Chapter 3

Nathan hadn't come for Jane.

He didn't notice her and forcibly took the doctor treating her away.

Jane's consciousness slipped back into darkness.

When she woke again, daylight flooded the room.

Nurses' whispers reached her ears. "Did you hear? In the next room, a guy called every on-duty doctor last night because his girlfriend was in pain."

"Turns out she's pregnant. He was so thrilled he gave each doctor a ten-thousand-dollar bonus. Too bad I wasn't on shift!"

After they left, Jane's lips curled in bitter irony.

Nathan was overjoyed about Claire's pregnancy.

When Jane told him she was pregnant, his face had darkened, and he smoked all day in their room.

Unable to stop herself, Jane went to the next room.

Inside, Nathan was coaxing Claire to sip some broth. "Come on, just one sip."

Claire noticed Jane at the door first and raised her voice. "No way! It's your fault, Nathan. You were so rough last night, and now I feel awful!"

She flung a pillow at him petulantly.

The bowl tipped, splashing broth all over Nathan.

He didn't get angry. His eyes held a tenderness Jane had never seen. "Alright, my fault. But you've got to think about our baby."

Claire turned away with a huff. "Fine, I'll drink it, but only if Jane makes it herself!"

Nathan kissed her forehead indulgently. "Anything you want."

Moments later, Jane's phone rang. "Honey, Claire wants you to make her some broth. I'll pick it up in an hour."

Jane hung up without a word.

Nathan texted her. "She's pregnant. Be the bigger person."

Her stomach churned, and without hesitation, she blocked and deleted all his contact information.

Jane collected her medication and returned to the villa to pack her things.

Nathan was waiting outside the kitchen with his bodyguards, two of whom held wooden urns.

When he saw her, he raised a hand.

One bodyguard, following the signal, poured the contents of an urn into the sink.

Jane's eyes widened, and she lunged forward, but another guard stopped her. "Nathan, what are you doing!"

"Make broth, honey." His gentle tone carried an undeniable command.

"Nathan!" Jane's chest heaved, her eyes blazing red. "Are you insane? That's my parents' ashes! If you touch them, I'll never forgive you, even in death!"

"I don't like repeating myself." Nathan raised his hand again, and the second urn, her mother's ashes, was poured into the sink.

A bodyguard's hand hovered over the water valve. One turn, and the ashes would be washed away.

Pain stabbed Jane's heart like a knife.

She shouted, "I'll make the broth! Tell them to stop!"

Jane had never cooked in her life.

The first batch of broth was too salty, Claire said.

The second was too bland.

Nathan personally delivered the third.

Jane trembled, trying to salvage her parents' ashes from the sink.

But then a bodyguard got a call from Nathan. "Ma'am, Mr. Cross says this is punishment for blocking him."

"What are you going to do!"

The guard turned the valve, and the sound of rushing water roared through the kitchen.

Jane's ears buzzed as she shoved the bodyguard aside in a frenzy.

It was too late.

She watched helplessly as the water swirled the ashes down the drain.

"No!" She reached out, but the last traces slipped through her fingers.

Jane collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face, her voice hoarse. "Mom... Dad... I'm sorry. I never should have been with Nathan. I'm so sorry..."

Grief overwhelmed her, and darkness claimed her as she fainted.