Chapter 6

I felt the arms around me stiffen instantly.

I smiled faintly. "Chloe, long time no see. Why are you suddenly back in the country? Didn't you like living abroad?"

"I..." Chloe stammered. "I just left my bag at home. I'll grab it and go."

The moment her words fell, a tremendous crash echoed from overhead.

The huge crystal chandelier in the villa had come loose, and with a deafening crash, plummeted.

In the blink of an eye, Liam darted towards Chloe, yelling "Watch out—", but it was *my* body that bore the brunt of the impact.

I woke up in the hospital.

My entire body was wrapped in white bandages; every inch of my skin was in excruciating pain.

The nurse said, "You have three fractures and seventeen hairline cracks. And the metal fragments and shattered crystals left countless small wounds. You'll need to rest for a while."

I asked the nurse, "What's the date today?"

"The 13th."

Good. Tomorrow was the day my new name would become official. I still had one day and one night. I still had time.

When Chloe appeared at the doorway, I wasn't too surprised.

I smiled faintly. "Come to see if I'm dead?"

Chloe clutched her waist, deliberately thrusting her belly forward. "Stella, you're really hard to kill. I had my dad loosen all the screws on that chandelier. I can't believe something so heavy still didn't finish you off."

"You were so sure Liam would save you?"

"Of course." Chloe said smugly. "Because I'm carrying his child. If I died, he'd be left without an heir."

"So, you also knew about my hysterectomy?"

"Hahahaha, not only did I know, but I was the one who gave Liam that idea. But what can I say? He listens to me now. He does whatever I tell him; he's such a good husband. Stella, thank you for training him so well. The previous generation plants the trees, the later generation enjoys the shade. Eventually, I'll be the one enjoying the fruits of your labor."

Hearing her voice now made me sick.

I pointed towards the door. "Get out."

"Don't be in such a hurry to kick me out, Stella. There's still one more act to play out..."

I tensed. "What act?"

"Since you didn't die, I can't become Mrs. Anderson. So this act is one I specifically added for you, you know~"

The moment her words fell, Chloe suddenly grabbed my hand and pressed it against her own belly.

"Ah— Help!"

She collapsed to the floor, struggling in pain. "Stella, I know I was wrong. You can punish me however you want, just please spare my baby..."

With a bang, the hospital room door was forcefully pushed open.

Liam saw her on the floor, his eyes blazing. "Chloe! Are you okay?"

Chloe was on the verge of tears. "Wuwuwu, Liam, I'm in so much pain!"

"Doctor! Doctor!"

The doctor and nurses quickly arrived. Liam carried Chloe onto a hospital bed and they wheeled her away.

He didn't spare me a single glance the entire time.

Two hours later, Liam came.

His face was dark, radiating an ominous aura, his voice low. "Stella, why did you push Chloe?"

I said, "Shouldn't you explain what's going on with the baby in her belly?"

"Yes, I did get her pregnant, but that's no reason for you to try and harm her! She's pregnant. If something went wrong, that's two lives lost!"

I closed my eyes. "She told you I pushed her?"

"Could she have deliberately fallen herself? She's pregnant; she wouldn't be so reckless."

"Did she lose the baby?"

"...No, she didn't, but she was shaken, and she looked absolutely terrified."

I turned my face away, not wanting to look at him. "Go take care of them. Don't just stand there."

Liam sighed, saying softly, "Stella, I know this has been a huge shock for you. But I can promise you, the title of Mrs. Anderson will always be yours. Even if Chloe gives birth to my child, it can't replace your place in my heart."

"Then what's Chloe's place in your heart?"

Liam said in a low voice, "...I admit, I did fall in love with her during the time I lost my memory. But after my memories returned, deep down, I still loved you more. I wanted to live a good life with you, but Chloe... I couldn't let her go either."

So you listened to her "best of both worlds" plan, and removed my uterus?

Calling it fair?

"Stella, Chloe won't compete with you. You'll always be my favorite, my Mrs. Anderson."

Outside, a nurse's voice called out, "Is patient 34, Chloe Miller's husband, here?"

Liam immediately asked anxiously, "I'm Chloe Miller's husband. What happened to her?"

"Nothing, don't worry. She just woke up and didn't see you, so she asked us to help find you."

Liam nodded, looking guilty. "Stella, I'll go check on her first."

"Yes, go ahead."

"Get some rest. Chloe can't be without me right now. I'll have to stay with her tonight so she can sleep. I'll come back to accompany you tomorrow morning."

"Okay."

Watching Liam's retreating back, I let out a bitter laugh.

There would be no tomorrow.

Liam, we'll never see each other again, not in this life.

After Liam left, I called my best friend, Riley.

When Riley arrived and saw me, her eyes immediately reddened. "How could the crystal chandelier at home suddenly fall? The workers must have been so careless!"

I was calm. I wiped my tears and said, "Riley, I need your help."

"What kind of help? Tell me."

"Tomorrow morning, help me leave."

I told Riley everything that had happened recently. Riley immediately jumped up. "You wait here! I'm going to go call Liam and make him explain himself!"

I stopped her. "A man whose heart has changed is just garbage. I don't want him anymore."

I said, "At seven in the morning, during the nurses' shift change, there's a gap in security. Take me out then."

Riley stayed with me in the hospital all night.