Chapter 1

I had been kidnapped and locked in a cage like an animal in the mountains for three years when my boyfriend, Samuel Mitchell, finally found me.

Despite the torment I had endured, he recognized me instantly and risked everything to rescue me.

He didn't care about my scars or my broken body.

He defied everyone and gave me a grand wedding.

I thought my suffering was over. I thought fate had finally been kind to me.

Until I was eight months pregnant, lying in a hospital bed for a routine check-up, and overheard Samuel talking to the doctor.

"Mr. Samuel, are you sure you want to take the baby as soon as Olivia gives birth?"

"What do you think? I went through hell to sell Olivia Williams to traffickers in the first place."

"If Mia hadn't been diagnosed as infertile, why would I have bothered saving Olivia to have my child?"

"Mr. Samuel, this... this is too risky. If something goes wrong..."

The doctor's voice trembled, sweat beading on his forehead.

Samuel's gaze was sharp as a poisoned dagger, stabbing into the doctor.

"Risk? Where was your concern about risk when you took my money?"

"Now you want to back out? Too late!"

He leaned in, his voice low and threatening.

"Don't forget, that botched surgery three years ago? I covered it up for you."

"You think you'd still be wearing that white coat if I hadn't?"

The doctor's face turned ghostly pale, his lips quivering, unable to say another word.

"Do your job, and this is yours."

Samuel held up five fingers, waving them in front of the doctor's face.

"Enough to set you up for life."

The promise of wealth and the weight of his secrets crushed the doctor's resistance.

He lowered his head and whispered, "I understand, Mr. Samuel."

Lying on the hospital bed, my body was weak, but my ears were sharp.

Every word of their conversation was a dagger plunging into my heart.

So this was the man I loved. The father of my child.

He was planning to take my baby the moment I gave birth.

And maybe... take my life too.

Despair swallowed me whole.

I bit my lip hard, forcing myself not to cry.

I couldn't break down. I couldn't let them see my weakness.

I had to survive. I had to protect my child. I had to... get revenge.

Back home after the check-up, I carried on as usual-cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry.

I even made soup, waiting for Samuel to return.

When he walked in, he looked exhausted, but the moment he saw me, he put on that familiar, gentle smile.

"Olivia, I'm home."

He stepped forward to hug me.

I flinched, instinctively pulling away, my body trembling.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

His eyes flickered with doubt, but the concern in his voice was sickeningly sweet.

I swallowed my nausea and forced a smile.

"I'm fine, just a little tired."

"Then go rest. I'll take care of everything."

He took the bowl from my hands, his voice dripping with affection.

I watched him move around the kitchen, my heart filled with icy laughter.

Keep pretending.

Let's see how long you can keep this up.

His phone rang suddenly.

He glanced at the screen, his expression darkening.

Mia was calling.

Of course, I knew.

"Go ahead," I said, my voice unnaturally calm.

Samuel hesitated, studying my face, but he found nothing unusual.

He left in a hurry.

The door clicked shut.

My tears finally spilled over.

I wiped them away quickly and pulled a suitcase out from under the bed.

Clothes, documents, cash...

I packed everything important and dialed a number.

"Hello, big brother..."

My voice cracked. "I want to come home."

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before a deep, magnetic voice responded.

"Olivia? What's wrong? What happened?"

"I... I'm fine. I just miss you," I choked back my tears.

"Silly girl. Stay put."

"I'm overseas right now, but I'll be back in three days. I'll come get you."

"Okay."

I hung up, finally feeling a sliver of comfort.

My brother was a billionaire.

He would protect me. He would...

On the other end of the line, Daniel Mitchell put his phone down, his handsome face ice-cold.

"Find out everything. Now." His voice was lethal as he ordered his men.

Chapter 2

Curled up on the bed, memories of Samuel flooded my mind.

Back then, I ignored my family's protests and insisted on marrying him.

Because I loved him.

Back then, Samuel used to wake up early just to make me breakfast.

He saved up for months just to buy me a necklace-not expensive, but beautiful.

He would turn down every flirtation for me, his eyes only ever on me.

And now?

I closed my eyes, and those sweet memories cut into my heart like razor-sharp blades.

The sweeter they once were, the crueler they felt now.

Knock, knock, knock-

The knocking on the door shattered my thoughts, followed by Mia's voice.

"Olivia, are you home? Can I come in?"

I took a deep breath, wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes, and got up to open the door.

"Olivia, what's wrong? Your eyes are red-have you been crying?"

Mia asked, her voice dripping with fake concern the moment she stepped inside.

She was dressed head-to-toe in the latest Chanel suit, an exclusive Hermès bag dangling from her arm, radiating wealth and privilege.

And me? I stood there in an old, faded lounge set, eight months pregnant, looking like a mess.

"I'm fine. Just tired," I said coolly, my tone distant.

Mia ignored my coldness, settling onto the couch as if she owned the place, her gaze sweeping over the room.

"Olivia, I hate to say this, but you really should take better care of yourself."

"You're a pregnant woman now-you need to maintain your image."

Her tone was condescending, her eyes flashing with undisguised triumph.

"How's Samuel's company doing lately? My dad said that as long as Samuel-"

She suddenly cut herself off, covering her mouth like she'd accidentally spilled a secret.

"As long as Samuel what?" I pressed, a sinking feeling creeping into my chest.

