On the day of my marriage with the marquis’ heir, the adopted daughter of the marquis threatened to kill herself.

William Taylor left me at the altar for her and escaped the wedding.

I became the butt of the joke of the entire city. When I saw the mocking gazes of the wedding guests, I immediately announced, “I’ll marry anyone who’s willing to marry me today!”

Three years later, William returned with his adoptive sister, Denise Gold.

I sat on the couch as I drank tea.

William stared at my pregnant belly and asked through clenched teeth. “Whose child are you having?”

I took a sip of the tea and smiled. “Of course I’m having a child of this family.”

William Taylor walked over angrily and pulled me up from the couch.

“You harlot! I left with Denise on the day of our wedding, and I did not return for three years. How could your child possibly be mine?”

I found it hilarious. I had not said this child was his. He was not the only man in this family.

“Of course it’s not your child. You’re not worthy of being my child’s father!”

Denise Gold said in shock, “Aurelia, even though William had left you at the altar back then, he still reserved the position of his wife to you and allowed you to enjoy the riches. How could you be so shameless to get pregnant with another man?”

I glanced at her. “Denise, as an adoptive daughter of the marquis, you are openly having an incestuous relationship with your adoptive older brother. No one would be more shameless than the both of you.”

Denise immediately lowered her voice and complained to William, “William, we have been keeping our respectful distance for the past three years, but she cheated on you and got pregnant.”

When William heard the word “cheat,” he angrily slapped me across my face.

“Shameless woman! You’re pregnant with another man’s child, and you still dare to accuse Denise and me! Get out of my house!”

I felt an intense pain on my cheek. My mind went blank from the impact.

Three years ago, William had eloped with Denise and left me alone to be humiliated by the crowd.

I had been extremely angry, and I asked for someone to marry me in public. It was William’s uncle, Gideon Taylor, who married me.

Gideon was a ruthless general on the battlefield. Ever since I married him, everyone had treated me extremely pleasantly.

When I got pregnant, Gideon was over the moon. He treated me even better, and he protected me with all his might.

If Gideon ever learned that William had struck me, he would definitely make William suffer.

In order to prevent something bad happening, and considering the child in my stomach, I said coldly, “If you get out now, I’ll pretend that this didn’t happen.”

However, they were not appreciative of my generosity. Denise grabbed my hair instead.

“William, she must be feeling guilty. She wants to chase us out to use this child as a leverage to take everything from your family.”

William cursed. “What a lowly woman, so this is your plan. I won’t let you get what you want.”

I struggled to break free from Denise as I said with a cold expression, “From the day that you eloped, the marquis has already removed your name from the family tree. You no longer have anything to do with this family.”

Denise chuckled. “Our grandfather only did that out of anger. William is the only heir of his title. How would he actually remove William from the family tree?”

William also looked smug. “I’ll be the only person who’ll inherit the marquis title.”

I placed a hand over my belly and said coldly, “From now on, you’re no longer the only heir. My child is also an heir of the marquis.”

Initially, I thought that I had made myself very clear.

However, William only glared at me angrily. “How shameless are you? You’re going to pretend that your child is the marquis’ descendant. I’m going to teach you a lesson today!”

He slapped me even harder. I clutched my belly and fell onto the floor.

Looking at their vicious expressions, fear rose in me. I was afraid that they would really injure my child, so I said anxiously, “He’s not an illegitimate child, he’s…”

Before I could finish my words, William leaned down and grabbed the shattered tea cup and shoved it into my mouth.

“Denise and I have been wandering like exiles for the past three years, while you’re living your best life here in my home!

“I’m going to teach you a lesson today!”

I choked and could not speak. The sharp ceramic cut my mouth, and blood filled my mouth.

I lifted an arm to shield myself, but Denise stepped on the back of my hand.

I shuddered from the pain, but I could not scream.

After William stuffed the broken shards into my mouth, he spat at me before he clapped his hands and stood up.

Denise shifted her foot from my hand to my tummy.

I was terrified. I held her ankle with both hands to stop her from stepping down.

Gideon was practically infertile. We had gone to many famous doctors over the past three years before we managed to have this child.

Denise smiled mockingly. “Aurelia, you look like a dog trying to protect a puppy. It’s such an ugly sight.”

William stared at my tummy and frowned. “If the news about me getting cheated on spread, I would no longer be able to have my footing in this city. Denise, step on her and kill the child!”

I kept shaking my head as I spat blood and the broken shards out. Then, I said in pain, “The child… belongs to… Gideon…”

William was momentarily stunned after he heard that. Then, he guffawed maniacally.

“Aurelia, you’re such a liar! Everyone in this city knows that my uncle doesn’t like women, and he’s basically infertile.

