The hospital recommended that Gia stay for further observation, but she did not want to see Lucas again, so she checked out of the hospital.

She was still weak, but she did not dare waste time. She rushed to sort things out and had documents sent from her private investigator.

Gia opened them and saw Cecilia's prenatal reports inside.

The DNA results showed a 99 percent match. Lucas was indeed the father of the unborn child.

Her expression barely changed. She had suspected it, and the evidence only confirmed it.

She called someone and instructed, "Suspend all funding and investments for Lucas's lab next month."

At that moment, the doorbell rang. Gia frowned, and on the monitor she saw his parents, Linda Hoffman and Shane Isles–and they did not look happy.

Gia took a deep breath before she opened the door.

"What took you so long?" scolded Linda as she shoved her way inside, her judgemental gaze fixed on Gia. "I heard you were in the hospital? You do look a bit worn out," she said.

Gia said nothing, and Linda did not seem to care. She pulled out several bags and began rummaging through them. "I found more remedies for infertility, and this time, I'll make sure you drink them every day," she said.

"You've been married for three years and still have no child. Our family's reputation must be a laughing stock for other people!" she exclaimed.

She laid out bundles of dark and powdery medicine. The pungent smell filled the room, and Gia frowned. "I won't drink it," she said.

"How dare you?" snapped Shane. "How can a woman not give birth to a son? I asked an old doctor for help. You're rich anyway; give me a hundred thousand so I can send him a gift."

Gia let out a cold laugh.

'The topic of children was only an excuse. The real reason was for the money,' mused Gia.

"What are you laughing at? You're nothing but a useless hen that can't lay eggs, and you still dare to laugh!" yelled Linda.

"Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?" Lucas could be heard from the doorway. He walked in quickly and gave Gia a reassuring look.

"I've told you so many times that Gia's health and career come first. Why are you pushing her to have a baby again?" he asked.

Shane grew furious and said, "Our bloodline ends if she doesn't bear a child. It'll be so embarrassing for the family!"

Lucas suddenly said, "Don't worry, I have a plan."

Everyone turned to look at him.

Lucas held Gia by the hand and spoke gently, "Gia, since we don't have a child, why don't we take Cecelia's baby as our godchild? Wouldn't that be good? Think about it. My parents would have a grandchild, and when that child grows up, he could help you manage the company. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"

Gia froze. Had she misheard him or something?

'Does Lucas want to publicly make his illegitimate child their godson, let him manage my company? Am I a complete fool to him?' she thought.

Anger and humiliation overwhelmed Gia as she shouted, "No!"

Linda slapped her harshly.

"How did our family end up with such a shameless daughter-in-law? Things are settled if Lucas has decided. Who are you to refuse?" she exclaimed.

The slap was so harsh, Gia's head swung to the side. A burning pain spread across her cheek.

"Mom!" Lucas stepped in front of Gia, but instead of protecting her, he gripped her tightly to stop her from striking back.

He was afraid that Gia would fight back.

"Alright, it's decided. Cecelia is pitiful. We should help a widow and her child. You're being unreasonable, Gia," said Lucas.

Gia felt like her heart was shattering into pieces. The voices around her grew distant and fractured.

"Anyway, the company is marital property. At least half of it is mine to decide. When Cecelia gives birth, I'll treat that child like my own.

"Don't be stubborn, Gia. I'm a man, and I need someone to succeed. He's only a godson. You can understand that, can't you?" asked Lucas.

His voice was fading to her.

Suddenly, Gia tasted blood in her throat.

Gia could not remember how the commotion ended. Maybe she had fainted from weakness, because she was in her bedroom when she woke up again, and the room was dark.

She forced herself up to eat something, but before she could recover, the door was kicked open.

Lucas strode in, his chest heaving violently, his eyes on her carrying a trace of hatred.

"What did you say to Cecelia?!" he hissed.

The scene felt painfully familiar. The suffocating, nauseating feeling surged back at once. Her face turned pale, and she stumbled back a step.

However, Lucas gave her no space to escape. He seized her wrist in a crushing grip, his voice roaring with fury.

"Why would she cut her wrists and try to kill herself?! She almost… She almost…" he said.

Gia forced herself to stay calm. She drew in a deep breath. "What does that have to do with me?"

"Gia! Do you even have a heart?" he asked.

Pain shot through her wrist, a cold bead of sweat sliding down her temple.

Lucas shook her hard and yelled, "Why can't you accept Cecelia? She felt like a burden because of you, and that's why she tried to kill herself! What more do you want from her? She's only a helpless young girl!"

Her vision went dark. She wanted to struggle and wanted to scream, but she could not say anything.

She wanted to snap back at him. 'A helpless young girl? Do you mean the girl who is carrying your child?!'

Somehow, she found it in her to scream, though hoarsely, "What does it have to do with me if she wants to die?"

The slap came out of nowhere.

Gia was knocked to the ground, her ears buzzing.

Her face was burning with pain, and she looked like she was in disbelief. She could not believe that Lucas hit her. They had been together for decades, and he had not even spoken harshly to her in her past life.

Lucas stared at his hands, he was also in shock. "Gia, I…" he trailed off.

He clutched his head in pain. His voice broke as he said, "What you've done is no different from murder! I was so angry…"

His bloodshot eyes glistened.

Gritting his teeth, he dragged Gia out without giving her a choice. He hauled her downstairs, all the way to the basement.

"If anything happens to Cecelia, I'll never forgive you," he said.

