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."

The video doorbell chimed. Amelia glanced at the screen and saw Kellan standing downstairs.

She reached to decline, but froze when he dangled a familiar silver ring from a thin chain.

Her stomach dropped.

She had searched everywhere for that ring after the gala.

It was the only thing her birth parents had left her.

With no other choice, she went downstairs.

Kellan wasted no time. "The child you're carrying is mine, Ms. Fuller."

Amelia's pulse spiked. She stared at him warily, stunned he had tracked her down so fast.

His voice was ice. "But not just anyone gets to give birth to my heir."

The menace in his tone raised every hair on her body. She instinctively wanted to run.

Kellan read her like an open book and pinned her against the wall in one smooth move.

Trapped, Amelia shielded her stomach and glared up at him. "This is my baby, Mr. Hayes!"

He arched a brow, sharp eyes raking over her. "You're easy on the eyes, I'll give you that. Terrible taste in men, though. Divorce him. Marry me."

Amelia's jaw dropped. She wondered if she had heard wrong.

Seeing her disbelief, Kellan frowned. "What, you plan to let my child call another man Daddy?"

It took her several seconds to process.

He was acknowledging the child.

Still, she refused. "I will divorce Eduardo, but I'm not marrying you. This baby is mine and mine alone."

Something flickered in Kellan's eyes—surprise that anyone dared turn him down. "I'll remind you the child is half mine."

Amelia refused to back down. "I'm the one who's pregnant. I'm the one who'll suffer through labor. You contributed a few seconds of effort you didn't even know about. How exactly is this baby half yours?"

She twisted free, snatched the ring from his hand, and bolted back upstairs.

The door slammed behind her final answer in his face.

Kellan stared at the closed door. No anger, only a darker determination.

Amelia knew he wouldn't give up easily, but she pushed the thought aside and opened the surveillance feed on her phone.

The live stream showed the Wayne Group new product launch.

Eduardo stood on stage, all smiles. "Next, allow me to present a short film that captures the unique charm of our 'Voyager' collection!"

Every guest turned toward the massive screen.

The next second, explicit photos of Eduardo kissing Josie exploded across it.

The Wayne elders turned purple with rage. Josie went deathly pale.

More damning images followed in rapid succession.

Camera flashes erupted like fireworks.

"Mr. Wayne, do you admit to cheating on your wife and abandoning her?"

"Rumors say your marriage has been dead for years. Is this your public confession and divorce announcement?"

From her apartment, Amelia watched the chaos she had orchestrated and finally tasted sweet revenge.

But she sensed something different.

Then the financial alerts started pouring in.

"Wayne Group shares hit limit-down at opening bell after founder scandal."

"Breaking: Largest partner Macro Capital terminates all agreements effective immediately."

"Skyline Group, Far Reach Holdings, and seven other major partners withdraw from Wayne projects simultaneously."

She had only planned to ruin Eduardo's reputation and force the divorce through public pressure.

This was annihilation.

A text lit up her screen. It was from Kellan. "Consider the plunging stock price my small sincerity."

Another message followed instantly. "Someone just delivered a package to your door. Three days from now, come to the investment summit. Watch the show. I think you'll change your mind.

Amelia opened the box. Inside lay a metal badge engraved with a soaring eagle—the pass to the exclusive summit.

Beneath it rested an exquisite pink-diamond necklace clearly custom-made.

A card in bold, commanding script read: Only one-of-a-kind jewels are worthy of you.

Inside Wayne office, the atmosphere had never been grimmer.

"Find out who's behind this! Now!" Eduardo hurled a crystal tumbler against the wall as cancellation notices flooded in. The company teetered on the edge of collapse.

Josie wrapped her arms around him. "Don't worry, darling. I've already found a lifeline. In two days there's an investment summit. My uncle says a powerful overseas fund is looking for new markets. I managed to secure us entry."

Eduardo pulled her close. "You always take care of me."

Nestled against his chest, Josie hid her own panic.

She had burned every favor she had just to get them through the door. Everything now hinged on that single night.