Now, the only thought in my mind was "escape".

However, at that moment, the bedroom door swung open.

Davi stepped out and his eyes locked onto me.

"Honey, when did you get back?" .

Seeing him approaching, I was seized by an overwhelming fear.

It felt as if my heart was about to burst out of my chest.

Cold sweat drenched my back involuntarily.

In my panic, I accidentally bumped into the phone in my pocket, and an idea flashed through my mind.

Suddenly... I pressed my hand on the Bluetooth earphone hanging from my ear and softly began to sing.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to hubby."

I sang while walking towards him, a false smile plastered on my face, .

As I reached him, I forced a smile and took out my phone.

I turned the screen towards him, showing the music - playing interface.

"Honey, what were you saying just now?" I asked.

"The music's playing through my earphones. I couldn't hear you," .

He glanced at the phone, then looked back at me, his eyes filled with suspicion, as if trying to find any cracks in my facade.

Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around me.

I froze in terror.

But instead, he simply spun me around and took my hand, leading me towards the garden.

"Honey, you said the flight was delayed. How did you manage to get home?" he asked, his other hand snaking around my waist.

"I changed my flight to an earlier one and rushed back to celebrate your birthday tonight," I replied.

"Honey, don't you miss me?" I added, trying my best to sound normal despite the fear churning in my stomach.

I pouted, looking at him with a hint of grievance.

"Of course I miss you. I've been going crazy thinking about you. I'm just worried that you and the baby might be tired," he said softly, as he gently stroked my belly.

The moment his hand touched my stomach, a wave of revulsion surged through me.

Suppressing my nausea, I lifted his hand away and presented him with the birthday gift.

It was a luxury watch from a well - known brand, symbolizing "love for a lifetime".

Ironically, those words now seemed like a cruel joke.

He looked at the watch, the corners of his mouth curling up in a satisfied smile.

He probably thought I was still as blindly in love with him as before, completely under his control and never able to escape his grasp.

He walked over to the corner and turned on the record player.

A sweet and familiar melody filled the air.

It was the famous waltz "The Blue Danube", the very melody that had witnessed our love at first sight.

With a smile on his face, he put his arm around my waist, and we began to sway slowly to the music.

The volume of the music was turned up high.

Amidst the notes, I faintly heard the sound of a door closing.

Humph, it must be Clark sneaking away.

I pretended not to notice a thing.

The next morning, Aunt Salina called us downstairs for breakfast.

Aunt Salina was our family's nanny. She had been working for our family since I was a little girl.

Apart from my deceased parents, she was now the closest person to me. During my recent travels, I gave her a vacation.

As soon as she learned that I was back home, she rushed back from our hometown immediately.

At the dinner table, I brought up the idea of going to the company.

Davi immediately became alert.

"Honey, why do you suddenly want to go to the company? Is there something wrong?" .

"Nothing. I'm just a bit bored and don't want to stay home alone,"

"Baby, tell Daddy quickly. You're bored too and want Daddy to take you out to play, right?" I pointed to my slightly protruding belly and winked playfully.

Davi didn't respond.

I knew he was suspicious of me.

But I had to do this. The company was the life's work of my parents.

I couldn't stand by and watch it be destroyed by this despicable couple.

After my parents passed away, Davi married into my family.

Since I got pregnant, I hadn't set foot in the company.

I handed over the reins of the company to him, trusting him completely to manage it.

Now that I had uncovered his terrifying true nature, I was determined to go to the company and see for myself what was going on.

"Honey, don't worry. I'll definitely stay by your side, not leaving you for a single moment," I reassured him again, seeing his hesitation.

He finally agreed when he realized I was dead - set on going.

We arrived at the company together.

Clark greeted me with excessive enthusiasm. "Arina, long time no see. I've missed you so much!" she exclaimed, striding towards me and hugging me tightly.

As I caught a whiff of her perfume, I realized it was the exact same scent as Davi's.

Ironically, I was the one who had bought that perfume for Davi.

I pushed her away.

She was wearing a low - cut blouse today, and the red mark on her neck was glaringly obvious.

I sneered and asked, "Clark, what's with that red mark on your neck? Did you catch some nasty disease?"

The office was immediately filled with an awkward silence.

"Arina, what are you talking about? It's just a mosquito bite," she replied with a coquettish laugh, patting my hand.

"Ha, I was just joking. Don't take it seriously," I said. Moments later, she brought me a glass of milk. "Arina, you can't drink coffee like before now that you're pregnant. I made you some warm milk. Drink it while it's hot," she said.

