Clayton looked at my back and lightly shook his head.

He only assumed I was unusually angry this time.

As he followed, he was already thinking about what presents to buy later.

After all, I had loved him deeply; if he comforted me a little, I would give in again.

At the mall, the mood between us at first could still be called peaceful.

Clayton pushed the shopping cart, lowered his head, and carefully checked the fabric of the baby clothes on the shelves. His fingers touched each piece as he asked whether this material might irritate the skin or whether that color was too dark.

He selected everything with great care, not even glancing at the price tags. Toys, feeding bottles, tiny socks, he placed them into the cart one by one, choosing only the best.

Along the way, he barely noticed Verity, fully showing an attitude of trying to make things up to me.

This was a picture I had once dreamed of many times, yet now it felt like ginger mixed into a meatball, hard to swallow.

Yet I still could not help believing that even if Clayton had wronged me and neglected this marriage, he at least sincerely expected this child and would be a responsible father.

After all, in these ten years, I had also seen that Clayton was very capable of caring for others.

Just then, the familiar and embarrassing need to use the restroom during pregnancy came again.

I told Clayton I was heading to the restroom and asked him to go to the jewelry shop to pick up the custom safety lock prepared for the baby.

Clayton agreed with a smile.

But when I left the restroom and walked toward the gold shop, I saw a scene that hurt my eyes.

Standing before the gold shop counter, just below Verity’s collarbone, hung a familiar item.

It was the safety lock I had personally selected the design for, adjusted the size for, and waited half a month to have crafted for the baby.

Blood rushed to my head, and my stomach rolled violently.

I nearly ran forward to snatch the safety lock back.

Before I could reach the lock, someone grabbed my wrist hard. I lost my balance and stumbled back a step.

Clayton stood in front of me, his brows drawn tight. “Wife, what are you doing?”

I stared at him, my voice shaking. “Clayton, I should be asking you that. Why did you give the safety lock I prepared for the baby to Verity?”

Verity seemed shocked and leaned closer into Clayton’s arms, but her fingers clutched the lock tightly, her eyes reddening instantly.

She spoke in a soft and gentle tone. “Sister-in-law, please don’t be angry. I’ve never had a safety lock before. Earlier, my chest felt a little uncomfortable. After wearing it, I suddenly felt better. Maybe… this lock and I are meant to be.”

“If you mind, I can pay for it. Please let me keep this lock, alright?”

I looked at the lock on her chest and coldly laughed. “This was prepared for my child, not something for you to use to treat illness!”

Clayton softened his voice and told me, “Wife, alright, don’t cause a scene. I’ll buy you an even better one, okay? Let Verity have this one. It’s rare to have such a fate.”

I looked up at him and suddenly felt that the man before me was like a stranger.

“Fate? Does it have fate just because you say it does?”

I questioned him, word by word. “This belongs to my child. She isn’t qualified to take it!”

I shook off Clayton’s hand and reached toward the red cord to untie it.

Before my fingers could touch it, Verity suddenly clutched her chest. Her face grew white, and her body seemed unable to support itself as she slid down.

“Brother…” she said weakly, tears dropping immediately, “my heart feels very uncomfortable.”

Clayton almost instinctively caught her in his arms, his face changing sharply, his voice anxious. “Don’t speak. I’ll take you to the hospital!”

I remained where I was, watching him carry her away, my heart feeling tightly squeezed by something invisible.

“Stop.”

I said it, but my voice trembled beyond control.

Clayton turned around, impatience and anger written across his face.

“What more do you want? Verity is already having an episode, and you’re still standing here arguing out of jealousy for what? Do you realize you look like a mad, jealous woman right now? Celestine, when did you become like this?”

“You used to be thoughtful and fair!”

Jealous woman?

I stared at the man before me with deep disappointment, but inside I was strangely calm, no longer controlled by him.

I inhaled deeply, my nails digging into my skin. “If you want to leave, then go. Give back the safety lock.”

His expression went completely cold. “Celestine, you’ve gone too far. Can’t you even let go of such a small item? She’s having a heart attack, and you’re still arguing over this. How can you be so heartless?”

“You’re being completely unreasonable!”

The baby had not even been born, yet Clayton was already able to hand over the baby’s belongings to Verity just because she felt unwell.

Then, after the child was born?

If Verity felt upset, would the child be beaten and scolded as she pleased?

That thought made my entire body go cold.

I did not move forward to stop him again and slowly released my grip.

