Bianca let out a bitter laugh, her voice hollow and trembling.

"And the other thing..." Elisa's tone softened, laced with hesitance. "We've been searching for your real parents all this time. There's still no clear lead, but I did uncover something else—your adoptive father... he kidnapped you as a baby years ago."

"What?" Bianca shot to her feet, the chair screeching sharply against the floor as it toppled behind her.

The words echoed in her mind, her knees threatening to buckle. Disbelief and betrayal washed over her, destroying the last vestiges of familial warmth she'd clung to for years. Now, every cold glance and dismissive word from Edward carried a darker meaning.

Tears spilled freely down her cheeks, blurring her vision as the reality of her existence unraveled before her. She instinctively looked around, longing for solace, her thoughts drifting to Erick. But just as quickly, her steps faltered.

She remembered.

The man who had once been her sanctuary was now someone else's warmth. He was holding Sabrina, leaving Bianca alone with nothing but the hollow shell of a house and memories that felt like knives.

***

The next morning, the soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting the room in a pale glow. Bianca hadn't slept; the night had stretched endlessly, her mind churning with thoughts of her stolen identity and crumbling marriage.

The sound of the front door opening broke her reverie. Erick stepped in, his tall figure framed by the misty morning outside. He froze for a moment, seeing her seated there. Bianca lifted her head, her gaze meeting his.

Something in her eyes was different—empty, hollow, as though the person he had once known no longer existed. The warmth, the pain, the lingering love—all of it was gone, replaced by an impenetrable void. Erick felt an icy chill creep up his spine, a sudden unease taking root in his chest.

"Bianca," he said hoarsely, his voice unsure, his usual confidence faltering.

Bianca stirred, her expression unreadable. Her lips parted, and in a voice so quiet it was almost a whisper, she asked, "Erick, did you do this because you know I love you?"

The question hit him like a blow. Guilt surged through him, twisting his insides. He crouched down beside her, gently reaching out to cup her cold cheek. "I'm sorry, Bianca," he said, his voice low and trembling. "I'll make it up to you. I'll spend more time with you from now on."

As if to prove his sincerity, he picked up a bag he had brought in and pulled out a dress. The fabric shimmered faintly in the morning light, a masterpiece of the family tailor's craftsmanship. "Look at this," Erick said, attempting a smile. "Do you like it? I had it made especially for you."

Bianca didn't take it. Her gaze lingered on the dress for a moment, then shifted back to Erick. Her lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. Since when did he think she was someone who could be bought with fabric and feigned remorse?

Before she could speak, a voice rang out from the doorway, its tone saccharine and grating.

"Wow, what a beautiful dress!"

Both turned to see Sabrina strolling toward them, her smile as bright as it was false. She paused beside Erick, her eyes flicking briefly toward Bianca with a gleam of triumph.

Without hesitation, Sabrina reached out, snatching the dress from Erick's hands. "Erick, I want this!" she whined, clutching it to her chest like a prized trophy.

Erick frowned, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Don't be ridiculous. This is for Bianca."

"But I need it," Sabrina pouted, leaning against him with exaggerated petulance. "There's an event tonight. Can't she let me borrow it just this once?"

Bianca watched the scene unfold with quiet detachment, her arms folded. Erick, visibly uncomfortable, glanced at her, as if seeking permission. She didn't say a word, her silence as cutting as any refusal. For once, Erick hesitated, finally shaking his head. "No. This dress was made for Bianca."

Sabrina's expression darkened. She threw the dress back at him with a huff and stormed out, her heels clicking angrily against the polished floor. Erick stood frozen for a moment, torn between appeasing Bianca and chasing after Sabrina. After a beat of hesitation, he chose the latter, following Sabrina out the door.

***

Later that afternoon, Sabrina posted a nine-photo collage on her social media with the caption: [Someone ordered ten custom dresses for me to apologize, so I decided to forgive them!]

Not long after, Bianca's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, her face remaining impassive as she read the message from her sister: [Sis, your husband's heart is with me. Why are you still holding on to the title of Mrs. West?]

Bianca's fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before she typed back a simple response:

[You can have it.]

The reply was devoid of anger, pain, or even sarcasm. It was the truth. Bianca no longer wanted the man who had betrayed her, nor did she care for the title that had brought her nothing but misery.

Sabrina, on the other hand, stared at the message, momentarily stunned. The lack of a fight perplexed her. In her mind, Bianca's words were merely an act of impotent rage. Scoffing, she picked up her phone and dialed her manager.

"Leak the news," she ordered. "Let them know I'm pregnant."

As a minor celebrity, Sabrina was no stranger to attention. Within hours, the announcement went viral. Sabrina's unwed pregnancy became a trending topic, dominating social media.

