Nissa got up, limping as she stepped out of the bathroom.

She wanted to retrieve her broken phone. After all, she could not afford a new one.

Blood from the wound on her forehead blurred her vision. She stumbled and nearly fell.

Just then, a pair of hands reached out and caught her.

She turned her head--and was stunned to see Marcus Jules, Benjamin's uncle, looking at her with heartbreak in his eyes.

He just came for a routine check-up at the hospital.

"Nissa, how did you get hurt so badly?"

She did not expect to run into him, and she lowered her head awkwardly.

But the more she tried to hide it, the more pained Marcus looked.

In that instant, he understood everything. These wounds were the work of his nephew.

"That bastard! Is this how he treats you?"

He once believed he was helping to arrange a good marriage, but all he did was push Nissa into a pit of fire.

Marcus took her to the ER, made all the arrangements.

Before leaving, he muttered vaguely, "I'll take care of everything."

Nissa did not understand what he meant.

Holding her shattered phone, she stood dazed.

Just then, a voice behind her drawled, "So this is where you were hiding? Took me long enough to find you."

She turned around and saw Charlotte standing there, smirking smugly.

Charlotte's gaze swept over Nissa's drenched figure, lips curled in pride.

"You saw how much Benjamin cares about me, didn't you? Be smart and leave him. Otherwise, if you end up kicked out of the house, it's going to be ugly."

Nissa pressed her lips together. She had already made up her mind to leave, but hearing it from Charlotte made it sting even more.

Without a word, she tucked her broken phone away and turned to walk off.

Charlotte frowned and grabbed her arm. "What's with that attitude? You think you're better than me?"

Then she scoffed, waving a hand. "Forget it. I'm not going to argue with a mute. I know someone like you doesn't have many job options, so don't say I'm being heartless. Take this money, and leave Benjamin now."

Without waiting for a response, she shoved a check into Nissa's hands.

It was not a huge amount, just over a hundred thousand dollars. But for Nissa, it was a fortune.

When she hesitated, Charlotte sneered. "Too little for you? You've already milked the Jules family for months. It's time to quit while you're ahead."

Nissa opened her mouth, trying to explain, but stopped short.

She never took a dime beyond what she was given as medical allowance, and even that she always felt grateful for. She never dared ask for more, afraid it would irritate Benjamin.

She wanted to refuse the check, but then she remembered that once she left the Jules family, she would have no income.

Moreover, she was pregnant with a child now. Raising a child was not cheap.

If Charlotty wanted to pay her off, why not accept it?

From a young age, she was taught not to accept what was not rightfully hers. Taking that check went against everything she believed in.

But this time, for the sake of her baby, she forced herself to accept it.

Her cheeks burned with shame as she carefully folded the check and slipped it into her pocket.

She made up her mind. Someday, when she had the money, she would pay Charlotte back.

Charlotte would be staying at the hospital for a while, and Benjamin was sure to stay with her.

This was the perfect time to go to the bank and cash the check.

But first, Nissa wanted to return to the Jules residence and change clothes. Her entire body was soaked, and she didn't want to risk catching a cold.

She could get sick; that was fine. However, she would not risk her baby.

The Jules residence was massive. Aside from the master bedroom, there were several guest rooms.

Though she carried the title of "Mrs. Jules," Nissa always lived in one of the guest rooms.

She was only called to the master bedroom when Benjamin wanted her for his needs.

And afterward, she was always sent back to the guest room.

Back at the house, she peeled off her wet clothes and dried herself with a towel.

Her hand instinctively covered her lower belly.

Her waist was still slim, and there was no visible bump yet. But just knowing that a tiny life was growing inside her made her feel a strange sense of wonder.

She sighed. While she looked forward to the child's arrival, deep down, she doubted whether she could be a good mother.

She reached for fresh clothes.

Just as she was about to put them on, the guest room door suddenly swung open.

Benjamin stood at the entrance, having returned without her knowing.

He saw her standing there, completely in her birthday suit, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Nissa's figure was delicate, her skin pale and soft.

Her cheeks flushed with panic as she scrambled to cover herself with the bedsheet, like a frightened bird.

Benjamin's throat tightened involuntarily.

But he hid it well. Not a trace of emotion showed on his face.

He said coolly, "Charlotte's injury is serious. You should take responsibility. I'm not expecting you to be thoughtful enough to care for her. Just make her meals from now on. I'll bring them to the hospital. Understand?"

