It had been the fifth year of my marriage, and I was about to reveal everything to my husband after pretending to be poor for so long. However, his childhood sweetheart had just returned from studying abroad.

With a cruel smile, my mother-in-law sneered, "Claire and Thomas are a much better match.

"Not like some trash who isn't even fit to show up in public."

She and my sister-in-law had waited for the perfect moment, drugging me and teaming up with the childhood sweetheart to accuse me of being a mistress.

The result? I had lost my baby.

In a single night, I had lost everything.

The position as a vice president of a major company, our lakeside mansion, the limited-edition sports cars... I would make sure it was all gone!

I would make them beg for my mercy. I would make sure they came crawling on their knees!

........

"Come, Serena, drink it while it's hot. I made it especially for you." My mother-in-law, Margaret, placed a steaming bowl of chicken soup in front of me.

My mother-in-law and sister-in-law had never liked me. Their sudden kindness made me feel uneasy.

"I'm not hungry, Mom," I replied.

Smack!

My sister-in-law, Emily Roberts, threw the TV remote at my face.

"What's wrong with you? My mom spent all this time making you this soup, and you won't drink it? Watch yourself, or I'll tell my brother!"

"Exactly! Serena, I'm just trying to be kind!" Margaret said, but there was a strange glint in her eyes that I could not ignore.

Before I could respond, Emily grabbed my hair with one hand and shoved the bowl of soup toward my mouth with the other.

"What are you doing? Let go of me!" I yelled, barely controlling my anger, trying to push her hand away.

Margaret used her calloused fingers to force my mouth open, and the bitter smell of herbs hit my nose, making me gag.

"What's the matter? Do you think my soup isn't good enough for you? Drink it!" she barked at me.

"You're drinking this soup whether you like it or not," she said, leaving me with no room to escape.

The dark liquid ran down my chin, dripping onto my clothes and burning my skin red.

I coughed violently, desperately trying to spit it out, but most of the soup had already gone down my throat.

"See, Serena, isn't it easier to just listen?"

She finally let go, smiling that fake smile.

"You've been part of the Roberts family for five years now. As long as you behave, we won't make things hard for you."

My stomach churned, and my vision blurred. Did they finally accept me? I did not believe it.

Sure enough, my head grew heavy, and an unfamiliar heat built inside me. I realized something was very wrong. The soup was not a tonic at all. It was…

Damn it! They had drugged me!

I struggled to stand but felt utterly powerless. Through the haze, I realized what they had planned.

Margaret crossed her arms, towering over me with a twisted grin. "Claire and Thomas are a perfect match.

"Not like some trash who doesn't belong here."

Claire? Claire Walker, who had returned from abroad just two weeks ago and had become the hottest rising star, was also Thomas's childhood friend.

So, that was why. She had come back, and my mother-in-law could not wait to push me aside.

"Mom, are you sure this stuff will work? She's not reacting much yet," Emily asked, doubt creeping into her voice.

"Don't worry, I got it made specially." Margaret's voice was ice cold. "Once that beggar shows up, we'll catch her in bed, and then she'll be thrown out of our family for good!"

A chill ran up my spine. Just this morning, I was at the hospital and confirmed I was seven weeks pregnant.

Clinging to Margaret's leg, I forced the words out, "Mom… I'm pregnant..."

Her sharp voice pierced my ears. "What nonsense are you spouting now? Five years and nothing, and now you claim you're pregnant? Do you think I'm stupid?"

Fighting off nausea and the splitting headache, I pleaded, "Mom, I'm already seven weeks along—"

"Enough!" she said, cutting me off and kicking me to the ground.

"Stop making up stories! You think I don't know what you're trying to do? You're just using this fake pregnancy to keep your position as our daughter-in-law. Well, it's too late! Thomas will be marrying Claire. Give up already!"

I clutched my stomach in agony, feeling sharp waves of pain rippling through me, but the pain in my heart was far worse.

I had given up a life of comfort for Thomas, hidden my true identity, and served his family like an unpaid maid. Yet, in the end, that was the humiliation and harm I received in return!

What had my baby done wrong?

I held my stomach tightly, but they attacked me like rabid dogs, kicking me in the back.

The pain in my face and body surged with every brutal strike.

"Trash! Why are you pretending? You have the nerve to lie to us about being pregnant?" Emily sat on top of me, slapping my face while screaming vicious insults. "Why don't you just die?"

My vision blurred, and I felt the searing pain pushing me to the brink of unconsciousness.

Suddenly, there was a loud commotion outside the door, followed by the sound of it being kicked open. I thought I was saved.

However, I was wrong. It was just another nightmare.

Claire entered, dressed in white, her face streaked with tears, and behind her came a crowd holding phones and cameras, storming in like a mob.

"Thomas' mistress! Get out here!" Claire's sharp voice pierced my ears. I struggled to open my eyes, only to see her holding a large banner.

[Expose the Homewrecker! Justice Will Be Served!]

"Claire?" Margaret and Emily were stunned, not expecting Claire to show up before they finished their plan.

Claire rushed to Margaret, pleading, "Margaret, you must stand up for me!" She then walked right up to me, crying dramatically for the cameras.

"I've been in love with Thomas for four years. I thought we were each other's only love, but after coming back, I found out that this woman had seduced him while I was away, destroying our relationship!"