At that moment, I completely made my decision.

Clayton was no longer qualified to have any connection with my child.

After I left, I would cut all ties with Clayton and find a new father for the baby, so she could receive full fatherly love, but it would not be Clayton.

Clayton’s steps slowed, and for no clear reason, unease crossed his heart. His grip on Verity tightened, and he hesitated slightly.

As he was about to speak, Verity softly called out to him, her tone weak and relying on him.

He immediately regained his focus and walked away faster.

I saw Clayton lift Verity and walk away into the crowd. I breathed in deeply and, holding my belly, was ready to head back to pack my things and get ready to go.

But right when I turned around, a loud alarm suddenly echoed from above the shopping center, and right after that came many sharp cries.

“Fire!”

“Run! There is a fire!”

The calm mall quickly turned into a mess.

Heavy smoke quickly spread from an unknown place, the strong smell of something burning rushed toward us, and the people, like frightened animals, wildly pushed toward the exits.

Without thinking, I covered my belly, my heart jumping up into my throat.

I noticed Clayton not far away, his expression suddenly changing. Almost by instinct, he pulled Verity tightly into his arms, one hand shielding the back of her head, the other forcing a path through the crowd as he pulled her toward the closest exit.

At such a risky time, as his wife, he did not even look back at me once.

I was pushed by the crowd until I could barely keep my balance. My back hit hard against the rail, and a tight, dropping pain in my stomach instantly made my face go pale.

“Move aside…”

My voice shook. “I am pregnant…”

But nobody was able to catch my words.

Right when I was close to falling, Clayton suddenly looked back and noticed me.

Our eyes met for a short second in the chaos.

At a time between living and dying, people were weak. I formed a foolish hope, hoping Clayton would pull me to safety.

But in the very next moment, Clayton strongly shoved my heavy body ahead.

“Go ahead, do not block the path!”

His voice sounded rushed. “Wife, let me bring Verity outside first; her body cannot hold on. Any compensation you ask for, I will hand it to you later!”

I was roughly pushed ahead by the crowd, my body losing control, my belly hard hitting the line of people in front.

Severe pain burst out from my lower belly.

Sadness, hurt, anger, breakdown… many mixed feelings rushed hard through my chest.

I truly wanted to question Clayton if he even had a heart at all?!

Clayton held her close, almost using his own body to take every hit for her.

His choice was already very clear. What else could I still hope for?

As my awareness slowly grew unclear, I suddenly thought of many past events.

Five years earlier, I suddenly got a very high fever and was taken to the hospital, needing a blood transfusion.

I lay on the hospital bed, burning up and not fully awake. The doctor said my blood type was rare, and matching blood could not be found at that time.

I was extremely scared, gripping Clayton’s hand and shaking without stopping.

But he did not even crease his brows, simply pushing up his sleeve and telling the doctor, “Use mine.”

When the needle went into his arm, his face clearly paled, yet he still bent down near me and gently spoke to calm me.

“Wife, do not worry. I am here.”

Back then, I truly believed he would forever shield me in this way.

But now?

Ten years of love, all the time together, and the promises, in the fire and heavy smoke, were burned clean.

No, or maybe from the start, it was only my own wishful thinking.

The rescue personnel finally arrived, and the people were forced to evacuate.

I was no longer able to endure. My entire body dropped onto the floor, the ache in my belly feeling like it would tear me open.

The last image that stayed in my sight was Clayton lifting Verity and taking her out of the mall.

She only had small scratches, yet he looked so worried as if he had lost everything.

He gently set her onto the stretcher, again and again asking if she felt unwell, until the doctor nodded and said she was alright. Only then did he seem to lose all power and sway a little.

At that moment, somebody finally saw that his lower back had been burned by the fire, his clothes ripped, and his skin red and torn.

Even like that, he still would not let go of Verity’s hand.

I lay on the ground, my eyes hurting, feeling only bitterness. I slowly closed my eyes and, in my heart, took away one of the last two so-called “life-saving chances.”

When I woke up again, my nose was filled with the scent of disinfectant.

My whole body felt like it had been pulled apart and put back together; every part was so heavy it did not seem like mine.

Later, I found out that when I was rushed into the emergency room, the baby’s condition was already very unstable. To keep the child safe, the doctor used the strongest method to protect the baby, and I lay passed out on the hospital bed for three whole days.

On the night of the third day, while I was half asleep and half awake, I suddenly felt someone tightly gripping my hand.

