Ethan was startled, his face turning pale as he hurried to help Clara up.

"Honey, what's wrong? Does your stomach hurt? Is the baby acting up again? What's going on with you? Is it the smell of the soup that's making you sick?"

His voice was filled with concern. His eyes reddened with distress as he urgently called for the doctor.

Even as Clara was wheeled into the emergency room, she could still hear Ethan's hoarse pleas.

"Doctor, please. I'm begging you. Save my wife."

After another round of emergency treatment, Clara once again managed to keep the child in her womb. Under the effects of anesthesia, she slipped into unconsciousness.

Familiar pain washed over her. She frowned and opened her eyes, only to hear Ethan speaking with his close friend, Damian Pierce. She chose to shut her eyes tightly.

"Ethan, you should give the special drug to Clara first. Ivy is only newly pregnant. She doesn't really need it yet."

Damian was the one responsible for developing the special drug and had grown up with Ethan since childhood.

He had never approved of Ethan and Clara being together and had always disliked Clara in particular.

Yet even now, he showed a hint of reluctance toward her situation.

Ethan's expression was firm. "No. Ivy is different from Clara. She can't handle any risk. Clara is strong. Even if the baby's gone, she'll survive it."

"But if there's no special drug and the baby's gone, how are you going to explain that to Clara?"

"No explanation is needed." Ethan gently stroked Clara's cheek, his words chillingly cruel. "We'll just prescribe some vitamins and tell her it's the special drug. It's the first batch anyway. Problems are normal."

Damian sucked in a sharp breath.

"But she's been with you for so many years. She's risked her life for you more than once. Back in Harborcliff, if she hadn't nearly died protecting you, you would've been—"

Ethan's fingertips turned icy, his voice sharp as a blade.

"You don't need to keep reminding me. I'm the one who controls the syndicate in Asterfall, and I survived back then because my own woman sold her body for me. I know she did it to save me. But she's tainted. I want my child to have a clean mother. What's wrong with that? I know I owe her. But I'm a man. I can't get past this. I can't stand the looks of ridicule from others."

Ethan let out a cold snort. "Everyone who knew about it back then is already dead. But there are still people in Harborcliff. They've stayed quiet all these years. They're probably afraid of me. One day, I'll wipe them out and repay the humiliation I suffered."

Clara kept her eyes tightly shut, biting her lower lip hard, forcing herself not to react.

So this was what he believed all along. That when he was captured by the local gangs in Harborcliff, trapped in danger, she had stormed the syndicate's headquarters alone to save him and had been violated in the process.

All these years, he had despised her for being "tainted," unwilling to let a child be born from her body.

How utterly absurd.

"Clara really seems to care about this baby. If she loses this one too, what if she can't handle it?"

Ethan scoffed softly and reached out to pull the blanket over Clara.

He leaned down, his breath brushing unconsciously against her neck, making Clara's breath catch.

Disgusting.

That indescribable wave of nausea surged up again.

After she heard the door close, Clara slowly opened her eyes. Tears flowed like a river.

She knew very well that many people in the research institute had been placed there by her biological father, for her sake.

For the sake of the child in her womb, she despised him, yet still felt a trace of gratitude.

But she never expected that after learning this, Ethan would be determined to kill the child in her womb, caring only about the mistress's baby.

She clamped her hand over her mouth, refusing to let a single sob escape.

Then she sent a message to the man bound to her by blood, telling him to withdraw everyone from the research institute. Ethan was not to benefit from them.

"Honey, you're finally awake. Don't worry, the baby is fine."

Ethan knelt by the bedside, his eyes red as if he'd been crying for a long time. His hand rested gently on Clara's belly, his gaze filled with the glow of a loving father.

Who could have guessed the disgust he felt toward the child inside her?

"Mrs. Grayson, seeing how much Mr. Grayson dotes on you, I finally understand why you're so determined to have a child for him. He's worth it. Unlike the husbands I've seen before, who only get angry and force their wives through injections and medication."

The nurse administering Clara's injection couldn't help sighing. Clara felt nothing but bitterness.

At least those husbands truly wanted their children to be born. Unlike hers…

"I miss my mom. I want to go home and see her."

Clara looked up at Ethan, watching every change in his expression.

Ethan paused briefly, then quickly recovered.

"Once you give birth, I'll take you back to see her. In your condition, it's not convenient for you to leave the hospital."

His expression was open and calm, giving no hint of deceit.

"But before giving birth, I want to visit the old place. I want Mom to give me some courage. I'm afraid I won't make it off the operating table."

Ethan seemed oblivious to the deep sorrow in her voice. He sat beside the bed and pulled her into his arms.

"Don't worry too much. You and the baby will be fine. If you want to go back, that's fine too. I'll have someone clean things up so you won't get hurt."

Clara understood. He was planning to deal with the mistress in advance.

That was fine. She didn't want to see that woman either. She just didn't want that filthy pair to keep defiling her mother's house.

What she never expected was that she would still come face to face with the mistress Ethan had protected for so long.

Ivy was admitted to the hospital as well to rest and protect her pregnancy, placed in the room right next to Clara's.

