In the end, I thought about the ten years I had given him—my youth, my love, my everything… and the child growing inside me. Tears slipped down my cheeks again, uncontrollably.

Darien put down the spatula and rushed over to hold me, his arms tight around me as he spoke in a panicked voice.

"Ellie, where did you hear such nonsense? I love you! I’d never lie to you. I can’t even imagine my life without you."

His words were desperate, his eyes red and glistening with what looked like sincerity, like he truly loved me. But I knew better. He loved someone else.

And that woman was pregnant with his child.

He even wanted to kill mine just to clear the way for their perfect little family.

The realization struck me like ice water. I pushed him away with all the strength I had left. "Stop lying, Darien. Stop using me. I’m done falling for your words. I came here today to end things for good."

I pointed toward the house behind him, my voice now cold. "You pretended to be bankrupt. I bought this house with my own money. So pack up and get out."

"Ellie, what’s wrong with you? Did you hit your head that day? Why are you saying these things now? Are you trying to drive me mad with worry?"

Then, like nothing had happened, he turned back to the stove and started ladling food into bowls. "You’re probably just hungry. Come on, let's eat. You’ll feel better once you’ve had something nice."

I stared at him in disbelief. And then, something bitter and hollow escaped from my throat.

"Don’t pretend anymore, Darien. I’m done—"

Before I could finish my sentence, his phone rang.

He answered almost immediately, "What? I told you I wasn’t coming tonight." His tone shifted, low and tense. His eyes flicked toward me, wary.

It had to be Vienna. She was calling to urge him over.

But today was supposed to be his turn to act like a devoted husband. So, he hesitated—clearly torn between two roles.

"I know." Darien glanced at me as he went on, "If the client's that important, then I’ll be right there."

He hung up and looked at me with that apologetic expression.

"Ellie, I’ve been working on this deal for a long time. A major client just came in and I have to go. The food’s in the pot. Please eat something, okay?"

He took off his apron in a rush, pausing briefly to sniff his collar, worried that Vienna would notice the smell of cooking oil.

"Darien..." I called out to him softly.

He stopped and turned, flashing me a gentle smile. "I transferred you one hundred fifty dollars. Buy yourself something nice. Some fruit, maybe. Take care of yourself and the baby, all right? I’ll be back soon."

Sure, Darien. I will take care of myself. I just won’t be needing you anymore.

That night, I posted the house for sale online. Then, I booked a plane ticket—three days from now. Tomorrow, I had an appointment for an abortion. The doctor had asked me to arrive early for a full exam.

The next morning, as I lay down on the examination bed at the hospital, the outer door suddenly slammed open.

"Doctor, please check my wife first. She’s in urgent condition!"

That familiar, unmistakable voice pierced through the cold hospital walls.

It was Darien.

"The patient inside is still being examined. Please wait outside," the doctor replied, coolly and barely flinching.

However, I knew Darien too well. He never took no for an answer. So, I sat up quickly and got ready to leave.

With a loud bang, the door burst open and Darien barged in. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me up from the bed before even registering who I was.

"Elodie? What are you doing here?"

Before I could respond, he turned to the doctor outside, his tone shifted from confusion to relief. "It’s all right, Doctor, we know each other. She’s a friend. Let her finish her exam later—we’ll go now."

With that, he tugged my arm, trying to drag me out.

A jolt of pain stabbed my lower abdomen. I bent forward, stifling a gasp.

Darien mistook my hesitation for resistance and frowned. "Elodie, don’t make a scene. Let’s go. Vienna’s in pain—she was crying earlier."

So, the one he rushed here for was Vienna. He brought her here for her prenatal check-up.

He had completely forgotten that just this morning, he told me he was tied up with an important client. He even asked me not to call him today.

Turned out, all of that was just a lie so he could enjoy a peaceful little day with Vienna.

Vienna swept her eyes over me slowly, scanning me from head to toe. A sneer curled on her lips.

"Darien, who is this?"

Her tone was sweet, but her words were sharp, cutting with feigned innocence. Darien looked caught, guilty. He quickly let go of my hand, as if touching me might stain him in her eyes and gave me a light push backward.

I stumbled slightly, leaning against the cold wall, breath shaky. My wrist throbbed where he had gripped it moments ago.

"You said you weren’t feeling well, didn’t you?" he murmured gently, turning to Vienna to support her weak step. "Come on, let’s get your check-up over with."

As she walked past me, Vienna leaned in slightly and mouthed one word, "Useless."

A stabbing pain twisted through my abdomen and I could not focus on anything else.

Clutching my stomach, I forced out a shaky whisper, "Darien, my stomach really hurts. Can you help me lie down?"

Yet, even after a long while, there was no response. I looked up. He was not even looking at me. His eyes were locked on the door of the examination room where Vienna had just disappeared.

As if sensing my gaze, Darien finally glanced in my direction.

"You’re fine, aren’t you? If you don’t want to stay, just go on your own. Vienna’s nervous being in there alone, so she needs me with her."

And just like that, he turned away and rushed to the doctor. "Doctor, she’s been in there a while. Is everything okay?"

"She’s physically fine," the doctor replied flatly. "Just some emotional stress—pretty common during a first pregnancy."

"That’s a relief. Thank you."

Darien stayed behind, asking questions—how to care for a pregnant woman, what she should eat, what to avoid, how to comfort her...

I had no idea why it hurt so much. My chest felt like it was caving in. I swallowed hard, blinking away the tears burning behind my eyes. I wiped the sweat from my brow with trembling hands, enduring every cramp alone.

Time dragged until finally, Vienna stepped out of the room.

That was when Darien suddenly remembered I existed. He turned, ready to help me to the bed, but just then, Vienna’s distressed voice sliced through the moment. "Ow, my head..."

