Talia hid the pregnancy test results and stepped into the living room, where Margaret and Christian's conversation fell silent. Unlike what she usually did, Talia didn't even greet anyone.

In the past, she had always naively thought that if she served her in-laws well and became an understanding, considerate wife, there would come a day when Christian would finally notice her. But reality had slapped her hard in the face.

Even if she carved out her heart and presented it to the Lane family, they might not even spare it a glance. She realized that it was time to take back these five years of one-sided devotion.

Christian knew why he'd come home that day, so he glanced at Jane and instructed, "Jane, escort Ms. Margaret out."

From beginning to end, Talia stood silently to the side, but her eyes seemed to have gained a new layer of coldness.

Christian managed the Lane family business and ran the company exceptionally well. His character was excellent, too. He was respectful to his elders, loyal to his friends, fair with his subordinates, and generous with his employees.

Everyone who met him offered unanimous praise. Many friends remarked that Talia must have done something incredible in a past life to marry Christian.

But Talia was the one person who never received Christian's kindness. After five years of marriage, she was clear about their marriage. This hollow shell of a marriage was something Talia no longer wanted.

As Margaret passed by Talia, she suddenly stopped. She said with reproach in her voice, "If you still can't conceive a male heir, I don't know how you'll be able to face the Lane family."

In the past, Talia would have swallowed the insult quietly. But now, she saw no reason to keep taking it.

Looking at Margaret, Talia's eyes no longer held a trace of flattery or submission. She sharply retorted, "Margaret, we're both women. Is conceiving a boy or a girl solely my responsibility?"

Margaret remembered Talia as someone who never fought back. She had grown used to her compliant daughter-in-law, so Talia's sudden defiant attitude caught her off guard.

But Margaret wasn't about to indulge her either. She raised her hand and slapped her across the face. "How dare you speak to me like that! Kneel and apologize to me."

She looked furious, ready to tear someone apart. She was also utterly confident that Talia would be intimidated by her presence.

Margaret knew precisely how much Talia loved Christian. So she was certain that Talia could give up her dignity and pride, and was even willing to be treated as a maid by the Lane family for his sake.

But now, Talia no longer wanted to compromise. Since none of them valued her sacrifices or her life, she was no longer willing to please anyone.

Talia's eyes darkened as she looked at Margaret. She stepped forward wordlessly to strike back. But before her hand could land on Margaret's face, it was caught mid-air by a large hand.

At the same time, a low, reproachful roar rang in her ears. "Talia, haven't you caused enough trouble?"

Talia looked up to see Christian's handsome face. His cold, piercing eyes fell on her.

This face used to drive Talia crazy, but looking at it closely now, she felt a trace of disgust. She couldn't fathom how a person could be so cruel.

She could accept the lack of love, the cheating, the emotional abuse, but she couldn't understand how he could be so heartless as to treat her like a baby machine.

Moreover, he demanded that she give him a second child despite the amniotic fluid embolism she had suffered during her first pregnancy. Wasn't he simply asking for her life?

Thinking about all this, Talia couldn't help but feel nauseous.

Just as she was about to say something, Christian suddenly threw her hand away forcefully and said in a deep voice, "I'm not in the mood today. We'll discuss trying for a second child next month."

After saying that, he helped Margaret up and walked toward the door. Margaret turned back, her expression triumphant, as if to say, "The son I gave birth to naturally takes my side. You're just an outsider. Don't you know your place?"

If it had been before, Talia would have been sad and cried over Christian not protecting her, but now, she seemed to have gotten used to it. She didn't feel even a trace of disappointment.

Just as Christian was about to leave the living room, Talia quickly called out to him, "Christian."

Talia was someone who kept her word. Since she had decided to divorce, she would definitely follow through with it.

Just as when she had fallen in love with Christian, she was willing to dive headfirst into that mess despite her family's opposition. After loving Christian for eight years, she was exhausted.

