Chapter 1

After Azazel's funeral, I discovered I was pregnant.

For this child's sake, I buried my grief deep inside, terrified my emotions might harm the baby. But conception had always been difficult with Azazel's low sperm count, making this pregnancy especially precarious.

Every day brought hormone injections to prevent miscarriage. My morning sickness was so severe I nearly passed out multiple times. In just over a month, I'd lost nearly 45 pounds. I felt half-dead most days.

Eventually, Richard and Christine couldn't bear watching me suffer.

"Sylvia, please consider terminating the pregnancy," Christine suggested gently. "Try to move forward without Azazel."

I refused every time. How could I let go of Azazel's child when he'd been so good to me?

The truth is, I wasn't originally engaged to Azazel, but to his brother Alaric. Before the wedding, I was kidnapped and assaulted for three horrific days. Afterward, Alaric called off our engagement, claiming I was "tainted," and quickly married Rebecca instead.

It was Azazel who rescued me from my captors. He suffered multiple stab wounds during the rescue but still held me protectively. Later, he knelt before my father, declaring he'd loved me from afar and wanted to marry me.

Everyone said he adored me beyond reason. Under his gentle care, I slowly healed from my trauma.

Our happiness lasted only three years before a car accident took him from me. My world collapsed. I contemplated following him into death.

This baby became my only reason to live—Azazel's only remaining blood. I was determined to protect this pregnancy with my life if necessary.

Seeing my determination, my in-laws stopped pressuring me. But the next day at lunch, they suggested something unexpected: that Alaric should marry me to maintain both family lines and care for me and my unborn child.

Before I could refuse, Rebecca exploded. She slapped me hard across the face, screaming that I was shameless. Already fragile, she worked herself into such a state that she fainted before I could explain.

Alaric's brow furrowed with disapproval as he shot me a cold glance. Then he tenderly gathered Rebecca in his arms and carried her away.

Chapter 2

Rebecca's slap triggered more pregnancy complications. I spent two days confined to bed before I felt somewhat better.

I didn't blame Rebecca. It was understandable she'd have reservations, given my prior engagement to Alaric. Besides, regardless of how strong my marriage to Azazel had been, the suggestion that Alaric should marry me was simply absurd. Not just for them as a couple—I didn't want it either.

Feeling guilty about Rebecca fainting, I decided to visit my in-laws' bedroom once I could walk again. I planned to convince them to drop this marriage idea completely, then personally apologize to Alaric and Rebecca to ease their concerns.

But as I approached their door, I heard Christine's confused voice:

"Azazel, it was clearly your brother who died in that accident. Why are you insisting it was you?"

Azazel? My husband's name? He wasn't dead?!

The car accident victim was actually Alaric, my husband's older brother?

I froze, thunderstruck. My eyes widened in disbelief. This couldn't be happening!

I shook my head violently, thinking I must be hallucinating. But then I heard a man's voice respond:

"Mom, please don't let Rebecca find out. She's always been fragile, and with her heart condition, learning my brother died would destroy her."

Alaric—no, I should call him Azazel—my husband paused, then continued with a sigh:

"Besides, Rebecca is the one I've always loved. I only married Sylvia to help Rebecca be with my brother. Now that I've given Sylvia a child, I don't owe her anything more. I'll take care of Rebecca for the rest of her life in my brother's place. Just drop this whole two-family marriage arrangement—it only upsets Rebecca."

Chapter 3

"But Sylvia has suffered enough," Christine protested. "You arranged her kidnapping to break off her engagement with your brother so he could marry Rebecca instead. She endured three days of torture because of you! Now that she's finally healing and carrying your child, the least you can do is look after her—"

Azazel impatiently cut her off.

"Enough, Mom! I've already made amends by marrying her despite everyone mocking me for taking a 'damaged woman.' I've devoted three years to helping her recover. Isn't that enough? Do you expect me to sacrifice my entire life for her?"

His voice hardened with resentment. "I've suffered for three years, pretending every single day. I can't take it anymore! Living with her has been nothing but torture for me. Now fate has given me a chance to be with Rebecca again. I won't give that up..."

I couldn't bear to hear more. My entire body went cold. A searing pain shot through my chest as if I'd been stabbed.

I stumbled back to my room, trembling uncontrollably, my face streaked with tears.

It hit me all at once—the man who died in the accident wasn't my husband but his brother Alaric. For three years, Azazel's devotion and tenderness had all been an elaborate act.

The person he truly loved had always been Rebecca, just like his brother.

Even worse, Azazel was the one who arranged my kidnapping, simply to clear the way for Rebecca to marry Alaric.

If they didn't want to marry me, they could have canceled the engagement honorably. Instead, they chose to destroy me.

The cruelest irony? I had mistaken my tormentor for my savior. And now I was risking my life to bear his child...