Nissa frantically nodded, clutching the sheet tightly. Her face was crimson as she buried it into the blanket in embarrassment.

Benjamin's gaze lingered on the sliver of skin still visible.

He adjusted his collar with a flick of his finger and was about to leave when something caught his eye.

A corner of paper was sticking out from Nissa's discarded wet clothes.

Curious, he picked it up--and his expression instantly darkened.

It was the check.

He glared at her and barked, "Nissa! Did you just ask Charlotte for money?"

Nissa's heart sank.

She frantically shook her head, flailing her hands, trying to explain.

But Benjamin did not even glance at her. He held the check and examined it closely, then suddenly let out a cold laugh and flung it to the floor.

"You went behind my back to ask Charlotte for money? Nissa, you just met her, and you're already this shameless? Looks like I underestimated your greed."

He stepped toward her slowly, his towering figure casting a long, dark shadow over her. His narrow eyes were filled with ice, a brewing storm ready to erupt.

Nissa knew he was angry, and she had already learned the hard way what his anger meant. She could not bear it again.

She sat on the bed and backed away in panic.

Shaking her head in desperation, she silently begged for mercy.

But Benjamin had no patience. He yanked her off the bed and threw her to the floor.

The shame of being bare and exposed washed over Nissa like a tidal wave. She curled up tightly, trying to preserve even a shred of her dignity.

Benjamin sneered, his voice like a blade, "What are you covering up for? Don't tell me you think I'd be interested in you? Even if you stood shirtless on the street, no one would even bother looking at someone like you."

Nissa squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming from the corners.

Of course, she knew he was not interested in a mute like her. Every time they were together, he would press her face into the pillow, pretending she was Charlotte.

In his eyes, she was just a cheap imitation, a free tool to vent his lust.

She bit her lip and swallowed her pain. Stretching out her hand, she tried to retrieve the check. That money meant everything to her. Even if it meant losing face, she had to hold onto it.

But Benjamin, seeing how desperate she was for the check, only grew more disgusted.

His face darkened. Without hesitation, he stomped down hard on her hand.

Pain surged through her, causing her to go pale. Her body trembled uncontrollably. She couldn't make a sound and could only curl into herself.

Benjamin bent down and picked up the check. Then, right in front of her, he tore it into shreds.

The pieces fluttered down like snow, landing all over Nissa. She clutched at them hopelessly, and silent tears ran down her face.

Seeing her so desperate for money, Benjamin's eyes filled with revulsion.

"All you poor folks care about is money. If you're so short on cash, why don't you just beg me properly? If I'm in a good mood, I might even throw you some. That'd save you from embarrassing me by begging others."

He reached down and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up.

That tear-stained face, pale as frost, held a fragile kind of loneliness. Weak, almost pitiful.

For a split second, something in Benjamin stirred. His callused thumb dragged roughly across her lips.

Nissa winced and turned her face away. However, the very act of dodging sparked his irritation.

His eyes darkened.

Without another word, he lifted her and tossed her onto the bed, pinning her down with his weight.

Nissa immediately understood what he was about to do. She was terrified, fearing that it would hurt the child.

She struggled with all her strength.

In the chaos, her palm accidentally struck Benjamin across the cheek.

The air around them seemed to have frozen.

Nissa stared in horror as he slowly turned his face back to her. His expression was icy, dangerous.

She frantically gestured an apology, hands trembling.

But Benjamin grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head. His voice dropped, low and threatening.

"You hit me? You've got a death wish, Nissa."

Tears spilled from her eyes as she sobbed soundlessly, like a kitten's whimper. But that only ended up fueling Benjamin's fire.

As always, he forced her to turn over, burying her face into the pillow.

No matter how she resisted, he did not stop.

Just then, his phone rang, loud and insistent.

Annoyed, Benjamin answered with a sharp tone, "What?"

There was silence for a moment, then a soft, timid voice came through the line. "Benjamin, weren't you just going home to grab something? Why haven't you come back? I'm still in the hospital. I feel a little scared by myself."

He glanced at the caller ID; It was Charlotte.

Realizing how harsh his tone just was, Benjamin forced himself to soften, "Something came up. I'll be there later."

"Okay," Charlotte replied in a low voice and said no more.

The moment the call ended, her expression changed entirely.

Eyes filled with rage, she hurled the phone at the ground.

Her chest heaved with fury.

She was not an idiot. Just from Benjamin's hoarse voice and the faint sobbing in the background, she could easily guess what he was doing.

