When I came to, the first thing that came into view was Evan's anxious and shaken face. Clutching my hand tightly, he asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant, Selena?"

I wanted to tell him that I had. Yet, he had hung up on me before I could even finish my sentence.

However, I was so weak I couldn't even open my eyes. Noticing my aloofness, he panicked for once. "This is all my fault, Selena. I didn't believe you. Thank God the baby is alright… Or else I'd never be able to forgive myself!

"No wonder you've been emotional lately. It's because you're pregnant. If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have punished you for yelling at the housekeepers."

In the end, he still believed I had lied to him.

The frustration in my chest reached its limit. I used all the strength I had to pull my hand out of his.

My voice was hoarse and low as I demanded, "Get out. I don't want to see your face."

Evan froze for a moment. He seemed hurt as he stared at his empty hand and fell silent for a while.

Ultimately, he turned to leave. Before walking out, he warned the doctor. "Take good care of my wife. If anything happens to her or our baby, this hospital can shut its doors for good."

He left in a hurry. I later learned he had rushed home to punish the housekeepers. The doctor told him that if I had been rushed over any later, not only would our baby have been lost, but I might have died as well.

Rumor had it that the housekeepers were beaten within an inch of their lives. Even at death's door, they begged for mercy on their knees. "Mr. Blackwell, we were only following Ms. Harroway's orders! She forced us to do it!"

"Nonsense!" Evan snapped. "Serena's been in the hospital this whole time. How could she possibly force you to do anything? How dare you slander her?

"Mr. Larson, rip their tongues out and throw them out!"

"No! We're telling the truth, Mr. Blackwell! It was Ms. H—"

Blood splattered across the floor as Evan dropped the blade in his hand. His eyes were filled with murderous intent as he declared, "From now on, anyone who dares to slander Serena will end up just like this!"

Before he left, he instructed Gale, "Don't breathe a word of this to my wife. Understood?"

Gale hurriedly nodded. Yet, I still found out.

Serena paused the video and stood beside my hospital bed, looking down at me with a triumphant smile. "I never imagined someone like you would be the first to get pregnant. But what does it matter? Evan loves only me.

"See? No matter what anyone says, he always believes me. You, on the other hand, were punished, locked in a room, and ended up so upset you almost lost your baby!

"I was worried for a moment, but after watching this, I think your baby will die sooner or later. It's what happens when the mother isn't even loved!"

I watched her crow over me and chuckled. "Are you scared, Serena?"

The smile on her face stiffened, while the amusement in my eyes deepened. "Aren't you telling me all these things to reassure yourself? If you were genuinely that sure of yourself, why did you rush over here as soon as you received that video? You didn't even change out of your hospital gown."

"You're… unbelievable!" Serena looked completely rattled, as though I had hit a nerve. "Don't get ahead of yourself! It's just a baby. I'll be pregnant soon enough!"

I kept a straight face as I responded softly, "In that case, I wish you luck. I hope you get knocked up on your first attempt."

My flippant demeanor enraged Serena. So, she raised her hand to slap me.

Just then, Evan pushed the door open and walked in. "What are you doing here, Serena?"

Serena hurriedly withdrew her hand and forced a smile. "I heard Mrs. Blackwell almost had a miscarriage, so I came to check on her."

He nodded. Looking at her thin hospital gown, he couldn't help but comment, "It's chilly today. You should head back to your room soon."

Serena froze. In the past, he would've draped his coat over her shoulders and personally walked her back. The thought made her shoot daggers at me.

Her gaze ultimately landed on my abdomen, her eyes filled with resentment. However, she still plastered a smile on her face and walked out the door as if she didn't care.

Evan turned around and gazed at her for a moment before spinning on his heel and sitting beside my bed.

Everything between them played in slow motion before my eyes, and I could see the worry and reluctance in his eyes clearly. He stayed, not because he no longer loved Serena, but because my pregnancy forced him to.

"What should we name our baby, Selena?" He asked gently as he poked my belly.

I looked out the window and pondered for a moment before responding softly, "Let's call him… Rene."

"Rene?"

"Yeah. It means to let go of the past."

Evan stiffened for a moment before breaking into a smile. "True. Your father wasn't good to you. It's better for you to forget him."

I turned around to see him resting his cheek against my belly. "Rene, you have to grow up safe and healthy. Daddy can't wait to meet you!"

His profile had returned to its familiar tenderness. In the past, I would've been moved to tears. Now, it only stung.

Evan, when I said I wanted to let go of my past, I wasn't referring to my childhood; I was referring to the three years I was married to you. My father failed me, but you weren't any better.

…

That evening, he stayed by my side until I fell asleep. Then, he stepped out onto the balcony.

"I'm not going back to you tonight, Serena. Go to bed without me."

"Tonight? What about tomorrow? Will you come back tomorrow? So long as that baby is still in her belly, you won't ever come back to me, right, Van?

"Don't you dare forget that Selena is just my substitute! The baby she's carrying is a substitute, too! Besides, I can give you one as well!" Serena was so emotional that her voice echoed through the glass window.