Smack!

A harsh slap landed across my face, whipping my head to the side. Blood instantly started flowing from my mouth.

"This is what happens to people who destroy families!" Claire's voice trembled with rage. "I want my fans to see how shameless someone like you really is!"

It all happened so fast that my mind went blank.

"You're lying! I'm Thomas' wife! You're the mistress!" I yelled back through the pain.

"Lies! Our family doesn't have a daughter-in-law like you!" Margaret was the first to shout in response.

Thomas and I had been secretly married, and no one outside the family knew. Margaret had wanted me out so Claire could marry into the family, so there was no way she would stand up for me.

I shook my head desperately, but there was not a shred of pity from her.

With cruel mockery, Margaret sneered, "She's just the daughter of our family's maid, someone who grew up doing chores for us. Thomas was just confused. I can't believe someone like her tricked him!"

I tried to explain, but it was as if my throat had been crushed. I could not get a word out.

The crowd Claire had brought was furious, throwing rotten eggs, spoiled vegetables, and even used condoms at me.

"How dare you call Claire a mistress, you shameless woman!"

I was thrown onto the cold floor, and the shock of it brought me back to my senses. I curled into a ball and shouted, "Don't hurt my baby!"

"Baby?! What new trick is this, you shameless homewrecker?"

"Beat her! This homewrecker deserves it!"

"I bet she's just acting! Let's teach her a lesson!"

Suddenly, I felt a warm liquid running down my leg. Trembling, I touched it. It was blood.

My hand was covered in blood, and so were my eyes.

"My baby..." I murmured weakly as the overwhelming pain made it hard to breathe.

I cried out, "Argh! Please, someone, call an ambulance! Hurry!"

"Still acting, even now? You really won't stop until you're dead!" Emily stormed toward me, grabbing my hair and smashing my head onto the floor. Blood smeared across the tiles in streaks.

"I'll kill you today, you filthy woman! Let's see how you'll keep seducing my brother!" she shouted.

Suddenly, a familiar voice yelled from behind, "Serena! What the hell? Everyone, stop!"

The dizziness overwhelmed me, and everything went dark.

The sharp smell of disinfectant filled my nose as I struggled to open my heavy eyelids. The first thing I saw was the cold, white walls of the hospital room.

A needle was in the back of my hand, and a dull pain radiated from my lower abdomen, reminding me that my baby was gone.

"My baby is gone..." I muttered hoarsely, my voice sounding like sandpaper scraping against the glass.

A young nurse walked in and, seeing that I was awake, gave me a professional smile, though her tone was cold. "Miss Carter, you're awake. We couldn't save the baby. I'm sorry for your loss."

I did not respond and just nodded numbly while tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

"Get some rest, and call me if you need anything," the nurse said before leaving the room.

I closed my eyes, trying to sleep, but familiar voices drifted in from the hallway.

"Mom, what happened?" It was Thomas' voice.

"Hmph! How were we supposed to know she was pregnant? It could've been anyone's child! It was her fault for not saying anything sooner!" Margaret's sharp, bitter voice cut through me like a knife.

"Besides, it doesn't matter. There's always Claire! I'd rather have Claire's baby!" she said, her words piercing my heart.

"Exactly. You wouldn't believe how she insulted Claire, saying she was the real mistress! What a joke!" Emily said, her voice dripping with malicious glee.

There was a moment of silence before Thomas spoke again, his tone weary and irritated. "Alright, I'll handle it. Just go home for now and give me some peace."

Thomas walked in, but there was no trace of sympathy or guilt in his eyes. Right behind him was Claire's delicate figure.

Her pale face looked more fragile than mine as if a slight breeze could knock her down. She seemed even more broken and pitiful than I did after losing my child.

She softly said, "I didn't know you were pregnant. But you're just the daughter of the Roberts family's maid. How much do you want? I can compensate you enough so you'll never have to worry about money again."

How ironic.

I thought back to five years ago when I insisted on marrying Thomas against my parents' wishes. My mother, furious, threatened to cut off all my credit and take back my cars and houses, leaving me with nothing.

However, she was still my mother. She only had one daughter, and she could never truly let me suffer.

She quietly supported Thomas all along.

Thomas's rise to the vice president position was not due to his abilities. He thought it was, though...

Later, my father said that if Thomas remained loyal to me after five years of marriage, they would accept him, and I could reveal my true identity. I had planned to do just that when I found out I was pregnant.

Then, that had happened.

I looked at Thomas with disappointment, but Claire weakly collapsed into his arms before I could say anything.

He immediately cradled her tenderly. It was the kind of affection I had longed for but never received. Claire, however, got it effortlessly.

"Claire's been through enough. Don't blame her anymore," Thomas said softly. "I'm here to tell you that Claire is a public figure. I don't want this to get out."

I let out a bitter laugh.

I had spent five years believing that if I tried hard enough, I could melt their icy hearts and make them accept me.

I was so wrong, tragically wrong.

They never cared about me, and it was all because of Thomas. Would Margaret and Emily have dared to treat me like that if not for his constant indulgence?

If his heart had not been with Claire all along, would I have ended up there?

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and pushed all my pain and anger deep down inside.

Five years... It was time to end it.

As Thomas turned to leave, I opened my eyes and, in a scarily calm voice, said, "Thomas, let's get a divorce."