It was too late!

Amelia ducked into the nearby staff lounge and locked the door behind her.

The next second, footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Then a man's icy, commanding voice rang out. "Who is the woman carrying my child?"

The doctor's voice shook, but he still refused to give Amelia up. "Mr. Hayes, I'm terribly sorry. A hacker attack a few days ago wiped out many records. We can't provide any details about this IVF cycle."

"Wiped out?" Kellan Hayes gave a cold laugh. "I suggest you think carefully before you speak again, or you'll lose that hand."

A strangled scream followed.

Amelia stood frozen behind the door, her face pale from the brutality in his tone.

She had tangled with a ruthless man. If he found her, he would never let her keep the baby.

The doctor wouldn't hold out long. She had to get away now.

Swallowing her panic, Amelia scanned the room. Her eyes locked on the window.

Second floor. The drainpipe outside would be easy enough to climb.

Without hesitation, she swung a leg over the sill and clambered out.

However, her dress caught on a protruding wire with a sharp rip.

The faint sound still reached Kellan outside.

His gaze snapped to the lounge door. "Open it," he ordered.

Amelia's heart hammered so hard she thought it might burst. The instant her feet touched ground she sprinted toward the street.

At the same moment, the lounge door crashed open under a powerful kick.

Kellan swept his eyes around the empty room, stepped to the window, and saw nothing but bustling traffic below.

His eyes narrowed at the few threads snagged on the wire. A low, chilling laugh escaped his throat.

"Pretty bold," he murmured.

Amelia burst through the hospital gates, so frantic she almost missed the car that shot out from the side.

She skidded to a stop just in time, but momentum sent her sprawling.

Her palms and arms scraped raw against pavement, pain searing through her skin.

She gritted her teeth, about to push herself up, when a deep voice sounded beside her. "Miss, do you need help?

Amelia's heart stopped. Her hands shook.

She looked up into the strikingly handsome face of Kellan Hayes.

He appeared calm, almost polite, nothing like the terrifying man from moments ago.

For a second, she couldn't tell if he recognized her as the woman who had used his sample.

She forced her voice steady. "Thank you, I'm fine on my own."

She struggled to her feet and hastily gathered her scattered things.

Just as she turned to leave, he spoke again, nodding at her torn hem. "Your dress is ripped. Do you need—"

"No, thank you. I fell earlier," she cut in.

She winced inwardly, aware she sounded defensive.

Better not to linger. She muttered another quick "Thanks" and hurried away.

She never noticed Kellan watching her retreating figure with unreadable eyes.

Back at the villa, Amelia finally exhaled.

The house was empty. She remembered Eduardo had an important business gala that night.

Even though the thought of him now made her sick, the investment leads at that gala were vital for her future plans.

She bandaged her scrapes, slipped into an evening gown, and drove to the hotel.

The ballroom overflowed with the city's elite.

The moment Amelia entered, she spotted Eduardo with Josie on his arm, both laughing with guests like the perfect couple.

Josie's eyes met hers and flashed with triumph. "Amelia, on such an important night for the Wayne family, how could the lady of the house arrive so late? Oh my God, you're hurt!"

Josie reached for Amelia's scraped arm as if to show everyone.

"I tripped on my way back from the hospital," Amelia said coolly, stepping neatly aside.

Josie's fake concern made her want to roll her eyes.

She acted like the lady of Wayne family.

"Why were you at the hospital? Feeling unwell? Oh, silly me. Eduardo mentioned you two were trying IVF again because you still can't conceive naturally. That must be exhausting!"

Her voice carried just far enough for nearby guests to hear.

Whispers rippled outward. "They say Mrs. Wayne is an orphan with no family backing. Guess it's true—she's desperate for a child to secure her place."

"Mr. Wayne and Miss Spencer look far better together. Amelia can't compare."

"But I heard she stood by him through his hardest years. That counts for something."

