Chapter 4

Before Ethan stepped into the room, Clara flipped her demeanor, putting on a delicate act. "Lily, when Ethan comes in, should I keep up the act like just now? As long as you don't touch my baby, I'll agree to anything. I swear, after this charade, I'll disappear. Even if Ethan hates me, I won't tell him the truth."

Hearing this, Ethan's anger flared, and he charged toward me on the bed.

His large hand gripped my throat without mercy.

My face turned red, and I lacked the strength to fight back.

"Lily, I never thought you'd be this vicious! I spared your health, didn't make you take rapid ovulation shots, and now you torment Clara? Get her to the hospital! Give her the shots for artificial insemination. She doesn't leave until she delivers triplets!" Ethan roared.

On the hospital bed, a cold needle pierced my skin and dug into my flesh.

The ovulation drugs spread through my veins, and I curled up, my lower abdomen wracked with sharp pains.

The attending doctor stood by my bed, hesitant, and handed me a consent form for the injections.

"Miss Myers, the cysts in your uterus have worsened into a borderline tumor. Forcing ovulation now is risking your life. Are you sure you want to sign?"

I stared at the words "risk of hysterectomy" on the paper, my hand shaking so much I could barely hold the pen.

Ethan's bodyguards stood at the hospital room door like two stone statues, blocking any way out.

"Sign it." I closed my eyes, tears sliding down my cheeks. "Please... try to save my uterus."

I hadn't given up hope of becoming a mother, no matter how faint.

The pain overwhelmed my mind, and the absurdity of it all consumed me.

The man I once protected with my life was now pushing me into hell.

As the sky darkened and rain began to fall, I wondered if the heavens pitied me.

The pain in my abdomen grew unbearable, my vision blurring, and before losing consciousness, I glanced at the fruit knife on the table.

If everything hurt this much, why not end it all?

With my last ounce of strength, I crawled from the bed and grabbed the scalpel.

Before losing consciousness entirely, I heard my faint voice. "Ethan, I hate you..."

As the cold blade pierced my wrist, Ethan was across the street at a bar, celebrating with Clara over their baby's safety.

In the bar's neon glow, Ethan held Clara on a couch, kissing her passionately.

As the night wound down, Ethan's phone vibrated on the table, his assistant calling.

Ethan picked up the phone and answered. "Hello."

"Mr. Caldwell! Lily killed herself!"

Ethan's wine glass crashed to the floor, shattering and spilling wine everywhere.