With her barely noticeable baby bump, she knocked on Clara's door.

"Hello. My pregnancy isn't stable either. My husband was worried, so he had me admitted early."

There was a smug look on her face as she deliberately pushed her belly forward, the gesture reeking of provocation.

As Clara studied Ivy's features, a strange sense of familiarity washed over her, making her pause.

Ivy resembled Clara in her younger years, especially when she smiled. Only Clara had long forgotten how to smile after years spent walking through blood and gunfire.

She had no interest in engaging, merely casting Ivy a brief glance before turning to look out the window.

She did not blame Ivy at all. The only one she blamed was the man who had betrayed their bond.

Ivy slipped, barely managing to steady herself against the cabinet, and shot a pleading look toward Ethan nearby.

Ethan's gaze skimmed over Ivy briefly before he remained seated by the bed, tending to Clara instead.

Ivy clenched her teeth in fury.

She despised the slum apartment. It was rundown and unbearable.

What she really wanted was to live in Ethan's grand mansion.

But the thought that it was the place Clara had long cherished filled her with a twisted sense of satisfaction.

She had stayed by Ethan's side for so long—not for the title of a mistress, but for far more than that.

She wanted to be the mother of Ethan's only child. The real Mrs. Grayson.

"Ma'am, I heard you were hospitalized the moment you got pregnant. Sounds like this baby won't be easy to keep. Sometimes people just need to accept their fate, or else—"

"Shut up!" Ethan snapped in fury, his eyes blazing as he glared at Ivy.

"Who do you think you're cursing? Say one more word and I'll make sure you don't leave this hospital in one piece."

Clara watched Ethan's performance of playing the devoted protector with a blank face, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

Watching him now, who would have guessed they had been tangled together in passion not long ago?

She could no longer stand their act and turned her face away, closing her eyes.

All she wanted now was to love herself and take care of her body.

As for Ethan, they would be strangers from now on.

There was no need for her to care about what happened between him and other women.

But before she left, the two of them would have to pay for their deception.

Late at night, Clara had a nightmare.

She dreamed of the time she was pregnant with her first child, when Ethan, reckless and young, had angered a Harborcliff gang leader and been kidnapped. The man had vowed to kill him.

Everyone under him had been terrified, none daring to step forward to save him.

Only Clara, five months pregnant, had walked into the gang leader's stronghold alone, guns in hand.

She had been shot six times along the way. The child was lost, and as pain dragged her into darkness, she hadn't even thought about saving Ethan, only that dying together as a family might not be so bad.

Gunfire echoed in her ears. Clara gasped for breath, snapping awake as she forced herself upright.

Deep fear flickered in her eyes.

If the Harborcliff leader hadn't been the man who had abandoned her and her mother years ago, she would have long since...

After a long while, her emotions finally settled, a sardonic smile tugging at her lips.

Ethan was truly laughable. Did he really think controlling the underworld of Asterfall meant he could stand against Harborcliff?

Without her holding things in place, how could Harborcliff have remained so quiet all these years?

She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, closed her eyes, and tried to fall back asleep.

Instead, she heard a man's ragged breathing and a woman's breathless moans coming from the room next door.

She had heard those familiar voices during a voice call not long ago.

Enduring the pain in her lower abdomen, she forced herself up and limped toward the neighboring room.

The door was not fully closed. Inside, the man and woman were tangled together like beasts, their eyes filled with raw desire.

"Honey, you scared me this afternoon. I don't want to talk to you."

Ivy deliberately dodged Ethan's kiss, pressing a hand against his lips in protest.

"If you care so much about that old woman, why did you force me to be with you? If I'd known, I would've rather died than given in."

Ethan panted heavily, urgency flashing in his eyes as desire consumed his gaze, leaving only the woman before him.

"If I didn't care about you, why would I have saved the special medicine for you? I just didn't want you exposing our affair to Clara. She's been with me for so many years. Even if she hasn't done much, she's suffered plenty. If this got out, who knows what my people would say about me?"

Satisfied at last, Ivy leaned in and kissed Ethan.

"You're with her every day. I just get jealous and can't help saying a few extra things."

Ivy straightened up and straddled Ethan's waist, savoring the way his gaze burned with obsession.

"If you treat me like this again, I'll ignore you completely and leave you suffering."

Outside the door, Clara's chest rose and fell with rage.

Agonizing pain tore through her lower body, blood flowing freely, yet she seemed unaware of it.

Perhaps it was better this way. The child was gone.

She collapsed onto the floor, her face drained of all color.

A nurse's startled cry rang out, "Quick, save her!"

Numb and detached, Clara was rushed back into the emergency room by the doctors and nurses.

Behind her, the sounds of bodies colliding and mingled moans grew louder, hammering against Clara's ears.

Though she had long prepared herself for this, witnessing Ethan lost in another woman still made her heart ache.

After more than a decade, she still couldn't bring herself to let it all go.

In the emergency room, Clara finally steadied herself and said softly, "Terminate the pregnancy."

Ivy had said one thing right. Clara should never have tried to cling to something that was never hers.

This child should have been gone long ago.

