Chapter 3

Back home, I started packing my luggage to leave.

The door slammed open with a kick.

Liam stormed in, grabbing my wrist, his voice sharp with accusation.

"If you have a problem, you should take it out on me!"

I frowned in confusion, then Liam roughly shoved me against the wall.

A torrent of curses rained down on me.

"Thank God I managed to swerve away from that truck, or Stella and the baby would have been crushed!"

"Chloe, you're a cold-blooded killer."

My bracelet snapped without warning, clattering to the floor at my feet.

It was the love knot bracelet Liam had braided for me himself.

I winced in pain, looking directly into Liam's eyes.

"What on earth are you talking about?"

A muffled shuffling sound came from the hallway.

Stella, pale-faced, leaned against the doorframe, her wrist wrapped in a thick bandage.

She bit her lower lip, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

"Chloe, I know you don't like me, but my baby is Liam's own nephew."

"You went too far today."

An unknown fury surged within me, and I violently broke free from Liam's grip.

"I didn't do anything! And I would never stoop to such a base method to harm you!"

I angrily advanced on Stella, who retreated, tears welling up.

A sharp slap echoed, and a searing pain spread across my cheek.

Liam watched me with cold eyes, his large frame completely shielding Stella.

I stood frozen.

His gaze held anger, contempt, hatred – everything but the slightest trace of the trust he once had in me.

He had promised me he would unconditionally trust me, unconditionally stand by me, no matter what.

A sharp pain jolted my lower abdomen, and I leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down to the floor.

But Liam didn't even spare me a glance, disdainfully shifting his foot away.

As if he feared I would contaminate him.

I bit down hard, refusing to show any vulnerability.

The room was filled with Stella's fragile sobs and Liam's soft comforts.

I suddenly remembered two years ago, when our whole family went on a cruise.

Stella and I accidentally fell overboard simultaneously. She was an excellent swimmer, while I was a complete non-swimmer.

But Liam's first instinct was to save Stella.

Only after Stella was taken to the hospital and confirmed to be unharmed did he remember me, sinking into the depths of the ocean.

I lost control, smashing the glass cup beside me.

Shards of glass flew everywhere, cutting Liam's hand.

He winced in pain, but his first concern was whether Stella had been hurt.

Upon seeing a tiny scratch on Stella's finger, he anxiously scooped her into his arms, then coldly ordered the housekeeper.

"Don't let anyone send food to Chloe today. And from now on, without my permission, she is not allowed to leave and harm anyone!"

The door slammed shut, the distinct click of the lock piercing my eardrums.

My stomach began to ache belatedly, a sharp, violent pain.

I nervously clutched my abdomen, a warm wetness spreading between my legs.

My beige dress was stained with a large patch of crimson, my mind a complete blank.

Amidst the intense contractions, I frantically crawled to the door, pounding on it like a madwoman.

My voice trembled with fear.

"Liam, I'm bleeding…"

"Please, open the door! Take me to the hospital…"

The footsteps outside the door paused, then grew clearer, closer.

A sliver of hope ignited in my heart, and I shifted my body to make room for the door to open.

The doorknob turned slightly, then I heard Liam's cold, mocking voice.

"Chloe, I'm not falling for your childish tricks anymore."

My heart instantly stopped beating, and I pounded on the bedroom door like a madwoman.

"Liam, come back! I'm not lying!"

"My stomach really hurts… The baby is in danger…"

But only dead silence answered me.

My phone wasn't nearby, what could I do? Who could save my baby?

Blood pooled on the floor, terrifying, and my stomach felt like it was being torn apart by a thousand knives.

Just before losing consciousness, I finally remembered the SOS bracelet my mom had given me.