My voice trembled with tears.

"Alice, I'm sorry. We're just following orders," the doctor said, pity in his eyes, before tightening his grip.

I bit down on my lip, tasting blood, my grip on the bed sheet tearing it to pieces.

Beneath me, the blood flowed like a river...

The baby, my baby, was gone-lost at the hands of his father.

The door opened, and a man stepped in-elegant and refined. Seeing me curled up on the bed, William's heart twisted.

"Alice," he whispered.

I lifted my eyes, forcing a faint smile, "You're here."

He took my pale hand, "I came too late..."

If not for his family owning the hospital, he might never have known what happened.

"How are you?"

I forced a smile, "I'm fine."

"How can you say that?! No anesthesia, how could you be fine?" William's eyes reddened. "Aiden that bastard... I'll make him pay!"

"Aiden? He's a mafia boss! Don't go and get yourself killed!" I grabbed his arm, tears streaming. "Please, don't."

"You're still defending him?!"

"No," I looked down, hiding the pain in my eyes, "Let this be my atonement. Don't mention Aiden again."

William fell silent.

A month passed, yet Aiden never once came to see me. Did he truly hate me that much?

With the child gone, my heart was dead too.

That day, I finished the discharge procedures and stepped out of the hospital.

But as soon as I left, my phone rang.

It was the city hospital-the one where my father was.

Could it be... my father had woken up?

"Is this Alice Alice?"

"Yes, is my father awake?"

A long silence, then the doctor's pitying voice came through, "I'm sorry, Alice. Your father... passed away suddenly."

The world crashed around me.

"What? That's impossible. Just last week, they said he was improving..."

"Alice, you should come to the hospital. We're so sorry for your loss," the doctor said before hanging up.

I stood frozen, the phone's beeping sound ringing in my ears.

My father was gone... how could this happen so suddenly?

I snapped out of it, hailed a cab, and rushed to the hospital.

In the morgue, staring at my father's cold body, the tears came unbidden.

He had been fine just days ago... How could he be gone now?

I collapsed, overwhelmed with grief.

When I woke, I found myself in a hospital bed. William was there, lifting my bed as I stirred.

"My father..." I croaked.

William handed me water, his voice soothing, "Drink first."

"Did I do something wrong in my past life? The baby's gone, and now my father..."

William gripped my hand, "You did nothing wrong. The mistake was loving Aiden."

At the mention of Aiden, my pain deepened.

"Alice... about your father's death..." William hesitated.

I grabbed his arm, desperate, "What about it? Tell me!"

William looked away, eyes full of reluctance, "The cameras show that only Sucy entered your father's room before he passed."

"What?" My voice shook. "Are you saying Sucy did this to my father?"

I grabbed the iPad, swiping to reveal the video.

Sucy entered the room an hour before my father's death, leaving just before the nurse found him dead. There were also photos of her fingerprints on his clothes.

"It's Sucy! She did this!" I cried, fists clenched.

"I'm going to confront her!"

"Alice, no!" William blocked me. "You're too weak to go. Aiden will stop at nothing."

"Are you really going?" William's face softened with worry.

"Yes! If you were in my shoes, you'd do the same. Don't stop me!"

I tried to push past him, determined.

"If you're going, I'm coming with you. I won't let you face this alone."

Outside the mansion, the bodyguards blocked our path coldly. "Sorry, no one is allowed in without the boss's permission."

"Tell Sucy to come out, I need to talk to her!"

"She and the boss are picking out wedding dresses. She's not here."

"Wedding dresses?" I froze, my heart sinking like a stone.

"You still don't know?"

"The boss is marrying Sucy next month."

"Alice, let's go, they're not here," William urged.

"No, I won't leave until they show up!" My voice was cold with fury.

Suddenly, a chilling voice cut through the air behind me. "Waiting for me?"

There they were-Aiden and Sucy, stepping out of a Rolls Royce, dressed to perfection. Their chemistry was sharp enough to wound.

Aiden's eyes locked on William with cold contempt. "Alice, what's this wild man doing at my doorstep?"

"Who are you calling wild?"

"I don't care who you two are," Aiden sneered, pulling Sucy closer. "What do you want?"

I glared at Sucy. "My father died yesterday afternoon."

For a moment, panic flashed across Sucy's face before she masked it with innocence. "Alice, what are you implying?"

"Stop pretending," I scoffed, holding up a USB drive. "I have the footage of you entering the hospital an hour before my father died, and your fingerprints are on his clothes."

Sucy's eyes welled up as she looked at Aiden, silently pleading.

Aiden's gaze turned to ice. "So, you're defending a murderer?"

"Sucy isn't the murderer!"

"Not the murderer?"