He was blind to her efforts and had never thought about building a proper marriage with her. His willingness to marry her was only because she had gotten pregnant before marriage, and he felt responsible.

Their marriage was a tomb, but it only trapped Talia. She should have woken up from it long ago.

Christian stopped at the door. Talia thought that he had heard her, so after letting out a breath, she said, "I don't want to be with you anymore. Let's get divorced."

Once those words left her mouth, Talia felt an unprecedented sense of relief. But at that moment, Christian suddenly put his phone to his ear.

She couldn't hear what the person on the other end said, but she heard his anxious voice respond, "Okay. I'll be right there."

After hanging up, Christian left with Margaret and headed toward the exit of Elmwood Estate. The words she had just spoken, thinking they would set her free, weren't taken to heart by anyone.

It wasn't until Christian's figure completely disappeared from the doorway that Talia finally let out a bitter laugh.

Jane returned after seeing the guests out and saw Talia still standing in the living room, looking lost. She called out in surprise, "Mrs. Lane?"

Talia snapped back to reality, walked over to sit on the couch, and instructed Jane, "Jane, please prepare dinner for me."

In the past, she had done everything herself, hoping to win Christian's affection. Even though they only saw each other a few times a year, she was never tired of it. But in reality, Christian had never paid any attention to her efforts.

Now she was tired, and she remembered that she had once been someone who never lifted a finger, cherished and loved by her parents and brother.

After dinner, Talia went upstairs to the study to prepare a divorce agreement. The Stewart family wasn't from a small household, and Talia was a soon-to-be pediatric surgeon. She wasn't short of money and could provide Yvonne with a good future.

But these five years of not fighting or making a fuss had earned her nothing but her husband's coldness and ruthlessness. So she wrote clearly in the divorce agreement that Christian would have to give her half of his post-marriage income and pay an additional 200 thousand dollars in monthly child support for Yvonne.

But as she thought of Yvonne, Talia didn't know who she would want to stay with. Halfway through the divorce agreement, she thought she should ask for Yvonne's wishes, so she left Elmwood Estate with the unfinished document.

After Yvonne was born, Christian bought her a villa. Talia had been a full-time mother for four years before she returned to work at a hospital.

With her job changes, Talia's time with Yvonne had gradually decreased. Just in the past six months, she had been doing a fellowship at a hospital in a neighboring state.

These two recent meetings with Christian were because her lovesick brain had acted up, thinking she could use a second child to tie down her absent husband's heart.

Despite having no time, she had forcibly switched shifts with colleagues, working three consecutive overnight shifts to get a day or two free.

Yet she had never considered that having a second child was not something she could accomplish on her own. If she didn't have time, Christian could have come to see her. It was just that most of his time was given to Nancy.

She took a cab to Jubilee Manor. It was just past 9:00 pm. As soon as she got out of the car, her phone buzzed with a notification.

"Naners" had posted a new story.

Talia didn't want to look at "Naners" post, but she clicked on it out of habit. The post showed only one image of Christian crouched in front of Nancy.

The caption read, "Had a few drinks and caught a chill. One phone call and you came right over. Having you here with me feels so good."

Seeing this, Talia felt a pang of heartache. Since the woman and Christian loved each other so much, shouldn't she be more generous and let them be together?

If she divorced, she would only want Yvonne and her fair share of the assets. Apart from that, she wanted nothing else. She put her phone away and stepped into the living room.

The housekeeper, Emma Wright, saw her and was stunned for a moment before calling out, "Mrs. Lane?"

"Where is Yvonne?"

"Ms. Yvonne is upstairs playing with her dolls."

As soon as Emma finished speaking, Yvonne's surprised voice suddenly came from upstairs. "Mommy?"

Not having seen Yvonne for so long, Talia felt a pang of sorrow. So, she hurried upstairs to hug her. She crouched in front of Yvonne, cupped her face, and showered her with kisses.

After kissing Yvonne, she was about to speak when Talia saw Yvonne lift her hand and keep wiping her face until her skin turned red before finally stopping. Talia's heart sank, and she swallowed the words she had been about to say.

