Chapter 3

Victoria POV

I took a taxi and followed Emma's car to a private clinic. Her car had just pulled up to the entrance.

I paid the driver and followed her inside.

I walked to the end of the hallway and saw a boy lying in a hospital room. It was Alex. His face was pale, an IV drip in his arm.

Michael was yelling at a doctor in a white coat.

"Why did he suddenly get a high fever? Is this how you take care of patients?!"

"Michael, calm down!" The doctor seemed quite familiar with Michael and tried to reason with him. "What good does it do to yell at me?!"

I hid behind the wall, my heart growing colder with every word I heard.

"I told you long ago, if you only want one child, you shouldn't keep Emma around! And now? The child cries without her, and you can't bring yourself to be firm. What kind of mess is this?"

"Victoria is the only woman I love, but the family cannot be without an heir." Michael's voice was weary. "Emma... she did bear me a child, after all. I can't treat her badly."

The moment he finished speaking, the hospital room door opened.

Emma walked in, carrying a cup of water, her eyes red. As soon as she saw the child on the bed, tears began to fall.

"It's all my fault... I should've looked after Alex better." She sobbed, shoulders trembling, looking utterly helpless.

Michael's heart softened. He stepped forward and pulled her into his embrace, murmuring comfort. "Don't blame yourself. Alex is our child. I will find the best doctor."

"Our child." The words hit me like a blow, crushing my heart.

Emma leaned into his embrace, sobbing, "Michael, I know I shouldn't ask for anything, but as long as I can be with Alex as he grows up, I'll be perfectly content..."

Michael was touched by her words and raised his thumb to wipe away her tears.

That intimate gesture stung my eyes.

I clenched my hands, my fingernails digging into my flesh, but I felt no pain.

The pain in my heart had already overshadowed everything else.

I turned and left, my steps numb.

Snow had started falling again outside. The flakes landed on my face, melting into icy streaks, making it impossible to tell if they were snow or tears.

I walked into the corporate building, drenched. The receptionist looked up, startled by my disheveled appearance.

"Ms. Victoria, what happened? Should I call Mr. Michael? He'll be heartbroken if he sees you like this."

Those words, which would sound normal to anyone else, were the greatest irony to me.

Heartbroken?

He was busy being heartbroken over another woman right now.

I said nothing, walking directly into the conference room and locking the door.

I leaned against the door, slowly sliding down until I was on the floor.

I couldn't hold back anymore. I buried my face in my knees and wept uncontrollably.

I thought I had become numb, but seeing that little family of three with my own eyes had completely broken me.

Nine years of love, a childhood sweetheart connection, those moments of life-and-death reliance... it all meant nothing compared to "the family cannot be without an heir."

I don't know how long I cried. Only when my tears ran dry did I lean against the wall and stand up.

I walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My eyes were raw, my skin bloodless. A laugh escaped me.

What was the point of crying?

I changed into a spare business suit, transforming back into the aloof corporate heiress. I didn't even glance at the string of messages and missed calls from Michael on my phone.

In the evening, I dragged my exhausted body back to the mansion.

I had decided: I would pack my things and leave tonight.

But when I pushed open the front door, I saw Emma and Alex sitting in my living room.