At my wedding, to save his adopted sister, my husband shoved me—three months pregnant—into the arms of our enemies as an apology. “This is my sincerity. You can do whatever you want with her.” I didn’t cry, didn’t fight. I simply followed our enemies, docile as a lamb. Because in my previous life, I’d traded all my wealth for freedom, desperate to return to Liam. But I was forced to drink abortion pills, writhing in agony for three days and three nights. “Brother, those enemies were just people you hired to play a part. Alice didn’t lose her virginity, so why did you insist on getting rid of the baby?” Liam scoffed. “A performance needs to be convincing, doesn’t it?” I died consumed by hatred. When I woke again, I chose to let them drag me away. But three years later, as I walked into the gala with my new partner, Liam lunged at me, his eyes wild. “Alice Summers, where’s our child?” … Three years. Liam felt like a complete stranger. “Alice, you don’t know how much Liam and I have been looking for you these past three years. I’ve felt so guilty.” I didn’t even spare Chloe a glance, using all my strength to pull free from Liam’s grip. Liam’s face darkened at my cold indifference, his voice dripping with fury. “I asked you, where’s our child?” I let out a cold laugh. It was utterly ridiculous. “What about the child? Don’t you already know?” Three years ago, what should have been the happiest day of my life – my tropical island wedding – became my eternal nightmare. How could a man who threw his pregnant wife to their supposed enemies for his adopted sister have the nerve to ask me that question? If I hadn’t been reborn, how could I have carved out a chance at survival for myself? Liam’s gaze flickered, and the hand he reached out to grab mine retracted. Chloe’s eyes welled up, her red-rimmed gaze fixed on me. “Alice, even though you were taken by those enemies for three years, you must have suffered a lot. And your body… But Liam and I don’t care.” “When a woman falls into a hellhole like that, we all know what she has to sacrifice. Even though Alice was defiled, it couldn’t be helped…” Her tone was full of pity, but her words were laced with pure malice. Liam’s face instantly turned grim, his dark eyes trembling slightly. By now, the party guests had gathered, their eyes shifting as they heard Chloe’s words. “She’s a slut! How does she have the nerve to show her face here?” “She’s probably been passed around, right? But her body’s still pretty good. If I were her, I wouldn’t be able to resist, ha ha ha…” Liam clenched his fists, like a lit stick of dynamite. “Have you caused enough trouble?” “Get home, now! Don’t embarrass yourself here!” My expression instantly changed. Home? Which home? I glanced at Chloe’s slightly swollen belly, my eyes mocking. “Is there still a place for me in your home?” My gaze swept the room. Why wasn’t he here yet? I had no patience left for these people and just wanted to leave. But they both seemed to misunderstand my meaning. Chloe nervously clutched her stomach, cowering behind Liam like a frightened fawn. “Alice, my… my baby is just an accident. The doctor said my health isn’t good, and if I had a miscarriage, I might never be able to be a mother. That’s why Liam let me keep the baby.” “Don’t worry, I’ll go abroad after the baby is born. I won’t bother you and Liam again.” If Chloe hadn’t crashed every single date Liam and I ever had, acting as a third wheel, I might have believed her words. But every single time, without fail, Liam had sided with Chloe. “Alice, why are you so petty? Chloe is just an immature kid. If she doesn’t come with me, she’ll cry in secret at home. Would that make you happy?” “Alice, I just wanted to learn how to date!” Gradually, I became numb to Chloe’s presence. I didn’t care anymore. Because I knew, caring was useless. Chloe’s tears fell onto Liam’s shoulder, and he instantly looked heartbroken, pulling her into his arms. “Chloe’s baby was an accident, and I’m definitely responsible for it.” “I’ll register our marriage with Chloe first, then we’ll divorce after the baby is born, so the child’s identity will be legitimate.” He then looked at me with what seemed like pity. “Alice Summers, for the next few months, take good care of Chloe at home. Only then will the baby warm up to you. As long as you behave well, I’ll give you the status of Mrs. Reed.” Hearing the word “divorce,” I clearly saw the resentment in Chloe’s eyes toward me. In a flash, I finally realized where Chloe’s inexplicable malice had come from all these years. Chloe wiped her tears and reached out to pull me. “Alice, just come home with us. Liam bought me a lot of clothes and jewelry; I’ll give them all to you, okay?” I was about to push her hand away, but in the next instant, I saw it—on her wrist, she was wearing the emerald bracelet my mother had left me. “Why is my bracelet on your hand!?” 2 “Oh… the doctor said my baby wasn’t developing well, so Liam gave me the bracelet to