Chapter 3 Unexpected News

Ella lifted her gaze, quietly meeting his eyes. Before her stood a man who, for the sake of another woman, dared to defy the most revered matriarch, shamelessly trampling upon Ella's dignity in front of the entire family.

In that moment, the tightly wound string within Ella's heart, strained for fourteen years, snapped with a sharp, irrevocable crack.

It was not the absence of pain, but pain so profound it numbed her entirely. Suddenly, exhaustion and bitter irony overcame her. After all these years of sacrifice, she could not even retain a shred of dignity before his grandmother.

So be it; it was time to end it.

Her voice was calm and undisturbed, imbued with a liberation even she had yet to recognize: "Grandma, I consent to the divorce."

Karen's disbelief was palpable as she fixed her gaze on Ella.

Austin abruptly turned his head, his eyes burning into her. Her composure left a hollow ache in his chest, as though something precious had been wrenched away instantaneously.

This alien sensation of losing control vexed him, and he hastily dismissed it as another one of her manipulative ploys.

What new scheme was she attempting? Playing the victim before his grandmother? The art of feigned retreat?

Karen regained her composure, clearing her throat. "What matters is that you have a child."

Ella looked at her with resignation. "Grandma, you must not know that when I was eighteen, I was trapped on a snowy mountain and severely harmed by the cold. The chances of me conceiving in this lifetime are infinitesimal."

The snowy mountain?

Austin's expression shifted subtly; this was the second time that word had slipped from her lips today, yet he had no recollection of it.

Instinctively, he wanted to question her further, but Ella had already turned away, refusing to meet his gaze. That detached demeanor only intensified the restlessness gnawing at his heart.

Margaret eagerly interjected, "The Raymond family empire needs an heir! Mother, no matter how much you like Ella, don't you need to think about the future? This divorce must happen."

Karen remained silent, her eyes fixed on Ella with a complex expression.

Ella gently squeezed Karen's hand and nodded reassuringly.

Right now, stabilizing Karen's condition was the priority.

Karen closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her expression had softened considerably.

"Ella, whatever decision you make, I'll support you."

She understood how deeply Ella loved Austin, which was why she wanted to give her a chance.

She had always pressured Austin, hoping he would treat Ella well and recognize her worth.

But reality had turned out vastly different from her expectations.

Ella had suffered countless wounds in this marriage. Perhaps this was simply an unfortunate fate.

Ella felt a warmth spread through her heart.

Austin's gaze grew increasingly intense.

If not for Karen's concern about continuing the family line, he wouldn't have considered staying with Ella for another minute.

Surely, this must be yet another of her cunning stratagems, an act of feigned misery designed to elicit sympathy before his grandmother.

The more she behaved this way, the more his aversion grew.

Ignoring Austin's watchful gaze, Ella spoke briefly with Karen, encouraging her to rest and take care of herself before quickly leaving the mansion.

Standing outside, Ella tilted her head back to look at the sky.

There had been a time when she believed nothing could ever drive her and Austin to divorce.

Divorcing him felt like taking a knife and carving out the softest part of her heart.

Though the pain was excruciating and left her bleeding, she had no regrets.

Footsteps approached from behind.

Austin walked up to her, his eyes cold and dangerous.

"Ella, whatever scheme you're plotting, stop it now. Judith nearly had to be rushed to the emergency room last night. Drop your manipulative tactics. It only makes me despise you more!"

Judith had threatened suicide because of her, and he couldn't wait any longer. Even without his inheritance, he was determined to be with Judith.

"Did you really think I wanted to marry you for any reason other than having a child?"

Ella suddenly felt her chest constrict painfully.

All her previous efforts to be kind to Austin had been interpreted as ulterior motives.

Even her attempt to preserve their marriage for Karen's sake was being branded as despicable and underhanded!

In Austin's eyes, was she truly so monstrous, like some destructive force of nature?

"In all these four years, did you ever have even the slightest feeling for me?" She asked.

Austin's narrow eyes narrowed slightly, imbued with disdain and malice, as if indulging in the absurdity of the grandest jest.

In that moment, his silence provided the answer.

He spoke coldly, "If you agree to divorce, I'll meet any demands you have, including the deed to this townhouse."

There wasn't a shred of affection.

Was there truly nothing between them at all?

Ella shook her head in despair. "I don't need your compensation."

To Austin, it was clear that she didn't want any connection with him, nor did she want him to feel guilty over their failed marriage.

Could money really buy out her marriage?

What did she really mean to Austin?

But her reaction registered differently to Austin.

To him, Ella clearly thought the offer was insufficient; she wanted more.

He was convinced he had judged her correctly: a selfish, vicious, and endlessly greedy woman.

"Ella, what exactly do you want?" Austin's tone was tinged with contempt.

Fighting back tears, Ella replied, "Austin, I'll give you what you want."

Yet Austin showed no happiness at hearing the words he had sought for so long.

Instead, he felt an inexplicable unease about finally being free of Ella.

It was as though he was about to lose someone vital to him.

No, that couldn't be right; this must be another of her tricks.

"Hopefully, that is the case." He revealed nothing but disdain, muttering that they would sign the divorce papers and file at court in a few days before storming off.

After composing herself, Ella took out her phone to call her best friend.

As the call connected, her vision suddenly darkened as overwhelming blackness engulfed her.

When Ella regained consciousness, she found herself in a ward.

She looked at the IV drip in her arm, trying to recall her last moments before fainting.

What had happened? Why had she collapsed so suddenly?

Her friend Sarah Wilson entered from outside, visibly relieved to see Ella awake.

"Ella, you're finally conscious. Do you have any idea how terrified I was? You called me, but didn't say anything before the line went dead. I rushed over immediately. Thank goodness I arrived in time to get you to the hospital."

Ella's voice was raspy. "Thank you, Sarah. But did the doctor say why I fainted so suddenly?"

Her health had always been good.

This shouldn't have happened.

Sarah gestured toward the door. "Not yet. Let's wait for the doctor to explain."

As she finished speaking, the doctor entered, reviewing the test results in his hands.

"Ms. Brooks, congratulations. You're one and a half months pregnant!"

Ella's pupils constricted in disbelief.

She even suspected she had misheard, yet her voice betrayed her excitement.

"I'm pregnant?"

Ella couldn't hide the smile spreading across her face.

She had been hoping for this child for a very long time.

Now her wish had finally come true.