Sarah looked up at the ceiling.

"Ten more minutes," she said quietly. "Tell him he can come in after ten minutes."

Hanosa bowed slightly and left, closing the door behind her. When her footsteps faded, Sarah stayed still on the bed.

It was an unspoken rule between her and Ronan-something never discussed, yet always followed.

Whenever he returned home, he never came straight into her room without permission. He always had Hanosa ask when he could enter, and she always answered in minutes.

It was almost ironic, because he didn't need to do that. The room was his too. He could have walked in whenever he wanted. But maybe that was how they kept the only thing left of their marriage-distance.

Sarah rose from the bed and walked to the bathroom to freshen up.

Usually, whenever Ronan wanted to see her, she would put in a lot of effort to look perfect for him.

She would wear her most beautiful dress, apply a soft, expensive perfume, style her hair, and put on a little makeup.

Once, she had even tried to dress like Mia-copying her hair, her clothes, even the way she smiled in her photos. She had done it all in the foolish hope that Ronan would notice her again.

She was hope that night would turn into something beautiful, and he would become the man he once was-warm, gentle, and attentive.

But she was wrong. No matter how hard she tried, he never truly looked at her.

So tonight, she didn't try at all.

After showering, Sarah wore a simple cream-colored satin pajama and wrapped her hair in a towel.

As she dried it with a hair dryer, she glanced at the clock and saw that ten minutes had passed.

Right on cue, the door opened quietly without another knock. Ronan entered as if he had every right to.

Sarah sat at her vanity, facing the mirror.

From the reflection, she saw him sitting at the end of the bed, posture straight, dressed in a white suit she had already seen on Mia's Instagram account.

A few seconds of silence passed before his voice broke it.

"Tomorrow is Shenina's birthday, right?" he asked flatly.

Sarah replied softly, "Yes."

He nodded once, as if confirming something he already knew. Even though he had failed as a husband, Sarah couldn't deny that Ronan was a good father. He never missed a single important moment in their daughter's life.

He was always there for their daughter's birthday, remembered every detail-her favorite toys, her favorite color, even her kindergarten activities.

And in front of Shenina, he always made sure they looked fine together.

Perhaps that was why Sarah had not filed for divorce yet. Beneath all the pain, Shenina was her first reason to stay, and the second one was because she has nothing yet in assets.

Ronan looked at her through the mirror, expressionless and calm.

"Shenina is already five," he said suddenly. "It's the right time to give her a sibling."

Sarah froze for a moment while applying her night cream, then looked at him through the mirror.

"Should we?" she asked flatly.

He nodded once. "Yes. You haven't given me a son yet. We will program a baby boy."

She held her breath for a moment, then let out a bitter, almost silent laugh. She looked at her reflection, smoothing the remaining cream on the tip of her nose.

"How could Shenina have a sibling," she said calmly, "if her father never touches her mother?"

"I will touch you starting tomorrow," Ronan said without emotion. "Only to make you pregnant."

The words hit harder than any scream could. Sarah wanted to ask if that was all she was to him-a machine for bearing children. But her tongue refused to move. She was too tired to fight again and again.

Ronan stood and walked toward the door.

"Prepare yourself starting tomorrow," he said, not looking back. "I will come to this room, and the doctor will start our program."

His hand was already on the doorknob when Sarah spoke.

"Why not let your girlfriend give you a son?" she asked coldly.

He stopped. Silence stretched for a few seconds before he slowly turned to her, his eyes sharp and filled with warning.

"Remember who you are, Sarah," he said firmly.

"You have not fulfilled our family agreement to give me a son."

Sarah said nothing.

Another reason his family had accepted her was because they wanted a male heir. A son born from her womb-a woman of noble blood meant higher status, greater honor, and more power among the elite. And she was nothing more than a tool to make that happen.

Before closing the door, Ronan looked at her again, his tone almost mocking.

"Oh, and one more thing," he said. "Stop using your second account to check on Mia. Stop watching what I do."

Sarah couldn't speak.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her mind racing.

But then a realization struck her.

How did Ronan know she had been watching his girlfriend?

