Chapter 3

The sharp smell of disinfectant filled my nose as I struggled to open my heavy eyelids. The first thing I saw was the cold, white walls of the hospital room.

A needle was in the back of my hand, and a dull pain radiated from my lower abdomen, reminding me that my baby was gone.

"My baby is gone..." I muttered hoarsely, my voice sounding like sandpaper scraping against the glass.

A young nurse walked in and, seeing that I was awake, gave me a professional smile, though her tone was cold. "Miss Carter, you're awake. We couldn't save the baby. I'm sorry for your loss."

I did not respond and just nodded numbly while tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

"Get some rest, and call me if you need anything," the nurse said before leaving the room.

I closed my eyes, trying to sleep, but familiar voices drifted in from the hallway.

"Mom, what happened?" It was Thomas' voice.

"Hmph! How were we supposed to know she was pregnant? It could've been anyone's child! It was her fault for not saying anything sooner!" Margaret's sharp, bitter voice cut through me like a knife.

"Besides, it doesn't matter. There's always Claire! I'd rather have Claire's baby!" she said, her words piercing my heart.

"Exactly. You wouldn't believe how she insulted Claire, saying she was the real mistress! What a joke!" Emily said, her voice dripping with malicious glee.

There was a moment of silence before Thomas spoke again, his tone weary and irritated. "Alright, I'll handle it. Just go home for now and give me some peace."

Thomas walked in, but there was no trace of sympathy or guilt in his eyes. Right behind him was Claire's delicate figure.

Her pale face looked more fragile than mine as if a slight breeze could knock her down. She seemed even more broken and pitiful than I did after losing my child.

She softly said, "I didn't know you were pregnant. But you're just the daughter of the Roberts family's maid. How much do you want? I can compensate you enough so you'll never have to worry about money again."

How ironic.

I thought back to five years ago when I insisted on marrying Thomas against my parents' wishes. My mother, furious, threatened to cut off all my credit and take back my cars and houses, leaving me with nothing.

However, she was still my mother. She only had one daughter, and she could never truly let me suffer.

She quietly supported Thomas all along.

Thomas's rise to the vice president position was not due to his abilities. He thought it was, though...

Later, my father said that if Thomas remained loyal to me after five years of marriage, they would accept him, and I could reveal my true identity. I had planned to do just that when I found out I was pregnant.

Then, that had happened.

I looked at Thomas with disappointment, but Claire weakly collapsed into his arms before I could say anything.

He immediately cradled her tenderly. It was the kind of affection I had longed for but never received. Claire, however, got it effortlessly.

"Claire's been through enough. Don't blame her anymore," Thomas said softly. "I'm here to tell you that Claire is a public figure. I don't want this to get out."

I let out a bitter laugh.

I had spent five years believing that if I tried hard enough, I could melt their icy hearts and make them accept me.

I was so wrong, tragically wrong.

They never cared about me, and it was all because of Thomas. Would Margaret and Emily have dared to treat me like that if not for his constant indulgence?

If his heart had not been with Claire all along, would I have ended up there?

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and pushed all my pain and anger deep down inside.

Five years... It was time to end it.

As Thomas turned to leave, I opened my eyes and, in a scarily calm voice, said, "Thomas, let's get a divorce."