The third miscarriage. The anesthesia had just worn off, and I woke up groggy in the hospital bed. I heard my husband Adrian’s conversation with Lila drifting to my ears. “Lila, don’t worry. I’ve arranged everything. Natalie won’t find out.” “Dad’s will said whoever has a child first, that child becomes the family heir. I’ll make sure you give birth to my brother’s child first.” My whole body went cold. Two years. Three failed pregnancies. Two hemorrhages. I’d always thought it was my poor health, bad luck. Turns out it was this husband I’d loved for five years who, for the sake of his childhood sweetheart Lila, personally killed my babies. The moment the severe pain hit, I completely lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes again. I’d been reborn, back to the day I first woke up after my first miscarriage. Adrian was holding my hand, his eyes full of what looked like heartache: “Honey, don’t be sad. We can have another baby.” I looked at this face I once loved deeply and slowly pulled my hand away. “Adrian, let’s get divorced.”
Adrian’s mask of the gentle husband cracked for a moment. His brows furrowed like he’d heard something absurd, then he softened his voice to coax me: “Natalie, I know you just lost the baby and you’re upset, but you can’t just casually talk about divorce.” He tried to grab my hand again. I avoided him directly. His tone instantly dropped several degrees: “Don’t be so willful. Don’t you care about the company’s reputation or what people in our circle will think?” “It’s just one baby. We can have another.” I watched him coldly, finding it laughable. “Adrian, since we’re settling accounts, let’s settle them clearly.” “I’ve been married into the Sterling family for one year and five months.” “On our wedding night, you said Lila, who you grew up with, wasn’t feeling well and you needed to go take care of her.” “The next day you told me Lila’s parents died young, she lived alone at the Sterling house and it was pitiful, we should take care of her. So I gave her $100,000 every month.” “She said she needed to attend galas, so I sent all my haute couture dresses and limited edition bags to her closet.” “My dad regularly ordered imported supplements for me. You said Lila had been sickly since childhood, that the medicine made her feel much better, and I didn’t even blink before having them sent to her.” I counted each item, my voice calm as if reading a stranger’s ledger. Adrian’s face changed from shock to embarrassment, finally flushing bright red. “Those… those were because the company was having cash flow problems at the time. We couldn’t let Lila suffer. Lila was doing it for the family…” I interrupted him: “Then tell me, why does your annual salary and your project bonuses always go to her account first?” “Sterling Group’s financial seal is in her hands. I’ve been married in for a year and haven’t even seen the company’s financial reports.” “Every time you bring back gifts from abroad, the first choice always goes to her.” “Even with this pregnancy, the folic acid and vitamins you sent every day had to be prepared by her. You said she understood medicine and could help verify they were safe for me.” I stared into his eyes, enunciating each word: “Adrian, in your heart, Sterling Group and Lila will always come before me and our child.” Then I shook my head: “No, there’s no place for us in your heart at all.” “You married me only because my family had enough cash flow to fill Sterling Group’s holes, so you could support your precious childhood sweetheart!” Adrian shot to his feet, his face livid: “Natalie West! What nonsense are you spouting!” His chest heaved as he pointed at me: “Have you lost your mind! I think the miscarriage has scrambled your brain!” He grabbed his coat from the chair, turned, and slammed the door on his way out. I leaned against the headboard, as if I’d lost all my strength, and called toward the door: “Emma.” Emma, my assistant of many years, pushed the door open, her eyes rimmed red: “Miss West…” “Get out my prenuptial assets and fund lists. Cross-check them against Sterling Group’s business accounts and Lila’s personal accounts, one by one.” “List out everything that went into Sterling’s business account or someone else’s private account.” “How much is missing, where it went, who handled it—write it all out clearly.” I looked at her and added: “Also, the vitamins I took every day before the miscarriage—collect what’s left and keep them safe. Don’t let anyone touch them.” Emma nodded vigorously: “Yes, Miss West!” Emma left the room. I lay in the hospital bed, placing my hand on my lower abdomen. In my previous life, I had three little lives. But before they could come into this world, they were personally killed by their own father. Adrian. Lila. This life, what you owe me, I will collect back bit by bit, with interest.