The next day was their daughter Shenina's fifth birthday.

That morning, the Vexler residence was filled with noise and excitement. Servants moved back and forth, carrying decorations, cakes, and gift boxes for the children invited to the party.

Sarah stood in the middle of the grand hall that had been transformed into a garden-like venue.

As a graduate of a prestigious design academy in Europe, Sarah had personally arranged all the decorations for the day-from the balloon arches and the Barbie Dreamland backdrop to the three-tier pastel cake she had carefully designed for weeks.

She made it all with love for her daughter.

The Barbie theme was chosen because Shenina used to love it so much.

When everything was ready, soft music began to play. Guests started to arrive, they were members of the Vexler family, cousins, and several of Ronan's business associates.

Family photographers captured every corner of the room, while Sarah waited near the grand staircase with a genuine smile.

Moments later, footsteps echoed from the upper floor. Ronan appeared, descending the stairs with little Shenina in his arms.

Shenina wore a delicate pink tulle dress, her hair neatly combed and adorned with a tiny tiara.

All eyes turned to them. But when Shenina's gaze met the decorations in the hall, her expression shifted.

The small smile on her face slowly disappeared. Her eyes wandered over the pink balloons, the satin drapes, and the large Barbie cake that stood proudly in the center.

Suddenly, her face wrinkled. She squirmed in her father's arms.

"Daddy..." her voice was soft, trembling. "I don't like it..."

Everyone went silent.

Sarah quickly stepped forward with a gentle smile, trying to soothe her.

"Honey, sweetheart... this is the theme you picked, remember? Mommy made it just like you asked."

But Shenina shook her head hard. "I want red! I don't like pink anymore!"

Sarah stared at her, confused. "But last week when Mommy asked, you said you wanted this. You even chose the sample yourself when Mommy showed it to you..."

Shenina burst into tears. The little girl buried her face in Ronan's shoulder, hugging him tightly.

Ronan said nothing, only patted her back softly, while the guests began whispering among themselves.

From the guest table, Miranda, Sarah's sister-in-law, spoke loudly with a mocking smile.

"How can a mother not know her own child's favorite color?" she said sharply. "Truly pathetic."

Some guests stifled their laughter. Sarah lowered her head, her lips trembling.

She turned toward Shenina, her eyes filling with tears. "Sweetheart, Mommy's sorry... Mommy didn't know you like red now. Mommy can change it, okay? We can switch the balloons-"

But before she could step closer, a cold voice stopped her.

"That's enough, Sarah." It was Ronan's voice.

He held Shenina tighter, his expression flat. "You already made her cry on her own birthday."

Sarah shook her head slowly. "I didn't mean to... I just wanted-"

Her mother-in-law, Madam Vexler, interrupted sharply.

"You shouldn't ruin my granddaughter's happy day," she said. "If you were a good mother, you would know how to keep your child in a good mood."

Those words struck harder than anything else. Sarah lowered her head even more, gripping the hem of her dress tightly.

She tried to approach, her eyes full of tears. "Ronan, please let me hold her for a moment. I just want to apologize to her."

But Ronan stepped back, putting distance between them.

"There's no need," he said coldly. "You really are a bad mother."

Sarah fought to hold back her tears. Her throat felt dry, and her chest tightened with unbearable shame.

All eyes were on her-the mother who failed to make her daughter happy on her birthday.

She wanted to step forward, to fix things, but every move felt wrong. The laughter of the other guests sounded like knives cutting into her heart.

Then, someone appeared at the entrance of the back garden.

A woman in an elegant red dress walked in, her charming smile instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Mia.

Miranda immediately stood and greeted her with a warm hug.

"Oh, Mia, dear! You finally come!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

That tone, so full of affection, was one Sarah had never once heard directed at her.

Sarah could only stand still, watching helplessly.

Mia walked toward Ronan and Shenina. She smiled softly and bent down to match the little girl's height.

"Happy birthday, Shenina. Auntie brought a surprise for you," she said cheerfully.

Shenina, still pouting in her father's arms, looked up at her with wide eyes.

"What surprise, Auntie Mia?" she asked innocently.

