Chapter 1 The Perfect Husband

Ever since Harrison Westbrook found out I was pregnant, he had become much more attentive.

He returned home on time, ordered the staff to prepare nutritious meals for me, and even took walks with me around the garden after dinner.

To anyone else, we seemed like a loving married couple.

Penelope Harrington also came by the house often. She would affectionately link her arm through mine, call me Katherine, and tell me all sorts of things about caring for a baby, as if she were genuinely happy for me.

Once, she even stroked my belly and asked innocently, "Katherine, can I be the baby's godmother when he's born?"

I looked at her pure, innocent face and felt my stomach churn.

I smiled. "Sure, as long as Harrison agrees."

Harrison stood nearby, watching us with a gentle smile. "Penelope loves kids. Of course she can."

They put on one little loving display after another right in front of me, performing their fake acts, while I played along with their performance.

I suppressed the disgust inside of me and played the role of a happy wife. Behind their backs, however, I stayed in close contact with Adrian Westbrook.

Adrian was the Westbrook family's adopted son and Harrison's older brother.

He never quite fit in with the Westbrook family, but when I was younger and going through the darkest time of my life, he was the only one who ever showed me any kindness.

He had used every connection at his disposal to help me gather more and more evidence that Harrison was bleeding the company dry.

I organized all the evidence, encrypted it, and kept it safely stored, waiting for the right moment.

That day, the forecast called for thunderstorms.

By afternoon, the sky had turned ominously dark.

Harrison said he had an important engagement that evening and couldn't get out of it.

I was alone in the empty villa, and for some reason, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

At nine that evening, the wind howled outside, and heavy raindrops pounded against the windows, splattering loudly against the glass.

I was just about to go to bed when a sudden, sharp cramp seized my lower abdomen.

I doubled over on the floor, cold sweat instantly soaking through my pajamas.

With trembling hands, I reached for my phone. I meant to call Adrian, but my shaking fingers hit Harrison's name instead.

I was about to hang up, but he already answered.

Music and women's laughter blared over the line.

"Hello?" His voice was slightly slurred with drink.

"Harrison, my stomach hurts. It hurts so bad… Please come home…" I gathered almost all the strength I had left.

"Katherine? What's wrong?"

"I'm bleeding. I'm bleeding!"

I felt a warm rush between my legs, and fear seized me instantly.

"Don't panic. I'm coming right now—"