Lila came again that afternoon. She wore light makeup that only made her face look paler, with a trace of grievance between her brows that made people’s hearts ache. Adrian followed behind her, his face dark enough to drip water. Lila sat down, her voice so soft it could squeeze out water: “Natalie, I heard you and Adrian had an argument?” “You’re still young, and you just had a miscarriage. You’re hurt and feeling wronged. I understand all that.” Her tone was gentle, like coaxing a child who didn’t understand: “But divorce—that’s not something you can just say casually. A divorced woman’s reputation is damaged. The gossip in our circle could drown you.” “The Sterling family has such prestige and cares most about appearances. Plus so many eyes are on the company. If you make this kind of scene, Adrian will be laughed at in our circle.” With each sentence she spoke, Adrian’s frown smoothed out a bit, and his eyes looking at her filled with gratitude for being understood. Lila raised her hand, gently pressing her fingertip to the corner of her eye, her voice choking: “It’s all my fault really. My poor health has kept Adrian worrying about me, making him neglect you.” “I’m the one who caused you two to fight like this. It’s all my fault.” Adrian cut her off sharply: “Lila! How can you say that! Taking care of you is my responsibility.” He looked at me, his eyes carrying a hint of threat: “Natalie, Lila is so much more thoughtful than you! She’s this worried about you, and you don’t even appreciate it!” Lila looked up, her eyes brimming with tears that hung precariously on the edge of falling: “No, it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t stayed at the Sterling house, always making Adrian worry about me, you two wouldn’t have…” She got halfway through before she couldn’t hold on anymore, lowering her head to cover her face, her shoulders trembling slightly as she sobbed quietly. I watched her crude performance and suddenly laughed out loud. Hearing the laughter, Lila’s crying stopped abruptly. She looked up, her face full of shock. Adrian roared: “What’s so funny!” “I’m laughing at Lila for having at least some self-awareness.” I spoke each word clearly, my voice bright. “She knows she’s freeloading at the Sterling house, distracting Adrian, stirring up trouble between us as husband and wife.” “Watching you cry, I almost believed it. With your acting skills, it’s a real waste you’re not making movies.” “Natalie West!” Adrian bellowed. Lila suddenly stood up, her body swaying: “Natalie! How can you slander me! I’m doing this for you two…” I stared at her, my eyes cold as ice: “On my wedding night, you said you weren’t feeling well. Adrian didn’t even change out of his wedding clothes—he spent the whole night in your room.” “On my birthday, you said you were afraid of the dark. He abandoned me and the cake to rush over and keep you company through the night.” “The day before my miscarriage, it was pouring rain in the suburbs. You said you felt dizzy and your heart was racing. Without a word, he left me behind and drove to pick you up. I walked home alone in the rain.” “Your body really knows when to get sick. Every single time right when I need my husband!” I turned to look at the guilty-faced Adrian: “Everything I just said—don’t you, as the person involved, have any idea?” Adrian opened his mouth, speechless. As soon as I finished speaking, Lila held her head, swaying unsteadily: “Adrian… Adrian, I can’t… I’m dizzy…” “Dizzy again?” I picked up the glass of water on the table, raised my wrist, and splashed the water directly in her face. Lila’s elaborate hairstyle plastered against her face, her expression stunned. I put down the glass, my voice cold: “If you’re going to faint, go faint in your own place. Don’t be an eyesore here.” Lila’s motion to collapse into Adrian’s arms froze mid-air. She slowly straightened up, the fragility instantly fading from her face. A cold glint appeared in her eyes. The fainting act couldn’t continue. “Emma, call security to throw them out. I’m tired.” Emma came forward with two security guards, directly blocking them. Lila gave me a long look, stopped pretending to be weak, turned on her high heels and walked out. Where was any trace of frailty now? Adrian stayed behind last, looking at me with shocked and unfamiliar eyes: “Natalie, you’ve changed.” I turned my back to him, too lazy to look at him again: “It’s you who never truly saw me.” That evening. Emma placed a thick stack of transaction records and divorce papers in front of me: “Miss West, it’s all been verified. Your account is missing $56 million. The money trail and handlers are all listed here.” I picked up the divorce agreement, signed my name at the bottom, and pressed my fingerprint. “Send this to Adrian’s office. Tell him to transfer back my prenuptial assets and everything else that belongs to me within three days. And sign the divorce papers.” “Otherwise, I don’t mind letting everyone in the business circle know how Sterling Group sucked its daughter-in-law’s blood to maintain their empty shell of a prestigious family. At worst, we’ll mutually destroy each other and let Sterling get delisted.”
