Chapter 4

In Robert and Maisie's eyes, we were nothing more than lowly peasants they could beat as they pleased.

When Xavier heard what my dad said, his anger flared even more. He picked up the kettle, lifted my dad's shirt, and poured boiling water onto his back ruthlessly.

I grabbed Xavier's leg, begging him not to be so cruel. However, Elsa kicked me toward the door.

My dad screamed in pain. He took one look at his own back and fainted out of sheer terror.

Xavier left behind a check for ten million dollars and walked out with Elsa.

After he left, Robert and Maisie reminded me that the marriage agreement that I signed was about to expire. They pressured me to sign the agreement renewal. Otherwise, they threatened not to treat my dad and let him fend for himself.

The divorce agreement Xavier sent me sat quietly on the table in the hospital room. The Sullivans chose to ignore it and pretended that they didn't see it.

As I touched my growing belly, I wondered how Xavier would treat this child if I agreed to renew the contract.

I steeled myself and calmly said, "I got pregnant with this child because of my dad. He should bear some responsibility."

The moment Robert and Maisie realized that I wasn't going to renew the agreement, their expressions soured. They threatened me harshly, "You won't sign it? Then you can't stay in this high-end hospital room!"

I was kicked out of the private hospital. When I tried to return home, the security guards blocked me at the door.

I sat alone on a bench in the neighborhood until late into the night before I was finally able to contact an old friend, Vincent Laster, who was now a doctor.

He arranged a private hospital room for me and made sure I had carefully prepared meals three times a day.

A few days before I was due to give birth, Vincent suddenly confessed to me, "Halyna, I've liked you for a long time. Please, give me a chance to take care of you and the baby."

I was moved and nodded in agreement. I decided that after the baby was born, we would get together.

The day before the birth, I was in so much pain that I was drenched in cold sweat from head to toe. My heart was racing, and the fear and anxiety only grew with time.

Vincent held my hand and softly reassured me that everything would be okay. My heart rate finally started to calm down a little.

Suddenly, a cold voice sounded from a corner. "She's carrying my child. What do you think you're doing?"

I looked up to see Xavier, along with Elsa and his parents, gathered around my hospital bed. They stared at my belly, their eyes full of calculated intent.

Panic surged through me as I looked at Xavier. "How did you know I was here? How did you know I was having a C-section today?"

Xavier's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Because I bought Vincent off from the beginning. He confessed to you just to keep you calm so you'd deliver the baby without any problems."

With a face that was devoid of any warmth and expression, Xavier patted my stiffened face. "Idiot, did you really think any man could actually love you?"

As tears welled up in my eyes, Elsa suddenly smiled at me and said, "Don't worry, Halyna. Once the baby is born, I'll take good care of it for you."

She had already taken my place in Xavier's life. Now, she wanted to take my child too!

Elsa's eyes glinted with malice as if she was cursing my child. Her eyes seemed to be saying, "For the rest of your life, you'll suffer more than your mother ever did!"

I felt myself sinking deeper into despair, as if I were falling into the depths of hell.

Robert and Maisie were still trying to persuade me, "Sign the renewal agreement, then only we can protect you."

I laughed bitterly and questioned, "You want me to fight Xavier for custody of the baby to keep Elsa away, don't you?"

They suddenly fell silent. Then, they gave some lame excuse and left, saying that they would come back the next day.

In the hospital room, Vincent was administering a sedative to me.

The bitter smile remained on my face.

Vincent was silent for a long time. Nevertheless, he finally broke down and confessed, "He offered me ten million dollars. I could never make that kind of money in my entire life."

I didn't have the energy to argue with him. My mind was racing as I pondered what would come next. If the Sullivan family took my baby from me, my child would only suffer more than I did.

I looked at Vincent with clear, determined eyes and said, "I'll give you 20 million dollars, but you have to do one thing."

"What is it?"

"Kill me."