"What's wrong, Vienna?" Darien immediately turned his back on me and rushed toward Vienna, who was clutching her forehead.

"I'm okay. Probably just some dizziness from anemia..."

"Come here. Let me carry you." He smiled and crouched before her, the very image of a doting prince.

I remembered when he once carried me home after I twisted my ankle. He had teased and joked the whole way.

But that was then. He did not love me anymore.

I pressed my back against the wall, supporting my aching belly and slowly made my way to the ward alone.

When I finally got there, I noticed the only two beds had been pushed together. Vienna sprawled across both of them. As I walked in, she sat up, lazily picking grapes from a fruit plate on the nightstand.

With a smirk etched on her face, she said, "Wow, you really don't know shame, do you? Darien didn’t even look your way earlier and you’re still following him here? Pathetic."

I wanted to explain that I was just here to rest—that I was in pain and exhausted—but facing her, the words caught in my throat. I could not bring myself to sound weak.

She waved a hand at me and added, "You look miserable. These beds were pushed together for me because Darien thought I’d be more comfortable like this. But go ahead, you can lie down too, just for a bit."

I did not respond. I was too tired to care about pride. I just walked toward the bed quietly.

But just as I reached it, Vienna gasped and collapsed sideways, letting out a dramatic cry, as if I had shoved her.

At that moment, Darien burst in with a kettle in hand and I immediately understood what this woman was trying to do.

The kettle hit the floor with a loud clatter as he rushed toward Vienna, looking panicked.

"Vienna, are you all right? Did you hurt somewhere?"

"I’m fine. Don’t blame Elodie. I must’ve just lost my balance…" she murmured tearfully. Even I almost believed her.

"What do you mean you lost your balance? You're too kind. You get hurt like this and still make excuses for her. That’s why people think they can walk all over you."

He gently helped her onto the bed, then turned to me with fire in his eyes. The next moment, a sharp sting exploded across my cheek.

"You knew Vienna was pregnant and you still dared to push her? Are you trying to kill her child—and yours too?"

I collapsed to the floor, dazed and humiliated. But none of that mattered—not compared to the searing pain in my belly. It felt like something inside me was being torn apart.

"Elodie," Vienna called out from the bed, "why are you still on the floor? Are you that mad at me?"

"Please don't be angry. I'll feel very guilty if you are."

"I'm so sorry, Elodie. I’ll even kneel to apologize right now if that would make you feel better."

As she spoke, Vienna slowly rose from the bed, crouching dramatically as if to kneel in front of me.

Vienna had barely begun to kneel when Darien yanked her up and started smoothing out the wrinkles on her dress.

"Vienna, you’re being too soft. You’re the one who should be angry. Elodie is the one who wronged you—she should be the one kneeling and begging for forgiveness!"

Then he turned to me, still lying on the cold floor, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Elodie, how many times are you going to hurt Vienna today? When will you finally stop causing trouble for her?"

Compared to the ache in my body, the pain in my heart felt far worse.

Just then, a voice called out from the door. "You there—where’s the other woman? It’s time for her procedure."

I opened my mouth to respond, but my throat was dry and raw. No sound came out—nothing louder than a whisper could escape.

I looked toward Darien again. He didn’t glance at me. Instead, he turned toward Vienna and gently supported her.

"Doctor, perfect timing. She just fell. I’m not sure if she’s injured. Could you please check her again?"

Vienna blushed, looking embarrassed. "It’s really nothing that serious…"

Darien reached out and gently pinched her cheek. "Still, I worry."

And just like that, the two of them walked away with the doctor.

Because I had collapsed behind one of the beds, the doctor couldn’t see me. Unless someone deliberately looked, no one would even know I was lying there.

I stared up at the cold ceiling, the sensation in my lower body growing more and more unbearable. Wet. Sticky.

I knew what it meant. The baby I was carrying… was leaving me.

And I could only feel it happen in the most painful and clear way. A wave of helplessness washed over me, suffocating in its weight.

The world around me dimmed. Empty.

"Elodie? Elodie…"

Someone was calling my name. Light broke through the darkness. "My baby girl, thank God you’re awake."

I turned toward the voice—it was my mother. Her eyes were red with worry.

"What happened to you?" she cried. "Do you know you were in a coma for two days? You scared me half to death."

I reached for my belly, tears spilling silently down my cheeks.

She picked up my phone and turned on the screen. "Your husband kept calling while you were unconscious…"

"Mom," I said, "don’t call him my husband. We divorced a long time ago. He… he cheated on me."

"What?" Her face paled. "Darien… Darien cheated on you? How could that be…"

So I told her everything. After all, she was the only person I could truly trust now.

***

The next day, even though my body was still weak, I went to the Daelan Family home with my mother by my side.

I wanted to resign in person. Some things were better said face to face.

The front door was open, so we walked right in. The ground floor was empty. At the entrance, I saw three pairs of shoes, so they must all be upstairs.

Sure enough, voices echoed from the study on the second floor.

I had just raised my hand to knock when the sound of shattering glass rang through the house, followed by Darien’s voice.

"Vienna, how could I possibly have feelings for her? I faked bankruptcy. I tricked her into a fake divorce. And when you said you wanted to destroy the Dawson Family, how many confidential documents did I steal for you without hesitation?"

A chill swept over me. My hands turned cold.

"After that, the Dawson Family went bankrupt, Mr. Dawson died coughing up blood and his son collapsed from a heart attack on his way to pay off the debts. Vienna, I gave you everything—and now you’re questioning my loyalty?"

Then another voice chimed in—one I recognized.

"He's right, sis. I’m honestly touched by his devotion to you. As for that Elodie... she should count herself lucky if anyone from the Dawson Family is even allowed to live."

It was Austin, Vienna’s fiercely loyal younger brother.