I went home first thing the next morning. Mother held my hand, tears streaming: “My daughter… but that’s Sterling Group. After just one year you want a divorce? What will people think of you? Where does that leave the West family’s reputation?” Father’s face was stern, displeased: “Natalie, it’s not that Mom and Dad aren’t on your side, but a divorced woman—her reputation is ruined.” “Adrian may have his faults, but what man can be considerate in every way? You need to understand him. Once you have another child and Adrian becomes a father, naturally he’ll be more family-oriented.” “Listen to Dad—go back and talk properly with Adrian. If necessary, tell Adrian that for Sterling’s new development project, Dad will give him an extra percentage point.” I interrupted them: “Mom, Dad, I didn’t come home to throw a tantrum or have you talk me out of it. I’ve already sent over the divorce papers. My divorce from Adrian is final.” Father angrily grabbed the teacup from the table and smashed it on the floor: “You! How can you be so willful!” Mother sat on the sofa covering her face and crying: “You’re going to be the death of us! Your sister is coming back from abroad soon. If you make this scene in our circle, how will she marry into a good family in the future?” In the middle of this standoff, a steady voice rang out from the doorway: “If Natalie wants to come home, let her come home.” Ethan walked in, wearing an impeccably tailored suit, his posture upright, his features handsome. This was the brother my family had adopted since he was young. “Ethan…” I looked at him. He gave me a reassuring look, then turned to my parents, his tone carrying an unquestionable strength: “This house will always have a place for Natalie.” “The Sterling family bullied her and didn’t value her. That’s their heartlessness, not her fault.” “Whatever gossip is out there, if anyone dares bring it to the West family’s doorstep, I’ll handle it.” My parents were momentarily speechless. Mother’s crying quieted down. Father sighed and said: “Natalie, go upstairs and rest for now.” I nodded, got up, and went upstairs. Ethan followed behind me. At the stairway landing, I took out a pill bottle and handed it to him: “Ethan, I need to ask you for a favor.” Ethan sat down, his gaze falling on the pill bottle. I opened it and poured out one pill: “These are the folic acid and vitamins I took every day before this miscarriage.” “I suspect my miscarriage wasn’t an accident. These pills might be the problem.” Ethan picked up the bottle, examined it carefully, then looked up at me: “You suspect someone tampered with them?” “Exactly.” I met his gaze. “I don’t believe my body would just miscarry like that.” The pain of three miscarriages in my previous life had already seared into my bones. This lifetime, I would never endure it again. Ethan was silent for a long while, then put the bottle away: “Alright.” “I have some business and need to go to the capital for a few days. I’ll take these pills with me and have an authoritative institution test them.” He looked at me, his gaze complex yet gentle: “You just rest at home and take care of yourself. I’ll arrange for someone to watch the West house. The Sterling family won’t come harass you.” He slowly stood up, walked to the door, but his steps suddenly stopped. “Natalie, you must wait for me to come back.” “Whatever you want, whatever you want to do, I’ll help you.” I froze. He seemed to see through my confusion but didn’t explain, only giving me a reassuring smile: “Rest well. Don’t overthink.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he pushed the door open and walked out. I sat alone in the gradually darkening room, staring at the closed door, my emotions churning. I stayed home for two days, adjusting my state of mind. Then I simply went to the company to take over the family business. Occasional glances from longtime employees carried a trace of curiosity and sympathy. On the third day at noon. I was leaning by the window looking at the new quarterly reports. Emma ran in hurriedly, her face pale: “Miss West! This is bad! The Sterling family sent people!” “So many people! Damian, Adrian, Lila… and several lawyers! They’ve blocked the whole building entrance! The chairman has already gone down!” I put down the report and took a deep breath. So they finally came. I straightened my suit jacket and walked out.
