Chapter 3

I stared at Thomas's face. That familiar face now felt utterly foreign.

And the things he was saying only confirmed my suspicions. All that talk about being pressured into having a child—it had just been an excuse to brush me off.

The truth was, the one he had always loved was her. The person he wanted a child with had never been me.

The tears came without restraint, spilling from my eyes until his figure blurred.

Thomas seemed to realize he'd said the wrong thing. He hurriedly grabbed my hand. "I spoke without thinking just now, Michelle. Don't take it to heart.

"You're my only wife. I know how good you've been to me, how much you've given to this family. You've always wanted a child. Now that I have one, you should be happy.

"In the future, you can be the child's mother too. When the child grows up, you won't have to worry about having no one to take care of you."

There was a hint of panic in his voice, but everything he said sounded absurd.

My stomach churned, bile rising in my throat.

I yanked my hand free, wiped the tears from my face, and finally saw him clearly—the flustered, uneasy Thomas standing before me.

"If the one you love is her, then I won't hold on anymore. If I had known, I never would've proposed to you. But it's not too late. At least we don't have children—there's less tying us down. Thomas, let's get divorced."

I met his eyes. He tried to explain, reaching for me again, but I stepped back.

He opened his mouth to speak, but his phone rang.

"Thomas, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have interfered in your life. If that's the case, then I'll just disappear, okay?"

Lucy's voice came through the phone, and his expression changed instantly. He no longer had the patience to deal with me. "Even if you have to carry her, get her there!"

The bodyguards surged forward, lifting me up and shoving me roughly into the car.

They sped through the streets, taking me to a villa in the city.

The moment I stepped inside, I saw Lucy holding a fruit knife to her throat, a baby cradled in her other arm, locked in a tense standoff with my in-laws.

As soon as my mother-in-law saw me being pushed in, she couldn't hold back. "Look at what you've done! If it weren't for you, would things have escalated like this?"

The moment Lucy saw me, her emotions grew even more intense. "I know this is all my fault. I shouldn't have gone to Thomas. I understand—this is where everything ends!"

Yet, the blade remained a good four inches from her neck. As she spoke, it didn't move any closer. I could tell—she didn't want to die.

But my in-laws were frantic, circling her, urging her not to act impulsively, not to hurt herself over something so trivial.

Thomas rushed toward her without hesitation, pulling her tightly into his arms. "Lucy, you're holding our child. Can you bear to let him lose his mother right after he's born? He is the product of our love!

"I know what you're worried about, but don't be afraid. As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you. Look—I brought Michelle here. I'll make her kneel and apologize to you!"

He coaxed Lucy gently.

Her triumphant gaze swept over me.

It felt like my heart was being crushed in someone's fist. Even breathing became difficult.

In that moment, whatever feelings I had left for Thomas died completely.

This marriage had to end.

Before I could speak, Thomas pointed at me and barked, "Michelle, you've done wrong—why aren't you apologizing yet? Kneel. Right now. And promise that you'll treat our child well, and that all your money will go to this child. If you break your word, may your entire family suffer for it!"

He was forcing me to swear—dragging my entire family into it. Even scheming over my assets before my death. It was utterly disgusting.

Before I could say a word, one of the bodyguards kicked the back of my knees. I was forced to the ground.

Thomas strode up to me, meeting my hate-filled gaze, and backhanded me. "What are you staring at? Apologize!"

I had never imagined he could be this cruel. For Lucy, there was nothing he wouldn't do.

I never thought my own husband would force me to kneel, to apologize to a mistress—would even lay hands on me for her sake.

The fury I had been suppressing finally exploded. I raised my hand and struck him hard across the face.

I put all my strength into that slap, so much so that he staggered backward and fell.

The bodyguards behind him were dealt with just as quickly, dropping to the ground in disarray, groaning in pain.

I shook out my hand. They must have forgotten—before marrying Thomas, I was a black belt in taekwondo.

My in-laws were stunned by what they saw. Lucy, on the other hand, seemed to seize the opportunity. Clutching the baby, she rushed at me, the fruit knife in her hand stabbing straight toward me.

I kicked the knife out of her grip and drove my elbow into her chest.

She fell backward, and the baby slipped from her arms, hitting the floor with a piercing cry.

Scrambling on her hands and knees, Lucy crawled over and snatched the child back into her arms, her voice breaking as she shouted at me, "Are you trying to kill my baby?"

Tears streamed down her face, her expression full of grievance, as if she were the one being wronged.

My mother-in-law roared, "You wretched woman! You can't have children yourself, and now you want to kill my grandchild too?"

Thomas's eyes were bloodshot as he glared at me. "Michelle, if anything happens to Lucy or the child, I will never let you go!"

With that, he immediately helped Lucy up and rushed her and the baby to the hospital, my in-laws following close behind in panic.

I watched their retreating figures, then took out a second phone and made a call.

"This is Michelle. Terminate all cooperation with the Wilson family immediately.

"And support the Peterson family. Prepare the lawyers and bodyguards.

"I want the Wilson family to understand the consequences of their actions."