The hold was very tight, as if scared that once it let go, I would vanish.

I forced myself to open my eyes. My sight stayed unclear for a long time before slowly becoming clear.

It was Clayton.

He sat beside the bed, his hair in a mess, light beard growing on his chin, eyes red, lips moving again and again as he softly said, “Wife, you have to wake up… please open your eyes…”

If I had gone through nothing, maybe I truly would have been fooled by the way he looked.

The doctor quickly walked in to examine my state and informed him that both the parent and the baby were safe, and I was out of danger.

It was like someone suddenly let go of the tight string inside him. His entire body clearly loosened, his eyes at once turning red for no clear reason, almost speaking unclearly as he held the physician to show thanks.

“Thank you, truly thank you…”

“As long as she is alright, any sum of money is acceptable…”

I rested on the clinic bed, hearing all this, feeling nothing but something ridiculous.

If someone did not know the facts, they might truly believe he had risked himself in the fire to shield the baby and me.

But in my thoughts, without control, the scene played over and over, him carrying Verity in the shopping center, not even giving me one look back.

I suddenly pulled my hand away.

Clayton clearly froze for a second, then at once bent closer, his voice turning careful.

“Celestine, you are awake? Do you feel any discomfort? The doctor said you must not become too emotional now. Do not move.”

While speaking, his eyes became red again.

“You have no idea how afraid I have been these few days. If anything had happened to you and the baby, I truly would not know how to continue living by myself.”

Seeing his pretended concern, I felt nothing but disgust.

The nurse came to take out my needle. While doing it, she smiled and said, “Your husband hasn’t properly rested these days. He’s been watching over you the whole time. You’re really blessed.”

I turned my head aside without answering.

After everything was over, what meaning was there in playing the loving husband?

When life and death were truly on the line, he had already shown his real decision.

Clayton seemed about to speak again, but the ward door was suddenly pushed open.

Verity rushed inside.

Her face was pale, her eyes red. As soon as she entered, she cried so hard she could barely stand. Breaking away from Clayton’s attempt to stop her, she dropped to her knees beside my hospital bed.

“Sister-in-law, I’m sorry. This is all because of me…”

“If my heart hadn’t suddenly felt unwell, Clayton wouldn’t have focused only on me at the fire scene and nearly caused you and the baby to be in danger…”

She cried until she was out of breath, her voice broken and barely complete.

“I truly didn’t expect things to become like this… I really blame myself…”

Clayton looked extremely worried and quickly moved to help her up, his voice anxious. “Don’t do this, stand up quickly. The doctor said you can’t be emotionally upset.”

He turned toward me, his tone clearly urging. “Celestine, say something now. Don’t let Verity kneel. She didn’t mean it. Her heart condition isn’t good; it wasn’t intentional.”

I looked at them, feeling only a sharp throbbing at my temples.

“If you want to perform, go outside and do it.”

I said coldly, “I don’t have time to watch.”

Verity’s face froze immediately.

Clayton’s expression darkened. “Celestine, why do you talk like that? She came sincerely to apologize. She just hopes to have a good relationship with you. Why are you always so harsh and sarcastic?”

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, my hand unconsciously covering my lower belly.

It still hurts faintly.

“Clayton, if that day the baby and I had truly died in the fire, would you have regretted for even a second not saving me?”

The ward became silent.

He parted his lips but did not answer right away.

That single moment of hesitation had answered everything.

Verity sobbed softly at the side. “Sister-in-law, don’t put brother in that position. He feels awful too…”

I had already heard enough.

I leaned on the bed to sit up, pressed the nurse’s call button, and said calmly, “Please help me apply for a transfer to a VIP room.”

If Clayton genuinely cared about me, he would not have neglected to arrange a VIP ward from the start.

In the past, whenever Verity was admitted for heart discomfort, he would immediately secure the finest ward and the best doctor for her.

I had just risen from the bed and reached the doorway when I was halted.

Verity moved to block me, her eyes reddened, and her voice lowered greatly.

“Sister-in-law, what must I do for you to stop being angry?”

I felt uneasy at once. Just as I was about to step around her, she leaned toward me and whispered into my ear, “I really can’t stand your arrogant expression.”

My heart jolted, and I instinctively stepped back.

But it was too late.

She grabbed my wrist abruptly, then suddenly let go, her body leaning backward as she crashed heavily to the floor.

“Ah!”

Before I could even react, I saw a bright red stain quickly spreading beneath her.