.

Ren

It was Lucas’s birthday, and I had spent the entire day preparing a surprise celebration for him. Hidden carefully in my hand was the pregnancy test result I had waited years to see.

Mrs. Clara walked into the living room and stopped abruptly. I hadn’t even realized she was there until she cleared her throat, making my heart skip painfully.

“Another drama this morning. Maybe this surprise will finally change something,” I thought silently to myself.

“So, you’re planning a secret birthday party for my son?” Mrs. Clara asked coldly. I immediately realized she must have overheard my conversation with Elara earlier.

She walked toward the balloons and burst two of them beside the cake.

“Why are you always creating unnecessary mess in this house? You don’t do anything productive, and you still can’t give the Williams family a child. A woman like you should be considered completely useless instead of standing here pretending to be important.”

Her words pierced deeply into my heart. From the corner of my eyes, I could also see the shock on Elara’s face.

“Where did you even get the money for all this?” Mrs. Clara continued, her eyes burning with disgust. “I’m sure it came from those men who ruined your womb and made you barren.”

“Ma, I… I…” I tried to speak, maybe to voice out the pregnancy news to her or to defend myself but she interrupted me immediately.

“This party isn’t to surprise my son,” Mrs. Clara snapped. “You’re only trying to distract him from your infertility. You want to cover up your failure as a wife.”

Mrs. Clara paused, walked to the refrigerator, poured herself a glass of juice, and sat comfortably on the couch as though insulting me had become her daily routine.

“Is this truly what you’ve been enduring here?” Elara whispered softly into my ear.

I lowered my eyes without answering.

For years, I had hidden everything I suffered inside the Williams family — the insults, the coldness, and the constant blame for not giving Lucas a child.

Yet when Lucas’s company was on the verge of collapse, I had handed over my billion-dollar company to save him without hesitation.

“Things will change after today,” I whispered to myself while touching the envelope in my hand. “Once Lucas finds out I’m pregnant, the Williams family will finally accept me.”

“Whatever the two of you are whispering about,” Mrs. Clara suddenly spoke again, glaring at me sharply, “you should know that your replacement is not far away.”

“Replacement?” I repeated silently within myself.

“Even if Lucas hates me, he would never replace me,” I finally said, gathering the courage to speak. “I have sacrificed too much for the Williams family. I deserve respect as your son’s wife.”

Mrs. Clara stood up instantly and poured the juice all over me, staining my white shirt.

“Sacrifice?” she scoffed angrily. “You speak as if you gave your life for my son. Everything you did was your duty, not some great achievement. What this family needs is for you to finally become useful by giving him a child instead of embarrassing yourself.”

After speaking, she smashed the glass cup onto the floor.

“Listen carefully,” she said harshly. “When I come back here, I don’t want to see any of this trash. In less than two minutes, both of you should clear everything away.”

With that, Mrs. Clara turned and walked toward her room.

I said nothing more.

Instead, I stood silently in the ruined decorations, waiting for Lucas to return home and see the surprise I had prepared for him.

Just then, the sound of a car pulling into the compound echoed outside.

My face lit up instantly.

“Lucas is home.”

Elara smiled at my excitement while Clara returned downstairs.

“You’re done decorating already?” Clara asked, glancing around the room. “This actually looks beautiful. We should surprise him together.”

Hearing that filled me with hope.

After three painful years of trying to conceive, I was finally pregnant with Lucas’s child. Tonight was supposed to become the happiest night of our marriage.

Then the front door opened.

I frowned slightly when I heard more than one set of footsteps entering the house.

Did Lucas bring guests?

Before I could think further, the second door swung open, revealing the decorated sitting room.

My smile vanished instantly.

Lucas walked in beside Jessica—his ex-girlfriend.

The same woman who abandoned him when his business failed.

Standing behind them was Barrister Andrew.

Lucas stopped in the middle of the room, his eyes sweeping over the decorations with disgust.

“What is the meaning of this nonsense?” he asked coldly.

For a moment, I couldn’t speak. My eyes remained fixed on Jessica standing comfortably beside him.

“Lucas…” I forced a smile. “Today is your birthday, so I prepared a surprise party for you.”

Jessica laughed softly.

Lucas laughed too.

Even Clara and the lawyer smiled.

The sound crushed something inside me.

“What exactly can a useless woman like you surprise me with?” Lucas mocked. “And where did you even get the money for all this? Last I checked, you don’t work.”

“She probably got it from one of her lovers,” Clara added carelessly.

My chest tightened painfully.

“For crying out loud, Mrs. Clara, I am not a prostitute!” I snapped. “Haven’t I proven my loyalty to your son enough?”

The slap landed across my face before I could react.

I stumbled backward in shock.

