The next day, my bedroom door was pushed open. Nancy walked in as if she owned the place.

"You saw everything yesterday, didn't you? I'm the one Michael truly loves. I won't beat around the bush. I need you to leave Michael. You know he only married you so he could be with me openly."

My brows knit together. "Then why don't you tell him that yourself?"

A flicker of embarrassment crossed her eyes before she let out a cold laugh.

"Back then, you saved Michael's life. He's always felt indebted to you for that. Originally, I didn't care much about titles or status, but…" She placed a hand over her slightly rounded belly and continued, "I'm pregnant. My child must be the next heir of the Dalio family. A legitimate heir."

It felt like I'd been struck hard. A chill spread through my entire body.

She… was pregnant?

My mind drifted back to three years ago—to that first night Michael and I had been wrapped up in each other, inseparable. He had kissed my lower abdomen so gently.

"Venus, let's have a daughter someday, okay? A daughter just like you. I'll protect both of you. I want a real family—one that truly belongs to me," he had said.

That was why I had knelt before that person, begging for the secret medicine—just to fulfill Michael's wish, to give him the family he longed for.

So it had all been a lie.

I closed my eyes as tears slipped down my face.

Seeing my humiliation only seemed to delight Nancy further. Her smile widened as she picked up the photo on the table—a picture of my mother and me together.

"Oh, right. There's something else you should know. Your mother was moved into the ICU last night."

My heart lurched. That was impossible.

Michael had already instructed the housekeeper last night—he wouldn't lie to me.

I convinced myself Nancy was lying and forced a calm tone.

"That's impossible. You're lying to me, aren't you?"

Nancy only sneered, offering no reply.

Panic surged through me. I had to know what was happening with my mother.

Without thinking, I shoved Nancy to the ground and clamped my hands around her throat.

"Are you lying to me or not?!"

Her eyes widened in shock as she clawed at my hands. When she realized I had no intention of letting go, she began to scream for help.

"Michael… Michael…"

He rushed over at the sound of her voice. The moment he stepped through the door, Nancy broke free and threw herself into his arms.

"I came to apologize to Venus, but she thought I was trying to seduce you and tried to strangle me. Thank God you came in time…"

She sobbed softly.

Michael immediately wrapped his arms around her, comforting her. Then he turned to me, his voice rising in anger.

"Venus, haven't you learned your lesson? Still throwing a fit like a lunatic?"

All I wanted was to know if my mother was safe.

"She said my mom—"

"Enough."

He cut me off before I could finish.

"No matter what Nancy says, you need to show respect. Since you married into the Dalio family, you'll follow our rules. Stay in your room and reflect on your behavior."

With that, he locked the door. Then he lifted Nancy in his arms and hurried off to the hospital.

I pounded desperately against the door, but the only response I got was the fading roar of a Rolls-Royce engine.

My hands soon went numb from the pain, and a wave of despair swallowed me whole.

Hearing my cries, the old housekeeper opened the door for me. I seized the chance and rushed straight to the hospital.

The moment I reached the front desk to inquire, the nurse spoke anxiously, "We haven't been able to reach you. The patient only has one last breath left."

At her words, tears spilled from my eyes. I followed her toward the ICU.

As we passed a consultation room, a doctor said impatiently, "If you'd come any later, the wound would've healed on its own."

At that moment, Michael spotted me and stepped into my path.

"Who gave you the nerve to sneak out?"

As if he'd found an outlet for his anger, he grabbed my wrist tightly, refusing to let me go.

Nancy, who was following behind him, immediately spoke up, "Venus, you even followed us to the hospital? What are you trying to do?"

My mother was still waiting for me—I couldn't waste time here.

"Let go. I need to see my mother."

A mocking smile appeared on Michael's face. "Your mother's been lying there for years. What's there to see?"

Seeing the devastation on my face, a flicker of pity crossed his eyes.

"Venus, apologize to Nancy, and we'll let this go."

Before I could respond, Nancy clung tightly to his arm, casting him a resentful glance.

"Michael, she clearly hasn't learned her lesson. It's fine if I suffer a little, but now, she's even ignoring you. People will start talking."

At that, Michael let out a cold laugh. "So unrepentant? I'll teach you some manners."

He signaled for the bodyguards to drag me back to the villa.

I refused, struggling violently. In the chaos, my nails scratched the back of his hand.

Michael immediately kicked me away. His eyes were filled with disgust as he shouted, "Doctor! Hurry and give me a prophylactic injection!"

After ordering the bodyguards to restrain me, he called over several nurses. "Give this madwoman a few doses of anesthetic."

The injections went in one after another. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and the world around me began to blur.

Tears slid silently down my face.

To give Michael a child, to prevent viral infection, I had endured 999 experimental injections and swallowed thousands of secret pills. By now, I was no longer contagious.

All this time… he had only felt disgust and fear toward me.

The voices around me faded. My restrained hands lost all strength, and darkness slowly swallowed me whole.

…

A sudden chill hit me.

I woke with a gasp after being splashed with cold water, only to find myself back at the villa.

Nancy stood before me, an empty basin in her hand, a cold smile on her lips.

"I gave you a chance. Who told you to be so ungrateful?"

Ignoring the dizziness in my head and the suffocating pain in my ribs, I demanded, "What happened to my mother?"

Nancy glanced at me, leaning lazily against the doorframe, her tone casual.

"That old hag? She's dead."

Then she added, "Since things have come this far, I might as well tell you—last night, I was the one who ordered the housekeeper not to contact the hospital."

A vicious gleam flared in her eyes.

"The title of Mrs. Dalio can only belong to me."

She clapped her hands, summoning the bodyguards.

"Take some private photos of her. Make sure she's naked."

As the men closed in, I stumbled backward, my breathing turning ragged.

Rough hands tore at my clothes. My pale skin was grabbed and bruised, blooming with dark, ugly marks.

I kicked and struggled with all my strength, but they forced me into a corner.

There was nowhere left to run.

My hand brushed against the edge of the window. Tears surged uncontrollably.

With every ounce of strength I had left, I climbed over the ledge—and jumped.

Michael… in this life or the next, I will never see you again.

…

Back at the company, an inexplicable restlessness gnawed at Michael.

He stared at the scratch on the back of his hand and muttered, "Venus… why are you always so disobedient?"

His gaze fell on the photo of him and Venus on the desk, and his heart softened slightly.

Forget it. He could teach her properly later.

That kick earlier… he'd acted too quickly and hadn't held back. He wondered if she was in pain.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

His expression eased, a faint smile touching his lips. "Has Venus admitted her mistake?"

"Mr. Dalio… Madam… she jumped off the building."