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.

At the entrance of the venue, Eduardo and Josie were straightening their clothes when they spotted Amelia heading straight for the VIP lane.

"Amelia, stop right there! How the hell do you have access to this place?" Eduardo strode over and caught a glimpse of the badge she was pulling out. "So that's why you haven't come crawling back. You've been sneaking around behind my back with another man! That disaster at the product launch—you planned it with him, didn't you! I must have been blind. I actually thought you were some saint."

Amelia felt like a stray dog had just latched onto her ankle.

She only wanted to get away fast.

Before she could, an elegant older gentleman noticed the badge in her hand and hurried over. "Our honored guest invited personally by Mr. Hayes! Forgive me for not greeting you at the door."

Josie, who had been waiting for a good show, stood frozen.

That was the untouchable titan of real estate—she had only seen him once from a distance—and he was bowing to Amelia?

Amelia returned a polite nod and slipped inside.

Kellan took the stage as host of the investment summit and instantly commanded the room.

"Tonight's total fund is two billion dollars. How much anyone walks away with depends entirely on Mr. Hayes's mood."

"They say he's young but terrifyingly capable, and now I believe it."

"His money is deep and his eye is sharper. Anything he backs turns to gold."

Bidding grew ferocious.

Eduardo dragged Josie along, desperate to catch Kellan's attention.

"Mr. Hayes, I hear you've been looking to break into the premium wine market but haven't found the right partner. Wayne Group has decades of expertise and we're actively seeking new capital. We'd be perfect for you."

Kellan offered a faint smile. "I do admire Wayne's technical strengths. Unfortunately, Mr. Wayne, your recent personal scandals are a little… loud. That kind of noise could damage a partnership."

Seeing the deal slipping away, Eduardo grew frantic.

Kellan's tone shifted. "From what I understand, Miss Fuller has already asked you for a divorce. If you sign the papers right here in front of me, I'll clean up the media mess for you, and we can move forward with business."

For profit, Eduardo could discard anything.

He had the divorce agreement delivered on the spot and scrawled his signature.

When the signed papers reached Amelia's hands, she studied Kellan with slightly less wariness.

So far he had shown no hostility toward her.

"The divorce is settled," Kellan said quietly, "but have you thought about what happens when Wayne decides he wants the child and comes after you?"

Amelia fell silent.

He was right. On her own, shaking Eduardo off completely would be nearly impossible—especially if he ever learned the baby wasn't his.

She couldn't predict how insane he might turn.

"Marry me. I'll make that problem disappear. It will be a contract marriage only. I get you away from Wayne, you deliver the heir so I can satisfy my family, we both get what we need."

Kellan watched the storm of emotions on her face. Outwardly calm, inside he felt an unfamiliar tightness in his chest.

He was terrified she would refuse again.

"I'll think about it."

Not an outright no. Kellan exhaled and signaled his assistant with a glance.

Across the room, Josie whispered urgently in Eduardo's ear. His face darkened by the second.

All the leaked photos, all the canceled deals—every disaster suddenly pointed to one man.

Eduardo realized he had been played. Fury propelled him toward Kellan.

At that exact moment, the lights dimmed.

A single spotlight found Amelia.

Gasps rippled through the crowd as Kellan took her hand, dropped to one knee, and opened a velvet box.

Inside gleamed a breathtaking pink diamond ring.

"Ms. Fuller, will you marry me?"