When Tasha learned that Nick hadn't been taken advantage of by those wealthy women, she finally let out a long breath of relief.

Then she kicked me hard in the stomach.

"How can you be so shameless? You'd actually come up with something this disgusting? Those women are ugly and fat—they'd devour someone without leaving even bones behind. I used to think you were reliable. Now it seems I must have been blind all along!"

Her kick landed right on my abdominal scar. Pain exploded through me, and I curled up on the ground, writhing.

My reaction startled her, and she instinctively reached out to help me up.

But the moment she caught the aggrieved look in Nick's eyes, she shoved me aside again, letting me fall back to the floor.

"Thomas, what are you pretending for? Nick almost died because of you. Apologize to him—now!"

I forced myself to endure the pain, my eyes bloodshot as I stared at her.

"I didn't do it. Why should I apologize?"

She stamped her foot in fury.

"And you still dare to argue at a time like this? I'll make you understand what happens to anyone who dares to cross me!"

She turned and pointed at me, ordering Emily, "Nick's poison is about to flare up. I'll take him to get treated first. I'm leaving this to you. Don't let him go until he admits his mistake, apologizes to Nick in person, and shows some sense."

Tasha helped Nick out. As he left, he shot me a smug glance, then feigned another flare-up, his hands roaming freely over her body under the pretense of pain.

The next afternoon, Tasha came back carrying a lunchbox. She walked over, crouched down beside me, and slowly began feeding me with a spoon.

"Emily said you refused to eat. You haven't eaten for so long—you'll starve. Let me feed you."

Catching the scent on her—one that belonged to Nick—I turned my head away.

Emily's face twisted with anger.

"You're unbelievable. Tasha is feeding you herself, and you're still being picky. Eat or don't eat—if you starve to death, that's on you!"

Tasha stopped her and asked her to step outside, saying she wanted to talk to me alone.

After Emily left, Tasha tried to persuade me patiently.

"Thomas, can you stop acting childish? I know you're not a bad person. You just lost your head out of jealousy over Nick. As long as you apologize, we can put this behind us, okay?"

I looked at her coldly.

"I didn't do it. My conscience is clear."

Nick pushed the door open and walked in, putting on a show of concern.

"Forget it, don't make things hard for Thomas. Let him go. If your relationship is damaged because of me, I'll feel guilty for the rest of my life. Besides, you're pregnant. Worrying about these small matters will wear you out."

After hearing him, Tasha shot me a look of disdain.

"Look at how considerate Nick is. You don't even measure up to a single toe of his. Fine. Since Nick spoke up, I'll forgive you this time."

As she spoke, she leaned over and kissed Nick on the cheek.

"You really know how to care about me. It's so good having you by my side."

Seizing the moment, Nick buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"Then can you help me one more time? The poison in my body… it feels like it's getting harder to suppress again."

Tasha touched his forehead anxiously.

"It does feel a little warm. Then be gentler this time—don't hurt the baby. After all, your mother has been waiting for her grandson to be born safely."

Only as she was about to leave did she finally remember I was still tied up on the floor.

She had Emily untie me, then let out a sigh, looking at me with disappointment.

"To keep you from hurting Nick again, you should leave. Until I give birth to his child, don't show up in front of me again."

I didn't argue. I only replied calmly, "Alright. I'll leave."

'Tasha… this time, I won't be coming back.'

I returned to the hotel, packed my things with minimal fuss, and left the divorce papers behind. Without a trace of hesitation, I headed for the airport.

But the moment I arrived, a blinding beam from a flashlight struck my eyes, forcing them shut.

A kick landed hard against me, and Tasha's voice rang out sharply.

"You think you can hurt Nick and just run away? Not a chance!"

I was bound tightly and dragged back to the abandoned factory.

This time, the ropes were even tighter, cutting into my wrists until they bled.

Tasha threw a doll at me, then rushed forward and slapped me hard across the face.

"This is what you've done! I never thought you'd stoop this low—using a cursed doll to wish death on Nick's mother!"

The needles stuck into the doll pierced right into my wound, and in an instant, fresh blood soaked through my white shirt.

The pain was so intense I couldn't speak.

When I didn't answer, Tasha grabbed a stick and struck my leg.

"I'm talking to you! Are you mute now? Don't think playing pitiful will make me forgive you. Apologize to Nick's mother right now!"

Staring at the doll riddled with needles, I forced myself to speak through the agony.

"I didn't do this. Someone set me up."

She let out a cold snort. "We found this in your closet, and you still dare to deny it?"

Behind her, Nick stood with tear-filled eyes, looking utterly wronged.

"Thomas, my mom is just a simple woman from the countryside. She's worked hard her whole life and never enjoyed a single day."

Suddenly, he dropped to his knees and began kowtowing to me, as if his life depended on it.

"You can punish me however you want, but please don't hurt my mother. She's the only family I have in this world!"

Before I could respond, Nick suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed himself.

"If anything happens to my mom, I won't go on living either!"

Tasha stepped on my hand as she rushed over, grabbing him desperately.

"Nick, don't do anything foolish! Your mom will be fine. We'll go to the hospital right now."

She turned back and drove her high heel viciously into my stomach.

"I've been too lenient with you. That's why you've become so lawless!"

Then she barked an order at the bodyguards.

"Teach him a proper lesson. Make sure he remembers it. Let's see if he dares to bully Nick again!"

What she didn't see was the subtle signal Nick gave the guards.

In the next second, the way they looked at me turned ice-cold.

My voice hoarse, I begged Tasha for help.

"Tasha, save me… they'll kill me!"

She glanced at me indifferently.

"Stop pretending. They'll only make you suffer a little. They won't take your life. Once Nick and I return from the hospital, I'll have you released."

After Tasha left arm in arm with Nick, the bodyguards pulled out several cans of gasoline and doused me from head to toe.

The one in the lead flicked a lighter, his expression vicious.

"You messed with the wrong guy. Go meet your maker."

I struggled desperately, but it was useless. My bloodshot eyes glared at them.

"Aren't you afraid Tasha will kill you if she finds out?!"

The guards burst into laughter.

"Right now, the person Tasha cares about most is Nick. If she knew this was his order, she wouldn't even have the heart to blame him!"

With cruel grins, they tossed the lighter onto me.

Flames surged over my body like a ravenous beast. In despair, I closed my eyes.

'Tasha… farewell.'