Aiden snarled, shoving Sucy aside, his fury burning bright. "If anyone's a killer, it's you! If not for you, Sucy wouldn't have miscarried, and she wouldn't be infertile. I've been merciful by not sending you to prison!"

"No, it wasn't me... three years ago, it wasn't me..."

"Enough!" Aiden's voice sliced through the air. "Give me the evidence!"

William stepped forward, blocking me. "You won't get it."

"How long have you been protecting her? Tell me, was that child yours?"

"Aiden!" Sucy gasped, but was pushed aside.

Fury consumed Aiden as he lunged at William, their fists colliding in a brutal fight. Within seconds, Aiden had the upper hand, landing blow after blow. When Aiden raised his fist again, I rushed forward to stop him-and the punch landed square in my abdomen.

"Ugh..." I gasped, clutching my stomach. "Alice!"

William shouted, lifting me into his arms, his voice raw with rage. "Aiden, are you even a man?"

Aiden's eyes flickered with brief pity before he sneered, "I'm the man she knows best."

"You piece of trash!" William's voice broke as he attempted to charge at Aiden, but I stopped him, trembling. "Let's go. There's no justice for my father anymore. I've only humiliated myself."

"You're giving up?" William's voice cracked with frustration.

I smiled bitterly. "What else can I do?"

I stood, my back straight, my hands pressed to my stomach, leaving with William's reluctant support.

From behind us, Aiden's cold voice followed. "Don't think your evidence will destroy Sucy. You can't win against me."

Aiden had taken everything from me-my child, my father... and now, even my dignity.

Now, my father was dead, and Aiden's beloved Sucy had played a part in his death. How could I ever repay this blood debt?

Curled on the sofa, I stared out at the pouring rain, my heart heavy with grief. Then, a newsflash from the TV struck me like lightning: "Aiden will be getting engaged to Sucy on the 5th of next month."

I froze, my gaze locked on the screen.

There stood Aiden in a sharp black suit, his presence commanding, with Sucy at his side, a delicate vision in a white Chanel gown. Together, they looked flawless, and I, the outsider, felt like a ghost.

"William... are you free?" My voice trembled as I picked up the phone.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm in pain... Will you drink with me?"

"Of course. " he replied, understanding the weight of Aiden's engagement. "Stay home. I'll be there soon."

In less than twenty minutes, William arrived. The drive was silent. As he glanced at me through the rearview mirror, he spoke softly, "You never drank before."

"That was before. Tonight... I won't stop until I drown it all,"

"Alright," William said, his eyes full of sorrow.

The bar was deafening. Men and women in the dance floor were letting go of their inhibitions.

I grabbed a bottle of red wine, tilted my head back, and took a long, painful gulp. William watched with pain in his eyes, snatching the bottle away. "Alice, stop drinking."

"Don't take it from me!"

"Is it worth destroying yourself over that bastard?"

We drank in silence, oblivious to the camera quietly watching from the shadows.

Then, William stumbled, collapsing heavily onto the floor.

"William!" My vision blurred, and I staggered toward him.

Before I could reach him, a strong force yanked me into a familiar embrace.

"Alice? You sound so familiar," Aiden's voice cut through the fog of my drunken haze.

"Aiden? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your fiancée? Why are you even bothering with me?" I shoved at him.

"Let him hold you, but not me?" Aiden's grip tightene. "As long as you're still mine, you'll never escape me. Don't forget who I am, and dare to betray me?"

"You bastard!"

"Let go of Alice!" William rose from the ground, charging at Aiden with fury.

Before he could even get close, Aiden delivered a brutal kick that sent William flying several feet away.

"William!" I struggled desperately, but Aiden held me tighter.

In a fit of rage, I sank my teeth into his arm.

"Aiden, you bastard!"

"Ugh-" Aiden grimaced, his expression freezing as he glared down at me, fury burning in his eyes. How dare she bite him for another man?

"Alice, since you care so much for him, then I'll make sure he's well taken care of." A cruel smile curled on Aiden's lips as he motioned for something with a raised hand.

In an instant, a dozen black-clad bodyguards surrounded the fallen William.

"William, run!"

William had barely begun to rise when a brutal kick sent him crashing back to the ground. A relentless barrage of punches and kicks rained down on him. He curled up on the floor, his face turning purple and blue, yet he remained silent, not a sound escaping his lips.

"Please! Stop! He's innocent!"

Aiden's eyes narrowed dangerously, his fingers grazing my lips lightly. "Want to save him?"

With that, Aiden scooped me up effortlessly, lifting me off the ground. He made a small gesture, and the bodyguards froze, their assault halting abruptly.

"Bring him over," Aiden ordered coldly, and the bodyguards grabbed William by the collar, dragging him toward Aiden.

