Colin was propped up against the pillows, and his hand reached out to wipe away Thea's tears with a tenderness that didn't belong to Vivian.

Then, without hesitation, Colin leaned forward and kissed Thea, slow and intimate, his voice warm with devotion. "Silly girl," he murmured. "For you, I would definitely wake up."

"It's all my fault!" Thea said, her breath hitching as she shook her head like she was drowning in guilt. "If your meeting with Vivian that day hadn't been delayed by bringing me cake first, you wouldn't have driven so fast, which led to the car crash..." She paused just right, her eyes flicking toward the door, almost like she was checking to see if anyone was listening.

"Stop blaming yourself. It was my own carelessness." Colin's expression softened as he tried to comfort her. "That day... I was hurrying to meet Vivian because I wanted to delay the wedding. I just didn't expect..."

Delay the wedding? The words struck Vivian like a sharp slap across the face. So that was the truth. He hadn't been rushing to see her out of love or excitement. He'd been on his way to tell her to postpone the wedding.

That car crash, the one Vivian had blamed herself for until it stole her breath every time she thought about it, wasn't some tragedy triggered by her at all. It was simply the messy consequence of their affair.

Everything she had suffered through this past month, the endless pain, the humiliating IVF procedures, and even the nightmare of carrying the wrong man's child, suddenly felt like some twisted joke played at her expense.

She realized she had been the victim, the poor fool kept in the dark. The realization tore through Vivian so sharply that it felt like something inside her split open. Her stomach lurched, and her knees nearly gave out beneath her.

A worried voice broke through the moment. "Vivian? What's happening?" Katrina called as she hurried closer.

Vivian turned slowly, locking onto Katrina's anxious face. Her voice came out flat, almost freezing. "The results came back. The IVF... failed."

Thea had just stepped into the hallway, and she caught every word. A bright, uncontrollable spark of satisfaction flickered in her eyes. Now, there was nothing stopping Colin from breaking up with Vivian.

Katrina went still before reaching for Vivian's hand, squeezing it tightly as she tried to steady her. "Oh, sweetheart... it's alright. Colin is awake now. Once you're married, there will be more chances to conceive a child. Please, go inside and see him..."

Then, Katrina looked up at Thea. "Thea, how is Colin doing?" she asked softly.

Thea's face shifted instantly, smoothing into a picture of harmless sweetness. "Colin just opened his eyes, but he's still pretty weak. I was about to grab him something to eat."

She flicked Vivian a look filled with quiet triumph before turning.

"Stop right there." Vivian's voice sliced through the hallway, cold enough to stop the air itself.

Thea paused and looked back, putting on an innocent frown. "What's the matter?"

Vivian didn't bother answering. In two fast steps, she closed the distance, lifted her hand, and struck.

Crack! The slap echoed loud and brutal as it landed across Thea's cheek.

Thea staggered, her head snapping to the side. She pressed a hand to her face as the skin flushed red, tears gathering instantly. "Why did you hit me?"

"Why?" Vivian snarled. She grabbed a handful of Thea's hair, ignoring her shriek and Katrina's shocked gasp. She yanked Thea straight into Colin's room and threw her down in front of him. "Because you're just like your mother—you love stealing what belongs to others. You're a filthy slut!"

"Vivian, have you lost your mind?" Colin's face drained as anger exploded across it. He forced himself out of bed, shoved Vivian back, and pulled Thea close as if shielding something precious.

Vivian laughed, sharp and bitter. "You're this worked up because I hit your precious little darling?"

Colin's panic flared as he stared at her. "Vivian, let me explain—"

"Explain?" Vivian moved closer, her voice almost too calm, like something shattered beneath the surface. "Explain what, Colin? Explain how you planned a wedding with me while you cheated with my stepsister behind my back? Or do you want to explain how you were racing to meet me that day just so you could push our wedding aside? Was that your plan, to keep me hanging around while you entertained your sordid little affair?"

"That's not it. I..."

Crack! The sound snapped through the room before he could finish.

Vivian's palm struck his face with brutal force, and red marks immediately flared across his cheek.

Katrina froze, shock swallowing her whole. Her lips parted like she wanted to stop it, but the truth behind it all rooted her in place. She couldn't even breathe.

"This one," Vivian said, her eyes blazing and her voice trembling, "is for wasting three years of my love like it meant nothing."

Crack! Her hand flew again, even harder this time, sharper, crueler.

"And this one is for making a fool out of me. For making me drown in self-blame with the assumption that I was the trigger of your car crash. For making me in constant concern for your life. For making me lie on that table, going through hell for IVF!" Vivian snarled.