The lobby of West Corporation was tense. Adrian’s older brother, Sterling Group Chairman Damian, stood at the front with a superior attitude. He spoke, his voice slow and heavy: “Mr. West, Mrs. West. The fact that I personally came to your company today shows I’m giving you plenty of face.” “You’ve really raised your daughter well. Now she’s so willful—divorce at the drop of a hat. Not only do you not discipline her properly, you actually enable her to run back to her parents’ home? What are you thinking?” Father smiled awkwardly: “Please calm down. Our daughter is young and doesn’t understand. We’ll definitely talk sense into her…” Adrian looked at me, his eyes full of reproach: “Natalie, look how upset you’ve made your father. Stop making a scene and come home with me. I don’t blame you for what happened that day. Let’s just live our lives properly.” Lila had changed into a light-colored suit today, still looking delicate: “Natalie, I apologize to you. It’s all my fault. Don’t fight with Adrian, and don’t make things difficult for Damian and your parents.” “Adrian does have feelings for you. He’s just not good at expressing himself. Give him one more chance, okay?” The three of them put on quite a show. Playing good cop and bad cop so well I wanted to applaud. They clearly wanted to force me to go back. I stood in the lobby, looking at these faces. In my previous life, I was forced to retreat step by step by this kind of “greater good” and “relationships” until I lost my life. I spoke, and the hall instantly quieted: “Damian, Adrian, Lila.” “I’ve already made myself very clear. I want a divorce.” “The asset list has been sent to Adrian’s office. The three-day deadline has passed two days. Please have the Sterling family transfer my prenuptial assets back to my account as soon as possible.” “Adrian, please sign the divorce papers promptly too.” “From now on, I have nothing more to do with the Sterling family!” Damian roared: “You! Natalie West! How dare you! Do you think you can divorce just because you want to?!” I laughed: “Your Sterling family embezzled my money, made me suffer endless grievances, and now killed my child. A Sterling family like that—I really can’t climb that high!” “You’re talking nonsense!” Adrian’s face changed drastically. He stepped forward trying to cover my mouth. I dodged to the side. I looked up coldly: “Whether I’m talking nonsense or not, you know in your heart.” “Over $50 million from my private account—how much did you use to fill holes, grease palms, and maintain your prestigious family’s facade? Do I need to recount it one by one in front of everyone?” Adrian’s and Damian’s faces instantly turned between green and white, extremely ugly. That Sterling Group was strong on the outside but weak on the inside, propped up by the daughter-in-law’s private assets—this was the ugly truth they feared most being known. Adrian’s shame transformed into rage. He shouted: “Natalie West! You really don’t know what’s good for you! You should be grateful I married you! Who else would want you after leaving the Sterling family! Today! You’re coming with me!” His eyes filled with viciousness as he waved to the security guards he’d brought: Several burly guards immediately stepped forward. “What are you doing!” Father reached out to stop them but was pushed aside. “Mom! Dad! Get out of the way!” Chaos erupted. Emma tried to protect me but was pulled away by the Sterling family’s people. Adrian personally stepped forward, grabbing my wrist, no longer pretending, only showing shameless forcefulness: “Natalie, stop making a scene! Come with me!” I struggled hard: “Don’t touch me!” He dragged me outside, trying to shove me into the car parked at the entrance. My parents were blocked, so angry their eyes turned red. Emma cried out from the side. Company employees also exclaimed in shock. Damian’s eyes were frighteningly cold. Lila covered her mouth, looking terrified, but there wasn’t a trace of fear in her eyes—only cold indifference. Various voices mixed together in chaos. I was being dragged toward the car. Adrian’s face already showed a triumphant smile. Just then, the sound of orderly braking came from the roadside. “—Screech—!” A row of black Bentleys stopped neatly at the curb. The imposing presence made everyone present unable to breathe. A man in a custom suit with an extraordinary bearing got out of the car. He slowly stepped down from the lead Bentley.
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