Eduardo glanced at Amelia's disheveled state and scowled with open irritation. "Amelia! You're embarrassing me in front of everyone. You knew how critical tonight is. If you're injured, you should have stayed home instead of showing up like this."

Amelia laughed coldly inside.

She had planned to wait until after the gala to demand a divorce. No need now.

"Eduardo, you still know the meaning of shame? I think using me as a womb for you and your mistress is a thousand times more humiliating than a few scratches. And Josie, I didn't know you liked the ripped-look trend. Take this trash off my hands. You're welcome. Remember, the title of Mrs. Wayne is my gift to you. Don't ever act like you earned it in front of me again. Eduardo, we're done. I want a divorce."

Josie turned scarlet with rage, but in the next breath her eyes filled with tears. "Eduardo, I only spoke up because I was worried about Amelia and wanted to save dignity for the Wayne family. She must have misunderstood us."

Eduardo lowered his voice to soothe her. "Don't cry. We'll talk outside."

He seized Amelia's wrist and pulled her onto the terrace. "Amelia, if you want to throw a tantrum, at least choose the right place! Nothing is going on between Josie and me. You can't slander us just because you're jealous and drag the Wayne name and hers through the mud! And there is no scheme about the baby. Stop letting your imagination run wild."

"Who's throwing a tantrum?" Amelia took out her phone and pressed play.

"Eduardo, you always treat me the best. Tricking Amelia into IVF, then swapping her eggs for mine so she carries our baby for me. This way I don't have to ruin my figure and my career stays safe."

"My sweet Josie is too delicate. How could I let you go through that pain?"

Eduardo's face flashed with panic for a split second before he forced it back.

He even sounded smug when he spoke again. "Since you already know, I won't hide it anymore. Carrying a child for Josie and me should be your honor. An orphan like you—without the three years I gave you as Mrs. Wayne—you'd still be struggling at the bottom. In return, giving me a child is the least you can do."

Hearing him admit it to her face twisted something sharp inside Amelia's chest.

She yanked her arm free and answered coldly. "I don't want that honor. I've already signed the divorce papers. Please sign them as soon as possible, Mr. Wayne."

Eduardo froze, fury rising, but more guests were drifting onto the terrace. He softened his tone. "All right, Amelia, we'll discuss this at home, okay? Right now you're still Mrs. Wayne in everyone's eyes. Making a scene here only embarrasses yourself."

Amelia refused to budge. Josie's expression darkened. "Amelia, whether you carry the baby or I do, it's still Eduardo's child. Why be so petty? For the baby's sake, we would never treat you badly."

Amelia almost laughed at their shamelessness. "A homewrecker has no right to lecture me."

She glared at them both. "I want the signed papers on my table by tomorrow morning. Otherwise, don't blame me for tearing the Wayne family's reputation to shreds."

With that she turned to leave.

"Wait!" Josie trotted forward and blocked her path. "Amelia, since you're set on divorce, kindly take off the jewelry Eduardo gave you. This brand hired me as their ambassador. It's positioned for elegant, high-society women. It really doesn't suit you."

Amelia nearly snorted.

Josie just wanted to humiliate her in public.

When Amelia didn't move, Josie reached for the necklace herself. Amelia caught her wrist hard enough to make her yelp.

Josie instantly turned tearful eyes toward Eduardo.

Eduardo hesitated for only a moment before barking at his bodyguards. "What are you waiting for? Get over there and take the necklace off her!"

Two guards closed in at once.

At that critical second a cool, cutting voice rang out. "Ms. Fuller has exquisite taste. Cheap jewelry like that truly doesn't deserve her."

Kellan Hayes strolled forward, his presence alone enough to silence the terrace.

Amelia's heart lurched. Why was he here? Had he figured it out?

Eduardo failed to notice her alarm. He recognized Kellan as someone familiar yet couldn't place him.

Still, the way even the host of the gala trailed behind the man told Eduardo this was no ordinary guest.

He wondered when Amelia had met someone so powerful.