Elara gasped loudly.

For the first time since visiting this house, she finally saw the humiliation I had suffered in silence.

“I don’t need your pathetic surprise party,” Lucas said flatly. “And I certainly don’t need you reminding me about my birthday.”

Every word pierced through me like broken glass.

Lucas wrapped an arm around Jessica’s waist.

“I’ll be celebrating my birthday with my family, my friends… and my newly wedded wife.”

The room spun around me.

“W-wife?” I whispered.

“This marriage is over, Renee,” Lucas said calmly before taking a document from Barrister Andrew. “Here are the divorce papers.”

Clara folded her arms proudly.

“For five years, you failed to give my son a child,” she said harshly. “Your presence in this family has been nothing but a burden. You are no longer worthy of being a Williams.”

Elara immediately grabbed my hand.

“Sign the papers and let’s leave,” she said angrily. “You deserve far better than this disgusting family.”

Tears burned my eyes as I looked at her.

“No…” My voice trembled. “I can’t just throw away five years of marriage like this. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life…”

I clutched the pregnancy result tightly behind my back.

The news I had dreamed of sharing with Lucas suddenly felt meaningless.

“What good news?” Lucas sneered. “That ridiculous party?”

Before I could answer, he shoved the birthday cake off the table.

The cake crashed onto the floor.

“Feed it to the dogs,” he said to the maid. “At least they’ll appreciate it.”

Elara stared at me in disbelief.

“Renee… is this truly how they treat you?”

I remained silent for several seconds before finally lifting my eyes to Lucas.

“After everything I sacrificed for you…” I whispered. “After giving up my company to save your business… this is how you repay me?”

Lucas said nothing.

“You secretly married the same woman who abandoned you when you had nothing,” I continued bitterly. “Do you really believe she loves you?”

Jessica stormed toward me furiously.

“You bitch—”

“Jessica,” Lucas interrupted, pulling her back. “She isn’t worth it.”

Then he looked at me with cold indifference.

“You have two minutes to sign those papers. I don’t want to be late for my celebration.”

“Please, Renee,” Elara begged softly. “Leave with your dignity.”

The room became unbearably quiet.

My hands shook violently as tears rolled down my cheeks.

Finally, I took the pen and signed the divorce papers.

The moment my signature touched the paper, something inside me broke completely.

Slowly, I looked up at Lucas.

“I don’t want your repayment,” I said weakly. “But I promise you this—you will regret what you did to me. One day, you will come begging at my feet.”

Lucas smirked without emotion.

“Maybe in your dreams.”

L POV

The next morning, I woke up on Elara’s bed with swollen eyes and a heavy chest. For a few seconds, I stared blankly at the white ceiling above me, hoping everything that had happened the previous night was only a terrible nightmare. I wished I would suddenly wake up in my own room beside Lucas, with his arms wrapped around me like before.

But reality remained cruel.

The divorce papers still lay on the bedside table.

The pregnancy test rested beside them like a silent reminder that my life had completely changed overnight.

A bitter smile escaped my lips as tears gathered in my eyes again.

“I wish I hadn’t allowed love blind me into sacrificing everything for him,” I whispered painfully. “If I had known Lucas could become this heartless, I would never have trusted him with my life.”

Across the room, Elara slowly stirred a cup of tea while watching me with worried eyes. She looked like someone who had barely slept all night because of me.

“I warned you from the beginning not to lose yourself for a man like Lucas,” she said softly. “I may not have known him for long, but one thing was obvious from the start—Lucas never deserved someone like you.”

Her words pierced deeply into my chest.

I lowered my gaze to the pregnancy test again, and the pain doubled immediately. The divorce alone was enough to break me, but carrying Lucas’s child while he threw me away made it worse.

Everything felt unfair.

Everything felt empty.

“Renee,” Elara called gently as she walked closer and handed me the cup of tea, “I know you’re hurting, but you need to pick yourself up again. You’re not alone anymore. You have a child growing inside you now. You need strength for both yourself and the baby.”

I remained silent.

My fingers tightened around the warm cup while memories of Lucas flooded my head. His laughter. His promises. The way he once swore he would never hurt me.

Every memory now felt poisonous.

“I can help you get a position at one of the companies here,” Elara continued carefully. “At least until you fully recover emotionally.”

I slowly shook my head.

“No,” I said quietly.

Elara frowned. “No?”

“I’m leaving this city tonight.”

The cup nearly slipped from her hands.

“What?”

“If I remain here, everything about Lucas will keep haunting me,” I admitted painfully. “Every street, every building, every memory… they’ll all remind me of him. I can’t survive like that anymore. I need to leave before I completely lose myself.”

Elara immediately sat beside me.