Aiden carried me upstairs, while William was roughly pulled along behind us.

"Let go of William!"

Aiden remained silent, quickening his pace, before throwing me onto a couch in a VIP room.

With a sharp thud, my forehead slammed into the board, swelling instantly. Before I could even react, Aiden was on top of me.

"Aiden, let me go!" I struggled, but he only tightened his grip.

"Weren't you just begging me to spare him? " Aiden hissed, pinning my wrists above my head.

I froze, about to speak, when a weak voice came from the door, strained with pain. "Alice, don't agree, I don't need it."

I turned toward the half-open door, realizing Aiden's twisted intention. My body shook with fear. "If you let William go, I'll... I'll do whatever you want..."

A cruel laugh escaped Aiden. "Then you'd better hurry up and serve me." He leaned down, his cold kiss landing hard on my lips. I turned my head, tears in my eyes, pleading, "Close the door..."

"Still want to negotiate?" Aiden sneered, gripping my chin tightly. "I want William to hear how I take you."

"Do you have to humiliate me like this to feel satisfied?"

The smile on Aiden's face froze. The weight of memories-his father's death, the ruin of his family, Sucy's miscarriage and infertility-struck him with a raw, painful force.

"Yes!"

"Um..."

Aiden was savagely biting and gnawing at my lips.

Soon, the smell of blood filled both of our mouths.

I struggled desperately, but he held me even tighter

. His hands were roaming wantonly over my body.

With a "snap", my clothes were roughly torn apart.

Right after that, Aiden turned my body around, making me face away from him, bending my body into an arc, and then thrust into me without any mercy.

I struggled frantically, but was firmly restrained by Aiden.

His hands were like those of a wild wolf, roaming wantonly over my body. Another "snap", my clothes were shredded, and my dignity was torn apart along with them. Aiden turned my body and invaded without a shred of pity.

"No!" I cried out in pain, tears streaming down my face.

Aiden's movements became even more brutal.

Outside the door, William, his body battered and bruised, was crawling desperately towards the door, shouting, "Aiden! You bastard, let her go! Come at me!"

But every time he was kicked back violently by the bodyguards.

Covered in bruises and blood, he was still struggling.

Inside the room, I was expressionless, my eyes empty and numb, letting Aiden take what he wanted.

After it was over, Aiden sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette.

I put on my clothes shakily, helped up the battered William, and said in a tired and despairing voice, "Let's go."

That night, William suffered from gastric bleeding due to the beating, and I took meticulous care of him.

After that, I never saw Aiden again. I thought the feud was finally over, and I could finally lead a peaceful life.

One day, as I was arranging flowers at home, with a "bang", the door was kicked open, and a group of fierce - looking black - clad bodyguards rushed in, each holding an iron rod.

" What are you doing in my house?" I tightened my grip on the scissors and stepped back step by step.

"It's me." Sucy's shrill voice came from outside the door.

Wearing a limited - edition LV dress and high - heeled shoes, she walked in.

"What are you here for?"

"Hmph, to deal with you, you bitch!" Sucy sneered and approached step by step. The bodyguards quickly surrounded me and cornered me.

"Sucy, we're even. Why are you still bothering me?"

"Even?" Sucy snatched the scissors from my hand and pressed it against my face. "Three days ago, you seduced Aiden. He hasn't been home much these days! What kind of spell did you cast on him?" As she spoke, she exerted force, and a thin line of blood instantly oozed from my cheek.

"Are you crazy? Aiden not coming to you has nothing to do with me!"

"How can it have nothing to do with you! Just because of you, he's so cold to me! You bitch seduced him!"

"You can't control your man, so you come to me? Don't you think it's ridiculous?go deal with Aiden. What are you doing here, going crazy?"

"Fine, you still dare to argue!" Sucy sneered, suddenly grabbed my long hair, and glared at me.

"Without this face, let's see how you seduce men "

My scalp tingled. Enduring the pain, I held Sucy's hand with the scissors in one hand and fumbled for my phone in my trouser pocket with the other.

"Scar your face so you can't seduce men anymore! Should I cut it horizontally or vertically?"

"Sucy, you can't do this! You killed my dad. I've paid off what I owed you!"

"Paid off? I can never have a baby in this life. How can your dad's cheap life be enough!" Sucy's face was ferocious as she raised her hand to stab at my face.

I struggled desperately but to no avail and closed my eyes in despair.

With a "clang", the scissors fell to the ground. I opened my eyes and saw Aiden's cold face.

"Aiden! You actually help her!" Sucy's eyes filled with tears as she grabbed Aiden's sleeve.

"Have you forgotten how we lost our child? She made me like this, and you still help her!"

"Not helping her. Just don't want you to dirty your hands." Aiden's words instantly Sucy sobbed in Aiden's arms.