She looked at her daughter with teary eyes, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

But before Talia could say anything, Yvonne quickly said, "Mommy, you came back at the perfect time. I was just about to call you. I'm starting kindergarten soon, and I want to go to Sunshine Kindergarten on East Street."

When talking about Sunshine Kindergarten, Yvonne's eyes lit up.

Talia was a little confused, but since her daughter insisted on going there, she didn't want to refuse her request. Besides, it was just kindergarten. She figured that they could always switch if it didn't work out.

So, she agreed, "Then let's go with Sunshine Kindergarten."

Hearing this, Yvonne jumped up with joy. "Thank you, Mommy! You're the best!"

Seeing her daughter happy, Talia couldn't bring herself to bring up certain topics. She unconsciously touched her belly, and when she looked up again, she asked Yvonne in a serious tone, "Yvonne, would you like to have a younger brother or sister?"

Yvonne seemed eager to return to her room, but she still thought seriously for a moment before she answered, "I want a younger brother."

Talia felt a sharp stab of pain. With tears in her eyes, she asked, "But what if I'm scared?"

Although the risks from her amniotic fluid embolism had long passed, she had never gotten over the trauma.

Yvonne looked at Talia and replied very seriously, "Then you shouldn't be so selfish. Didn't you have me, too?"

The words hit Talia like a bolt from the blue, leaving her frozen in place. Her face was as pale as a sheet, and she was unable to move.

After a long while, she opened her mouth and stammered for a long time before finally managing to ask, "Aren't you afraid of losing me?"

Since Yvonne's birth, Talia had cared for her day and night—feeding her, coaxing her to sleep—and had barely slept through a whole night in the past four years.

At this moment, she just wanted to ask her daughter if she still loved her. But Talia clearly saw Yvonne furrow her brow. "Come on, Mommy. I need to go to bed now."

After saying that, Yvonne ran back to her bedroom and closed the door. Talia stood frozen at the top of the stairs, a chill running through her entire body.

Soon, Yvonne's cheerful voice came from the bedroom. "Nancy, I can go to the kindergarten on East Street! You can come pick me up directly after work now, so it'll be easier for you.

"And Nancy, please don't have a baby brother or sister with Daddy. I heard Mommy say that having babies is very dangerous. There's a lot of blood, and it can even be life-threatening.

"Let Mommy do the baby-making. She already had me, so she won't be scared.

"I miss you so much, Nancy. I want to hear you tell stories and cuddle with you..."

Standing outside the door, Talia thought about how her daughter had recoiled when she kissed her just now. Her heart felt like it was shattering into pieces.

She had thought that even if she and Christian divorced, her daughter would still be hers. But she never expected that her daughter would follow Christian's lead in choosing outsiders over her own mother.

It turned out that in her marriage with Christian, her sacrifices and devotion were nothing but a joke. No one cared about what she had done in the past.

After a long while, Talia finally dragged her exhausted body down the stairs. Emma saw her dazed state and approached to ask something, but Talia waved her away.

As soon as she left Jubilee Manor, Talia called Christian. She dialed his number several times with no answer, but she didn't give up and continued to try to reach him.

Normally, if she called once or twice and he didn't answer, she wouldn't call again. But that night, she persistently called his number as though she were possessed.

Finally, Christian picked up. "I'm busy. What do you—"

Before Christian could finish speaking, Talia interrupted. "I need to see you. Right now."

Talia was shouting and roaring at Christian like a madwoman through the phone line. Her unrestrained screaming made Christian furrow his brow.

After Talia calmed down slightly, Christian said, "Whatever it is, we'll talk about it when we meet next month."

After saying that, he hung up on the call without ceremony. Listening to the dial tone, Talia found she couldn't even cry anymore.

This was just like Christian, leaving her with no outlet for her anger. The past five years had drained Talia completely. This marriage was something she had to end, no matter what.