Mia's eyes darted around as she stammered, "Nothing... I just meant that I hope Samuel's company keeps growing."

I let out a cold laugh but didn't bother calling out her lie.

"Oh, right, Olivia, I brought you some supplements-they're great for both you and the baby."

Mia pulled out a few elegantly packaged boxes from her bag.

Looking at them made my stomach turn.

These weren't just supplements-they were meant to induce early labor.

She didn't even want to wait the last couple of months.

"No thanks, I don't like these," I said icily, rejecting her outright.

Mia's face darkened instantly.

"Olivia, don't be so ungrateful! I'm being nice, and you can't even appreciate it?"

Her shrill voice grated on my ears.

"I don't appreciate it. What are you gonna do about it?"

I shot back, refusing to back down.

"You-" Mia shook with rage, pointing a trembling finger at me.

Then she screamed, "You're nothing but a used-up whore who got trafficked, and you dare talk back to me?!"

Slap!

I couldn't hold back anymore. I slapped her across the face-hard.

"Say that again!" I roared, my eyes bloodshot with fury.

Mia clutched her cheek, staring at me in shock.

"You... You actually hit me?!"

She shrieked and lunged at me, claws aiming for my hair.

I shoved her away. She staggered back, nearly falling.

"Olivia, you bitch! I'm going to kill you!"

Mia went berserk, charging at me again.

I was heavily pregnant, my movements slow, barely dodging her attacks.

"Olivia! What the hell are you doing?!"

Samuel's voice thundered through the room.

He rushed in and shoved me aside to grab Mia.

"Mia, are you okay?"

His voice was thick with concern, his eyes full of worry as he checked her over.

Meanwhile, I was on the floor, my elbow slamming against the hardwood, pain shooting through me.

"Samuel, why did you push me?"

I struggled to my feet, my voice trembling.

"Did you hear what she just said? She called me a whore-she-"

"Enough!"

Samuel cut me off coldly, his eyes filled with disgust.

"Olivia, stop making a scene. Mia is my guest. Show her some respect."

"Guest?"

I stared at him, my heart turning to ice.

"In your eyes, I'm worth less than a guest?"

"Olivia, stop being unreasonable."

He wrapped an arm around Mia and said softly, "Mia, let's go. She needs time to cool off."

They left together, locked in each other's arms, leaving me with nothing but darkness and despair.

I collapsed onto the floor, my body ice-cold, my heart clenched in an invisible fist, making it hard to breathe.

Daniel, when will you be back?

I miss you so much.

I just want to go home…

I hugged myself tightly, trembling like a wounded animal, licking its wounds alone in the dark.

Chapter 3

The night was as deep as an endless abyss.

I woke up to a sharp pain in my abdomen, my side of the bed empty.

Samuel was gone.

Confused, I got up to grab a glass of water, but as I passed by the living room, I heard something strange.

That voice… It was familiar.

It was Mia.

My heart clenched as I tiptoed closer.

Through the crack of the slightly open door, I saw something I would never forget.

In the dim light, Samuel and Mia were tangled together, their clothes in disarray, the scene obscene beyond words.

Mia's breathy moans and Samuel's low growls stabbed into my ears like daggers, tearing my heart apart.

"Samuel… not so rough… Olivia's still here…"

Mia's voice was laced with fake concern, but mostly triumph.

"Her?" Samuel scoffed, his voice full of disdain.

"She sleeps like a log. She won't wake up."

Boom-

My mind went blank, as if a bomb had detonated inside me, blowing me to pieces.

They weren't even trying to hide it anymore.

A surge of uncontrollable rage exploded in my chest.

I couldn't take it anymore. I slammed the door open and stormed in.

"What the hell are you doing!" I screamed, my voice hoarse and raw.

Samuel and Mia flinched, scrambling apart in a panic.

Mia hurriedly adjusted her clothes, a flicker of guilt flashing across her face, but she quickly regained her composure.

Samuel, however, looked at me with irritation and coldness.

"Olivia, stop being ridiculous!" His tone was impatient.

"Mia and I were just-"

"Just what?" I took a step forward, my hands clenched into fists.

"Just discussing business? Or deepening your emotional connection?"

"Enough!" Samuel roared, cutting me off.

He grabbed my arm roughly and shoved me away.

"Go back to your room! Stop embarrassing yourself!"

I was already weak, and his push sent me stumbling.

My foot caught on the coffee table, and I crashed backward.

"Ah-"

A sharp, unbearable pain shot through my belly.

It felt like something inside me was being torn apart.

Warm liquid gushed down my legs.

Blood.

Bright red, soaking my nightgown, staining the floor.

"Oh my God! Blood! There's so much blood!"

Mia shrieked, her face twisted in horror, as if I was something filthy.

Samuel paled, but he quickly pulled himself together.

"She's going into labor. We need to get her to the hospital now."

He called the doctor-the one he had bribed-and they carried me out the door.

Lying in the backseat, my consciousness faded in and out, while the pain only grew stronger, like something was being ripped away from me.

Tears streamed silently down my face, disappearing into the cold leather seat.

Samuel, Mia… you heartless monsters.

Even if I die, I will never forgive you.

They rushed me into the hospital, where the doctor was already suited up, ready to proceed.

As the operating room doors began to close, I thought this was the end.

But then-

Bang!

The doors were kicked open with force, and a tall, imposing figure strode in.

"I dare you to touch her!"