I could no longer listen to the doctor's words. I grabbed the incubator and threw it hard on the ground. "I said, I refuse to have children this way."

I pulled off the expensive diamond necklace around my neck and handed it to the doctor. "How much did Andre pay you? I'll pay ten times as much as he did. You can't tell him a single word about what just happened."

The doctor wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and replied, "But—"

I calmly interrupted, "No buts."

I made up my mind to leave Andre. There was no way I would bear him a child. I wanted to say goodbye to everything related to him.

...

After the doctor left, I forced myself out of bed and started packing.

The air here was thick with Andre's presence. It was suffocating.

I dragged my suitcase out the door and immediately drove toward the private racetrack by the sea. All because I loved racing, my adoptive mother, Chiara Lombardi, spent a fortune converting this abandoned mountain forest into a racetrack as a wedding gift for me.

She said she wanted it to be a quiet place for me to heal when I was feeling down.

As soon as I reached the entrance, I saw the familiar black sports car; it was Andre's custom model.

Beside the car stood his core subordinates. These men had changed out of their dark mafia uniforms and were wearing expensive custom suits, but they still sported the black lapel pins that symbolized their status.

It was a typical mafia gathering.

The car door opened, and Andre got out first. Then, he carefully bent over and lifted Maya out. He was gentler than I had ever seen him before.

Maya wrapped her arms around his neck, shyly saying, "Andre, put me down. Everyone's watching."

Andre did not stop. He just carried her through the crowd amidst their whistling. "Let them watch."

Only after entering the racetrack did he gently put Maya down.

As soon as Maya steadied herself, she looked up and saw me not far away. Her expression stiffened. "Danielle, what are you doing here?"

Andre finally shifted his gaze from Maya. He glanced at me and frowned. The doctor had told him I was not feeling well after the egg retrieval, so he was confused why I was running around like this.

An inexplicable irritation welled up inside Andre. "Danielle, who asked you to come?"

I remained calm. "I'm here to race…"

"Danielle, you're not trying to say you're here to race, are you?"

The subordinates standing beside Andre immediately interrupted me and laughed mockingly.

"You? Race cars? Even a simple corner overtake would probably make you scream! I bet you know Andre's here, so you're just making excuses to cling to him!"

"It's okay if you don't know how to race cars. I'll teach you personally. Saves you the trouble of covering up your lie."

"Tsk, just don't mistake the accelerator for the brake!"

Their gazes lingered brazenly on me.

Although they all knew I was adopted by a couple from Itol at a young age, they had no idea my adoptive parents were related to Pirate Group. They just thought I was some unsophisticated country bumpkin and never really respected me.

Andre's hands clenched involuntarily while his eyes were icy.

Maya spoke up at the right moment. "You're not allowed to talk about my sister like that."

She seemed to be speaking up for me, but her actions just made her friends chime in sarcastically.

"Maya, you can't blame others for being so blunt. It's your sister's fault for having such a vixen-like figure! Those big breasts must be implants!"

"Yeah, you're both daughters of the Lawson family, but why does she look so... unrefined?"

When I was found, my biological father had already groomed Maya as the heiress. He publicly declared that we were both daughters of the Lawson family. It was only due to a hospital error that they lost me. Therefore, everyone assumed Maya and I were sisters.

Maya glanced at me nervously, afraid I would reveal the truth in public. However, I just gave them a blank look and turned around to walk toward the racetrack's preparation area.

Maya breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said to Andre, "Andre, don't be mad at Danielle. The race is about to start. I heard the prize is the Heart of the Ocean necklace. Legend says that if you give this necklace to your loved one, you'll be together forever."

Andre nodded and led the crowd away.

I walked alone into the racing preparation area and took out my usual helmet and gloves from the locker.

I had no intention of participating in the race. I just wanted to run a few laps on the private track.

When I stepped out of the preparation area, Andre's race had already been going on for a long time.

Just as I was about to start my car, a sharp, piercing gunshot rang out, followed by an announcement that the race was over.

