Clara Bennett is the daughter of the richest family who was thrown out by her family to gain experience.

Bennett family has an iron rule that before the heir officially takes over the family business, he must hide his identity and gain experience outside for five years , experience the taste of the bottom of society, and grind away his pride.

Today is the last week of her training period.

Coming out of the hospital, Clara clutched the thin medical report, unable to suppress her trembling and excitement.

She is two months pregnant.

She lowered her head and touched her still flat belly, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up , and her heart was filled with sweetness .

In seven days, once she had completely shed the identity of " Clara ", an ordinary girl, she would confess to her lover of five years, Liam Foster , the truth that she was the heir to the Bennett family. She would also tell him the news of her pregnancy, that they had their own child, and that she would no longer have to work so hard on business and would not have to go on business trips abroad frequently to attract investment.

She could even imagine Liam being happy.

Will he pick her up and spin her around like he has done countless times in the past five years, will he call her baby affectionately in her ear, will he... propose to her?

Thinking of this, Clara couldn't help laughing out loud, and her steps became a little lighter.

Suddenly, the harsh sound of brakes pierced the air!

Clara could react, a huge impact hit her from behind, and she flew out like a kite with a broken string. The blood-stained medical report fell beside the wheel, leaving a dark mark.

Severe pain instantly swept through her body, and her consciousness seemed to be submerged by the tide. She desperately protected her stomach. Her last thought before fainting was: Baby... My baby...

After an unknown amount of time, she heard a familiar voice in her hazy consciousness .

It's Liam .

Liam didn't know who he was talking to on the phone. His voice was not as gentle as usual, but with a hint of coldness that she had never heard before .

" Clara's background is too poor. She's not good enough to get married and have children. I have someone else I want. "

"My family is under great pressure and needs an heir. Vanessa Cole ... after all, she 's a family friend and a good match ."

Clara 's heart suddenly sank, and her remaining consciousness made her try her best to hear clearly.

" I love Clara, and that won't change. She's gentle and beautiful, but you know, marriage isn't just a game. My true identity is the young master of the Foster family. What 's her background? Living in a rented house in a village in the city, how could someone with that kind of background even enter the Foster family ?"

No idea what was being said on the other end. Clara couldn't hear clearly even with her breath held. She could only hear Liam's cruel voice.

Liam paused. "My marriage to Vanessa was arranged by my grandfather. Vanessa just gave birth to my son two years ago . The heir of the Foster family cannot have any stain. How can we have a sibling outside to compete for the family business ?"

Clara 's fingertips trembled unconsciously, and her nails dug deep into the flesh of her palms, but she felt no pain . The pain in her heart had overwhelmed all her senses.

" Who knew she'd still get pregnant after five years of birth control pills? I was thinking about how to find a way to get rid of her baby and pretend it was a miscarriage. After all, it's her and my child, and I couldn't bear to do it myself for fear she'd hate me."

Liam 's voice was filled with a hint of relief. "It's good this way now. Vanessa hit her with her car and helped me deal with a big problem. It saved me a lot of trouble . Children from big families are usually more knowledgeable . What did the doctor say? Clara uterus is damaged. It will be difficult for you to get pregnant again."

He was silent for a few seconds. Clara could hear him sighing softly, and that breath was like a needle tempered by ice, piercing her heart. "This is good. Clara can't have children in the future, so she won't threaten Vanessa and my son's status. I will keep her by my side and spend my whole life making amends to her . She will be my Kept Woman in peace and stability . I will give her the best life, much better than her village in the city ."

Keep Woman?

Clara regained consciousness, but her body felt like it was filled with lead. She didn't even have the strength to open her eyes. Tears silently slid down her eyes, hitting the white hospital bed and leaving a small wet mark.

It turned out that the sincerity she carefully treasured was just a toy in his eyes; the future she looked forward to was just the Kept Woman in his plan that should not be seen in the light ; her unborn child was just a stain that needed to be removed in his eyes; even losing her child and losing her qualification to be a mother became the best outcome in his eyes.