“No, Renee. You’re not going anywhere,” she protested. “You’ll stay here with me. I already booked an appointment with my doctor so you can begin regular checkups. That’s the safest option for you right now.”

“I’m sorry, Elara,” I replied softly. “But I’ve already made up my mind.”

She stared at me in disbelief.

“I’ll start over somewhere else,” I continued. “Maybe I’ll open a small chef business. I can build something for myself again.”

“Why are you making things harder for yourself?” Elara asked emotionally. “You’re pregnant, wounded, and emotionally exhausted. I can’t watch you suffer alone. Renee, I love you like my own sister.”

Her voice cracked at the last sentence.

That alone almost broke my resolve.

But staying in Veritas City felt like slowly dying.

“If you truly love me,” I whispered while tears rolled down my cheeks, “then let me go.”

Elara looked away immediately, trying to hide her own tears.

“This city destroyed me,” I continued painfully. “Everything here reminds me of my worst nightmare. I gave Lucas my loyalty, my dreams, my future… and he destroyed all of it. I need somewhere new. Somewhere I can breathe again.”

The room became silent.

Only the ticking wall clock could be heard between us.

Finally, Elara sighed deeply.

“I can loan you whatever amount you need to start your business,” she said weakly. “But it has to be here. Please stay.”

I slowly shook my head again.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” I replied. “But if I stay here, I’ll never heal.”

Elara suddenly grabbed my hands tightly.

“You don’t understand,” she cried. “I’m scared for you. You pretend to be strong, but I know how broken you are right now.”

Her words shattered the little control I had left.

“I’m scared too!” I finally shouted. “Every single day here hurts me. Every breath feels heavy. Please… just let me leave before this pain destroys me completely.”

Elara’s eyes filled with tears immediately.

Neither of us spoke again after that.

A heavy silence settled inside the room while morning sunlight slowly faded behind the dark curtains.

Hours later, Elara returned to the room holding an envelope in her hands.

Her expression alone made my chest tighten painfully.

“What’s that?” I asked quietly.

Without answering immediately, she sat beside me and handed me the envelope.

Inside was a check.

Five million dollars.

My eyes widened in complete shock.

“Elara…”

“Take it,” she interrupted softly. “It’s all I’ve been able to save over the years. You don’t have to pay me back.”

Tears instantly filled my eyes again.

“No… this is too much.”

“It isn’t enough,” she replied emotionally. “Not after everything you’ve been through.”

I couldn’t speak anymore.

My throat burned painfully as tears rolled freely down my face.

“When you arrive at the new city,” Elara continued, struggling to remain strong, “please register at a hospital immediately. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself and the baby. I’ll handle the medical bills if necessary.”

I threw my arms around her immediately.

For several seconds, neither of us let go.

I cried harder against her shoulder while she gently rubbed my back like an older sister comforting a wounded child.

“I’ll forever be grateful to you,” I whispered weakly. “I don’t know how to repay your kindness.”

Elara smiled sadly through her tears.

“What are friends for?” she asked softly. “Even though I never wanted you to leave, I still want you to find peace.”

Her words broke me all over again.

That evening, I packed my belongings slowly. Each folded cloth felt heavier than the last. My entire life now fit inside only two suitcases.

By nightfall, Elara drove me to the station herself.

The ride remained painfully quiet.

Neither of us wanted to admit this goodbye could change everything forever.

When we finally arrived, I stepped out slowly and looked back at her one last time.

“Please call me when you arrive,” Elara pleaded.

“I will.”

“And Renee…”

I paused.

“You deserve happiness too,” she whispered.

That sentence stayed in my heart long after I boarded the night bus.

Hours later, the bright lights of Veritas City disappeared behind me completely.

I rested my hand gently on my stomach and stared through the window into the darkness ahead.

Fear filled me.

Pain still lived inside me.

But for the first time in a long while, a small piece of hope quietly entered my heart.

Maybe this new city would not heal all my wounds immediately.

Maybe the memories of Lucas would still follow me.

But at least now…

I was finally giving myself a chance to begin again.

Renee POV

The cold night wind brushed harshly against my face as I stepped down from the crowded bus with weak trembling legs. My body ached terribly after hours of traveling without proper rest.

For several seconds, I simply stood there silently.

The city before me looked nothing like Veritas City.

Tall bright buildings stretched across the distance while unfamiliar voices echoed around the busy station. People hurried past each other without care, dragging luggage and shouting over phone calls.

Everything felt strange.

Everything felt lonely.

Fear slowly crept into my chest.

Had I made the wrong decision?

My fingers tightened around the handle of my suitcase while my other hand moved gently toward my stomach.

“No,” I whispered softly to myself. “I have to survive… for my baby.”

Even if my heart remained broken.

