Chapter 3

"You're the mistress who ruined my son's family!" Martha's shrill voice screeched.

My back slammed hard against the wall, and my entire abdomen convulsed with agonizing pain. The baby in my arms was snatched away and thrust into Serena's hands. Immediately, the precinct officers were filled with righteous indignation.

"Exactly! Everyone at the precinct knows Damian and Serena are a couple!"

"If it wasn't for Serena providing leads, solving so many major cases, how could Chief Damian have been promoted so quickly?"

"You useless ex-wife, all you do is drag Damian down! Your face should be hurting!"

Providing leads? Solving cases and getting promoted? Weren't all those achievements mine that I helped Damian get? Not only did he steal my identity, he was now forcing all those merits onto Serena, giving her a glamorous front.

Why?!

"Right! Even if you're crazy, interfering with an officer's marriage is still a crime!"

"You loose slut, stop pretending to be Mrs. Damian and polluting our eyes! It's a good thing Chief Damian is kind-hearted, if it were me, I would have…"

The malicious jeers from the crowd were relentless. In this chilling scene, I, pale-faced, looked at the man who stood by, aloof and detached.

"Damian." My voice was weak. "You tell them… how did you get your position as Chief?"

Damian's fingers curled abruptly. He turned his head, looking at me coldly, a rare flicker of hatred appearing in his usually indifferent eyes. I laughed.

"You said the front lines were too dangerous, that you didn't want to risk your life, you just wanted to stay safely in the rear. I agreed."

"After we got engaged, you said your rank was too low, that you weren't worthy of me. I went to my dad and begged him."

"You complained that cases were too complex, too hard to solve. I worked day and night, sacrificing sleep to give you leads. And now, this is how you—"

"Enough!" Damian roared suddenly.

He strode forward and grabbed my throat, his eyes bloodshot with savage rage as he yelled at me, "You're lying! Everything I have today, I earned myself! What does it have to do with a useless woman like you?!"

My neck screamed in pain, the intense choking sensation making my vision go black instantly, my face swelling purple and congested with blood. But the more I insisted, the more enraged Damian became. The high-ranking officials and their wives seemed to catch onto something, murmuring amongst themselves.

Seeing this, a dark glint flashed in Serena's eyes. Cradling the baby, she dropped to her knees before me, weeping tragically. "Anya, I tolerated your mad ramblings on other days."

"But in an important setting like this, if you make up stories, you'll truly ruin Damian's future!"

"Please, I'm begging you, Anya. I'll even bow to you. Just stop this madness, okay…?"

She crawled a few steps, grabbing my pant leg, bowing low, about to kowtow fiercely. Damian was stunned. His hand, clamped on my neck, instantly released me, and he crouched down to help her up. But the next second, Serena, still holding my leg, flung herself backward.

At the same time, she shrieked, "Ah! Anya, you'll kill me with that kick!"

Before I could react, Damian's hysterical slap came down hard.

"Anya! You ungrateful bitch!"

A dull ache flared on my right cheek. I tried to strike back, but Martha suddenly kicked me in the lower back. Caught off guard, I was sent flying into a display cabinet. As I stumbled and fell to the ground, an excruciating pain ripped through my belly. Bright red blood streamed down my legs. The ground beneath me was instantly soaked in crimson.

I lay slumped in the pool of blood, my whole body aching as if it had been shattered. "My stomach… Damian… my stomach hurts…" Tears of blood blurred my vision. I reached out, pleading for Damian's help.

But Martha above me cruelly stomped on my hand, the pain so intense I felt my bones might shatter. "You slut! Stop pretending! My son won't be threatened by you!"

My vision swam with tears, my lips trembling. "Damian… I'm not faking… please… take me to the hospital…"

But Damian didn't even glance back at me. He only shielded Serena carefully, his voice cold and heartless. "Enough, Anya! Stop pretending and apologize to Serena!"

"Always using the baby as an excuse, do you think I'll believe you?!"

With that, Damian turned back in a rage, but then he suddenly spotted the ominous blood beneath me. The disgust on his face instantly melted away, replaced by a hint of terror. Damian knew my true identity; he absolutely couldn't stand by and do nothing.

Staring fixedly at Damian's panicked eyes, I forced back the soul-shattering pain, gritting my teeth as I spat, "Damian! If anything, anything happens to the child in my belly! You! His own father!"

"You will be his murderer! My dad, my brother, they'll make your entire family pay! Now! Take me to the hospital!"