Mia chuckled. "A special guest...Mickey Mouse in red! He'll be here any minute!"

In an instant, Shenina's face lit up. She clapped her hands excitedly, her laughter filling the air that had been silent moments before.

"Really?! I want to see Mickey Mouse!" she squealed.

Ronan smiled faintly, then set her down. The little girl immediately grabbed Mia's hand without hesitation, while her other hand was still held by Ronan. The three of them walked together toward the cake table in the center of the garden.

And there, in front of all the guests, Shenina blew out her candles with Ronan and Mia by her side.

The cake that Sarah had designed with all her heart.

Her eyes began to glisten. She stood at the edge of the crowd, forcing herself to smile and clap like everyone else. But inside, the pain built up until she could barely breathe.

The moment that should have been warm and precious with her daughter had turned into a painful scene where someone else stood in her place as a mother.

 In a whisper so soft it barely left her lips, Sarah murmured to herself, "It should have been me there with my daughter... not her."

That night, after Shenina's birthday party ended, the Vexler residence finally grew quiet again.

The guests had left, and the maids were busy cleaning up the remaining balloons, plates, and colorful ribbons scattered around the backyard.

Sarah stayed until the very end of the event. She smiled, thanked each guest who said goodbye, and pretended not to see every time Mia walked beside Ronan, chatting warmly with the rest of the Vexler family.

Inside Sarah's chest, the pain tightened, but she held it in. She had caused enough trouble earlier that day, and she didn't want to make things worse by showing her sadness in front of everyone.

All day long, Sarah tried to appear strong. She even helped the younger maids gather the presents, tidy up the cake table, and make sure all the children went home with their goodie bags.

But every time her gaze accidentally met Mia's, who was laughing softly in the living room with Madam Vexler and Miranda, Sarah's chest grew heavier.

In six years of marriage, Sarah had never once felt accepted by the Vexler family.

To them, she was nothing but a fallen noble's daughter. They saw her as someone who didn't know how to live like a socialite-too simple, too out of place in her husband's glittering world.

***

When everything was done, Sarah tucked Shenina into bed. She gently brushed her daughter's hair and looked at her small, sleeping face after such an emotional day.

The tears she had held back finally fell, sliding slowly down her cheeks.

But as she walked back to her own room, she froze at the doorway.

The lights were on. On the bed sat someone she didn't expect to see waiting for her that night-Ronan.

He was wearing only a towel. His broad chest was visible under the warm light.

Sarah stiffened, her fingers gripping the doorframe unconsciously.

Ronan looked at her blankly. "Close the door."

His tone left no room for refusal.

Sarah swallowed hard and stepped inside.

When the door shut, Ronan leaned back against the headboard and said in a low voice,

"Take off your clothes. We're starting tonight."

"You've been taking the vitamins the doctor gave you, haven't you?" he added coldly. "They'll help boost your hormones to have a baby boy."

Sarah's body tensed. "Ronan, not tonight. I'm tired. I-"

Before she could finish, Ronan stood up and stepped closer.

His gaze was cold, devoid of any tenderness. His large hand reached for her shoulder, trying to pull down her strap.

Sarah instantly pushed him away, stepping back.

"Stop!" her voice trembled. "Do you even know what you're doing?"

Ronan stared at her. "I'm doing what needs to be done. We need a son."

Those words made Sarah's blood boil. All the emotions she had held in since the party burst out at once. Her eyes burned with tears, but this time it wasn't from sadness, It was from anger.

"You bastard!" she shouted.

"After calling me a bad mother in front of everyone, inviting your mistress to our daughter's birthday, and now coming to my room just to force me for sex!?"

"You bastard, Ronan!"

Ronan said nothing. His stare remained sharp, but there was a flicker of surprise, as if he didn't expect Sarah to fight back.

"If I'm no longer accepted by the Vexler family, and if you as my husband never respect me as your wife," she said hoarsely, "then let's get a divorce!"

The words echoed through the quiet room.

Ronan stared at her for a long moment, expressionless.

  Then suddenly his voice exploded, cold and loud. "NO!"