"I heard that eight-month-old stillborns have the strongest malevolent aura. The company and I have been experiencing a lot of bad luck. It must be because of this stillborn, right? We should burn it and be done with it."

With that, Tessa gave a look to her bodyguard, who quickly took the stillborn and left.

I lunged forward to stop him, but Desmond held me back with a firm grip.

"Either you or your son must pay for the harm done to Tessa. Either he gets burned, or you … kneel and apologize to her."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He wanted me to kneel and apologize to Tessa. It was clear that my kindness over the past three years had made him forget who I truly was.

I pulled out my phone to make a call, but as soon as the number started dialing, Tessa knocked it out of my hand.

"Mr. Grey told you to apologize to me. Didn't you hear him?"

Tessa's arrogant voice rang out just as a deep, aged voice came through my phone.

"My dear girl, you finally called your grandpa?"

I didn't cry when Tessa humiliated me. I didn't cry when my son miscarried, but hearing my grandfather's voice at that moment, my tears couldn't help but fall one after another, hitting the ground.

"Grandpa … " I choked out, but Tessa lifted her high heels and stomped down on the phone with all her might.

The screen shattered and my grandfather's voice cut off abruptly.

I glared up at her angrily and demanded.

"Desmond, that was your own son! Do you want him to die and not rest in peace?"

Desmond was frightened by the blood and tears on my face. He walked towards me uncontrollably.

He cupped my face and wiped it gently.

"Tessa is about to secure a three-billion-dollar contract, which is crucial for the company's development in the year's second half. Don't be stubborn, just apologize and I'll pretend nothing happened."

Desmond always thought I was being stubborn.

When I insisted on changing my wedding dress because it was identical to Tessa's, he said I was being stubborn.

On our wedding night, when I refused to let him go to a drunken Tessa, he said I was being stubborn.

Now that our son was dead, he still thought I was being stubborn.

Even more ridiculous was that he was willing to let our son die for a mere three hundred million contract. What did the tens of billions of assets I had worked so hard to get for him even mean then?

Thinking of this, I laughed sarcastically.

"Desmond, forget about your three billion dollars. This marriage is over."

Desmond was stung by the disappointment in my eyes. He clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth.

"Do you really think I'm afraid to divorce you? I'll see if the Greys can really survive without you."

After saying that, he left with Tessa.

I couldn't hold back any longer and fainted.

When I woke up, I was back at my family's residence.

I faintly heard an argument coming from the study. As I approached, I saw Rosalie with a grim expression and Desmond saying nothing.

Seeing me, my mother-in-law quickly stood up.

"Amy, I went to handle your discharge procedures that day and only heard about Desmond's foolish actions when I returned."

I remained silent and Rosalie stammered, unable to continue.

"I've already decided to transfer all of Desmond's shares into your name."

Rosalie observed my expression. Seeing that I remained unmoved, she quickly pushed Desmond in front of me.

"You ungrateful son, do you really want to push Amy to her death and destroy the company our family has built over generations?"

Desmond seemed surprised by her words.

He finally looked at my ghostly pale face and my body, which was slightly hunched in pain.

After a long moment, he let out a soft sigh and said with certainty. "Amariel can't live without me, so she wouldn't dare to die."

I stared blankly at the hand he reached out to me. The same hand had pulled me out of the icy lake three years ago, yet now it felt so cold.

"Mr. Grey, our partner has agreed to add another 200 million."

Tessa's surprised voice rang out from outside and Desmond's outstretched hand paused midair.

"It was indeed the dead baby causing trouble. Now that we've burned it, the company is running smoothly again. Surely you believe what I said now, right?"

The study door swung open and Tessa rushed in joyfully, holding an urn in her arms.

My eyes widened and I looked at Desmond in disbelief.

"You … you really … "

"Is that really our son?"

Desmond looked at my pale face, feeling an unprecedented sense of unease in his chest.

He wanted to speak but found himself at a loss for words.

Rosalie suddenly ran over and slapped Tessa in the face several times.

"I'll beat you to death, you evil creature! It's all your fault for causing my grandson's tragic death."

The moment Rosalie finished speaking, the urn in Tessa's arms crashed to the floor with a thud.

I gasped and rushed forward to pick up the ashes.

But Tessa stepped on my hand.