The doctors looked stunned. They all knew how much Clara had suffered to keep this child alive.

Even if it had cost her life, she would never have harmed this child.

So how had she ended up deciding to terminate the pregnancy?

Clara tugged at the corner of her lips, her voice cold. "You're all his people, aren't you? Keep this quiet for now. Don't tell Ethan."

"Yes." The doctor answered respectfully, his movements growing even gentler.

It was not until the next morning that Clara was sent back to her hospital room after the surgery.

Ethan only stopped by for a brief look before saying something urgent had come up at the company and leaving in haste.

He did not notice her now-flat belly, nor the complete lack of color in her face.

With a blank expression, Clara handled the discharge procedures herself and returned to the slum apartment.

After more than ten years away, everything felt both unfamiliar and achingly familiar.

She could almost hear her mother calling to her from the kitchen, telling her dinner was ready.

But in the blink of an eye, her mother's face vanished.

She knelt before her mother's memorial photo, tears streaming down her face in no time.

"Mom, Ethan failed your trust. He betrayed me. I'm going to find that man now. I hope you won't blame me."

She took her mother's memorial photo and ashes with her, then went to an agent and sold the apartment.

This place had already been tainted. There was no reason to stay.

She had not expected to run into Ethan shortly after leaving the agency.

Ethan looked anxious as he grabbed her arm without hesitation.

"Honey, your health isn't good right now. Why are you running around like this? What if something happened? You scared me half to death. Your phone was turned off. I had to use everyone I had just to find you."

His whole body trembled as he pulled Clara into his arms, finally relaxing only after holding her.

But Clara's mind was filled with images of him entangled with Ivy, leaving her overwhelmed with nausea.

She used all her strength to shove Ethan away, unable to suppress the disgust in her eyes.

"I just wanted to go home and see my mom. I didn't want to bother you. Haven't you been busy lately?"

The distance and sharpness in her eyes were unmistakable, leaving Ethan momentarily stunned.

Clara was known to be cold and ruthless to the world, but with him, she had always been tender and affectionate.

She had never been like this before. What was wrong with her?

Ethan took a deep breath and asked patiently, "Are you upset because you're missing your mom again? She'd be heartbroken to see you this sad from up there. You're already well into your pregnancy. You'll need the stronger medication for it to improve. Let's get back to the hospital."

Clara's clothes were loose that day, and he failed to notice the child was already gone.

Or perhaps he simply did not care.

"Our wedding anniversary is coming up in a few days. Honey, how should we celebrate this time? How about I give you that ring you've always wanted? You're my one and only true love."

The moment she heard that, the wave of nausea surged through Clara's entire body.

Hadn't that so-called ring of true love already been given to Ivy as a pledge of devotion?

Unable to endure it any longer, Clara flung his hand away, stopped, and looked up at Ethan as he tried to placate her with barely restrained anger.

"Ethan, if our child couldn't be saved, if the special medicine didn't work, and I died trying to protect the baby, what would you do?"

Ethan froze. Panic flashed through his eyes before he quickly suppressed it.

Startled, he rushed forward to hold her, but Clara dodged him, leaving him gripping only her wrist.

He promised, "The medicine has already been tested. It will work. You'll be fine. The child will be fine too. To me, you're more important than anything. If I had to choose, I'd give up the child."

What touching words.

So many men would choose the child without hesitation in such a choice.

But Clara knew better. From beginning to end, this man had despised both her child and her.

He called her dirty, even though he was the one who was rotten to the core.

Not wanting to stir up more trouble, Clara found an excuse and returned to the Grayson family mansion with Ethan.

Ethan had been worried about the child, but when Clara said everything was fine, he finally relaxed.

He was likely thinking that this meant Clara no longer needed the special medicine, giving him a perfectly valid reason to give it to Ivy instead.

Seeing the easy smile at the corner of Ethan's mouth, Clara let out a mocking laugh.

Sometimes, knowing a man too well was not a good thing.

Clara turned her phone back on. Ivy had added her as a contact, and once the request was approved, photos immediately came through.

There were photos of her and Ethan traveling abroad, embracing sweetly.

There were also photos of the two of them tangled together in bed.

"Clara, you can tell these photos were taken while you were lying in bed trying to protect your pregnancy."

"Ethan and I have been together for five months now. He relentlessly pursued me, leaving me no choice but to be with him. In the end, it's your fault for not being able to keep your own man."

"He loves me, and he loves the child I'm carrying. In a relationship, the one who isn't loved is the real intruder. I've never seen myself as the other woman who destroyed a relationship."

"Ethan got tired of you a long time ago. You're older than him, and you're already dirty. He said every time he slept with you, he had to rely on medication just to get through it."

"But the moment he sees me, his eyes are full of desire. I'm the only one he loves. For me, he was willing to break his principles, the first woman he ever truly wanted."

"Whatever I want, he gives me, including your mother's old house. You must've known about us for a long time, didn't you? I never thought you'd be this shameless, still clinging to him after all this."

Message after message of provocation filled the screen, Clara's body trembling with rage.

How could someone be so utterly shameless?