Still, she had to fight for her daughter's custody. Even if Yvonne was closer to Nancy now, Talia knew she had to try her best.

After all, she had given birth to Yvonne and raised her through countless sleepless nights. She would never give her up so easily.

Just as she made this resolution, Christian's Rolls-Royce came to a stop in front of Jubilee Manor. Talia looked toward the sound and, through the windshield, saw Christian in the driver's seat with Nancy in the passenger seat, holding a bouquet.

Christian spotted her, too. They stared at each other in tense silence. In the past, Talia wouldn't have dared cause a scene about Nancy's presence, but now, she couldn't even be bothered to care.

After a long stretch of silence, Christian finally got out of the car. Pretending as though he hadn't seen Talia, he went around to open the passenger door for Nancy.

But Talia still called out to stop him. "Christian, let's talk."

Christian ignored her and continued reaching to open Nancy's car door, but Talia rushed over in a few steps.

She slapped his hand away angrily. "Christian, you can be with anyone you want, but Yvonne is my daughter. What right do you have to let an outsider interfere between me and my child?"

Finally, Christian looked at Talia. He looked down at her with contempt and said in a low, heavy voice, "Nancy is more suitable to be a mother than you are."

After saying that, Christian pushed her aside and opened the car door. Talia stood there in shock. It took her a long time to process the deeper meaning in his words.

She wondered if he was planning to replace her with Nancy as Yvonne's mother.

The car door opened, and Christian held his hand above Nancy's head while extending his other hand toward her. The moment their fingers intertwined, Talia turned around.

Faced with this heartbreaking scene, she remained unexpectedly calm. Perhaps because she had figured things out, but she appeared very composed right then.

In the past, she would have cried her heart out. But at that moment, she just wanted to ask Christian what he meant by Nancy being a more suitable mother than she was.

"Christian, what do you mean by that?" Talia's lips trembled slightly, and her voice changed pitch.

Nancy got out of the car, her hand resting on Christian's arm the entire time. Under the moonlight, their two shadows stretched long across the pavement.

Christian acted as if he hadn't heard Talia speak and walked toward Jubilee Manor with Nancy. Talia could no longer remember how many times she had been ignored like this.

Talia's heart was already riddled with holes, but when it came to her daughter, she couldn't let go. So she stepped forward, grabbed Christian's wrist with unexpected strength, and shouted at him, "Christian Lane, answer me!"

Finally, Christian stopped and turned around. He looked at Talia with cold indifference in his eyes.

He twisted his wrist and easily pulled his hand free while saying, "You're busy with work, and Yvonne is still young. She needs someone to look after her. Once you're pregnant with the second child, Nancy will take care of Yvonne, too."

Christian had always been like this. He never consulted Talia on his decisions and always spoke to her in a tone that sounded like an order.

But this time, Talia refused to let him make decisions arbitrarily. When she had decided to go to the neighboring state for her fellowship, she had already found a qualified nanny to care for Yvonne.

It wasn't until last month that she discovered Christian had dismissed the nanny long ago. During the six months of Talia's fellowship, Nancy had moved into Jubilee Manor, living the sweet life of a family of three with Christian and Yvonne.

Talia hadn't wanted to make a scene because she still held onto a sliver of hope that Christian recognized her as his only wife. But without her realizing it, her daughter had been taken away from he, too.

How could she leave gracefully now?

When it came to who would take care of her daughter, Talia lost her composure. Her tone became agitated as she said, "I can take care of my own child. I don't need outsiders."

Christian completely ignored Talia's attitude and simply issued his command. "It's decided."

Talia grew angry. Her usual good-natured demeanor vanished as she loudly protested, "I said I can take care of her myself."

The atmosphere grew tense. Nancy, who was standing behind Christian, sensed the situation getting out of hand and said quietly, "Chris, you and Ms. Stewart should talk first. I'll head inside and check on Yvonne."

