"Charlotte, I'm sorry...

"My parents struggled to raise me, and I've always wanted to fulfill my duty to them, so I'm temporarily indebted to you."

He paused, glancing at my stomach.

"After all, you are pregnant with my child. I would never treat you as an outsider.

"If you like, I will come to see you often in the future.

"When the child is born, after I am dead, I will leave him a share of the family property for the sake of my bloodline."

I thought, "Is he trying to have it both ways? Wanting to marry Alivia while refusing to let go of me. How shameless."

I replied, "Don't worry. I'm an honorable person and would never use a child to blackmail anyone.

"You are not the emperor, and I don't want to gain status by relying on my son. This child has nothing to do with you.

"If you can't bear to part with this child, then my signature just now doesn't count. We can go back and finish the wedding..."

James's face stiffened, and after a moment of daze, he turned around and signed his name swiftly.

In the end, he was just selfish.

His eagerness showed he was afraid I might back out.

In less than an hour, we finalized the divorce, and he registered his marriage with Alivia.

The efficiency was astonishing.

"Congratulations, Ms. Barnes. From now on, James and his family are all yours.

"Oh, I almost forgot to mention that James's family is still living in my house. Make sure to pick them up later."

I hummed a tune, driving my BYD in an unusually relaxed mood, the air filled with sweet scents.

James and I were introduced to each other by my stepmother, Stella.

He was handsome, 185 cm tall, with a gentle demeanor, and a solid job in a municipal unit.

I had a good impression of him, but Stella's matchmaking left me feeling wary.

Unexpectedly, on my father Brian's 60th birthday, Stella drugged my wine.

In full view of everyone, James and I lay together.

My conservative father ordered me to marry James to preserve our family's honor, threatening to cut off financial support and isolate me.

James assured me he would never fail me and promised me a happy life.

His parents, David and Hanah visited, treating me like their own daughter.

Longing for a harmonious family, I gradually let my guard down and agreed to the marriage.

A month later, I was pregnant.

Seeing I had no way out, James revealed his true colors.

He acted like a boss at home, refusing to help with chores and always bossing me around.

He even brought his entire family from the countryside to my house, claiming he was worried about me and would feel more at ease with family members helping to take care of me.

As a result, they became like vampires, draining me physically and psychologically, trying to turn me into their free labor.

Fortunately, fate had other plans, and things finally took a turn for the better.

I finally got rid of them.

However, when I returned home, I was furious.

James's younger brother, Jared, was playing games in the living room with the volume turned up to the maximum, cursing without even looking up when I entered.

"Why are you back so late? I'm starving. There's a new pizza place on West Street that's really popular. Go line up and get me some."

James's younger sister, Maeve emerged from my bedroom, carrying my bag and cosmetics.

"Charlotte, please lend me this bag.

"You can't use cosmetics while pregnant. It's wasteful not to use these opened ones, so I'll take care of them for you."

David and Hanah came out of the bedroom, disdain evident on their faces.

"Why are you coming home late? We're starving. Go make dinner."

Since moving in, they belittled me daily, forcing me to work like a servant because I was unmarried and pregnant.

"What good girl rushes into a man's bed before marriage?"

"Only our James would marry someone as indiscreet as you. In our family, women like you belong in a pigsty."

"What a disgraceful wedding with a big belly; thank goodness we didn't attend!"

Today was supposed to be my wedding to James, but his family thought I was unworthy, and none of them came.

Brian forced me to get married, but at the same time, he used his busy schedule as an excuse to skip my wedding.

My wedding with James was a joke from the beginning.

I picked up a cup from the table and smashed it on the floor.

With thirty million dollars in assets, I refused to be oppressed any longer.

"Get out, all of you."

My roar froze them momentarily.

Hanah reacted first, charging at me.

"Bitch, is this how you talk to us? I'll teach you a lesson today.

"Don't think you can act tough just because you're pregnant. You don't even know whose child it is.

"Who gave you the nerve to speak to me like that? I'll beat you to death!"

She grabbed my hair, and her slaps rained down on me.

"If it weren't for James wanting to marry you, you wouldn't have made it into the Thompson family.

"My son is a potential share. It would be a waste for him to marry you."

I was no longer the weak woman at their mercy. I grabbed the broken glass from the floor and slashed at her.

Her arm was scratched and she screamed in pain.

My behavior stirred the others, who rushed at me, punching and kicking.

I felt a sharp pain in my stomach, blood flowing between my legs.

Finally, they panicked and scattered to their rooms, no longer caring if I lived or died.

I lay on the ground, enduring the pain, but a cold smile crept onto my face.

I thought, "Heh, a bunch of fools. None of you will escape this time!"