The internet, as always, was merciless toward women. Within hours, Sabrina's social media accounts were flooded with hateful comments. People called her shameless and accused her of using her personal life to chase popularity. Memes mocking her spread like wildfire. Gossip accounts dug up her past relationships, sensationalizing every trivial encounter into scandalous rumors.

Sabrina became a public outcast. News outlets endlessly rehashed the scandal, her name trending with hashtags like #PromiscuousSabrina and #WhoIsTheDaddy. Bianca barely noticed. She felt no pity for Sabrina, no satisfaction from the backlash. Her own world had already frozen over.

That evening, Erick returned home. His footsteps were unusually hesitant, almost reluctant, as he walked into the living room where Bianca sat in silence. His eyes darted around before he finally crouched in front of her, resting one hand on her arm.

"Bianca," he began softly, his tone thick with unease. "Sabrina is pregnant."

Bianca didn't respond. She didn't even blink. Erick seemed to take her silence as permission to continue.

"People are saying Sabrina's child has no father," he said, rubbing his palms together anxiously. "The online harassment is relentless. Now everyone's calling her shameless."

Bianca finally opened her eyes, fixing him with a hollow, unwavering stare. "So?" Her voice was devoid of emotion.

Erick swallowed hard, his gaze falling to the floor. "If no one comes forward," he muttered, "Sabrina's life will be destroyed. There's only one way to salvage this."

Bianca's body stiffened. Somewhere deep in her gut, she already knew what was coming, but hearing it aloud felt like a crushing blow. Erick's next words were barely above a whisper.

"Bianca, could we... get a divorce? Just for a while, I mean. It would give Sabrina's baby a father, at least on paper. It's the only way to stop the rumors."

The room seemed to shrink, suffocating her. Bianca's chest heaved as she tried to process his request. She had prepared herself for many things, but the audacity of this suggestion left her momentarily speechless.

"Erick," she said at last, her voice trembling with disbelief, "how could you do this to me?"

Her mind flashed with memories of the man Erick had once been—the one who used to surprise her with flowers after long work trips, who held her hand through every storm, who promised her a lifetime of unwavering love. How had that man become this stranger standing before her, offering divorce as though it were a simple formality?

Seeing the anguish in her eyes, Erick reached out, gripping her hand tightly. His own eyes were wide with desperation. "Bianca, listen to me," he pleaded. "This is just temporary. Once the public forgets, I'll divorce Sabrina and remarry you. I swear."

Bianca stared at him, her heart twisting with rage and disbelief. "What if I refuse?" she asked coldly.

Before Erick could answer, Sabrina's voice suddenly broke through the tension. She appeared at the doorway, her face pale but determined. Without hesitation, she dropped to her knees, clasping her hands in a pitiful display.

"Sis, I'm begging you, please help me," Sabrina sobbed, tears streaking her face. "I can't face this alone."

Bianca didn't even flinch. Her eyes remained on Erick, silently daring him to justify this betrayal. Erick hesitated, his lips trembling as though he wanted to say more but couldn't find the words. Finally, he spoke, his voice low.

"Bianca, Sabrina suffered so much before finding her family again..." His words trailed off, heavy with implied guilt.

Bianca let out a bitter laugh, cutting through the tense atmosphere like a knife. "So, you think I'm the one who stole her place as the Harper Family's daughter?" she said, her voice laced with venom.

Erick froze. He didn't deny it and that was all the confirmation Bianca needed. Her laugh turned hollow, mocking herself for ever believing in him. For ever thinking she owed Sabrina anything.

She thought of the truth Elisa had uncovered—that she wasn't the Harpers' daughter by choice, but by force. That her so-called family had stolen her from her real parents and raised her under a cloud of deceit. Her lips quirked into a bitter smile as she stared at Erick.

'If you knew the truth, Erick,' she thought, 'would you still defend her? Or would you finally see what I've had to endure?'

"Bianca..." Erick's voice broke into her thoughts. He reached for her, but she raised her hand, stopping him.

"I agree," she said curtly.

The divorce papers were signed and finalized within days. Outside the courthouse, Bianca stood frozen, clutching the certificate tightly in her hands. The reality of her severed marriage felt both liberating and crushing. She was free of Erick's betrayal, but she was also untethered, standing alone at the edge of an uncertain future.

"Bianca." Erick's voice called her back. She turned to see him reaching for her hand, his expression conflicted. But before he could say more, Sabrina's voice rang out from behind him.

"Erick, hurry up! We need to take our wedding photos!"

Bianca's lips curled into a faint smirk. Erick hesitated for a moment longer before letting go of her hand and walking toward Sabrina. The other woman shot Bianca a triumphant smile, her eyes gleaming with victory.