Chapter 1: Chapter One: The Deepest Sorrow Lies in a Dead Heart

"Has her family been contacted yet?" the chief surgeon asked, frowning.

The nurse shook her head.

Vanessa Galsworthy's fingers tightened around the bloodstained phone, and she gave a self-deprecating smile after seeing the unanswered call once more.

"I'll sign the consent form." She picked up the pen and signed her name on the abortion consent form.

Last night, her car exploded and caught fire. She immediately lost consciousness, but fortunately, a passerby rescued her and brought her to the hospital in time.

The traffic police had shown her photos of the accident; the scene was horrific.

Even the doctor said she was lucky to be alive. If it had happened just a bit later, she would have died.

Although she had narrowly escaped death, she had lost her unborn child, a child she hadn't even known about.

"Take off all your pants and spread your legs a little."

Following the doctor's instructions, Vanessa Galsworthy removed her clothing and lay down on the operating table, unconsciously gripping the edge of her gown, feeling scared.

As the anesthesia took effect, Vanessa Galsworthy couldn't hold on and fell unconscious.

When she woke up again, an hour had passed.

A nurse was by her side, changing the dressing on her burned arm. Vanessa Galsworthy instinctively touched her flat abdomen and hoarsely asked, "Can I see my...?"

She paused. The body, or the undeveloped embryo?

The nurse, realizing what she meant, shook her head. "After the surgery, the embryo was disposed of according to regulations."

Vanessa Galsworthy bit her lip, her eyes involuntarily reddening. The only proof of the child's existence was the pain in her abdomen.

Sighing, the nurse felt pity for her. Such a big incident, and not a single family member was around. "Because of the car accident, you had a miscarriage. Your body is very weak, and the hospital requires that you have a family member or a caregiver with you."

"Also, the burns on your arm are quite severe. There's a high chance they will leave scars, but with modern medical aesthetics, skin grafts can help restore the area."

Vanessa Galsworthy raised her head and gave a bitter smile. "I understand."

After the nurse left, Vanessa Galsworthy lay back down, trying to close her eyes and rest, but she couldn't sleep. Her mind raced with memories of her and Edmund Montgomery.

Four years ago, the old master of the Montgomery family was seriously ill and needed a kidney transplant. After much effort, they found her. Although the surgery was performed, the old man passed away a few months later. To compensate her, he made Edmund Montgomery marry her in his will.

After the wedding, they treated each other with respect, maintaining the facade of being a proper couple.

Suddenly, a soft sobbing voice came from outside the door.

"Edmund! Albert Ricardo is so young, how could he get this disease? I wish it were me who was sick."

"Don't say such things, Matt. The doctor said Albert Ricardo's condition can be treated. There is hope," a deep male voice echoed outside the ward.

Vanessa Galsworthy's eyelashes fluttered, and she forced herself to sit up, looking out the window into the hallway.

She saw Edmund Montgomery standing tall in the corridor, his black shirt accentuating his slender and upright figure. His handsome profile, with its striking features, stood out. A woman with long hair and a white dress, revealing a pure and innocent face, stood beside him.

Like a pure white camellia, she was beautiful and pure, making one want to cherish and protect her.

The woman covered her face, her shoulders trembling as she cried bitterly.

Then, the woman buried herself in the man's arms, appearing like a loving couple.

Vanessa Galsworthy's heart trembled, watching them walk away. Her grip on the hospital gown tightened, her fingers turning white. Her thin frame looked even more hollow under the loose gown.

"It's good to be rich and powerful. You can even fight with the King of Hell. Now, the entire hospital's resources are focused on that little boy, and it's said that the chief surgeon will personally handle the later stages of the surgery."

"Her husband is not only rich but also tall and handsome, always by her side, so gentle. It's no wonder such good men get married early, leaving the rest of us with the picky and ugly ones."

Hearing the nurses' whispers, Vanessa Galsworthy's eyes welled up. If they were a couple, then what did she, the legally married wife, count as?

Recalling the woman's face, it gradually overlapped with the woman in the photo in Edmund Montgomery's study.

So, she was the woman Edmund Montgomery had always liked, Stephanie Doherty.

If she hadn't appeared, the current Mrs. Montgomery would have been her.

Vanessa Galsworthy walked to the bedside, picked up her partially burned phone, and dialed Edmund Montgomery's number.

This time, he answered.

Glancing at the caller ID, Edmund Montgomery frowned, turned, and walked a few steps before answering.

Her voice, hoarse from the smoke, carried a hint of vulnerability. "Are you still busy?"

"You've called so many times. What important matter do you have?"

So, Edmund Montgomery simply didn't want to answer her calls.

Vanessa Galsworthy's heart felt like it was being squeezed, and she felt utterly cold.

In this three-year marriage, she could no longer find a reason to continue.

She held back her tears and said, "Nothing important. Since you're back, let's have dinner tonight. I have something to tell you."

"Hmph, you seem to know my schedule well," Edmund Montgomery replied coldly, his eyes filled with displeasure.

His attitude was clearly one of disdain, and she realized he misunderstood.

In the past, Vanessa Galsworthy might have tried to explain, but now, feeling utterly heartbroken, any explanation to a man who didn't love her would only seem laughable.

She knew Edmund Montgomery didn't love her; he married her because of his grandfather's last wish.

She thought, if not love, at least there would be some affection.

Vanessa Galsworthy clutched the phone. "Will you come home tonight?"

Before she got an answer, she heard a child's tender voice. "Daddy..."

Vanessa Galsworthy's heart sank, and a wave of coldness engulfed her. Shaking, she hung up the call.

In the upper echelons of society, the Montgomery family placed great importance on lineage, but Edmund Montgomery didn't care. For the sake of his beloved, he accepted Stephanie Doherty's child with another man.

When she lost her baby in the car accident, her husband was taking care of someone else's child.

Their love was truly touching.

Vanessa Galsworthy could no longer hold back and curled up, crying bitterly. Her chest ached, and she felt suffocated. Though she was crying, no sound came from her throat; she was too heartbroken to make a sound.

She trembled as she removed the ring from her finger and pressed it tightly against her chest.

Perhaps she was destined to be unlucky, never getting what she wanted or loved.

...

Seeing the abruptly disconnected call, Edmund Montgomery frowned, put away his phone, and strode into the room. "What's wrong with Albert Ricardo?"

Stephanie Doherty nodded, her face apologetic. "Albert Ricardo finished his check-up and was scared by the instruments. He wanted to see you, which delayed your call."

The little boy, weakened by illness, had large, pitiful eyes and reached out for a hug.

Edmund Montgomery shook his head, indicating it was fine.

He then walked past Stephanie Doherty, gently picking up the child.

"Albert Ricardo, how many times have I told you to call me Uncle, not Daddy?" Stephanie Doherty scolded.