Colin held his cheek, his expression twisting between disbelief and fury. "You..."

Thea screamed as she rushed forward, "Vivian, stop it! How could you hit Colin? You couldn't hold onto his heart, and you have no right to blame us for your failure!"

Vivian whipped toward Thea, her eyes cutting like glass. "Don't say another word!"

Colin's arms tightened around Thea without thinking, and that simple instinct stabbed Vivian deeper than anything else.

Vivian's chest heaved as she lifted her hand one last time, gathering every ounce of strength she had left.

Crack! The sound exploded through the room, louder than the others, final and brutal.

"This one," Vivian hissed, her voice breaking apart, "is for ruining everything. For twisting my whole life into a ridiculous, pathetic joke! Colin, we're done. I never want to see you again. You make me feel disgusted."

The moment the words left her, she turned sharply and stormed out, slamming the door so hard that it felt like she was sealing the past behind it.

Her feet carried her down the corridor until she reached a quiet, deserted corner, and only then did her body finally give in. She pressed her back against the icy wall and slid down slowly, collapsing onto the floor.

Three years of love. A month of unbearable suffering. And the cruel irony of a child she never asked for growing inside her. It all shattered at once, dissolving into burning tears that wouldn't stop pouring.

Time blurred while Vivian sat there sobbing, but when she finally lifted her face, her eyes were raw and swollen, and one decision burned through the haze. This couldn't continue. She needed to put an end to the pregnancy and undo the nightmare her life had turned into.

That single thought became the only thing keeping her upright. She braced herself against the wall, forced her legs to move, and walked straight out, heading for another hospital as if the answer might change.

Checking in, sitting through another examination, waiting for another report, every minute felt like it was slicing deeper into her chest.

"Ms. Fowler," the doctor called out softly, sadness weighing down her voice as she read the results, "if you choose to end this pregnancy, there's a strong possibility you will never be able to conceive again."

"No... that isn't possible," Vivian murmured, shaken to her core. She refused to believe it.

The next few days turned into a frantic search for hope. She rushed from one specialist to another, crisscrossing the city, desperate for someone to say William had lied, that the previous diagnoses were wrong.

The answer never changed. Every single one gave her the same unmovable truth. Ending the pregnancy could take motherhood away from her forever.

By the time she returned home, whatever strength she had left was gone. She drifted through the doorway like a ghost.

Her foot had barely touched the stairs when voices floated from the half-open study door. Inside were Thea and her stepmother, Melinda Fowler.

"Mom, how much are the Kirbys actually paying to marry Vivian? Could you buy me that limited bag I have been eyeing? Everyone I know already has one." Thea's tone was spoiled and impatient.

"Just hold on, sweetheart." Melinda's tone was sharp with calculating excitement. "Once Vivian walks through that door and the Kirby money is finally in our hands, you won't just get a bag. You'll get a car. A new one, something better than anyone else's." She let out a cold laugh. "Your father warned that Devin has a temper with women, but he spends like a king. Vivian is nothing but an endless expense anyway. We might as well get something useful out of her. At least then raising her won't feel like such a complete waste."

Devin Kirby, the infamous man everyone whispered about. The crippled brute with a violent streak, the kind of man women feared more than strangers in dark alleyways. No one sane would ever agree to marry someone like that.

Vivian stood frozen outside the door as her blood seemed to turn to ice. Her hands began to tremble, and she couldn't stop it.

She knew Thea and Melinda would actually go through with it. For money, they would wrap her up like a package and deliver her straight into that creep Devin's hands without losing a wink of sleep.

Nausea churned in her stomach, but her thoughts spun wildly, searching for an escape, any crack in the wall closing around her.

Just then, her phone lit up. A new message flashed across the screen from a number she didn't recognize. "This is William Lewis. Have you made your choice?"

At this, a fierce certainty lit up Vivian's eyes, cutting through everything else.

With her world closing in, his name felt like the only direction left to run. It wasn't comforting, and it wasn't gentle, but it was still a way forward that didn't end in complete disaster.

At the very least, he wanted her baby. That meant she had leverage. Whatever choice she made, it had to be better than being handed over to someone like Devin.

Vivian rushed back to her room and called the number immediately.

William picked up almost at once, and a low, controlled voice filled the line. "Ms. Fowler."

"Mr. Lewis," Vivian replied, her voice worn down but strangely steady, "I'll keep the baby. But..."

