It felt like a thread snapped in my mind, and I instinctively rushed forward.

"Lily, what did you just say?!"

Lily rested her hand on her abdomen, smugness written all over her face. "Ah, sister, you heard me. Then I won’t hide it anymore. I’m carrying Hank’s child now. If you know what’s good for you, leave him immediately!"

My daughter, born prematurely, lay on a ventilator, her tiny body covered in tubes to keep her alive.

She was so fragile, her cries so faint they sounded as if they could vanish at any moment.

And Lily was pregnant with Hank’s child!

Noticing my silence, Lily’s brow furrowed. "Sister, it’s because you always covet what isn’t yours that your child was born prematurely. Perhaps she wasn’t meant to exist in this world…"

Before she could finish, I glared at her and slapped her hard. "Shut up!"

The next instant, Lily toppled down the stairs like a kite with a severed string.

Hank had suddenly appeared behind us. He darted forward, catching Lily in his arms.

She collapsed against him, her flushed face tilted up, nearly in tears. "Hank, it hurts!"

Those four words made Hank’s usually composed expression darken.

"Alex, what are you doing? Is this how you treat my only sister?"

My eyes burned with tears as I stared at the man I had loved for over twenty years.

"She said she’s carrying your child and wants you to divorce me. She even cursed my daughter. Shouldn’t I have slapped her?"

Hank instinctively loosened his grip on Lily and took a step toward me. "Didn’t I say I don’t agree…"

"Ah!"

Lily’s shrill cry cut him off. She collapsed to the floor, her face pale, clutching her belly. "Hank, my stomach hurts so much. I think the baby’s gone."

I coldly looked at the man before me, waiting for his choice.

The next second, he rushed to Lily without a backward glance and scooped her into his arms.

"Alex, this child has nothing to do with me, and don’t mention divorce again." His voice turned icy. "But you struck Lily. That won’t be overlooked. Kneel here and repent until the baby is safe."

Several bodyguards instantly surrounded me, forcing me to the ground.

The cold tiles pierced my knees, stabbing deeper into my heart that still loved Hank.

My child needed an incubator to live, and my mother was gone forever—yet Lily remained untouched.

I watched his retreating figure, my heart filling with bitter disappointment.

Rain poured down, and only late at night did Hank finally send word to the guards to release me.

I drove straight to the hospital, still soaked to the bone.

Lily’s words had left me uneasy, and I planned to transfer my child to the hospital under the Quinn family’s name.

But the moment I entered, I was met with the sight of my child’s lifeless body.

Frantic, I demanded, "How could my baby die? Who did this?!"

The nurse, startled by my return, dropped the documents in her hands.

A voluntary relinquishment agreement slid to the floor—signed by Lily.

"She’s not the mother. How could she sign it for me?!"

The nurse looked stricken. "She said Director He approved it. Director’s project sustains the hospital—we couldn’t refuse his order…"

I clutched my child’s body, tears streaming, my heart consumed by regret.

It was my investment in Hank that killed my baby!

My phone buzzed. A message from Lily: This is what happens if you refuse to leave. Next time, I can’t promise who it will be.

I gripped the phone so tightly the edges cut into my palm, blood dripping down.

When my baby became a small urn, I felt the last thread tying me to Hank break.

The nurse escorted me out, murmuring with sympathy, "Ms. Quinn, you’ll have another child. Please accept my condolences."

I brushed the box in my hands.

"No."

"There won’t be another. I don’t want this man anymore."

I returned to the villa, carrying a small urn. My soaked clothes chilled me to the bone.

On the table lay the divorce agreement, already signed by Hank.

This time, I signed without hesitation and told my assistant to expedite the divorce procedures.

There was no one left in this family worth keeping.

"Baby, Mommy’s sorry."

I stroked the porcelain jar, and suddenly it felt like I was back on the day she was born.

That day, I carefully held her tiny hand, and the crying child instantly quieted.

Her wide, bright eyes looked straight at me, as if I were her entire world.

Tears blurred my vision, and I could no longer hold them back.

Exhausted from crying, I eventually fell asleep on the sofa, still clutching the porcelain jar.

A few days later, my assistant answered a call.

"Ms. Quinn, the divorce procedures are finalized, but you’ll need to go to the Marriage Registry Office in person to collect the certificate."

After hanging up, I quickly packed and left.

At the entrance of the Marriage Registry Office, two familiar figures appeared before me.

The man wore a tailored suit, his profile striking, while the woman wore a long wedding dress, her face full of shyness.

"Hank, am I beautiful today?"

Lily’s eyes flicked toward me, then she deliberately wrapped herself around Hank’s arm.

She wore a low-cut gown, her pale chest pressed tightly against him.

Hank’s gaze deepened, his Adam’s apple bobbing. "Beautiful… Why not stay tonight and wear this dress?"

Lily blushed. "Hank, the baby’s still small!"

Relieved, Hank gently stroked her belly. "Yes, the baby’s important. We have plenty of time."

As they leaned closer, Lily suddenly exclaimed, "Sister’s here!"

She ducked shyly behind Hank, who also noticed me.

