3

"Sarah!" James caught up, slightly out of breath, his face showing perfect concern. "Why did you come out alone? Does your stomach still hurt? I was just about to come find you."

I stopped and turned around, meeting his "worried" gaze. My face had already returned to its previous calm, even carrying a faint, flawless smile:

"I'm fine now. I probably just walked too fast earlier. I feel better after resting. I made an appointment for prenatal classes tomorrow afternoon. I want to go familiarize myself with the environment beforehand."

"Tomorrow?" James's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, his eyes flashing with doubt. "What classes? I haven't heard you mention this before. You're not feeling well—why don't you postpone it? Or I could go with you?"

"Just ordinary prenatal education classes." My tone was relaxed, deliberately adding a touch of anticipation. "What? Do you have time tomorrow to come with me? I heard couples learning together is more effective."

James's expression clearly stiffened for a moment, his gaze avoiding mine: "...Tomorrow? Tomorrow afternoon the company has an emergency meeting about the H Corporation acquisition. It's particularly important—I really can't get away. How about... you go by yourself? Or I promise to go with you another day?"

Watching him desperately trying to deflect, my inner smile turned colder. H Corporation acquisition? Of course he needed my proposal. He certainly couldn't get away, and he... didn't dare let me reschedule.

I immediately nodded understandingly, my tone gentle: "It's fine, work is important. I'll go by myself. You focus on your business."

He visibly relaxed, his face breaking into an indulgent smile again as he habitually reached out to touch my hair: "You're always so understanding. You're so considerate, it makes me..."

I slightly tilted my head, subtly avoiding his hand, my smile remaining while my eyes turned ice-cold: "You should get back. Don't you have an important meeting to prepare for?"

James's hand awkwardly stopped mid-air. He froze for a moment, then sheepishly withdrew it: "Right, right. You go home and rest well. The driver is waiting outside."

Watching his retreating figure as he hurried away, the smile instantly vanished from my face.

Understanding? Considerate?

James, very soon you'll learn that my "understanding" is the last thing you need.

That inheritance document you signed with your own hand, and tomorrow's "classes," will be the beginning of the end for your beautiful dreams.

The sterile smell of disinfectant filled the pre-op preparation area. I lay on the gurney, my fingertips unconsciously fidgeting with the rough edge of the sheet, listening to the steady female voice on the phone.

"...The funds have been transferred to the account in batches, and the trading orders have been executed. Don't worry, everything is proceeding according to plan."

The voice belonged to Linda, my trusted confidante—a sleeper agent I had positioned years ago, now my most reliable ally in the financial world. She not only managed my secret accounts but was currently the only person I could trust.

"Good." My voice was calm and steady, as if confirming the most ordinary appointment.

The doctor pushed through the door, his white coat making his expression appear even more serious. He opened my medical chart, his gaze falling on my face with professional scrutiny and a slight frown.

"Miss Mitchell," his voice was low and solemn, "I need to confirm once more. The fetus is over twenty weeks. Terminating the pregnancy at this stage requires an induction procedure. You're fully aware of the surgical risks and potential impact on your future fertility. Are you... certain?"

"Certain." My gaze didn't waver, meeting his eyes clearly and firmly. This decision had been set in stone the moment I heard that inheritance agreement in the emergency corridor. This child, if born, would only become a bargaining chip between James and Emily, another chain to bind and hurt me. I would never allow it.

The doctor was silent for a moment, then asked as protocol required: "The surgery requires family consent and accompaniment. Is there a family member present?"

Family?

A cold smile curved my lips, carrying undisguised mockery.

Those so-called "family members"—the "husband" who calculated my worth and plotted my child's future, my biased parents, and that sister who constantly coveted everything I had while threatening me with her illegitimate child—at this moment, they were my most dangerous enemies.

"No." My voice was as calm as a frozen lake, but the words carried bone-chilling coldness. "I have no family."

The doctor looked at me deeply, his eyes showing pity, confusion, and finally settling into professional resignation. He said no more, nodding to the nurse: "Prepare to move to the operating room."

The heavy doors slowly closed behind me, shutting out everything outside. The world suddenly became quiet, leaving only the regular, cold beeping of the heart monitor, like a countdown to my desperate gamble.

Cold surgical lights shone on my face as the coolness of anesthesia spread through my veins. In the last moment before consciousness faded, I clearly felt the weak life rhythm deep in my abdomen—the one I had once treasured so much—gradually falling silent.

I silently told myself: "It's okay. Sarah, you'll live better."

Consciousness struggled to surface from the depths of darkness. The disinfectant smell remained strong, but the warm light of the hospital room replaced the harsh white of the operating room. As soon as I opened my eyes, I met Linda's worried but controlled gaze.

"How do you feel?" Her voice was kept very low, careful and cautious.

The anesthetic was wearing off, and waves of heavy, sharp, dull pain came from my abdomen. I instinctively raised my hand, my fingertips touching not the rounded curve I expected, but a flat, empty space wrapped in thick gauze. The sensation was foreign and cold, like ice against my heart.

Linda watched my movement, holding her breath, and hesitantly asked: "...Do you regret it?"

Regret? How could I?

This pain was nothing compared to one ten-thousandth of the betrayal and calculation that couple had inflicted on me!

I only wished... wished that I had discovered their true faces sooner.

But it was fine. It was good that I had personally ended the tragic fate of this child who would have been used as their tool, and completely severed James's delusion of using blood ties to bind me forever.

I looked up at Linda, my lips curving into a cold, clear smile: "Not at all." My voice was hoarse from weakness but exceptionally firm.

I turned on my side, enduring the pain that pulled at my wound, and took out a sealed document envelope I had prepared earlier from the bedside table drawer, handing it to her.

Linda took it, pulled out the documents and glanced at them, her eyes immediately sharpening: "Divorce papers? Asset recovery and trust fund reclamation statements?"

"Yes." I nodded slightly. "Send them now. Express delivery to James Crawford's company reception, addressed to him personally. Also, scan and email copies to his email address." I wanted to ensure he received this "gift" immediately in the most unavoidable way possible.

"No problem." Linda efficiently tucked away the documents without any hesitation. She paused, then added: "Those stocks you positioned with the 'Starlight' account have been surging for three consecutive days due to favorable policy news. The funds have been safely transferred to the offshore account as you instructed."

"Excellent." I closed my eyes, feeling the first taste of successful revenge, my voice indifferent yet powerful. "Linda, keep a close eye on James's movements. Without my final proposal for the H Corporation acquisition, and facing the financial pressure we're applying, let's see how long he can hold out."

I instructed Linda: "Don't let any of them detect the existence of 'Starlight.' Once I've recovered, that's when the real show begins."