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."