wear for good luck. If you don’t like it, Alice, I can give it back to you.” Chloe started to take the bracelet off. “Enough!” Liam immediately stopped her, his expression filled with tenderness. “It’s just a broken bracelet! Alice Summers, when did you become so petty?” A broken bracelet? Even after three years, I thought I had forgotten everything from the past, but a bitter ache still twisted in my heart. This emerald bracelet was the only thing my parents left me, a family heirloom of the Summers family, blessed by a spiritual master long ago. Years ago, I fell ill with a strange ailment. No matter how many local or international specialists examined me, they couldn’t find the cause. My parents cried for days, frantic, and finally, carrying this bracelet, they went to a remote spiritual retreat in the mountains. They kneeled every step of the way, from the foot of the mountain to the spiritual temple at the top—three thousand steps in all. Finally, they persuaded the master to consecrate the bracelet. But on the highway back, a large truck crashed straight into their car. My parents died instantly. When I woke up, all that was left were two memorial plaques… I cried myself unconscious in the funeral home, finally collapsing, overcome by despair. At that last moment, Liam held me tightly. “Alice! Your parents died for you! If you go too today, their deaths will have been meaningless!” “Don’t worry, I’ll never leave you in this life! Alice, you still have me.” Remembering that, I grabbed Chloe’s hand directly. “Give it back to me!” “Ah! It hurts so much…” Chloe’s face was pale, she bit her lower lip, and spoke in a wronged voice: “Alice, I’ll give it back. I wouldn’t dare touch anything from your family.” She looked like she’d suffered endless grievances. I just wanted my bracelet back, but Chloe let go of her hand before I could get a firm grip. The bracelet slipped from my fingers, hitting the ground with a sickening CRACK! It shattered into a million pieces. The world seemed to mute, leaving only my own ragged breathing. The sound of the bracelet hitting the ground felt like a sledgehammer to my chest, shattering my heart. Chloe cowered timidly in Liam’s arms, her voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to, Alice. You just scared me.” I instantly transformed into a furious beast, tears streaming down my face as I lunged toward Chloe. “You owe me my bracelet!” But as soon as I got close, Liam shoved me to the ground. “How much? Name your price, I’ll pay. Don’t upset Chloe over something trivial like this. Don’t be unreasonable, alright?” My wrists and legs scraped painfully against the hard ground. I bit my lip, saying nothing, and began picking up the shattered pieces of the bracelet. “Alice, let me help you!” Chloe leaned down, whispering in my ear: “Do you really think your parents’ death was because of this bracelet? Alice, you’re just too naive.” My eyes instantly widened, my head buzzed with a sudden, deafening roar. I seized Chloe’s collar, my eyes bloodshot with raw fury. “What do you mean? Speak!” But the next second, Liam kicked me hard. A metallic taste surged up, and with a gasp, blood spewed from my mouth, blossoming like gruesome flowers on the ground. “Brother, don’t hurt Alice. She’s just jealous that I’m carrying your baby, that’s why she wants to hurt me.” “You two were meant to be together. It’s my fault. I’ll go get rid of the baby and leave you! Then everything can go back to normal.” Chloe was shaking all over, like a terrified rabbit. But my heart was cold. Everything I’d never questioned before now felt suspect. “Liam, back then…” My words were cut off. “Brother, my stomach hurts so much…” Liam’s face instantly filled with distress. He scooped Chloe into his arms, heading for the host’s private doctor. As he left, he spared me a cold glance. “Lock her up.” I was surrounded by several security guards, an utterly outrageous display. My patience snapped. I snarled. “Get out of my way!” “You can’t afford the consequences of crossing me.” As soon as the words left my mouth, the surrounding onlookers scoffed. “Doesn’t everyone know the Summers family went bankrupt years ago? This woman talks a big game; she’ll hurt herself.” “She’s just a cast-off now, still thinks she’s that socialite from the city’s elite. Can’t she see the reality?” “Right! Everyone knows Mr. Reed is a rising star in high society now. She should just admit her mistakes.” I scoffed. If I hadn’t given Liam all the Summers family’s resources back then, how would he have gotten where he is today? But everyone present believed I was just making empty threats. To appease Liam, I was even locked in the security guard’s janitor’s closet. The room reeked of stale smoke. I had already coughed up blood, and now I felt even dizzier and more pained. I quickly lost consciousness. I don’t know how much time passed before I heard the door open. “You’re here!”
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