My feet froze at those words. My eyes widened in terror, as if a sword had pierced my chest. The pain was so intense I couldn't breathe.

The shadow of my parents' death had haunted me for years. That was why all this time, I'd relied on sleeping pills to get any rest.

I was unaware that Christian had started replacing my sleeping pills with birth control tablets in an attempt to win Jocelyn's heart.

My body started to tremble violently and my face went deathly pale.

When I returned to my senses, I found myself staring into Christian's dark, sullen face. His gaze was filled with disgust and contempt.

In the study, a medical report was slapped down hard onto the desk. The air around me seemed to solidify.

Christian's lips curved into a faint smile, but it chilled me to the bone.

"You're pregnant."

His eyes grew fierce after saying those words and a hint of anger seemed to linger deep within them.

Christian's words exploded in my mind like a clap of thunder. In disbelief, I snatched the pregnancy test report, which clearly stated I was six weeks pregnant.

My hands trembled slightly. This child had come at the worst possible time.

Before I could speak, Christian coldly declared, "I'll arrange for you to go to the hospital tomorrow. Jocelyn doesn't like children."

I couldn't believe that man could be so heartless.

The anger I'd bottled up for so long finally erupted at that moment. I couldn't hold back any longer, letting out a hoarse, furious roar. Disappointment was etched all over my delicate face.

"Christian, this is your child!"

The words had barely left my mouth when he scoffed with contempt.

"My child? I haven't touched you in half a year. You know perfectly well whose child this is."

His cold, cutting words pierced my ears, plunging me into utter despair. Now, tears poured from my eyes like a dam breaking.

Over a month ago, a drunken Christian had barged into my room. He had clung to me, crying, apologizing over and over.

It made me naively believe that Christian still loved me. Even with a high fever, I didn't stop his hands from roaming my body. But when I woke up the next day, that man had returned to his usual cold self.

I later learned that he had argued with Jocelyn that day and was completely drunk and I was merely a temporary tool for Christian to vent his lust.

I was about to open her mouth to explain when a sudden, fishy-sweet taste surged up my throat. My entire body immediately went limp and I felt as if I was about to collapse.

In the last moment before my consciousness faded, I looked helplessly at Christian.

I prayed that he still held a final shred of feeling for me, but he just sat there indifferently, not even deigning to spare me a glance. He even watched me fall, unconscious, in silence.

Later, the pungent smell of disinfectant, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, slithered into my nostrils.

The door to the hospital room opened, then the doctor came in with a report and informed me, "Madam, Mr. Leighton has scheduled an abortion for you shortly. Please prepare yourself."

Hearing this, I abruptly sat up, yanked the IV needle from my arm and rushed out without a word.

It was my child, too. How could Christian strip away my chance to be a mother with just one sentence?

Not only was I going to leave, but I was also going to take this child with me!

Alas, the bodyguards at the door heard the commotion and stood rigidly blocking the exit.

The doctor sighed at the scene. "Mrs. Leighton, because of your long-term use of birth control pills, the baby is already deformed. An abortion is the best choice for both you and the child."

"Moreover, your body is no longer suited for childbirth. This is likely your final pregnancy."

My steps faltered. For a moment, rage, despair and grief flashed through my eyes all at once.

The doctor's words utterly crushed my final defense. My legs gave out and I sank helplessly to the floor.

Right then, the silent ward echoed with my desperate sobs.

After a long time, my sobs slowly weakened and finally stopped. I felt like a marionette whose soul had been stripped away. My eyes were empty, while my face gradually returned to a terrifying calm.

The last tear slid down my cheek and brushed against my lips, its bitterness spreading deep into my chest.

I lowered my gaze, now the last of my defiance slipping away, leaving only a hollow surrender behind.

Soon, the blinding lights of the operating room burned my eyes. My vision blurred and my consciousness began to completely fade away.

I eventually fell into unconsciousness, as if plunging into an endless darkness—cold, terrifying.

Christian's stern features greeted me when I awoke.

That man sat at my bedside, exuding a cold and terrifying aura. His deep, dark eyes, like a desolate shore, stared coldly at my deathly pale face.

When he saw I was awake, Christian gestured to the bodyguard beside him. Afterwards, an open gift box was presented to me.

His face remained expressionless as he spoke, "This is a gift Jocelyn specially chosen for you."

I didn't move. My silence was frighteningly calm.

The gift he claimed was "specially chosen" was nothing more than an old, slightly yellowed pearl necklace that Jocelyn had already grown tired of wearing.

In the early days of our marriage, Christian would spare no expense, showering me with luxurious jewelry every day. He had even clumsily designed unique pieces exclusively for me.

He used to say that I deserved the best and most expensive jewelry in the world. Now, it seemed utterly ridiculous.

Seeing that I remained silent, refusing to take it for a long time, Christian's half-raised arm looked incredibly awkward.

He frowned, his voice tinged with irritation as he warned again, "Serena Clarke, don't be ungrateful. Don't forget your brother is still in the hospital. Without my family, he would have died long ago."

The mention of my brother sent shivers through my body, my voice suddenly cracking. "What do you want?"

