Chapter 5

Watching my words, each one bursting from my throat, filled with fury,

The doubts among the high-ranking officials and powerful figures in the crowd grew even stronger.

"Could it be... Skylar is actually the legitimate wife? And the mistress is Seraphina, hmm... no wonder they didn't make their marriage public..."

"Look at how guilty Blake's eyes are when he looks at her belly. That child could very well be his..."

The murmurs in the banquet hall grew louder, making Blake's face look even more uneasy.

Feeling the increasingly faint heartbeat in my womb, I didn't want to get tangled up with them anymore; I just wanted to leave this place.

"Blake! Now, give me back Leo, and take me to the hospital immediately. As long as the baby is fine, I won't hold today against you."

"We'll get a peaceful div—orce."

But before I could finish, Brenda smashed a wine glass against my head. The shattered glass instantly cut my cheek.

Her roar thundered, "Shut up! Who would believe a lunatic like you!"

"Let me be clear, Seraphina is my Blake family's lawfully wedded daughter-in-law!"

"She's recognized by law!"

With that, she rummaged through Seraphina's bag, pulled out two brand new marriage certificates, flashed them to everyone,

Then sneered and viciously threw them at my face.

The entire hall gasped again, then quickly turned against me, calling me a madwoman and a venomous bitch.

And when I finally clearly saw Blake and Seraphina's names in the spouse section, along with that鲜red official stamp, my mind buzzed with a deafening hum.

Then I suddenly laughed, finally understanding why Blake had always used 'concern' as an excuse not to let me move back into the villa compound these past few years.

Turns out... I was the mistress he kept on the side.

It seemed Seraphina had hooked Blake a long time ago, and I was the biggest fool of all.

My laughter grew louder and louder. My body suddenly spasmed, and I coughed up a mouthful of stagnant blood. The fresh blood from below also gushed out more heavily.

Blake's body instantly trembled. He pushed Seraphina away, reaching out to touch my belly. "Sky... Skylar... I... I didn't mean..."

Seeing Blake soften, Seraphina's eyes instantly turned venomous. She pointed a trembling finger at the blood continuously gushing from beneath me.

"Sister Skylar, the color of your blood isn't normal. Are you perhaps using fake blood packets to deliberately get revenge on Blake?"

Her voice was choked, but perfectly timed. "Sister Skylar... please, truly, don't do this anymore. Think of the baby in your belly..."

With that, she leaned closer, cradling the child, her voice barely a whisper.

"Skylar, you don't know, do you? Leo was mine from the very beginning... I just let you raise him for a few days."

"As for your child... hehe." She gave me a wicked smile.

My ears rang, and my entire body froze instantly. I looked at the face of the infant in her arms.

What... this child, was Seraphina's?

Then what about my child?

"What did you do to my child?!" Snapping back to reality, I lunged at her like a madwoman, grabbing her and tearing at her with all my might. "Seraphina, you bitch! What did you do to Leo?! Give me back my child!"

Seraphina screamed for help in terror. "Blake, sister... she's going to kill me..." But in her eyes, there was no hiding the calculation.

"Skylar! What fresh hell are you stirring up now?!"

Blake's face contorted. He roughly pulled Seraphina away, then furiously kicked me in my pregnant belly. I was sent sprawling against the wall.

Immediately, a sharp tearing pain erupted from below, and large amounts of fresh blood poured out. A soul-shattering agony ripped through my swollen abdomen.

It felt as if every nerve cell in my body was being tightly squeezed by tiny hands.

My intestines felt like they were being ripped apart.

But what hurt more than my body was Blake's face, distorted like a demon's in the bloody haze, and the words he uttered.

"How dare you hurt Seraphina! You forced my hand!"

"Guards! Strip her clothes off in front of everyone! Let me see how many blood packets she's hiding!"

"Blake, you wouldn't dare!" I coughed violently, my bloodied mouth screaming.

"Watch me!"

At his words, those few officers were the first to jump forward.

They forcefully and brutally tore at my clothes.

"You damn whore, provoking his wife! Being stripped naked is what you deserve!"

Countless hands moved over my body.

"Get off me!"

Pain, shame, humiliation—an unprecedented despair washed over me. My voice was hoarse.

"I am Director Miller's daughter from the National Security Agency! How dare you..."

The people present burst into laughter.

The Deputy Commissioner's wife sneered sarcastically, "Do you think we're stupid? Everyone in the circles knows Director Miller only has one son, where would he get a daughter?"

"Truly a fool's self-inflicted misery! Hurry up and pull out your blood packets! Who even wants to see your naked body, anyway!"

Those officers echoed disgustedly.

"Do insane people really make up such ridiculous lies?"

"If you're Director Miller's daughter, then I'm the King of the World!"

The thrumming in my belly was growing weaker and weaker.

I struggled, still trying to shout, "Bastards! I am—"

But the next second, Blake clamped his hand over my mouth. He looked down at me, his eyes full of warning.

"You're not! Director Miller doesn't have a crazy daughter like you!"

"Skylar, you still have the strength to talk back and argue, so I guess your belly is fine!"

"Hurry up and strip her, find the blood packets, then lock her in the basement for a good long reflection!"

The men chuckled obscenely. My thin summer dress was ripped with a loud tear, exposing my skin.

I bit down hard, clutching the last piece of fabric to cover my body.

But the large hands still came at me ruthlessly. My heart instantly sank to the depths.

And the next second, "Stop!"

A sharp, resonant voice cut through the air. "Touch my daughter, Director Miller's daughter, one more time, I dare you!"