Chapter 3

Vanessa's POV

When I opened my eyes again, the nurse who had come to treat me gently broke the news that my baby hadn't survived.

I pressed a hand against my now-flat stomach, the pain so unbearable that I could barely breathe.

I thought to myself, "Christopher, you killed our baby with your own hands."

Before I could even wipe away my tears, a neighbor from the residential compound came rushing into the room, panic written all over her face.

"Dr. Monroe has taken back the apartment the research institute promised to give your mother! You need to get to her right away. She's having a heart attack!"

Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning.

Without giving any thought to the pain in my lower abdomen, I stumbled out of bed and rushed toward the residential compound.

When I arrived, Christopher was already ordering people to throw my mother's belongings out of the apartment.

My mother, Alice Atkinson, was so enraged that she collapsed on the spot.

"What are you doing?"

I rushed forward in a panic, caught her in my arms, and glared at Christopher with bloodshot eyes.

There wasn't a trace of guilt on his face, only deep disgust.

"Your mother has been spreading rumors throughout the residential compound about Serena's baby, ruining her reputation!"

I shot back sarcastically, "And are those rumors not true?"

"You!" Christopher was momentarily at a loss for words.

"My late brother was a martyr, and Serena is the widow of a fallen hero. Any housing allocated by our research institute should go to her first. As for your mother, she can simply move back into her old place."

My mother seemed to hear his cruel words because she stirred slightly in my arms.

When we got married, Christopher had knelt before my mother and repeatedly promised that he would take care of her just as he took care of me. He had even personally assured her that he would help her move out of her leaky old shack and that the apartment allocated to him would be hers.

I had never imagined his promises would expire so quickly.

Fighting through the excruciating pain in my lower abdomen, I staggered toward him.

"If anything happens to my mother, I'm divorcing you!"

My threat clearly caught him off guard. His breath hitched as his gaze shifted between my disheveled appearance and my mother.

He opened his mouth, but for a long moment, no words came out.

Serena broke the silence at just the right moment, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Dr. Monroe, why don't you just let your mother-in-law keep the apartment? I can rest and recover anywhere. You shouldn't get divorced because of me."

Her words made me look like an unreasonable villain, as though I were deliberately picking a fight for no reason.

Christopher looked at me with unmistakable disappointment.

"How can you throw around something as serious as divorce so casually? You're clearly doing this on purpose to pressure Serena and drive her to her death!"

He then snapped, "Get over here and apologize to her!"

His shouting faded into the background as all my attention focused on my mother's face, which was growing paler by the second.

Then I spotted the official jeep parked nearby. To me, it was like a lifeline thrown to someone drowning.

"I did nothing wrong! Christopher, get someone to take my mother to the hospital right now!"

The moment I finished speaking, Serena suddenly clutched her stomach and let out a pained groan, her face twisting with hurt and misery.

"Then I guess this is all my fault. I'm sorry, Vanessa. I'm just a widow. What right do I have to bring a child into this world…"

Seeing how hurt and helpless Serena looked, Christopher didn't hesitate for a second. He scooped her into his arms and carried her straight to the jeep.

I chased after them with all the strength I had left and grabbed the car door, but he violently shoved me away.

A sharp pain tore through my lower abdomen, and waves of dizziness washed over me as the pain became unbearable.

The neighbors had overheard our argument but had no idea what had really happened. Convinced that I was the one at fault, they wanted nothing to do with me. Not a single person was willing to drive us to the hospital.

With no other choice, I helped my mother to the roadside and begged passing drivers for a ride. After what felt like forever, I finally managed to flag down someone willing to take us.

Clutching my mother tightly, I rushed with her all the way to the hospital. But when we finally reached the ward, we were stopped at the entrance.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Monroe. We don't have any available beds right now, so we can't admit your mother for treatment."