Chapter 3

I watched as Zane rushed out the door carrying Moira in his arms. He was yelling for the driver while gently comforting her.

"Don't be scared. I'll get you to the hospital right away."

My voice trembled as I instinctively called out, "Zane."

At last, he turned back. When he saw me standing at the door, looking frail and frightened, he looked torn and anxious.

"Rai—"

"It hurts so much, Mr. Wade. It really hurts. I don't want to give birth anymore. I don't want the 20 million, okay?" Moira interrupted.

Zane's steps unconsciously faltered, but her renewed cries of pain jolted him back to focus.

"I'm begging you, Mr. Wade. I really don't want to have this baby anymore."

As Moira cried out in pain again, Zane's torn expression turned cold.

"Raina, promise me you'll wait for me to come back and won't go anywhere. You know—no matter where you run, I'll always find you," he stated.

I didn't leave. But in the end, Zane, still worried, had his bodyguards bring me along to the hospital.

Standing in the corner outside the operating room, I watched as Zane pounded against the wall anxiously with clenched fists. Eventually, he broke down completely. Tears streamed down his face.

He had always been a staunch atheist, but he dropped to his knees with a loud thud and began pleading with the heavens.

"I don't believe in a higher being, but I don't care who's listening. If you can save Moira and the baby, I'll donate funds to build churches. A hundred—even a thousand of them! Just save them, I'm begging you…"

Zane prayed so sincerely. Yet, the rosary he was clutching in his hand was a blessing I had earned for him after climbing 999 steps on my knees in one night.

My heart sank silently into a bottomless abyss as he occasionally glared at me icily. Fortunately, Moira was fine and was eventually transferred to a regular ward.

I sighed in relief. But as I turned, I caught Zane's conversation with the doctor.

"Mr. Wade, Ms. Green ingested a large amount of abortion medication. That's what caused the miscarriage. And the stew you asked us to test did contain traces of abortion drugs," the doctor said.

As soon as his words fell, the silence in the fire escape stairwell felt suffocating enough to kill. I could barely stand upright. My nails dug deep into my palms.

Zane stood shrouded in darkness. His whole presence exuded coldness. He said nothing, but I felt like I was slowly being crushed.

However, I was innocent. So, it was obvious who had put the abortion drugs in the stew.

I charged into Moira's hospital room and confronted her directly.

"What was the point of that, Moira? I told you I would leave. I never wanted to get involved in your game. Why would you frame me like this?"

The heavily pregnant Moira now looked pale, haggard, and frail. As I stared at her, I felt both angry and confused.

But when she looked back at me, her gaze was twisted. "Of course, I know you never wanted to get involved. But he loves you, doesn't he? Even if you leave, just that love alone is enough to crush me and my son's future. So, I had to do this."

I was so angry that I wanted to laugh. If that was how Moira saw it, then wouldn't killing me be more efficient?

Chuckling dryly, I suppressed my rising rage. Then, I said in a flat tone, "If you're that clear-headed, then tell me—do you think he'll believe you?"

Moira's expression froze at this. She clenched her jaw and stared at me helplessly. Clearly, she had no confidence that Zane would truly hate me because of this.

In the tense silence, the hospital ward's door was suddenly shoved open. The faint scent of cigarette smoke wafted in.

Zane's eyes were dark and unreadable, but he didn't say a word. Walking in, he lifted Moira into a wheelchair. Then, he looked at me deeply before extending his hand.

"Let's go home, Raina."

As soon as he spoke, I caught Moira's hand tightening on her gown.

"But—"

She started to speak, but Zane's cold stare silenced her instantly. Moira shut her mouth and dared not say another word.

I looked at Zane. His eyes were tired, but there wasn't a trace of anger on his face. I held his hand and left the hospital with him. His palm was warm, but my heart had gone cold.

The car ride was silent. Zane said nothing the entire way, which was unlike him. I didn't care. My mind was already on tomorrow, when I would go to the courthouse to finalize the divorce.

Once we arrived home, Zane escorted Moira to her room. I was about to leave, but Zane tugged on my hand and didn't let go.

His voice was soft as he said, "Come with me, Raina."

I didn't resist and quietly followed him all the way to the underground wine cellar. Then, I saw it. A massive golden cage, inside of which sat a luxurious down-feather bed.

My temples began to throb viciously. On instinct, I turned to run. However, Zane was faster. He grabbed me by my waist and lifted me clean off the ground. Then, he shoved me into the cage.