She struggled to get up but then she clutched her ankle in pain as she winced.

Shane immediately checked her injury and without hesitation, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the hall in princess style. He was completely oblivious to the shocked gazes around them.

When I met my father’s gaze, I saw nothing but disappointment and anger in his eyes.

"Get out! Before my banquet starts, just get out! You’re an embarrassment!"

With that, he left as he wrapped onto my stepmother, who had just arrived.

Utterly defeated, I reached up to touch my swollen cheek and felt a slight dampness. It seemed her sharp nails had cut my skin.

I left the banquet and took a taxi to the hospital. On the way, I received a message from a friend. He was one of the judges for the competition.

"Samantha, what is going on? Shane had just called and withdrew your reward!" he asked.

I turned off my phone and closed my eyes in exhaustion.

Right at the entrance of the hospital building, I bumped into a doctor from the obstetrician and gynecologist department. He asked, "Miss Jenkins, what brings you to the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"

I shook my head, trying to smile, but the motion pulled at the cut on my cheek.

You need to take care of yourself because you have a weak body. No stress, no late nights, okay?" he advised.

Just then, a commotion erupted nearby. I looked up and saw Shane anxiously dragging an emergency doctor over to check on Clara.

"I understand," I muttered.

“Where's the father? I still have some precautions to explain to him!” he inquired.

I instinctively touched my lower abdomen and glanced toward Shane, who was holding Clara so tenderly. A bitter smile curled my lips and I said hesitantly, "The child had no father. I'll give birth to it alone."

The doctor looked momentarily surprised but softened his tone. "Your health is fragile and the pregnancy is unstable. You must be careful."

"Doctor, I’ve already contacted the hospital at the Trifecta Country and arranged to deliver there. I’m leaving tomorrow."

Just as I was about to leave, I received a message from Clara. [Can you believe it, Samantha? I just sprained my ankle and Shane rushed me to the hospital. He even gave me a lucky jade pendant!]

I opened the attached photo. My breath caught. That pendant was so familiar to me because it was my mother’s keepsake.

How did she get it?

I rushed to Clara's hospital room, only to find Shane meticulously peeling fruit for her. It was something he had never done for me.

"Clara! Give me back the jade pendant!" I shouted angrily.

Clara froze hearing my shout but with feigned innocent she asked, "Samantha, I don’t understand what you’re talking about."

Hearing the anger in my tone, Shane immediately stood in front of her to block her from me and looked at me condescendingly as he said, "Samantha, I thought you came to apologize. I didn’t expect you to act so ungrateful!"

I thought I could stay indifferent, but the coldness in his eyes pierced me like an icy dagger.

"Shane! How could you give my mother’s pendant away?" I shouted.

"It’s just a useless broken jade pendant! Why are you so worked up?" he asked.

Smack! I was so angry that I slapped him.

"That’s not just an ordinary pendant! It’s the only thing my mother left me!" I yelled.

Shane’s face darkened with regret, but before he could say anything, Clara who saw his expression suddenly shouted with rage, "Samantha! What right do you have to hit him? Isn't it just a trash? I'll return this to you!"

Before I could do anything, she had hurled the pendant hard to the floor and it shattered into several pieces.

A crushing weight pressed against my chest and I gasped for breath.

"Ah! Clara! Look at your face!"

A shard had bounced up and cut Clara's cheek. Seeing this, Shane panicked and ran to call the doctor.

My eyes zeroed to Clara who had shed all her pretense from her demeanor. Seeing the smugness in her eyes, I asked in a hoarse voice, "You've taken away my father and Shane, so tell me Clara, why are you doing this?"

Instead of answering my question, she just smirked evilly and said, "I heard you are pregnant, Samantha. I really underestimated you! How come you still can get pregnant, even though I had given you birth control pills for three years?"

"What did you just say?" I shrieked

"Hah! I told Shane that I didn't want you to have his child. He had agreed with my demand so he fed you with birth control pills every day. You know, the one you thought of as a vitamin? What an idiot!"

I had always thought my body was just too weak to conceive. I never imagined this was the reason.

Seeing my shock, she looked even more pleased with herself then continued, "You and your pathetic mother are the same. You're both clinging to men who don’t love you. No wonder she was driven to death!"

"Clara! I’ll kill you!"

Rage burst from my chest as I lunged toward her, but before I could reach her, a sudden force shoved me backward. My stomach hit the edge of the bed and a sharp pain shot through me.

When I looked up and came to my senses, I saw Clara trembling and hiding in Shane’s arms like a poor little puppy.

Shane shot me a cold glare. "What the hell is wrong with you, Samantha?" he shouted, "I won’t let you hurt Clara!"

Looking at the two of them clinging to each other, I laughed bitterly.

"Shane, after three years together, do you really think I’m that kind of person? Have you ever loved me?"

A flicker of guilt flashed through his eyes and he opened his mouth as if to say something, but before he could, Clara suddenly collapsed.

She still used the same cheap trick as always. and yet, once again, Shane fell for it. Without hesitation, he scooped her up and ran toward the emergency room.

"Shane! I'm having your baby."

He froze. For a moment. Just when I thought he would turn around to look at me. He just said something that truly broke my heart. "That's impossible." His tone was cold. "Samatha, stop lying to me! Clara is the one who is pregnant. There is no way, I was leaving her behind and for you .... Take some time to reflect on yourself!"

Without another word, he walked away without looking back, while carrying Clara in his arms.

A dull ache spread through my stomach. I felt something pulling downward ….

When I woke up in my hospital bed, I knew that I had lost my baby.

The pity in the nurse’s eyes told me everything I needed to know. Shane never came. He was probably still busy making sure Clara was okay.

I took a taxi home. Once I got there, I placed my signed resignation letter and my pregnancy test report on the desk. Then, I picked up my bags and headed straight for the airport.

Right before I boarded the plane, my phone screen lit up.

Shane's message appeared on the screen. [Samantha, I’m coming home soon. Let’s talk, okay?]

Then, another message from Martha Wallis, his secretary, appeared on the screen. [Samantha why did you resign? Do you know how frantic the boss is right now? Where are you?]

I didn’t reply to any of the messages. Instead, I turned off my phone and walked through the boarding gate.