Evan immediately turned to check if I had woken up. Noticing that my eyes were still shut, he continued, "Calm down, Serena. We had already lost each other once. I promise I'll give you the happiness you deserve this time.

"Selena, on the other hand, is a mistake I made in the past, and I have to take responsibility for her. Do you understand?

"Also, don't call her a substitute right in her face. If she finds out about us and gets upset, it could affect the baby. It'll be a disaster then."

"She's the only one you care about; you don't care about me at all! In that case, I'll leave. That way, she and her precious baby will be just fine!"

Sobs echoed from her end of the call. Evan sighed exasperatedly. "Alright, Serena. Stop crying. I'll go and be with you, okay?"

He spent a long while comforting her on the phone before grabbing his coat from the couch and rushing out. Before he left, he planted a kiss on my forehead.

The moment the door clicked shut, I opened my eyes and wiped that kiss off my skin. I sat up and pulled out my phone.

I had received a new email notification. Wyrmvale University had sent me an acceptance letter. So, I immediately booked a flight to Bellerose.

"Evan, from this day on, I don't ever want to see you again," I thought to myself.

Evan didn't return until noon the following day, and there were several hickeys on his neck. He looked exhausted. Obviously, he had been worn down by Serena.

All of a sudden, Gale pushed the door open and walked in. "Things have gotten out of hand in the underground district again, Mr. Blackwell. A company called Luminary Corp has been stirring up trouble."

Evan frowned. "Luminary Corp?"

"Yes. It's the corporation that took over a huge share of the market shortly after it was founded. Their CEO claimed he'd shut our company down within a month."

"He'd shut us down in a month?" Evan sneered. His expression darkened drastically. "That's a bold claim."

He tossed the folder to Gale. "Get the car ready. I want to meet this CEO myself and see what he's capable of."

Evan turned around and ruffled my hair. The murderous intent in his eyes melted into warmth. "Get some rest, Selena. I need to take care of a few pests."

After he left, I immediately started packing my belongings. I threw all the baby toys he had purchased into a box. When I was done, I looked at the bodyguards, who were stationed outside the door. "Help me take this box back to Mr. Blackwell."

They exchanged puzzled looks. "Mr. Blackwell told us not to take a single step out of this room, Mrs. Blackwell."

My expression hardened in an instant, and I said icily, "He also said I'm the one in charge here. Now, go!"

I left no room for refusal. The bodyguards took the box and left.

I hopped into a cab, and I was headed to the airport when I suddenly received a call from the hospital. "Ms. Holloway, you scheduled a miscarriage procedure with us a few days ago, but you never showed up. Do you still want to go through with it?"

When I didn't respond, the nurse repeated herself. "Ms. Holloway?"

I checked the time. It was 1:00 pm, and my flight wasn't until 9:00 pm.

"I'll go through with it. Sir, please turn around and take me to General Hospital."

I needed to say goodbye to the only thing that was keeping me here. From here on, I would be facing the world alone.

Before I knew it, my hand found its way onto my belly. "This is where we say goodbye, my child," I brooded.

All of a sudden, I noticed we were getting farther and farther away from the hospital. This cab… was heading in a completely different direction.

My brows drew together as I looked at the driver. "You're going the wrong way. I'm going to General Hospital." Ignoring me, the driver stepped on the gas and sped toward the outskirts of the city.

I immediately tried to put up a fight, but he pulled out a knife and stabbed me in the shoulder. "Miss, you'd better behave, or I can't promise you'll leave this car alive."

Clutching my bleeding shoulder, my gaze landed on the knife handle, and my pupils dilated. There was a small star engraved on it. It was Luminary Corp… The company Evan had just talked about.

Before I could process what was going on, the car came to a stop beside an abandoned building.

I was thrown out, tied up like cargo. Just then, another car pulled up and dumped a young woman on the ground as well.

"Who are you people? How dare you kidnap me? My husband is Evan Blackwell, the CEO of Blackwell Group! Do you all have a death wish? Untie me right now! Let me go!"

The driver slapped Serena across the face. "Finally, peace and quiet."

I let out a mirthless chuckle and looked at the woman with pure disdain. Considering the situation we were in, all we could do was wait and see how things unfolded.

I looked around, scanning my surroundings. When I spotted the star symbol carved into the wall, I figured this must be one of Luminary Corp's factories.

While I was lost in thought, a man in a purple suit walked toward us. His hat was pulled low, hiding his face, but his voice alone was enough to make people uneasy.

He took a look at me, then at Serena, and lifted the corner of his lips. "I told you to bring me the lady of the Blackwell family. Why are there two of them?"

The driver hurriedly explained, "We asked the mole we planted inside the Blackwell residence which one she was, but he couldn't give us a straight answer. I heard Mr. Blackwell goes back and forth between the two women every day and spoils them both."

"Oh? Is that so?" The man arched his brow and chuckled. "Mr. Blackwell sure knows how to enjoy life. Oh well, that just makes things more interesting."

He walked up to us. "Which one of you is the lady of the Blackwell family?"

"It's her!" Serena shrieked. "Of course, it's her; she's the one who married Mr. Blackwell, so you kidnapped the wrong person. Hurry up and let me go!"

