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.

Through the narrow crack of the study door, I saw Darien holding Vienna tightly in his arms. She was still pouting like a child in the middle of a tantrum and he comforted her as if he were afraid she might slip away.

I could accept that Darien didn’t love me anymore. Feelings fade—people change. That much, I could live with.

But how could he destroy the Dawson Family?

How could he drive both my grandfather and father to their deaths?

When the Eugene Family was on the brink of collapse, it was my grandfather who extended a lifeline, offering up a third of our family’s capital without ever asking for repayment. He did all that purely because we were all family.

And when Darien failed in business three times, it was my father who helped him back on his feet. He found him a career coach, guided him step by step and spoke to him with patience. He treated him like a son.

Yet Darien repaid their kindness with betrayal. And all for Vienna’s selfish ambitions.

Suddenly remembering that my mother was still behind me, I turned around in alarm.

She was clutching her chest, her face drained of color, her body swaying—she looked like she might collapse at any moment.

I rushed to her side. "Mom! Are you okay?"

Just then, Darien threw open the door, clearly irritated by the noise outside. His eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here?"

I met his glare, my hatred surging to the surface like fire.

"Darien Eugene, you killed my grandfather and my father—how dare you show your face? Don’t forget who saved your family from ruin. Without us, the Eugene Family would be nothing!"

"You ungrateful bastard. I must have been blind to ever fall in love with a monster like you!"

And with that, I slapped him hard across the face.

The sting on my palm was sharp. Red finger marks bloomed on his cheek.

"Elodie, are you insane?" Vienna rushed over, pushing me away as she fussed over his swollen face.

What surprised me most was Darien’s reaction. He did not lash out. He was not even as angry as I expected. If anything… there was guilt in his eyes.

I pointed at both of them—my voice trembling, thick with rage.

"And you, Vienna."

"You want Darien so badly? Fine. Take him. Let’s see how sweet stolen love really tastes."

"Your precious Daelan Family could never beat the Dawsons in business, so you lied, cheated and sabotaged. You couldn’t win fair and square, so you stabbed us in the back. But now I know the truth—and I swear, I’ll repay every drop of blood. Tenfold. A hundredfold."

Vienna crossed her arms and scoffed, her expression smug. "Ah, you finally figured it out? So what? What can you do to the Daelan Family now?"

I stared at her perfect little face—and for the first time in my life, I wanted to destroy it.

Thud!

"Ugh! Elodie!" my mother cried out.

Austin had picked up a basketball and hurled it straight at her as he stood there laughing darkly. Just to vent Vienna’s anger, he had actually struck my mother with a basketball.

I dropped to the floor, cradling her limp body in my arms, panic clawing its way up my throat.

"She deserved it," Austin warned, his voice sharp. "Anyone who dares mess with my sister deserves to die. I only hit her once and that’s because Darien still has a soft spot for both of you. Otherwise, neither of you would leave this house alive."

He spun the basketball on his finger, smirking, completely unfazed by what he had done.

I knew I was outnumbered. I had no choice but to run—my only priority now was getting Mom to the hospital.

In the end, Darien was the one who drove us. I sat in the passenger seat, silent for a long moment, then turned to him and asked, my voice bitter.

"You killed my grandfather and my father… and now you’re the one driving my mother to the hospital?" A hollow laugh escaped me. "Don’t you think that’s ridiculous, Darien?"

He gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles bone-white. After a long pause, he finally said, “Elodie… just know that the person I’ve always loved most is you.”

Heh. What a joke.

So this was what love meant to him? Betraying the woman he claimed to love—again and again—and hurting everyone she cared about?

If this was love, then it was cruel. Hollow. Worthless.

At the hospital, as they wheeled my mother into surgery, Darien stayed by my side. But his eyes kept flicking to his phone, his brows knit in tension.

"Just go," I muttered.

Hearing that, he slowly put down his phone and reached out, trying to pull me into an embrace. I stepped back, avoiding his touch like it burned.

His arms dropped and he stood there awkwardly. "I’m not leaving. I’ll stay here with you."