I glanced up at the track and saw the crowd scattering. Only Maya and the others remained in the stands, their expressions grave and anxious. Andre was nowhere to be seen.

A bad feeling washed over me.

I hurried over and asked with a frown, "What's wrong?"

Maya broke down in tears. "Danielle, Andre is missing!"

I was taken aback. I wanted to divorce Andre, but in our world, going missing was a serious issue.

"How could he have gone missing?" My voice turned cold. It was a tone I only used when I felt threatened.

Maya sobbed out the words, "Andre was about to win the race, but who would've thought that the blue racing car following him would suddenly accelerate? Not only did it deliberately overtake his car, but someone also stuck their head out of the window while holding a gun…"

"To avoid the bullets, he could only turn the steering wheel sharply. He didn't follow the original track and turned into the abandoned path on the east... That car also rushed in!"

I instantly felt a headache, and my expression turned livid. "Stop crying! Instead of crying, we should think of a way to save him!"

Andre's underling stood in front of Maya, glaring at me angrily. "Why are you so harsh with Maya? No one expected such a thing to happen tonight. That path is full of thorns and gravel. Ordinary cars can't even drive two feet. We can only wait for professional help...

"Danielle, what are you trying to do?"

I was already in the car. The engine roared. I put on my gloves, my eyes as calm as still water. As I shifted gears, I said, "Waiting won't save him unless you're all planning to take Andre home in a body bag."

With that said, the racecar shot off like an arrow.

The crowd was dumbfounded for a long time.

"She doesn't seem like someone who's never driven a race car before... Could it be that we misunderstood her?"

They did not notice Maya's fingers digging into her palm as she looked at me jealously.

I quickly spotted the path hidden by weeds. It used to be an emergency route for the mafia's smuggling convoy. Now, it was a death trap for anyone unaware of its danger.

Luckily, I was familiar with it.

I slammed on the gas pedal and sped into the path, following the faint tire tracks.

Why was I trying to save Andre? The reason was simple.

First, this racetrack was in my name. If Andre were to die here, the Garcia family would cause me trouble. Secondly, it was also because I owed it to Andre.

Years ago, I was kidnapped by the Lawson family's arch-enemies not long after I returned. My biological parents were busy throwing my sister's birthday party and did not even answer the ransom call.

Andre was the one who answered. He tore down the warehouse wall to find me and was shot in the back. The bullet got close to his heart. He almost died.

This was not a small debt, and it had to be paid off.

After driving for what felt like forever, I was the first to spot the wreckage. Metal fragments surrounded a dead tree while thick smoke billowed upward.

Andre was slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious, while blood streamed down his temple.

His gas tank was on fire!

I flung open his car door, held his shoulders with my arms, and dragged him out.

His tightly shut eyes twitched slightly as he murmured, "Maya, when I get the necklace... I'll give it to you..."

A bitter smile crept onto my lips. "Andre, you'd risk your life just to please Maya?"

He did not answer.

Just then, the sound of an engine came from behind. It was the blue racecar. It had found us.

I pushed Andre into the passenger seat of my car, climbed in, and slammed into reverse. The killer's bumper slammed heavily into where we were earlier.

I fished out the gun I had prepared beforehand, pulled the trigger, and fired a bullet straight into the killer's gas tank.

With a loud bang, the hood of the blue racecar exploded, billowing thick smoke.

However, the bastard was not done. A bullet pierced our windshield, going straight for Andre's chest.

I did not think with my head; I just moved and shielded Andre with my body like I was a human shield. The bullet struck my shoulder, and excruciating pain erupted instantly. I gasped, raised my gun again, and fired the remaining bullets from the magazine at the killer until he collapsed to the ground, motionless.

Only when the chaos subsided did I realize blood was streaming down my arm. My vision began to blur. However, Andre was alive.

Just as he had saved me, I had saved him.

With my good hand, I gripped the steering wheel tightly, sped off, and tried my best to bring him back to the racetrack.