When she first left home and was working as a waitress at a hotel, she met Liam, who had been drinking so much that he had a stomach bleed. He took Liam to the hospital and even paid for his medical expenses. From then on, Liam frequently appeared by her side and launched a fierce pursuit of her. The daughter of a wealthy family had never seen such a young man's passionate feelings, and soon they were together.

She remembered that last winter, when she had a cold and a fever, Liam stayed with her all night, changing the towel on her forehead every half hour; she remembered that on her birthday, he said he had saved three months' salary and bought her a bracelet, saying "When I have money in the future, I will change it for you with jewels "; she remembered that she casually said she liked the magnolia flowers downstairs, and he went to the flower shop to buy a bunch the next day, clumsily inserted it in a mineral water bottle, and said " As long as Clara likes it, it's worth it no matter how expensive it is."

Those details that once moved her heart to tears, when she thought about it now, were all poison wrapped in sugar , a game of playing house in which rich young masters pretended to be poor .

I don’t know how long it took, but the footsteps in the ward gradually faded away. Liam must have left.

Clara then slowly opened her eyes. The ceiling was the pale white color unique to hospitals, which hurt her eyes.

She raised her hand and touched her lower abdomen . It was empty, and the newly formed little life was no longer there.

She didn't cry or get hysterical, but just looked at the ceiling calmly until the nurse came in to change the dressing and told her softly, "The baby was not saved, and the probability of getting pregnant in the future is very low." She just said "hmm" softly, her voice so calm as if she was talking about someone else's business.

After the nurse left, Clara fished out her phone from under her pillow. A corner of the screen was shattered, from the car accident. She struggled to unlock it, found the number marked "home," and dialed it.

The call was quickly connected, and my father's authoritative voice came: " Clara ? You'll be back in a week. How are you doing recently?"

Clara wiped away her tears vigorously and tried to make her voice sound calm: " Dad , I'm fine. I'll be back soon after I finish dealing with things here."

My father paused, then added, "One more thing. After you inherit the family fortune, according to tradition, you need to decide on a marriage partner as soon as possible. You are the heir to our Su family, so a marriage partner is crucial. The other four major families have inquired about you many times. Have you met anyone suitable in the past few years?"

Clara's heart ached, and Liam 's face flashed before her eyes. She shook her head vigorously, as if this could get rid of the painful memories.

"No. Dad , on the day I inherit the family fortune, let's hold a husband-selection banquet. I will personally choose the most suitable marriage partner at the banquet!"

She turned her head to look out the window. The sycamore leaves were swaying gently in the wind. The sun was still as warm as ever, but the sweetness in her heart had been completely crushed, leaving only a cold desolate place.

The man she once wanted to devote her life to, the man she thought was sincere, turned out to be an elaborate scam from beginning to end.

That's good, this way she can turn around without any regrets.

Bennett family never needs to rely on others to survive, let alone be anyone's keep woman .

Liam , and his lifetime compensation, she, Clara, doesn't care.

During the three days in the hospital, Liam hardly left her side.

Every morning, he would appear at the door of the ward on time with a thermos bucket filled with millet porridge that he had cooked himself, which was soft and dense .

He sat on the bedside, carefully scooped up the porridge with a spoon, blew it cool before handing it to Clara's mouth, his voice so gentle that it could squeeze out water: " Clara , eat it while it's hot, I've been simmering it for two hours."

Clara turned her head away, avoiding his hand, and said in a light voice: "I can do it myself."

Liam noticed her distance and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes, but he just thought she was still sad about the loss of her child.

During the day, he would sit by her bed and talk to her, telling her interesting stories in the company and how difficult a certain client was; at night, he would sleep beside her bed .

But she knew that it was just a show he put on for her. After all, this man was on the phone a few days ago, thanking everyone that she "would not be able to have children in the future."

Once, Clara was staring at the sycamore tree outside the window in a daze. Liam came over, hugged her gently from behind, rested his chin on the top of her head, and said in a flattering tone: " Clara , are you still blaming me? I shouldn't have let you go to the hospital alone that day. I will never leave you again, okay?" His embrace was very warm, with the scent of cedar he often used. Clara always liked to nestle in his arms, thinking that was the safest place, but now, she just felt stiff all over, as if she was entangled by something and couldn't breathe.