She stopped, letting the silence stretch just long enough for him to understand there was a price.

Then, Vivian inhaled slowly and then spoke with absolute firmness, leaving no room for negotiation. "But if you want this baby, you're going to marry me."

Vivian spilled everything in a rush, barely stopping to breathe because she was scared William might end the call before she finished speaking. "Please don't get the wrong idea," she said quickly. "I'm not trying to use the baby to tie you down, and I'm not asking you for money or status. What I'm proposing is a contract marriage. Just for show."

She paused, and when she spoke again, her voice dropped to a whisper tinged with desperation. "Once the baby's born safe and sound, we'll go our separate ways. I won't ask you for a cent. There's just one thing I'm hoping for... Will you let me visit the child now and then?"

For a moment, the silence on the other end was so thick that it pressed in on her.

Vivian's pulse pounded in her ears as she pressed the phone harder to her cheek, terrified that she might miss any hint of a reply.

In her mind, William was a shadow behind the line—cool, detached, impossible to read, holding all the cards as if none of this touched him.

She pictured him frowning ever so slightly, weighing her request the way someone might size up a risky investment.

The seconds stretched on, each one heavier than the last.

Her mind spun in every direction. If he refused, was there anyone else who would agree to such a bizarre arrangement? Could she find someone else in time? If it came down to it, maybe she'd have to pay a stranger to play along just to get through this.

Just as her anxiety began to crush her and she felt hope slip through her fingers, William's answer finally broke through. "Deal."

Vivian let out a shaky breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her legs suddenly weak. Seizing the moment, she spoke quickly. "So, Mr. Lewis, if you're free right now, can we get married today? The sooner, the better. It won't take much of your time!"

"Fine," William replied, as straightforward as always. "Meet me at the City Hall in an hour. Bring your documents. My attorney will also be there. You'll need to sign some forms."

"Absolutely. I'll be there," Vivian answered without missing a beat. In that moment, she was willing to sign anything at all.

She ended the call, snatched up her documents, and bolted for the door.

When she arrived at the City Hall, a man in a flawless suit was already waiting with a briefcase in hand. He introduced himself as William's attorney.

Without delay, they were led into a quiet, empty lounge.

The attorney opened his briefcase and pulled out a thick stack of paperwork, sliding it across the table. "Ms. Fowler, Mr. Lewis asks that you read and sign this prenuptial agreement before anything else."

Vivian leafed through the pages, struck by how thorough every section seemed.

The document spelled out exactly how long their marriage would last, what would happen with property after the divorce, and spelled out in detail how custody and visits would work for their child. No detail was left unclear or open to debate.

She couldn't miss the message behind all those carefully chosen words. Their marriage was business—nothing more. There was no pretending otherwise.

Vivian didn't hesitate. She took up the pen and signed where the attorney pointed, moving steadily from one signature line to the next. By the time she finished, the tension in her chest began to melt away.

After the prenuptial agreement was signed, she waited quietly.

A sleek black car soon pulled up to the curb. William stepped out, dressed simply in a crisp white shirt and black slacks, drawing glances from nearly everyone nearby.

He paused in front of her, his eyes settling on her face for just a moment. "Did you sign everything?" he asked, his tone cold and even.

"I did," Vivian replied.

"Let's head in."

Everything moved quickly after that. Less than twenty minutes later, they had finished all the paperwork.

Brilliant sunlight greeted them the moment they stepped outside, forcing Vivian to shield her eyes.

William passed her a copy of their newly issued marriage certificate. "I have to leave the country for work. I'll be back in three days. After that, someone will come take you to my place. You'll be staying at my house until the baby arrives. That's the arrangement."

Vivian tucked the certificate safely in her purse, nodding. "Understood."

"Let me drop you off."

Vivian shook her head quickly. "There's no need. I'll get home on my own."

The last thing Vivian wanted was her father, Archie Fowler, spotting her climbing out of a luxury sedan or discovering that she had just married the head of Zeus Group. That would only invite a mess she wasn't willing to face.

Choosing the safest option, she hailed a cab and made her way home.

Opening the front door, she found Archie and Melinda camped in the living room, sour-faced and silent.

No sooner had Vivian set foot inside than Archie pounced. "Vivian, you'll come with me to the hotel tonight. Devin wants to meet you. Go get changed, and make yourself presentable for the meeting."

Vivian walked right past him and set the crisp marriage certificate on the table with a deliberate motion.

She glanced up and offered a calm, almost amused smile at the pair of them, their faces frozen in shock. "Don't bother trying to pair me up with a man," she said, her tone soft but unmistakable. "I just got married."