With that, he shoved her inside, and the heavy door slammed shut. Darkness and dampness closed in, and Gia began to shake.

"No… Don't…" begged Gia.

She staggered to the door, pounding on it and screaming until her voice cracked. However, there was only silence from outside the door.

Ever since years ago, when thugs had cornered her in a dark alley that night, she had carried a crippling fear of darkness. 'Lucas knew that. He knew…' thought Gia.

She did not know how long she cried and screamed until she had no strength left. Her consciousness faded as she curled up on the floor.

She did not know how much time had passed before someone dragged her away. Pain jolted her awake, and she found herself tied to a chair.

She forced her eyes open through hazy vision, and she saw Lucas standing in front of her with a knife in his hand.

He looked deranged as he muttered to himself, "Cecelia's still in emergency care. The doctor said it doesn't look good…"

A shiver ran through Gia. Her voice cracked as she asked, "What are you trying to do?"

His face looked twisted with pain and guilt. Suddenly, he lunged forward. His voice was choking with tears as he said, "Gia, my mom said there's a remedy. If I use the blood of the person Cecelia's been closest to, I can call her soul back…"

Her eyes widened in horror. "Lucas Isles! Are you insane?!" she shrieked.

'He's a research scientist! How could he believe in such superstition?!' she thought.

However, the blade was pressed against her arm. He said, "I have no choice… I don't. The baby's stuck in delivery, and we're about to lose them both… I'll bleed with you! Cecelia and the baby can't die!"

Gia had no time to react–a sharp pain ripped through her arm.

Blood flowed and dripped into a bowl.

Lucas slashed his own wrist, letting their blood mingle. "It'll be over soon…" he murmured. "It's not enough. I need more…"

Her face turned deathly pale as her blood continued to ooze out, her head spinning as it prolonged.

"You… You've gone insane. You're truly insane…" she muttered.

Her breathing grew labored. She felt her life drained away, despair and bitter irony consumed her.

'Is it all because of this? For a superstition? Would he bleed me dry just to save Cecelia?' she thought.

She used the last of her strength to whisper, "Lucas… I hate you…"

Then, the darkness swallowed her whole.

Half-conscious, Gia heard the hurried footsteps of doctors and nurses.

"The patient's blood type is rare, and we need to arrange a transfusion right now!"

"We've found it. The patient donates blood regularly. The blood bank has her record. We can prioritize her supply!"

What happened before she fainted kept flashing in her mind. Her heart had gone numb from the pain.

She no longer recognized Lucas. He was no longer the calm, gentle professor she once knew.

Fragments of her past life surfaced in the chaos. She had always believed her marriage was happy. Though there had been compromise and tolerance, her husband had seemed caring and considerate. She thought she had no reason to be dissatisfied.

Looking back, however, she realized those moments were nothing but delusions.

Gia had a high fever once and had called Lucas, but he said, "The experiment can't wait." She wondered if he was with Cecelia back then.

She found a lipstick in his car once, and he said a colleague must have dropped it. How easily she had believed him.

There were too many memories, and she dared not dwell on them.

"The blood is ready. Begin the transfusion!" said a nurse. Her voice made Gia snap out of it.

However, the ward door was forced open the next moment.

"Wait! Don't give her the blood!" yelled Lucas. He rushed in, his face pale and eyes bloodshot.

He continued, "Cecelia's life is no longer in danger, but she suddenly went into premature labor and suffered massive bleeding. The hospital's supply is running out, so this blood has to go to her first!"

The doctor knew Lucas, and he disapprovingly retorted, "Mr. Isles, your wife is critically anemic. She could die!"

"No!" Lucas suddenly lunged forward. He begged, "Gia, you can hold on, can't you? There are two lives at stake on Cecelia's side. Please, I'm begging you–give the blood to her, alright?"

Gia could not believe that he broke down in tears as he spoke.

She was stunned for a moment, having never seen him cry before. The only time he pleaded so desperately was when she collapsed from illness years ago, and he clutched her tightly, begging her not to die, and not to leave him.

She thought she had no tears left for him, no pain left to feel. Her chest ached so badly at that moment; she felt like she was borderline suffocating.

She thought to herself, 'Soon. Soon, I will be free.'

Gia nodded calmly. "Fine. Give the blood to her," she said.

Lucas froze, then his face lit up with relief. He snatched the blood bag and bolted from the room.

Silence fell. The doctors exchanged helpless sighs. "Hurry up and see if we can requisition more blood!"

Gia slowly closed her eyes and, to her own surprise, smiled. She had finally, completely given up.

Her phone vibrated softly. She made the effort to pick it up and answered.

"Ms. Rowan, all assets have been successfully transferred. The mandatory waiting period is over. The divorce has been finished," said the lawyer.

The lawyer steadily continued, "Funding for Lucas's lab has been fully withdrawn, and as you requested, all the evidence is ready. You can file the lawsuit anytime."

Gia let out a long sigh and smile. It was a genuine smile, too. She felt like she was finally free.

Gia pulled out her IV drip after ending the call.

"Ms. Rowan, you can't!" the nurse exclaimed.

Gia pushed herself to her feet. Her steps wavered, but her body felt lighter than ever.

"There's no need to stop me. It's alright," she said. "My life is mine to decide."

She slipped on her coat and walked out without looking back.

Lucas was still waiting anxiously outside the operating room at the end of the hallway, his voice tight with worry as he questioned the staff.

However, Gia did not spare him a glance. She walked toward the elevator.

The world was vast from then on, and she would never look back.