She gently pushed him away, her voice calm: "I'm tired and want to sleep for a while."

On the day of discharge, Liam woke up at dawn, helped Clara pack her things , and even brought her a thick coat: "It's windy in the morning, don't catch a cold." Clara sat by the bed, watching his busy figure in silence , feeling ridiculous. The man who pretended to love her so much had already had a child with another woman behind her back.

" Clara , wait here for a while. I'll go drive and be back soon." Liam handed the crutches to Clara and helped her tidy up the loose hair on her forehead .

Clara nodded but said nothing.

After he left, Clara sat on the bench at the door of the ward as the sun slowly climbed in . She waited for almost an hour but didn't see Liam .

She pulled out her cell phone and called him—no one answered.

The sky darkened, dark clouds rolled in, and soon a heavy rain began to fall. The large raindrops pounded the ground, splashing muddy water and soaking Clara 's clothes. She couldn't help but shiver. Her ankle hadn't healed yet, and she stood at the hospital entrance on crutches. The slightest movement caused excruciating pain.

She called Liam again , and this time, the phone rang for a long time before it was connected.

A woman's voice came from the other side .

" Liam , you really don't like me anymore?"

There was a moment of silence over there, and then Liam's restrained voice came:

" Vanessa , we agreed that we would just get married and not interfere with my feelings ."

"But you still came to pick me up, didn't you? Then tell me, why did you leave your girlfriend in the hospital and come pick me up from dozens of kilometers away?"

Clara's breath caught in her throat as she listened to their conversation .

She opened her mouth several times, but no sound came out. Although she should have known the answer, her throat was still choked and painful.

Liam 's voice was hoarse and weak. "Yes, I just can't forget you. Are you satisfied? Five years ago, it was because you cruelly left me that I went out to drink and met Clara, who looked exactly like you. "

Clara was completely stunned, as if she had been sentenced to death. She heard the sound of saliva mixing on the other end, and she quickly hung up.

It turns out that in the past five years, she just appeared at the right time, a substitute?

Even though she knew about Liam's betrayal and had already decided to leave, she still couldn't believe that the five years between them were nothing but lies and deception.

After a while, a friend request suddenly appeared on the phone. After it was approved, a message was sent.

"I'm Vanessa, Liam's childhood sweetheart and his wife. I know you've heard everything, Miss Clara. Face the reality. You and he are from completely different worlds. Leave him as soon as possible. You might even get a breakup fee that will allow you to live a better life away from the village . That would be the greatest compensation for you. Stop wishful thinking. "

" Liam told me a long time ago that you're just a girl with no family background, and you can only stay outside as a Kept Woman . He also said..." The woman paused, her tone full of sarcasm, "He also said that you can't even keep a child. It's just right, so I don't have to worry about it."

" You don't know yet, do you? He told you that when he went on business trips abroad, he was actually accompanying me. "

Clara stood in the heavy rain, leaning on a cane, soaked all over.

She took a deep breath and wiped the rain off her face. There were still four days before the end of the training, and she had to go back to Liam's house. There were some documents and a keepsake left in Liam's house.

No one came to pick her up, it was raining heavily and she couldn't get a taxi. It would take another four days for her to use the Bennett family's connections. Now Clara had no choice but to limp back alone on crutches.

She returned to Liam's house in a mess. As soon as she opened the door, she saw the house was in a mess.

Then I heard the female voice on the phone before -

" Liam , look how much our child Noah Cole looks like you."

Clara paused for a moment .

But Liam 's voice still broke into her ears:

" Vanessa , I don't want to hear that kind of talk anymore, especially when Clara 's around."

Vanessa 's smile froze for a moment, she lifted her hair and said okay.

Clara froze completely at the door. She turned around and wanted to escape, but she bumped into the shoe cabinet in a panic.

