction from the exploding balloons sent shockwaves that violently shook the towering champagne display beside us. The entire tower lost its balance and toppled toward where Raline and I were standing.

“Raline, watch out!”

Sam’s terrified shout echoed through the living room. Without hesitation, he lunged at Raline in her wedding gown, holding her tightly in his arms and rolling toward a safer spot.

Glass shards from the champagne tower rained down on me, cutting into my arms, cheeks and legs.

“Ah!” I curled up in pain, letting out a piercing scream.

But none of that physical pain compared to the rhythmic, searing pain radiating from my abdomen.

I struggled to lower my gaze. Bright red blood was slowly flowing between my legs, mixing with the champagne that had spilled all over the floor.

My child… my baby.