"Aiden! I must ruin this seductive face of hers today!" Sucy roared, picked up the scissors on the ground like a madwoman, and stabbed at me again.

"It's all your fault!" "Enough!" I suddenly snatched the scissors back and shouted hoarsely, "Aiden, Sucy, what on earth do I have to do for you to leave me alone?" "Alice, you caused all my tragedies." Sucy stared at me viciously.

"I can spare your face, but I want your uterus."

"Because of you, I can never have a child. As long as you give me your uterus, our feud will be over!"

"You're insane!" I turned to run, but was grabbed by Sucy's bodyguards.

"Aiden, promise me. Do it for our dead child." Sucy was in tears. My breath caught, and I looked at Aiden.

He said coldly, "Then take out her uterus."

"Take out her uterus, no anesthesia." The bodyguards swarmed up and held me down firmly.

"No!"

In the hospital, I clung tightly to the door frame of the operating room, my fingernails digging in.

"Aiden, please don't do this to me..."

"Aiden, please, don't..."

I was forcibly dragged into the operating room by the doctors. "Aiden, I hate you!" Aiden's body stiffened for a moment, then quickly regained his composure and walked away.

I instantly gave up struggling, my face ashen, and let the medical staff drag me into the operating room.

My underwear was pulled down, and a cold syringe pierced my body.

At that moment, the scene of Aiden confessing with a bouquet of flowers three years ago flashed before my eyes: "Alice, be my girlfriend. " At that time, I thought I had found love.

The drug took effect, and I fell into darkness.

I was woken up by excruciating pain.

Looking at the snow - white ceiling and smelling the pungent smell of disinfectant, I subconsciously reached for my lower abdomen. The long, thin scar announced that my uterus had been removed.

When Aiden pushed the door open, I was wearing a loose hospital gown.

Aiden walked closer and, for the first time, said, "Are you still in pain?"

The intense pain in my lower abdomen left me too weak to even mock him, so I could only remain silent.

After a long time, he silently turned around and left.

The days in the hospital ward were cold and calm. The doctor changed the dressing on time, and the nurse took care of my daily life. I cooperated calmly, but deep in my heart was the despair like dead ashes.

One day, Sucy walked into the ward with a smug smile. I was half - lying on the hospital bed, looking out of the window.

"Look at you now, just lying here waiting to die. How pitiful! What's the use of being beautiful? " I still looked out of the window, as if she didn't exist.

Sucy wouldn't give up. "You made me lose my child. It's not too much for me to take away your uterus, is it?"

She suddenly grabbed my hair and half - dragged me up.

A sharp pain shot through my scalp, and the unhealed wound in my lower abdomen also ached as if it was being torn apart.

Seeing me frowning in pain, Sucy felt a sick sense of pleasure. She raised her hand, about to slap me. The slap came down hard, and I didn't dodge or avoid it, closing my eyes and resigning myself to fate.

"What are you doing?!" Aiden thundered, rushed in and grabbed Sucy's wrist.

Sucy instinctively let go of me.

Aiden coldly shook off Sucy, turned around and carefully helped me lie down, tucking the quilt around me.

"Aiden, you yelled at me for her?" Sucy looked incredulous.

"Enough."

With a hurt look on her face, Sucy rushed out of the door.

Aiden wanted to chase after her but stopped. He turned around and asked me, "How was your day?"

Aiden tried to smooth my hair, but I instinctively flinched away. His hand froze in mid - air.

He left with a "Have a good rest" and left in a hurry.

More than ten days later, I was discharged from the hospital alone.

At home, I stepped into the bath, the warm water surrounding me like a womb.

Then, with a sharp flick, the blade slashed my wrist, blood pouring out.

"It's over... everything is over..." I whispered, my vision fading as the blood kept flowing, my face pale. Eventually, darkness claimed me.

Meanwhile, Aiden was at a party, his chest suddenly tightening with pain. The sharp discomfort made him clutch his heart. "What's wrong?" someone asked. But Aiden barely heard them, his thoughts consumed by a voice screaming: Find Alice!

Without a word, he grabbed his keys and left, speeding toward my apartment. When he arrived, there was no answer to his frantic knocking. Panic set in, and he broke the door open with a fire extinguisher.

The stench of blood hit him immediately, freezing him in place. His heart raced as he found me in the tub, blood staining the water. He rushed to me, finding the faintest pulse. He quickly dressed me, carrying me out, desperate to save me.

At the hospital, Aiden burst in, furious, grabbing the doctor by the collar. "You save her, or I'll make sure you don't leave here!"

The doctor, trembling, nodded and rushed me into surgery.

Aiden waited outside, pacing.

Finally, after ten hours, the doors to the operating room creaked open.