Liam , holding someone in his arms, appeared in front of Clara .

Clara looked up and couldn't help but agree with Vanessa , they really looked alike.

Liam saw Clara 's red eyes and his heart skipped a beat. He quickly put Liu Sheng down , squatted in front of Clara , and grabbed her hand.

" I'm sorry, Ranran . My car broke down suddenly , so I couldn't pick you up . Where were you? Why are you back so late? "

Clara laughed to herself as she watched the lies spill from his lips .

She thought she had accepted it all and would no longer feel sad, but unexpectedly, her heart still ached.

She turned her head and suppressed her emotions , "I'm going to find a friend."

Liam finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Just looking for a friend, that's all. When did you come in? I didn't even hear anything."

After hearing his words, Clara understood that his previous concern was just a prelude. He just wanted to ask her if she had heard anything she shouldn't have heard.

Clara turned cold for a moment, pulled her hand away, and said calmly: "I just came in and didn't hear anything."

Liam 's smile froze for a moment, and he shook the empty hand without saying anything else.

Clara shifted her gaze behind him, and Liam also stood up and introduced:

" Clara , this is my neighbor's sister Vanessa. Vanessa just returned to China and has no place to live, so I let her stay at my house temporarily. Don't get me wrong."

Seeing his protective attitude, Clara retracted her gaze and clenched her hands: "Okay, I get it. I'm tired and want to rest first."

Liam was stunned by her calmness, and a strange feeling arose in his heart.

But he didn't investigate further, just thinking that she was really tired, so he helped her go to the master bedroom.

Clara interrupted: "I want to go back to my room."

Hearing her words, Liam stopped where he was.

Clara was wondering why Liam stopped when Vanessa walked over with the child.

She pointed to a door and said, "Are you talking about that room? That was my old room. I was used to sleeping there, so Liam just let me move in."

She said it kindly, but Clara could hear the provocation in her words.

She turned to look at Liam .

"It's just one room. If Vanessa wants to stay, I'll give it to her. But if you want, I'll make you a guest room."

Hearing his words, Clara closed her eyes, unable to suppress the surge of grievances.

Liam had decorated and furnished that room himself when they first started living together , and it was a gift specifically for her because in the identity she fabricated, she was an orphan with no mother's home to return to.

He told her to treat that room as her safe haven, and if he made her angry and didn't realize it, he would know it as soon as she moved in.

But now, he has forgotten the significance of that room, and even said that it is just a room.

She pressed her chest, suppressing the blocked pain, stiffened her neck and said stubbornly, "No, I just want that room."

As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere became a little heavy.

Liam also frowned, wondering why Clara was throwing a tantrum just for a room.

He was about to speak when Noah ran towards them.

Clara , arms waving , and punched her in the stomach .

"Bad guy! Cheap woman , don't bully my mother! That's my mother's room!"

Children's strength is very limited. Clara had just had a miscarriage, and her lower abdomen was hurt by his beating. She was about to shake him off, but he grabbed her hair again. She grabbed his wrist in pain.

Unexpectedly, he screamed first, and his crying echoed throughout the huge villa.

"Mom! My hand hurts so much! The bad guys are bullying me, wuwuwuwuwu..."

Clara was still soothing the pain in her scalp, and her eyes were filled with natural tears.

She reflexively looked towards Liam , only to see him looking at Noah worriedly .

She followed her gaze and was shocked to find that Noah's wrist was bleeding.

Vanessa also hugged Noah with tears in her eyes . Clara was confused and Liam 's scolding followed.

" Clara ! Noah is just a kid, why are you arguing with him? I already told you that Vanessa is only staying here temporarily, can you please stop dwelling on what happened before? It's just a room, why do you have to go against Vanessa ?"

Clara was irritated by his blatant partiality and became even more silent. She controlled her emotions and said, " Liam ..."

Liam interrupted her before she finished her words : "Stop talking! It's not your turn to decide on this house. I gave her that room. Even if you are angry, you shouldn't make a fuss with a child. You disappoint me so much. You should reflect on yourself."