Melinda grabbed the marriage certificate and scanned it quickly, and the moment she realized the groom's name was not Colin, her chest finally loosened with relief.

Leaning in beside her, Archie squinted at the document and frowned. "William Lewis? Who is that man supposed to be?"

"Your son-in-law, obviously," Vivian replied.

Melinda sneered, her disbelief plain in her voice, "Vivian, do not tell me you went as far as forging a marriage certificate just to dodge Mr. Kirby."

"You shameless woman! You think a fake document is enough to fool me?" Rage exploded across Archie's face as he slammed his hand down. "Do you honestly believe this gets you out of marrying Mr. Kirby? Let me make this clear. Even if I have to bind your hands myself, I will still send you straight into his bed tonight!"

"Whether it is real or not can be confirmed with a single call," Vivian said calmly. She pulled out her phone and dialed the City Hall, placing the call on speaker.

"Chinbert City Hall. How may I assist you?" a woman's professional voice answered.

"My name is Vivian Fowler. I need to verify whether a marriage was officially registered today under my name," Vivian replied.

After a short pause, the staff member returned to the line. "Yes, ma'am. Our records show that a marriage was registered this morning at 9:30 with Mr. William Lewis."

A heavy hush settled over the room, pressing in on everyone at once.

Melinda's confident smile stiffened, while the fury on Archie's face drained into stunned disbelief.

"So it is real. Vivian is actually married?" Melinda said, her voice shaking as she clutched Archie's arm without thinking. "How are we supposed to deal with Mr. Kirby now? We already accepted his money."

Before Archie could form a response, the sharp ringing of his phone shattered the silence.

Devin's name lit up the screen.

"That is Mr. Kirby!" Archie yelled, his face going pale as panic crept in. "What do I do? Should I pick it up or pretend I did not see it?"

Melinda's gaze flickered, and she leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Do not lose your nerve. Mr. Kirby has no idea Vivian is married. Just send her over. Once things go far enough, she will have no choice but to end this new marriage."

"Have you lost your mind?" Archie retorted in a harsh whisper. "You want to hand a married woman to Mr. Kirby? If he finds out the truth, we will never be let off the hook."

A calculating smile crept across Melinda's face. "That part is simple. We just make sure she stays quiet."

Doubt flickered across Archie's expression as he studied her. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

"I can do more than silence her," Melinda said, her voice sharp with confidence. "I can make her throw away every shred of dignity and beg Mr. Kirby to take her." She discreetly pressed a small bottle filled with pink liquid into Archie's hand. "This cost me a fortune. It will cloud her mind completely. Answer Mr. Kirby's call and then find a way to make her drink it."

"You are a genius, my love!" Delight spread across Archie's face as he clutched the bottle and picked up the phone.

"Archie Fowler!" Devin shouted through the speaker. "How much longer do you plan on keeping me waiting? My patience is nearly gone!"

"Please do not be upset, Mr. Kirby," Archie said at once, his tone turning overly sweet. "I was arranging a little surprise just for you. I will bring Vivian over immediately."

While Archie and Melinda exchanged hushed whispers, Vivian stood nearby. Even without hearing them, she could tell their intentions were far from innocent.

Just before Archie could end the call, Vivian rushed forward and snatched the phone from his hand. "Mr. Kirby, this is Vivian. I am already married!"

"Give me that phone, you filthy bitch!" Archie charged at her, his eyes burning with fury.

With a quick step to the side, Vivian avoided him and spoke calmly into the receiver. "But if you still want to become part of my family, that door is not completely closed. My younger sister, Thea, isn't married yet. She is much more beautiful than I am."

Having said her piece, Vivian stopped, turned back with a faint smile, and handed the phone back to the breathless Archie.

Grabbing the phone, Archie hurriedly explained, "Mr. Kirby, please ignore Vivian's nonsense. She lies constantly. She does not even have a boyfriend, so how could she possibly be married?"

A brief silence followed on the other end of the line. Then, Devin's voice came through, cold and sharp. "Whether she is lying or not, I will come to your house and see it myself."

The call disconnected immediately.

The flat tone echoed in the room, leaving no room for argument.

Frozen in place, Archie stared at the phone as it nearly slipped from his grasp, fear tightening around his chest.

Without warning, he whirled around, his eyes blazing with rage, and struck Vivian with all his strength.

The impact knocked Vivian off her feet and sent her crashing hard onto the floor.

