Chapter 1

At 19, Liam promised me forever. At 26, he held Scarlett's hand and slapped me across the face in front of everyone.

I was forced to drink until I was wasted for him, used and abused by his business partners. But he just watched, cold and indifferent, even believing a twisted, life-for-a-life prophecy from a mystic. He let our son die, all so Scarlett could give birth to a child.

I clutched my son’s lifeless body, gripping the confirmation of my pregnancy, and wept until I had no tears left.

Later, I ended the pregnancy and fled far away.

But Liam’s eyes burned with accusation. “You don’t want *our* child?”

The laughter from behind the screen was like poisoned needles, pricking my eardrums.

“Mr. Liam, what great fortune you have! Isabelle’s still in the hospital, right? And now you’ve got double the good news! Scarlett, you’re going to give Liam a big, healthy boy!”

“Isabelle? That vain and opportunistic woman? She saw Liam losing his influence and immediately slept with one of his partners.”

A man chuckled softly, his voice so lazy it sounded like he was discussing the weather, utterly trivial.

“Isabelle? She probably died ages ago, didn’t she?”

His laughter pierced my heart like a blade. My fingertips turned white as I dug them into my palms.

Three days ago, when Liam’s business partners dragged me into an alley and brutalized me, he had laughed like that too. Those animals tore my clothes, beating me mercilessly. He just stood at the alley entrance, embracing a pregnant Scarlett, watching with cold eyes.

My son, Leo, was kicked to the ground by Liam, screaming and sobbing, “Dad, why are you doing this to Mom?!”

Leo’s convulsing body, my own humiliation—it suddenly shattered the last sliver of my composure.

I shoved the screen aside with a jolt, my voice echoing, silencing the room.

“Liam, what exactly did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?”

A bitter taste filled my mouth. I didn’t understand how this man, who I’d loved for seven years, had become this monster.

Liam’s hand rested on Scarlett’s prominently swollen belly. His eyes narrowed when he saw me, then he sneered.

“Still alive, huh? Had enough fun with your little fling?”

My lips trembled, a dense, aching pain spreading through my chest.

“Let’s get a divorce. Leo stays with me. You’re the one at fault, so we split everything 50/50.”

“At fault?” His face twisted, his eyes inexplicably reddening as he stared at me with an unreadable expression.

Suddenly, a powerful slap landed on my face, making my head spin. As the world reeled, I saw his lips move, spitting out cruel words.

“I was merciful enough not to kill that bastard Leo. And you have the nerve to talk about divorce.”

A thunderclap exploded in front of my eyes. I stared at the man I loved, utterly incredulous.

Seeing my shock, Scarlett feigned timidity, shrinking into his embrace and handing him a piece of paper.

“Sister, this is the paternity test. Leo really isn’t Liam’s…”

The paper fluttered to the ground. Large red letters declared: “NO BLOOD RELATIONSHIP CONFIRMED.” It pierced my heart.