Seeing Kellan's gaze fixed on her, an inexplicable irritation flared in Eduardo's chest.

He stepped forward, smoothly shielding Amelia behind him. "Sir, this is a private family matter…"

Compared to Eduardo, Amelia wanted nothing to do with the dangerous man in front of her.

Eduardo's move gave her the perfect escape. Before either man reacted, she slipped away and vanished from the ballroom.

Kellan frowned behind Eduardo's back and started after her.

His assistant appeared at once and whispered something in his ear.

Kellan paused, then changed direction and left with the assistant.

Eduardo, thoroughly ignored, grew livid. When he spun around to confront Amelia again, she was already gone.

His anger doubled. He decided he would teach her a harsh lesson once they got home.

By then Amelia had reached the villa. She packed her things in minutes and walked out of the Wayne residence.

The taxi stopped in front of an apartment building in the city center.

Amelia dragged herself upstairs and collapsed onto the plush sofa the moment she stepped inside.

Even after becoming Mrs. Wayne, she had never stopped studying.

Over the years, she had bought this apartment with her own money and quietly built a reputation as one of the sharpest financial analysts in the industry.

She simply never made that identity public while she played the dutiful wife.

Things were different now.

Amelia pulled out her phone and dialed. "Josh, I need you to look into two things for me. Everything you can find on a man named Kellan Hayes. And every single interaction between Eduardo Wayne and Josie Spencer. Send it all to my inbox as fast as you can."

Josh sounded stunned on the other end. "You and Eduardo are splitting up?"

"Yeah." Amelia answered calmly.

She and Josh had grown up together in the same orphanage. They were as close as siblings.

Josh was a genius with computers, had studied abroad, and now ranked among the world's top hackers. He was her biggest safety net.

"Good for you, Amelia. If you're ever unhappy, just come back. I'll always be here."

Her hand trembled around the phone.

She was used to being strong on her own, but Josh always found the cracks in her armor.

Minutes later, a thick file landed in her inbox.

It turned out Eduardo had once been Josie's pathetic lapdog. When Josie left the country to chase her modeling career, he had turned his full attention to Amelia with relentless pursuit.

After the wedding he sweet-talked and pressured her into retiring from modeling to become a full-time wife.

Meanwhile, Josie rose to international supermodel status.

Six months ago, Josie suddenly returned home and picked up right where she left off with Eduardo.

Every late night at the office or business trip, Eduardo claimed lined up perfectly with time spent with Josie.

Amelia smirked bitterly and saved the file.

"Amelia, about that other guy you asked me to dig into… why him?" Josh rarely called just to talk. "No one knows the full truth, but the rumors say that on paper he's a legitimate overseas tycoon. Behind the scenes he's a mafia don. Ruthless. Last year, someone nearly killed him. Following old family tradition, he froze sperm at a private clinic in case the bloodline died with him. He's been showing up at high-profile galas lately because he's hunting new markets."

So that was the story.

Amelia's hand drifted to her stomach.

This man was even more dangerous than she had feared.

At Wayne villa, Josie curled against Eduardo's chest. "Eduardo, what if she really leaks everything because you won't sign the papers?"

"She won't dare," Eduardo sneered with absolute certainty. "An orphan with no family and no career—where could she possibly go without me? She's just throwing a tantrum because she's pregnant and wants more attention. Trust me, I'm not indulging her spoiled little act."

Josie giggled and snuggled closer.

At Hayes private estate, Kellan had not expected his father to call just to nag him about marriage.

He brushed the old man off, but the image of Amelia Fuller refused to leave his mind.

"Jason." Kellan rubbed the plain silver band between his fingers.

It had fallen from Amelia's hand when she fled the ballroom.

A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped into the study. "Find everything you can on a woman named Amelia Fuller."

"Yes, sir."

"Wait." Kellan stopped him at the door, hesitating longer this time. "Also dig into the exact state of her marriage to Eduardo Wayne. I want details."