Pain exploded across her face as her cheek puffed up almost instantly, and the sharp ringing in her ears made her vision swim.

"Justine!" Archie screamed, his voice shaking with fury. "Drag this ungrateful woman to the storage room and lock her inside. Until I say otherwise, she gets nothing. No food. No water. Nothing at all."

"Understood, sir," the maid, Justine Murray, answered quickly. She seized Vivian without restraint and shoved her into the storage room.

"Stay in there and think about what you have done, you little bitch!" Justine hissed.

With a violent slam, the door crashed shut, cutting off the light. Darkness swallowed the room whole.

No windows broke the walls, and the only hint of illumination came from a narrow line of light beneath the door.

Cold, damp air clung to the space, carrying the heavy stench of mold.

In the corner, Vivian drew herself onto a frayed blanket and hugged her knees close.

This room had been her prison more times than she could count while growing up.

The crushing dark and the sense of hopelessness were painfully familiar.

Yet this time, everything felt different. A fragile life was quietly taking shape inside her. William promised he would come for her in three days.

She trusted that promise completely. Even if he did not care about her, he would never abandon their child.

Pain, hunger, exhaustion, and the cold blended together until her body could no longer resist.

Once the strain reached its limit, sleep finally dragged her under.

Time lost its meaning until the crash of shattering objects and Melinda's piercing screams ripped Vivian back to awareness.

"Please stop. Mr. Kirby, I am begging you! If you keep doing this, there will be nothing left of my house!"

The living room had been reduced to chaos.

Six rough-looking men tore through the furniture, smashing and overturning everything in sight without restraint.

Devin lounged in the only armchair left untouched, a cigar hanging from his lips as a thick gold chain rested against his chest. His stomach pushed against his shirt while he watched the destruction with clear enjoyment.

Nearby, Melinda stood shaking, her hair a mess and her face soaked with tears as she pleaded over and over again.

Not far from her, Archie remained frozen in place, his legs trembling so badly that he could barely stand, fear robbing him of his voice.

With a slow pull from his cigar, Devin flashed a grin that showed stained teeth. "I am not stopping at tearing this place apart. I am going to drain you dry as well. This is the consequence of messing with me."

"We would never dare mess with you, Mr. Kirby!" Melinda cried out, her hands shaking as she pointed toward the storage room. "It was Vivian. She secretly married some unknown man behind our backs. We only discovered it today."

Archie nodded frantically, his voice breaking. "Please show mercy, Mr. Kirby. That factory is everything we have. Without it, we are finished."

At that moment, Thea stepped through the door. Taking in the wreckage, she froze in place and looked around in disbelief. "Dad. Mom. What happened here?"

Devin's gaze slid toward her, slow and assessing. She did not have Vivian's striking looks, but there was still something pleasing about her appearance.

Interest flickered across his face almost immediately. Rubbing his chin, he let out a low chuckle. "Alright. I'll let this slide, but there's a catch."

Archie hurried forward, desperation clear in his voice. "Whatever you want. I will do everything I can to make it happen."

"Vivian is already someone else's wife," Devin said calmly. "But you still have another daughter. I will marry her instead. That way, you will still be my father-in-law."

"No!" Melinda shouted at once, panic breaking through her voice. "Thea is still in college. This is out of the question."

"If that is your answer, then say goodbye to that factory tomorrow," Devin warned coldly as he stood and turned to leave.

"Wait. Mr. Kirby, please wait!" Archie hurried after him, sweat soaking through his shirt.

A storm of conflict crossed Archie's face as his eyes landed on Thea, who stood frozen in fear. After wrestling with himself, he ground his teeth together and spoke. "Marriage is not an option. But what if Thea stays with you for a few days instead?"

"Have you lost your mind?" Melinda exclaimed, staring at him in disbelief.

"Be quiet!" Archie shouted back at her.

A sharp, calculating light flickered in Devin's eyes. "Alright. I will not marry her. But since you want her returned later, you should pay for it."

"Pay?" Archie asked, his mind reeling. "Pay what?"

Cutting straight to the point, Devin replied, "You have three days. Hand me back the ten-million-dollar I paid for Vivian. Agree, and I will take Thea now. Refuse, and I'll crush your business first. Then, I will take her anyway."

The words nearly knocked the air out of Archie's lungs. Devin was demanding money while claiming his daughter, and there was no pretense left. It was outright extortion.

Yet, Devin held all the power, and Archie did not dare challenge him.

Rage pounded through Archie's head as his temples throbbed. After a long silence, he forced the word out through clenched teeth. "Fine."