A dull ache throbbed in my chest, and I turned to leave, but Hank called after me.

"Alex, why are you here?"

He strode toward me, his tall figure blocking my path. "Don’t misunderstand, I’m only accompanying Lily for a photo shoot."

I suppressed my emotions and gave a soft hum.

Lily flashed me a playful look and stretched out her hand politely. "Sister, I asked Hank to accompany me for marriage certificate photos. If you’re upset, blame me."

The moment she finished, Hank moved to shield her protectively.

In the past, I might have lashed out, but now my heart was calm.

"Alright, you two carry on. I have something else to do, so I’ll be leaving."

A strange expression crossed Hank’s face. He looked at me as though I were a stranger. "Alex, you…"

"Hank, I’m not teasing, am I?"

Lily leaned closer and whispered, "Are you waiting for her to leave so you can scold me in secret?"

Her words reached me clearly.

Hank’s face darkened. He shot me at a displeased glance. "It’s fine, Lily, let’s go. I’ll protect you."

The man who once cherished and shielded me, who once held me in his arms, now looked at me with guarded hostility, as though I were the enemy.

I bit down hard, swallowing the sting rising in my nose. "Hank."

The two paused. Lily smirked at me with a look that said, I told you so.

Meeting his gaze, I spoke evenly.

"Remember to come back to the villa for dinner tonight. I’ve prepared a gift for you."

"Alright."

Hank seemed to take it as a sign of weakness and reconciliation, and his tone softened noticeably.

"By the way, Alex, what brings you to the Marriage Registry Office?"

I clenched the numbered slip in my hand, letting the sharp edge scrape my palm.

The faint sting gnawed at me like swarming ants.

“Nothing, just passing by.”

Hank seemed satisfied with my tact, his tone softening.

“Alright, wait for me. I’ll bring back your favorite crispy pork.”

I stood still, watching until the two figures vanished before I turned and walked into the hall.

The paperwork was quickly finished, and two green divorce certificates were handed to me.

The staff asked casually, “Did something happen with your husband? Why hasn’t he come to collect these?”

“He’s with his mistress, taking photos for their marriage certificate.”

My eyes drifted across the hall, where Lily was clinging to Hank, demanding retakes of their picture.

The two sat against a red backdrop, the image of a blissful couple.

And I was the one who didn’t belong.

After years of staking everything on Hank, I was left empty-handed.

I returned home, placed the divorce papers and my child’s ashes neatly on the dining table.

The room brimmed with memories.

From kindergarten snapshots to graduation photos, our lives have always been side by side.

I thought quietly: I’ll give Hank one last chance—to talk face-to-face.

But when the food had been reheated for the third time, my phone rang.

“Alex, something urgent came up at the hospital. I can’t come home tonight.”

On the screen, his chat box kept flashing: “Typing in progress.”

“I ordered the crispy pork I promised. It’ll be delivered. Don’t wait up—sleep early. I’ll make it up to you someday.”

I had grown numb to excuses. Calmly, I switched to Lily’s alternate account.

Her latest post appeared.

“The baby’s fussy, but with Daddy around, everything’s fine~”

The photo showed their intertwined hands.

I stared for a long moment, then dumped the untouched food into the trash.

When the driver dropped off the takeout, he apologized as he handed me a flattened box.

After he left, I sat alone, opening the crushed pork.

The soggy, misshapen meat steamed weakly.

I took a bite; it tasted bitter, tinged with salt.

Only when my cheeks were wet did I realize I was crying.

Hank, loving you hurts too much. I have no choice but to let go.

The next day, I gathered everything that belonged to me and tossed it into the trash. Only one small suitcase remained.

My mother’s ashes were still at the hospital—I wanted to take her with me.

When I was small, her warm palm always rested on my head. Later, she seemed to shrink.

Until I could see the crown of her head. Until she became nothing but a light, floating jar.

I tucked the jar into my bag and went to one of her favorite restaurants.

Unexpectedly, I ran into Hank and Lily there.

Both dressed formally, they looked slightly nervous.

The moment our eyes met, Hank frowned and whispered, “Alex, why are you here?”

He lowered his voice sharply. “Your little scenes are fine, but today’s important—I’m meeting investors. Don’t be so ignorant!”

Lily added sweetly, “Sister, it’s fine if you control Hank at home, but following us here? Do you not care about his career?”

Their barbs reminded me. Today was indeed the meeting.

Because I never wanted to reveal myself as an investor, I always sent my assistant in my place.

Watching their expressions, I suddenly lost the urge to keep silent. “I recommended this restaurant to you. Why can’t I come?”

I walked over, sat opposite them, and unzipped my bag slightly.

Lily recoiled. “Why are you carrying an urn?”

Hank’s face darkened, and just as he was about to speak, his assistant arrived.

He looked at me strangely. “What’s going on here?”

Before I could answer, Lily cut in impatiently. “She forced herself to sit with us, but she’s carrying ashes. I was just about to tell her to leave—bad luck, you know.”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Hank’s eyes, but his voice quickly cooled.

“She’s right. We don’t know her.”