Even if Lucas had destroyed every dream I once had.

I could not afford to fall apart anymore.

Slowly, I began walking toward the station exit, but after only a few steps, dizziness struck me violently.

My vision blurred instantly.

The sleepless nights.

The endless crying.

The emotional exhaustion.

Everything finally crashed down on me at once.

I stumbled forward weakly—

But before my body could hit the ground, a strong arm suddenly wrapped around my waist.

“Careful.”

The deep masculine voice startled me completely.

I froze.

Slowly, I lifted my eyes.

And my breath caught.

The man standing before me looked impossibly handsome.

His sharp jawline, cold dark eyes, and perfectly tailored black suit radiated wealth and authority. Even the expensive watch around his wrist probably cost more than most people’s yearly salaries.

Behind him stood several bodyguards dressed in black.

They immediately surrounded him protectively.

“Sir, please step back,” one of them warned cautiously while eyeing me suspiciously.

But the man ignored them.

Instead, his eyes remained fixed on my pale face.

“You’re burning up,” he said calmly. “Are you sick?”

I quickly stepped away from him.

“I-I’m fine,” I answered softly despite my unstable breathing.

The last thing I wanted was pity from strangers.

The man studied me carefully, as though he could already tell I was lying.

Before either of us could speak again, sudden screams erupted nearby.

“Someone help her!”

“Oh my God!”

A crowd instantly gathered near one of the waiting benches.

Without thinking, I turned immediately toward the commotion.

An elderly woman had collapsed onto the floor clutching her chest while struggling to breathe properly.

Panic spread quickly around her.

“Call an ambulance!”

“She can’t breathe!”

The woman’s frightened granddaughter knelt beside her crying helplessly.

“Grandma! Grandma please wake up!”

My body moved before my mind could even think.

I rushed toward them immediately.

“Everyone move back and give her space!” I said firmly.

The crowd hesitated before slowly stepping away.

I quickly knelt beside the elderly woman and checked her breathing.

Her pulse was weak.

Very weak.

“She’s choking,” I realized instantly.

The young girl burst into tears.

“Please save my grandmother!”

“Don’t panic,” I told her calmly.

I carefully lifted the elderly woman slightly forward before performing quick emergency first aid exactly the way I had learned years ago during one of my culinary training programs.

Several painful seconds passed.

Then suddenly—

The woman coughed violently.

A piece of candy flew out from her throat.

The crowd gasped loudly.

The elderly woman finally inhaled deeply again while breathing shakily.

“She’s breathing!”

“Oh thank God!”

Relief spread through the station immediately.

The little girl cried harder and hugged her grandmother tightly.

“Grandma!”

I released a quiet breath of relief.

But before I could stand properly, another wave of dizziness hit me.

My vision darkened again.

Strong hands instantly caught me before I collapsed.

The same man.

His grip around my arm tightened slightly.

“You need a hospital,” he said firmly.

“I said I’m fine,” I whispered weakly.

“You nearly fainted twice in less than five minutes.”

I tried pulling away again, but my body no longer had strength left.

The man’s expression darkened slightly.

“For someone trying so hard to appear strong,” he said quietly, “you look like you’re carrying the weight of the world alone.”

His words pierced straight through me.

Pain tightened painfully inside my chest again.

For a second, Lucas’s face flashed through my mind.

The betrayal.

The humiliation.

The divorce papers.

I immediately lowered my eyes.

“I’m used to it,” I whispered.

Something unreadable crossed the stranger’s face.

Before he could respond, one of the bodyguards stepped forward respectfully.

“Sir, the car is ready.”

The man ignored him again.

Instead, he reached into his coat pocket and handed me a black card.

“My name is Adrian Knight,” he said calmly. “If you need help, call the number on that card.”

I stared at the card in complete surprise.

Even without recognizing the name, I could already tell he was someone powerful.

Very powerful.

“I can’t accept this,” I said quickly.

“You saved someone’s life tonight,” Adrian replied. “Consider it repayment.”

His voice remained calm, yet strangely commanding.

The little girl suddenly ran toward me and hugged me tightly around the waist.

“Thank you for saving my grandma,” she cried emotionally.

My heart softened instantly.

I gently stroked her hair before smiling faintly.

“You’re welcome.”

The elderly woman slowly approached me afterward with trembling steps.

“Young lady,” she said gratefully, “thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” I replied softly.

But the woman continued staring at me carefully.

Then her eyes slowly dropped toward my stomach.

“You’re pregnant,” she said gently.

I froze completely.

Even Adrian’s expression shifted slightly.

Before anyone could say another word, exhaustion finally overtook me completely.

Darkness swallowed my vision.

And the last thing I felt before collapsing was Adrian Knight catching me in his arms.