"Oops! I lost my balance for a moment. I didn't mean to."

Though she said she was sorry, the pressure under her foot grew stronger, even spinning around on my hand.

The excruciating pain in my hand was unbearable, but I didn't react as if I had gone numb.

Rosalie bent down to help me up, but accidentally touched the wound on my back. She couldn't help crying loudly again.

"Amy, leave. Don't follow this beast anymore."

Desmond immediately stepped forward to hug me, "Mom, Amy is my wife. I decide what happens to her."

Rosalie cried while shouting angrily at Desmond.

"If you truly consider Amy your wife, fire Tessa immediately and apologize to Amy sincerely, begging for her forgiveness. Otherwise, leave the Grey Family. I don't want a son like you."

Desmond's frustration grew even more intense. Looking at my pale face and vacant eyes, he finally softened his heart.

"Amy, I … "

Before he could finish his apology, Tessa interrupted him sharply.

"Mrs. Grey, all I wanted was to prove that Mr. Grey isn't some weak man who relies on a woman, but you tricked Madam Grey into undermining his confidence. "

Desmond froze. The arms he had wrapped around me slowly loosened.

"Tessa is right."

"Amariel, drop your high-and-mighty attitude. I, Desmond, can still uphold the Grey Family without you."

Desmond's eyes were bloodshot. The sight of his hysterical rage sent a shiver down my spine.

I went to great lengths to secure investments for him and expanded his network of contacts. Yet, in his eyes, it all amounted to a high-and-mighty attitude.

I gently closed my eyes and all the memories flashed before me like a slideshow.

When I opened them again, my vision was clear.

I took off my jacket and silently gathered my son's ashes.

I removed my wedding ring, then left the house keys behind.

After doing all this, I turned and prepared to leave without looking back.

Rosalie wiped away her tears and didn't dare say a word to persuade me. Only after I had stepped out the door did she call out from behind me.

"Amy, I'm so sorry. If I had known this would happen, I would've begged on the streets rather than force you to marry him."

Desmond harshly cut her off, his forehead veins bulging and coldly laughed.

"With the investment Tessa brought in, the Grey Family will soon return to its former glory. If she dares to step out of this door today, she'll never be able to beg her way back in."

I didn't stop and kept walking.

But Tessa suddenly ran up from behind and blocked my path.

"The gift I prepared for our business partner is missing. Did you steal it?"

"You're deliberately trying to stop me from signing the contract! How could you be so malicious?"

I watched her coldly and shook my head in denial, but Desmond refused to believe me.

He snatched the jacket containing the ashes and threw it to the ground, then roughly tore at my clothes.

"You think you can mess up my contract? Not a chance."

"Put the gift down and be a good girl, or you're not leaving."

My heart was filled with sorrow. Three years of my support had propelled Desmond to the pinnacle of business success; the debt of gratitude from back then was now more than repaid.

Since he no longer needed me, I would settle accounts with him properly.

I stared at him and gently pressed the pendant that had never left my neck.

A frantic alarm rang out and Desmond gritted his teeth.

"What are you doing?"

I smiled brightly. "Either step aside or go bankrupt, you decide."

Desmond's face turned ashen. He bit his lip and stood frozen.

"Ten minutes." I stood straight, my smile growing increasingly sinister, "Let's see who the Greys really rely on."

Rosalie trembled as she approached, her lips quivering. "Amy, is there really no room for negotiation?"

I lowered my head, revealing the scars covering my body.

Tessa's face lit up with a smug smile. She pulled out her phone and quietly started a live stream in the group chat, intending to let everyone witness the scene of me being expelled from the Grey residence.

"Nineteen …"

"Three, two, one."

The countdown ended and Desmond exhaled sharply, "The time is up. If you have any more tricks up your sleeve, go ahead and use them."

Before he could finish, his phone rang frantically.

"Mr. Grey, it's bad news. All the suppliers have stopped supplying goods."

"The bank is also demanding early repayment. The Greys may not be able to withstand this."

Desmond's face turned pale. Suddenly, he shouted Tessa's name, "You just secured a five-billion-dollar investment. Hurry up and call to sign the contract."

Tessa's hands trembled as she dialed a number, but the ringing came from right behind her.

"You hurt my person and now you want me to invest? Do you think the world is that generous?"