“I’m the only heir to the marquis title. Otherwise, why do you think my grandfather was so desperate for me to marry you? He wants me to have children soon.”

Denise agreed, “William’s the only heir. In order to force him to inherit the marquis title, grandfather even threatened to take his name off the family tree.

“You’re ridiculous. How dare you slander our uncle after being exposed?”

William had eloped with Denise for three years, and he did not even send a letter home. His grandfather, Peter Taylor, had been extremely disappointed in him, hence he wanted to cut him off.

However, both of them seemed to be delusional. In order not to further agitate them, I did not refute their words.

I repeated again, “I’m not lying. I’m really pregnant with Gideon’s child.

“If you don’t believe me, you can send someone to verify it with Gideon.”

William grabbed my chin and said, “Gideon is infamously unhinged. Everyone is afraid of that ruthless general.

“If he knows that I can’t even settle a simple matter like cheating on my own, he’ll think that I’m useless. Then, the position of the marquis won't be passed to me.

“Aurelia, I bet this is why you wanted me to bother my uncle, right?”

I immediately shook my head. “No, I’m pregnant with…”

Before I could finish talking, Denise stepped on my tummy. “William, why are you wasting time on this promiscuous woman? Let’s just kill the child so we can tell this achievement to our grandfather.”

I felt an excruciating pain in my tummy. I could feel my child twisting and turning, and I felt an indescribable fear that I had never felt before.

I looked at them and begged, “Please, please let my child live…”

Denise said to me, “Get onto your knees and bark like a dog, and say that you’re a promiscuous woman. Then, I’ll let your child live.”

In order to protect my child, I did not hesitate. I turned around and fell onto my knees and barked. Then, I said with a trembling voice, “I’m a promiscuous woman.”

Denise leaned forward and met my eyes. Then, she smiled smugly.

“Aurelia, back then, when I begged you to not marry William, have you ever thought that you’d be begging to me in the future?”

Back then, Denise came to me and told me that she was in love with William. She had asked me to call off the marriage.

However, my marriage with Willian was an arranged marriage. Both of our parents had agreed to it. It represented a strong bond between the two families. If I called off the wedding, my family would be impacted. Hence, I turned her down.

I did not expect her to still hold a grudge after so long.

However, I had no time to discuss the past with her. I looked at them and begged, “Please, please call a doctor for me.”

William stepped on my back forcefully. “Aurelia, how shameless are you? You are willing to do anything for this illegitimate child!”

I collapsed onto the floor. My tummy hit the hard stone floor, and I felt a burning sensation in my tummy.

“You said you’ll let my child live…”

Denise said arrogantly, “I said I’ll let your child live, but William didn’t say so!”

“You’re using your status as my wife to live a good life in my family. Don’t ever think I’ll let you off the hook!”

William kicked my tummy, and I felt an excruciating pain. Blood started to ooze out between my legs.

I felt my child growing still inside me. I felt hopeless, and I stared at them with hatred.

“William, Denise, you’ll regret this!”

Denise stood beside William and stared at me viciously as she said, “William, she’s still not admitting to her mistake. I bet we haven’t taught her a good lesson yet!”

Upon hearing that, William sneered, “I want to see who’s going to regret this!

“Denise, get me a rope.”

Denise immediately got the hint. She immediately took a rope and walked toward me.

I retreated, leaving a trail of blood on the floor. My eyes were filled with fear. “What are you doing?”

However, they were only staring at me in excitement.

My limbs were tied together by the rope. Then, they dragged me out of the house by the rope. The rough floor cut my skin open, and I left a trail of blood behind me.

They dragged me to the pond. William kicked me into the pond. My limbs were all tied up, so I could not move. I hopelessly sank to the bottom of the pond.

The water entered my mouth and nose. The suffocation was agonizing. Just when I thought I would die, William grabbed the rope and dragged me out of the pond. “Aurelia, do you understand what you did wrong? Do you dare to cheat on me in the future?”

I gasped for fresh air, but I felt a tugging pain in my tummy.

I knew that I was about to give birth prematurely due to a possible miscarriage.

Even though I knew that it was very unlikely that my child was still alive, I did not want to give up any last hope.

I begged William again, “I know what I did wrong, I won’t dare to do it again. Please let me and my child go.

“I’m about to give birth. Please, call a doctor. I beg you…”

William spat at me. “What a shameless woman! How dare you still think about your illegitimate child? I bet you’re not regretful in the least!

“I won’t allow this random child to survive!”

After he said that, he wanted to kick me back into the pond.

I shut my eyes hopelessly as a fear of drowning overcame me.

At the same time, someone came through the entrance.

Gideon rushed over frantically and roared, “Stop!”