Charlotte's lips twisted with contempt. "Cheap woman. Took my money one second, climbed into my man's bed the next. That mute has no shame."

Her voice turned colder by the second. "You're asking for it!"

She bent down, picked up the phone, and pulled up a contact.

After typing out a short message, she hit send.

A moment later, a reply came through.

Charlotte's lips curled into a sinister smile, her eyes glinting with a chilling sharpness.

Back at the Jules residence, Benjamin did not go through with it in the end.

Nissa cried nonstop. Midway, she even started vomiting. Whatever desire he had instantly vanished.

Hearing her retching in the bathroom, Benjamin frowned and called out, "Don't tell me you've caught something contagious. If you're sick, go get treated. Don't come back here and infect me!"

Nissa came out wrapped in a bathrobe, her face pale with embarrassment. She quickly shook her head. She could not let him know it was morning sickness, so she typed on her phone: "I ate something bad."

Benjamin glanced at her screen with disinterest and did not press the issue. Instead, he said, "Don't forget what I told you. Charlotte wants something light to eat today. Go make it now. I'll take a shower and head to the hospital after."

The moment she heard she could get away from Benjamin, Nissa turned and bolted. Her eagerness to escape made him frown in mild displeasure.

After his shower and a change of clothes, Benjamin came downstairs to find that Nissa had already packed the food.

He glanced at the meal, then narrowed his eyes. "You only made enough for one person?"

Nissa was confused. She gestured with her hands. "Wasn't the food for Charlotte?"

She assumed Benjamin would not eat her cooking anyway. After all, in the early days of their marriage, she put in great effort to make him meals, but he never touched a single one. They all ended up in the trash.

Benjamin's face darkened, but he didn't say more. Instead, he tossed her a card and told her to buy groceries from the supermarket and put in more effort for Charlotte's meals.

Then he left, carrying the hot food with him.

Once the door shut behind him, Nissa let out a quiet sigh of exhaustion. She glanced at the back of her hand. She burned herself while cooking. The skin was bright red.

She did not bother telling Benjamin. If she did, he would only mock her.

She quietly retrieved some burn ointment and gently applied it.

The truth was, she got used to taking care of herself.

Her younger sister was sick for years, and they had no other relatives. To put it bluntly, if she died one day, there might not even be anyone to bury her.

Just then, a message came through on her phone.

It was from Marcus.

She read it, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

Marcus said he deeply regretted introducing her to Benjamin. He wanted to help her leave, even offering to arrange a new life for her overseas.

More importantly, he would transfer her sister to a hospital abroad. He even promised to fully cover all of her future medical expenses.

Relief flooded Nissa's chest.

She typed out a grateful reply. At last, she had a way out.

She could finally escape this hell.

Nissa wiped away her tears and picked up the card Benjamin threw at her.

Since she would be leaving soon anyway, she figured she might as well do one last thing: Buy some groceries and fill the fridge.

After shopping at the supermarket, she missed the bus.

But since the villa was not too far, she decided to walk back.

As she walked, something started to feel off.

The streets were quiet, the night air cold. Wind blew through the trees, rustling the leaves in a way that felt almost sinister.

And underneath the sound of the wind, she could hear footsteps.

Disjointed and uneven, those footsteps kept following behind her.

She glanced around, and it was darkness everywhere. The shadows stretched long across the ground, as if something were lurking.

Nissa felt a chill crawl up her spine. She quickened her pace.

But just as she turned a corner, a gang of thugs closed in on her from behind.

She froze, heart pounding, and stumbled backward a few steps.

The leader, a man with dyed blond hair, rubbed his hands together with a greasy grin. "Hey, pretty girl. How about keeping us company tonight?"

Panic surged through Nissa's mind like an alarm.

She dropped the shopping bags and turned to run.

But in the next instant, they grabbed her. Their tight, merciless hands pulling her back.

A damp cloth pressed against her face.

Within seconds, the world spun, faded, and then went black.

When Nissa woke up, her head was pounding like it was split in two.

Her memories came rushing back.

She bolted upright. Thankfully, she wasn't tied up. She immediately scrambled for her phone and sent a group SOS message to everyone in her contacts, praying that someone, anyone, would come help.

After confirming the messages went through, her eyes caught a new notification in the corner.

It was from her sister's attending physician.

Her stomach dropped.

A terrible premonition seized her as she opened the message with trembling fingers.

What met her was a short message with few words. "Complications. Urgent. Come Now."