The man looked at Serena, who was trembling all over, with disdain. Then, he shifted his gaze onto me and stiffened for a second because I wore a poker face. There was not a trace of fear in my eyes as I admitted, "I'm the lady of the Blackwell family."

Everyone was caught off guard. No one expected me to admit it so easily. After all, that would make me a hostage.

The man's gaze lit up with interest. "Aren't you afraid?"

His tone was ice-cold, but I remained calm. "I'm afraid, but fear won't save my life."

After hearing that, the man burst out laughing and even clapped his hands. "Interesting. How interesting. You're so entertaining, I almost don't want to kill you.

"But you don't get to decide who the lady of the Blackwell family is. The one who can control Evan… is the real lady of the Blackwell family." With that, he curled his fingers.

In an instant, a large camera was pointed at me, and Evan appeared onscreen.

"Van, save me! Save me!" Serena hurled herself at the camera as soon as she saw him, only to be kicked aside and gagged. I, on the other hand, didn't move a muscle. I merely gazed at the man on the screen coldly.

Evan seemed frantic, his expression dark enough to kill. "Kai Lanchester, you'd better let my women go before I wipe your company off the map!" he gritted out.

"Let your women go? Sure." Kai smirked. "But I can only release one of them. Make your choice."

"Kai!" Evan completely lost it.

Kai, however, didn't seem to mind. "Call my name one more time, and I'll think you're into me. Hurry up and choose. I'm sure you know I'm not a patient man."

Serena hurriedly shuffled in front of the camera, tears streaming down her cheeks. Evan looked heartbroken as he took in the state she was in.

I watched this scene quietly before lifting my head to the darkening sky. The plane that was supposed to take me away would take off soon.

All of a sudden, Gale's voice came through the video call. "Mr. Blackwell, you have to save Mrs. Blackwell; she's carrying your baby. She can't handle any stress right now. Considering your injury, this might be the only child you'll ever have!"

"That's right, Mr. Blackwell. This child is crucial to your family. He must be protected at all costs.

"Ms. Harroway's not your wife, and she's not pregnant. It's only right to sacrifice her!"

Evan looked conflicted.

"Are you having a hard time deciding? In that case, let me help you."

"What are you planning to do to them?"

Kai didn't answer him.

Just then, two men walked over to Serena and me with a small knife.

"Give me the land on the outskirts, and I'll release one of them."

The cold blade pressed against my skin, but I glared back fearlessly.

Serena, on the other hand, was completely petrified. She screamed and thrashed so wildly that blood streaked her face.

Blood streamed down her porcelain skin. The sight was downright horrific.

"V-Van… Help me… It hurts…"

Ignoring her, Kai's gaze landed on my calm face. "Are you seriously not afraid?"

I paid him no mind. In reality, I was taking a gamble. Judging from the way he acted earlier, he struck me as the kind of guy who only respected those who didn't crumble under duress.

Noticing my silence, the glint in his eyes shimmered. He dragged the knife along my cheek and murmured, "But I don't believe you… There has never been a woman who wasn't afraid of me, let alone a pregnant one."

"Unhand me, you bitch! Van will never forgive you if you hurt me!" Serena was so terrified she started spouting nonsense.

"Shut up!" Kai slashed her face. Clutching her bleeding cheek, she burst into tears.

"I choose Serena! Hurry up and let her go!" Evan blurted out.

I wasn't hurt, yet it still felt like a blade had pierced my heart. I thought… our baby would tip the scales in my favor. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Without saying a word, I lowered my head as the light drained from my eyes.

"Selena…"

"Selena…"

I didn't look up, but I had a feeling Evan's eyes were on me.

"Don't worry, Selena. I'll save you, even if it costs me my life! You're my wife. They wouldn't dare—"

Right then, a razor-thin cut opened on my skin, and Kai smeared it with his fingers, grinning devilishly.

"Kai Lanchester! What the hell are you doing to my wife?" Evan's voice was shaking violently.

Yet, Kai hung up on him.

"Get that woman out of here. Don't hand her over until the land transfer contract has been signed. Also, call the family physician. Have him wait in my bedroom."

His subordinates exchanged puzzled looks. "Mr. Lanchester, are you feeling unwell?"

Kai shook his head and pulled out a silk handkerchief, gently pressing it to the cut on my neck. "I'm fine, but there's a little pregnant lady here who needs my attention."

I looked up at him, surprised. At last, I see his face clearly.

His deep blue eyes stared back at me, as though he were ready to swallow me whole.

"You're… not going to kill me?"

He let out a soft chuckle. "That's illegal. I'm a law-abiding citizen. But… If the one who stayed behind had been that other woman, she might already be dead by now.

"Too bad you were the one who was left behind. Besides, you're far too interesting for me to kill."

To my surprise, he actually let me go after treating my wounds. Because I had missed my flight, he even sent me to Bellerose in his private helicopter.

And all he asked for in return was my phone number. Looking at the unfamiliar profile picture on my phone and touching the bandage on my neck, I felt an indescribable feeling.

No matter what, I had left. Evan, thank you… for giving me the final push to give up on you completely.