Looking at this so - called "best friend" who seemed so caring, I thought to myself that if I hadn't discovered her true, hideous nature last night, I would still be fooled by her false kindness.

I drank the milk right in front of her.

"Ah! My stomach hurts so much," I cried out in pain.

"Honey, what's wrong with you?" Davi asked, feigning concern.

Davi quickly reached out to steady me, his eyes darting towards Clark with a fierce glare, brimming with a menacing warning.

"I didn't do anything!"

Clark exclaimed in a panic.

"My stomach's killing me. I need to use the restroom. You know how it is with pregnant women, always having to go,"

"Don't take it personally, Clark. Davi just cares about me so much that he loses his head sometimes. Please don't hold it against him,"

I added, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of my lips.

I was certain Clark was quaking in her boots at that moment.

She was probably terrified that Davi would lay the blame at her feet. And that was exactly what I was banking on.

I wanted to set these two vultures against each other.

After all, they still needed me alive and well for their own sinister plans.

"Of course not! I'm thrilled to see the boss and his wife so deeply in love. It warms my heart," Clark replied, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

I could almost hear the sound of her teeth grinding in suppressed fury. Davi made a move to accompany me to the restroom, but I promptly declined.

"Honey, this is my own company. Do you really think I'm going to get lost?" I said with a forced laugh.

"You two focus on your important work. Don't worry about me," I added, and with that, I slipped away.

After coming out of the restroom, I made a beeline for the finance department.

If I wanted to uncover the true state of the company, there was no better place to start.

I knocked on the door.

"Come in," came Marina's voice.

Relieved, I thought to myself that at least the finance head hadn't been replaced.

Marina had been the company's chief financial officer since my parents were alive.

She was a long - standing and trustworthy employee.

I opened the door and stepped inside.

But the scene that greeted me left me dumbfounded...

First to catch my eye were two tall fortune - bringing trees.

A glimmer of golden light flashed, almost blinding me.

On closer inspection, each leaf on the fortune - bringing trees emitted a faint golden glow, as if they were crafted from solid gold. The opulence was overwhelming.

Around the corner was an imposing office desk, almost as grand as Davi's. I ran my hand over it.

It felt like black ebony, surely worth a fortune.

The decor of this finance office was drastically different from what it used to be.

"Arina, long time no see. What brings you to the company?" Marina stood up to greet me.

"Marina, I wanted to ask you..."

My eyes fixed on Marina's expensive designer suit.

I was stunned.

It was a limited - edition piece from a top brand, costing hundreds of thousands.

Although as the chief financial officer, Marina could afford it, it still seemed overly extravagant.

My gaze dropped, and I caught sight of Marina's bracelet.

It was a custom - made bracelet from a luxury brand, worth a staggering one million.

It was only sold to the most exclusive VIPs.

"Arina, what were you going to ask me?" Marina repeated, her voice breaking through my shock.

As she spoke, she took slow, deliberate steps towards me.

The malice in her eyes was almost palpable.

A cold sneer formed in my heart.

Now I was certain that she had been bought off by Davi.

"Marina, didn't you say last time that you really liked that bag? I specifically brought it back for you from France this time,"

I said casually, as if nothing was amiss.

"The bag is in the car. I'll have my assistant bring it up to you later,". "Oh, you really shouldn't have. I can't let you spend so much on me," she replied, feigning reluctance.

"Marina, you've watched me grow up. You're like family to me," I said, taking a step forward and grasping her hand.

"Since I got pregnant, I haven't been able to take care of the company. I really appreciate all your hard work during this time," I continued, trying to sound sincere.

Marina's eyes flickered, and it seemed like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.

My heart sank completely, and I turned to leave, feeling a sense of profound disappointment.

Moments later, Davi appeared out of nowhere.

It turned out that everything that had just transpired was under his watchful eye.

"Marina, what did Arina say to you just now?"

Davi's sharp gaze seemed to pierce through her, as if trying to read her every thought.

"Nothing. She didn't say anything. She just mentioned getting a bag for me," Marina replied, her head bowed low.

She seemed intimidated by Davi, nervously rubbing her hands together.

"Hmph. I hope you know who your master is," Davi sneered.

Without a second thought, he casually flicked his lit cigarette butt straight at Marina's face.

Marina didn't dare to flinch or dodge.

She stood there, allowing the cigarette butt to burn her skin.

Then Davi walked away.

The rhythmic click - clack of his leather shoes on the floor echoed in the room.

Bang!