I struggled to sit up. My eyes were bloodshot, while my hands were clutching the hem of my clothes tightly.

I had planned to take my brother away the moment I was discharged. What I didn't expect was that just as I regained consciousness, Christian would already be using my brother to threaten me.

My brother was one of the few family members I have left in this world. So, I would fight with all my life to keep him alive.

Christian rose with disdain, a cold laugh escaping his lips. "Tomorrow night is Jocelyn's celebratory party. I want you to publicly apologize to her and transfer ownership of that island under your name to her."

"Jocelyn said there might be rich mineral resources on that island. It's a waste to leave such a valuable place to someone ignorant like you."

My eyes widened sharply. That island was the extravagant engagement gift he had once lavishly bestowed upon me. It was even named after both our names and my parents' ashes were buried there.

Christian had sworn before my parents' graves that he would never betray me, that he would protect me for the rest of his life. Yet now, he was giving away the island that bore witness to our love to another woman.

Under his relentless pressure, I gritted my teeth and finally agreed. "Fine, I agree. Just don't hurt my brother."

Having secured the answer he sought, Christian turned and walked away without waiting for me to finish speaking. With a thud, the ward plunged back into deathly silence.

My face was ashen, like a flower that had instantly withered.

It turned out that Christian's love hadn't vanished, but had simply shifted.

At that time, my phone buzzed repeatedly with notifications from the immigration bureau. It showed that my paperwork was complete. Once Christian signed the divorce agreement, I could finally leave this hellhole forever with my brother.

Accidentally, my finger brushed the screen and the first thing on my social media feed was a video of Jocelyn showing off their affection.

In the video, Christian's face was clearly visible as the two of them kissed passionately beneath the dazzling fireworks.

Meanwhile, I was lying in a hospital bed, enduring all the pain alone. That was the moment my heart died completely.

The next morning, Christian sent a car to pick me up. To my surprise, ten bodyguards were already seated inside.

A faint unease started to creep into my heart.

Had he found out something?

As the car gradually came to a stop, I was led into a garden overgrown with thorny bushes.

The leading bodyguard finally spoke. "Madam, Mr. Leighton said he won't send you back until you've picked ninety-nine white roses."

As if I had long since given up, I obeyed with surprising calm.

"Give me the tools," I said coolly as I lowered my gaze.

"Mr. Leighton said Miss Stone only likes the ones picked by hand."

That reply made me momentarily frozen. I couldn't help but stare at the garden bristling with razor-sharp thorns before me. I realized that I had no other option.

When I stepped out from the garden, covered in wounds, clutching a full 99 blood-stained white roses, my pristine white dress was already soaked crimson. My once delicate, pale fingers were now drenched in blood.

There was a time when Christian wouldn't even let me touch cold water and gently cradle my hands. "Serena, your hands are meant to hold a paintbrush, to create the greatest masterpiece in this world."

My vision went completely black. I couldn't stand it anymore and fainted.

Meanwhile, in the luxurious party hall, Jocelyn appeared arm-in-arm with Christian, radiating the grace of a princess.

For a moment, everyone present was stunned.

"Isn't that the 'Star of the East,' a gem of which there is only one in the entire world? Mr. Leighton actually bought it for Miss Stone."

"Indeed. It seems Mr. Leighton truly spares no expense to win a smile from his beauty."

Whispers of admiration filled the room, every eye fixed on Jocelyn with envy. She naturally basked in the spotlight and her smile was exceptionally brilliant.

Nevertheless, only one person remained distinctly out of place. That was me, Serena Clarke.

Exhausted from blood loss and the recent abortion procedure, my body was severely weakened. As a result, I had fainted again.

The moment I opened my eyes, Christian forced me downstairs.

"Serena, you're here," greeted Jocelyn, who spotted me standing alone in the corner.

She feigned surprise, her voice soft yet clear enough for everyone present to hear.

I didn't want to get tangled up with her. But just as I was about to leave, Jocelyn grabbed my wrist.

Her eyes instantly welled with tears, giving her a pitiful, vulnerable look. Even so, beneath that gaze lay blatant provocation and undisguised smugness.

"I know you dislike me, but I came to join this family, not to tear it apart. Serena, you'll always be Mrs. Leighton. All I want is Chris' love."

Before I could even object, I was sharply rebuked by Christian, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion. "Serena, haven't you made enough of a scene? Today is Jocelyn's celebration party. Do you absolutely have to cause a commotion so everyone focuses only on you?"

"Apologize to Jocelyn immediately and hand over the gift you prepared for her," he barked.

I stared into Christian's unfamiliar, icy eyes. Though my heart boiled with refusal, the thought of my brother forced me to swallow back my words.

The bruises on my body ached faintly, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

In front of everyone, I held out the blood-stained bouquet of ninety-nine white roses to Jocelyn.

Under Christian's cold gaze, I closed my eyes as if quietly awaiting death itself. I could only sigh softly, "I'm sorry. Everything that happened before was my fault."

As soon as I said that, the crowd murmured. A wife apologizing to the mistress was truly a rare sight.

Jocelyn looked at the flowers I offered and slightly frowned. "Thank you, but as much as I like this bouquet, I can't accept it."