When everyone saw me covered in blood, they were speechless with astonishment.

With all my might, I pushed Andre toward Maya, my voice so weak that it was almost inaudible. "Tell Andre I've repaid the debt I owe him..."

After saying that, everything went black, and I passed out.

...

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. My gunshot wound to the shoulder had been treated.

I instinctively asked, "Where's the man who was brought in with me?"

A nurse directed me to his ward.

Just as I reached the door, I heard Andre's underling say, "Andre, Maya risked her life to save you. You must repay her properly!"

My heart stopped.

Who were they to give Maya credit for saving Andre? It was clearly my blood that spilled on the road!

In the ward, Maya's voice trembled with just the right amount of guilt and feigned vulnerability. "Andre... It's all my fault. If you weren't trying to win me a prize, you wouldn't have fallen into their trap. It was my duty to save you."

She paused for a second before adding with a voice full of hurt and innocence, "You don't have to leave Heart of the Ocean to me as compensation. I know you care about Danielle the most. She was kidnapped back then, but you risked your own life to save her..."

Andre's underling retorted agitatedly. "It's not like that. That was a trap deliberately set up by boss."

Maya froze in place. "What?"

The underling continued casually, "Boss had someone kidnap her to make it clear to your parents that you were the most important to them! It was also to scare her off and make her go back to her adoptive parents."

A bloody taste welled up in my throat.

The underling added at great length, "As for marrying her? Boss's parents forced him to ally with the Lawson family, so he married Danielle, who has the Lawson family's blood. Don't worry. When you successfully become the heiress of the Lawson family, Andre will divorce her and hold a grand wedding to marry you. Right, boss?"

A brief silence fell over the ward.

Andre's voice broke the silence. It was deep, steady, and ruthless. "Yes."

I stumbled back a step. For so long, I believed that the bullet he took for me meant something. I believed that his post-marital indifference was merely estrangement, not deception. I believed... Gosh, I was such a fool!

My phone in my pocket suddenly vibrated, interrupting my near-breakdown. It was Chiara, her voice still loving. "Darling, the ship I arranged will arrive at the port tomorrow. I can't wait to see you."

"Okay, Mom." My voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

After ending the call, I looked up at the ward door with a bitter yet resolute smile.

Fine! This way, we were completely even.

I had saved Andre, repaying the debt of that fake kidnapping years ago. All this while, he had been scheming against me. I had finally seen through this marriage that only existed in name.

We would never have anything to do with each other again for the rest of our lives.

…

The following day, I was exceptionally busy.

First, I contacted a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement and placed the signed papers in Andre's study. Then, I drove to a private club to meet a friend who was an excellent asset strategist.

When I first arrived here, my adoptive parents prepared a vast fortune for me as a safety net.

Many of the arms dealers who partnered with the Lawson and Garcia families were their subordinates, and they were always at my beck and call.

Despite possessing immense wealth, I had always kept a low profile and never told anyone about it. Now that I was leaving, these assets should be entrusted to someone I trust.

I pushed a folder across the table, saying, "I'm leaving. You're in charge of everything."

My friend quickly glanced at the file before staring at me. "You're terminating all contracts with the Garcia and Lawson families?"

I nodded. "Effective immediately."

He whistled. "They rely on your resources to survive. Without you, they'll collapse."

"That's no longer my problem."

"They'll regret it once they know your true identity." He gave a meaningful smile.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, I bade goodbye. When I went downstairs, I accidentally tugged on my wound. The pain almost made me fall.

My friend instinctively reached out to support my waist. "Be careful. You're still injured."

I thanked him softly and tried to steady myself. However, I saw Andre and his underlings coming out of the neighboring private room the moment I looked up.

One of his underlings noticed me first. He glanced at Andre beside me and showed a malicious smile.

"Hey, look who's here. Don Garcia, isn't this your wife? She found herself a lover right after leaving the hospital?

"Even if Don Garcia can't satisfy you, you shouldn't be this desperate, right? Where does that leave Don Garcia's pride?"