Chapter 5

After learning that I had been rushed into emergency care, Lucius returned to the hospital.

At that point, there were only three days left before I would leave.

He brought a huge bouquet of flowers, along with a gift box.

To my surprise, it no longer contained expensive jewelry.

Inside was a pair of tiny baby shoes.

"I didn't realize those words hurt you so deeply," he said quietly. "Adele, can we stop fighting? The baby wouldn't want its parents tearing into each other every day."

I let out a cold laugh.

"The baby wouldn't want to see its father bringing different women home every day either."

Lucius faltered. He gently held my hand, the one bristling with needles.

"Give me some time," he said. "I'll find the right moment to break up with Maisie. After that, we'll live properly—together."

To be honest, I never expected Lucius to truly leave Maisie.

He had many lovers, but she was different. He remembered her birthday, and even went out of his way to prepare surprises for her.

It seemed the rumors were true—Lucius harbored an almost obsessive longing for family.

His father was ruthless, while Lucius, as a child, had been painfully soft-hearted.

In order to mold him into a qualified heir, his father sacrificed his own wife, forcing seven-year-old Lucius to watch his mother fall from a building. Her blood had splattered across his face.

That was why Lucius desperately craved a "normal" family.

Unfortunately, it was too late. I no longer wanted a family with him.

"I understand," I said calmly. "You can go."

Hearing my even tone, Lucius assumed I had calmed down.

He left with a smile, never seeing that the moment he turned away, I contacted my secretary to organize all the litigation documents and evidence.

At the same time, most of the jewelry had already been sold. There was enough money for me to never worry about expenses again in this lifetime.

I immediately used the funds to purchase a luxury home overseas.

Three days later, I would leave this place for good.

What I didn't expect was that on the night before my departure, Lucius kicked open my door.

He hurled a medical report at my face.

"Adele, you really stop at nothing to keep me, don't you?" he snarled. "Faking a pregnancy now, are you?"

I froze in place and picked up the report.

It was an infertility diagnosis issued by a hospital.

I explained at once, "This was from an earlier test. It was a misdiagnosis!"

"A misdiagnosis?" Lucius scoffed. "Then why did you run all over the world seeing doctors for that rotten uterus of yours?!"

"Because I wanted to get pregnant!" I shouted, my eyes burning red. "Because I wanted you to stop cheating!"

He laughed even harder.

"So you couldn't get pregnant, and that's why you colluded with the hospital to fake one? The doctors already confessed—you bribed them with the money I gave you to put on this little performance. It seems Maisie was right after all," he sneered. "I pity Maisie for having a sister who'll do anything to get what she wants."

At that moment, I suddenly lost all strength to explain. And any remaining hope I had for him vanished completely.

I turned my head away, unwilling to look at him.

But he grabbed my chin and forced my face back, his eyes icy with hostility.

"Adele, I used to feel sorry for your past. Turns out it was all a lie—and now you've played me like a fool. If I were Maisie, I'd make your life worse than death. A vicious woman like you deserves the worst."

Looking into his bloodshot eyes, I choked out, "Lucius… what if I really am pregnant? We can go to another hospital right now and check."

"There's no need," he said firmly.

He glanced at my flat stomach and sneered.

"Even if you were pregnant, I wouldn't want it. Maisie is already expecting. Compared to someone as scheming as you, she's far more qualified to give birth to my child."

At that instant, it felt as though a thousand needles pierced my throat. I couldn't say a single word.

So that was it. So that was the truth. He already had another child.

I lifted my head stiffly and looked at him with reddened eyes.

"Then what do you plan to do? Divorce me? Make me step aside for Maisie and her child?"

"I won't divorce you."

Lucius gave his answer almost instantly.

Of course, having a child with his wife's sister would destroy his reputation.

He looked at me coldly.

"Behave yourself from now on. If you dare try to hurt Maisie or her child, I won't show you any mercy."

I looked at the face filled with nothing but wariness and disgust toward me. I smiled as I nodded.

'Lucius, you no longer have any control over me. All that lavish jewelry… I had already sold every last piece. The money is enough to buy my freedom. As for you? You might not remain free much longer,' I thought.

After he left, I pulled a recording pen out from beneath my pillow.

Then I handed it to a well-known journalist.

…

The next day, I dragged my suitcase and headed alone for the airport.

Cars streamed past outside the window when a breaking entertainment headline suddenly flashed across the city's largest billboard.

At the same time, taxis all over the city began broadcasting the news.

"Prominent corporate president Lucius exposed for cheating on his wife with one hundred mistresses—impregnating even his wife's sister…"

Before the report could finish, my phone began vibrating nonstop inside my bag.

I let out a long breath.

Then I tossed the phone straight into the river.