After Christian nodded in agreement, Nancy walked toward Jubilee Manor. At that moment, Talia called out to stop her. "Nancy York, stop right there."

Nancy had just turned around when a slap landed on her face. It was Talia who had hit her.

When Christian realized what had happened, he stepped forward and pushed Talia away. He supported Nancy and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"

Nancy covered her face as tears rolled down, making her look pitiful and wronged. Christian was extremely worried, fussing over her and examining her face. But Talia didn't think that Nancy was wronged at all.

After all, what kind of woman would get involved with a married man who had a child?

Naturally, it would take two to tango, and Christian wasn't exactly innocent either. Just as Talia was about to speak, a small figure came running out of Jubilee Manor.

Yvonne ran frantically, barefoot, and when she got close, she hurled herself at Nancy.

She hugged Nancy's legs and looked up to ask, "Nancy, does it hurt? Let me blow on it for you, okay?"

Yvonne had been ready for bed, but she saw Christian's car through the window. She knew that he must have brought Nancy back, so she came downstairs to greet them.

Just as she reached the door, she saw Talia slap Nancy. She quickly rushed out and even lost her shoes in the process.

Talia stood to the side, watching her husband and daughter tenderly comfort an outsider. At that moment, it felt like she could hear the sound of her own heart breaking.

Still, Talia refused to believe that the daughter she had raised would turn against her like this. She reached out with trembling hands, murmuring, "Yv—"

But before she could fully call out Yvonne's name, the young girl angrily turned around. She rushed up to Talia and kept hitting her with her hands.

"Bad Mommy! Bad Mommy! You hit Nancy! You're a bad mommy! I don't want a bad mommy like you!"

Talia stood frozen in place, her face instantly pale. In that moment, she suddenly realized that the custody she had desperately wanted to fight for was nothing more than her own wishful thinking.

Christian and Yvonne didn't need her. Standing here now, she felt like a complete fool. What was even more ridiculous was that she had actually gotten pregnant with a second child for a man who didn't love her at all.

Talia lost track of how long Yvonne kept hitting her or what else she said. That phrase "bad mommy" was enough to shatter all her hopes.

Talia stood there in a daze for a while, then let out a bitter laugh. Without looking at Christian and Yvonne again, she turned and walked away. Behind her, Christian and Yvonne surrounded Nancy with care and comfort, completely unaware that Talia had left.

When she turned the corner, Talia couldn't help but look back at the two people she had treasured most over the last five years.

The two figures, one big and one small, each held one of Nancy's hands as they walked toward Jubilee Manor together. They looked so warm and harmonious, as if they were the real family of three.

Talia smiled. She felt bitter and wanted to cry, but not a single tear would fall. These five years had drained all her energy and spirit. She had always put them first, but not anymore.

Leaving Jubilee Manor, Talia walked alone down a long road. Looking back on the past five years, she realized she had long known she shouldn’t have exhausted herself in such a relationship. She just hadn't been willing to face the truth.

But now she understood that she should only love herself properly from now on. Talia took a cab back to Elmwood Estate, where she drafted a new divorce agreement in the study.

His assets would be split 50-50. As for her daughter, she would give up custody. Talia drove back to the neighboring state, Moonbright, that same night after neatly placing the completed divorce agreement on the desk.

After resting for the night, she went to the hospital early the next morning. The doctor working in the obstetrics department that day was her university classmate, Monica Walker.

Monica knew a thing or two about Talia's marriage situation. But when she heard Talia's firm decision to terminate the pregnancy, she was somewhat surprised.

"It wasn't easy for you to conceive this child. Why don't you want it anymore? Even if there are issues with your marriage, you could still keep the child without the father."

Talia sat across from Monica, completely calm. "Monica, I'm a woman, and the most responsible thing a woman can do is not to bring children into the world recklessly. What's more, my life matters too.

"I've made my decision. Please schedule the procedure for this morning."

The old Talia was gone. From now on, she would only invest in herself and people who actually cared about her. As for those who didn't love her, she was done with them.