Chapter 4

For the last decade, I always assumed that I was the reason why we couldn't have a child. I took many different types of medication and was subjected to constant ridicule.

I only learned the truth yesterday after the private investigator obtained a sealed folder from the hospital. It contained the record that Henry had destroyed.

A smile stretched across my lips as I brushed my fingers across the USB drive in my bag.

"You're right. Felicity must be a lucky star. We have to make sure to celebrate as much as we can tomorrow night since there's a good omen."

…

The charity gala was hosted in a hotel in the heart of the city.

In the hall, the guests chatted among each other while balancing wine glasses in their hands.

Henry was dressed in a suit. He accepted compliments from the guests as he weaved his way through the crowd.

"You really are a Good Samaritan, Mr. Gibbons. It's not easy to support the students in the mountains for so many years."

"You flatter me. I'm just doing what I can for the students' sake."

Meanwhile, I stood in a corner while wearing a gown that I had purchased three years ago and the pearl necklace that Henry had given me.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted among the crowd.

"Who's that? She's beautiful!"

"I think she's the student representative."

Felicity strode into the hall while locking arms with a male celebrity. She was dressed in a gown. The Artanan white pearl necklace around her neck was especially eye-catching.

She immediately spotted me standing in the corner. Her lips curled up into a smile as she let go of the male celebrity and approached me, holding a glass of red wine.

"Good evening, Mrs. Gibbons—Oh!"

She suddenly lurched forward as she tripped over her own two feet, spilling the red wine all over my chest and staining the front of my gown.

"Oh god! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to, Mrs. Gibbons!"

Although Felicity was apologizing to me, she had a hand pressed to her stomach.

"Oh, my stomach…" she moaned. "Why did you push me, Mrs. Gibbons?"

The other guests immediately surrounded us.

"What happened?"

"I think Mr. Gibbons' wife pushed the student representative."

"Why did she do that? Felicity just lost her balance."

Henry swiftly rushed over when he noticed the commotion. He didn't even spare a single glance at me and held Felicity, exclaiming, "Are you alright, Felicity? Did you hurt yourself?"

"I don't blame Mrs. Gibbons for what happened, Henry. I was the one who lost my balance."

Tears rolled down Felicity's cheeks as she collapsed against Henry's chest. "But my stomach hurts so much…"

Henry whipped his head around to glare at me. "What did you do, you wicked wretch? Felicity is still so young. Why can't you tolerate her? I won't forgive you if anything happens to her!"

"I didn't push her," I explained as I stood my ground, allowing the wine to drip from my gown. "You can check the surveillance footage. She's the one who crashed into me."

"How dare you try to pin the blame on her?" Henry roared, reaching out to shove me. "Get out of my sight! Don't get in my way! I need to send Felicity to the hospital!"

I staggered backward and fell since I was wearing high heels.

A loud bang resounded around the hall when I hit my forehead against the table with the champagne tower.

Pain exploded from the point of impact. Something warm and sticky flowed down my brow.

Chaos erupted in the hall.

Henry didn't spare another glance at me. He picked up Felicity and roared at the security guards, "Why the hell are you just standing around? Call an ambulance! Now! I won't let any of you off the hook if anything happens to the heir of the Gibbons family!"

Silence immediately descended upon the hall at Henry's words. Everyone's gaze shifted.

I heard someone whispering, "I didn't know siring an heir was part of the deal when he decided to sponsor her."

Henry also seemed to realize that he had misspoken. However, he had other, more pressing matters to attend to. He rushed out of the hall while carrying Felicity, leaving me to stare at his retreating back.

Blood continued to flow down my cheek, mixing with the red wine. I pressed a hand to my bleeding forehead as I slowly crawled back up to my feet.

I knew that the guests were pointing at me and whispering among themselves.

I didn't feel any pain.

I reached into my handbag that was soaked with red wine and rummaged through it until my fingers brushed against some paper.

I pulled the report out of my bag and lifted it high into the air.