Chapter 5

Claire's POV

I stood outside the hospital room door, my face deathly pale at those words.

So the child I couldn't keep wasn't an accident after all.

That was half a year ago. I'd looked at the two lines on the pregnancy test with pure joy, thinking we were finally welcoming the fruit of our love. But then the maid knocked me down the stairs.

When I woke up, Ethan looked at me with regret and told me the baby couldn't be saved.

I grieved for so long, crying every day. It was Ethan who held me through the nights, softly comforting me.

He said, "Don't cry, honey. We'll have more children in the future."

But I still felt it was my own carelessness that cost us the baby. I'd felt guilty about it ever since.

It turned out everything was arranged by him. Simply because he thought I wasn't worthy of bearing his child...

But I'd told him that the one-year marriage was only on paper. I never lived with that man.

He said he believed me. He knew better than anyone how desperately I longed for a family.

Thinking of my pain back then, and Ethan's false tears.

I suddenly felt nauseated. I covered my mouth and staggered into the restroom, collapsing over the toilet and dry heaving.

Nothing came up. Just my stomach convulsing and tears streaming down my face.

The sound drew the two people out of the hospital room.

Ethan stood in the doorway. Seeing my state, he froze for a moment.

"What's wrong?"

He was about to step forward to help me when a scream suddenly came from behind him.

Rachel ran off crying. Ethan immediately withdrew his hand and chased after her.

By the time I left the hospital, it was already deep into the night. The night wind blew against me, making me ice-cold all over.

I hadn't walked more than a few steps when a dull thud rang out. Pain shot through the back of my head and I instantly lost consciousness.

When I came to, I found myself inside a burlap sack.

My limbs were bound and my mouth was sealed with tape so I couldn't speak.

Suddenly someone viciously kicked my stomach. The pain made cold sweat instantly break out on my forehead.

But the beating was far from over. Several people began savagely punching and kicking me.

I had nowhere to hide. I could only curl up helplessly on the ground and endure it all.

It wasn't until the inside of my cheek was bitten through and bleeding, and my insides felt like they'd been ground to pieces, that the violence finally stopped.

The thugs' words sounded like they were talking to someone.

"She took such a heavy beating and there's no bleeding from down there. Looks like she really isn't pregnant."

After a few seconds of silence, a familiar voice drilled clearly into my ears.

It was Ethan. "Did you hear that, Rachel? Now you can relax."

Rachel answered obediently, "Mm-hmm. You're so good to me, Ethan."

The two of them walked away laughing. The surroundings fell silent.

I lay on the cold ground, tears and blood mixing together and falling. But suddenly I let out a low laugh.

That teenage boy who once said he'd protect me forever when I confessed. That lover whose eyes would redden with heartache if I even frowned. That man I'd loved for ten years. He died three years ago.

...

After barely enduring that wave of severe pain, I struggled to untie the ropes.

But even after my wrists were rubbed raw and bleeding, I still couldn't get the ropes loose.

Just then, Ethan rushed over.

He undid my restraints in a few moves and said urgently, "I just found out you were kidnapped and came to rescue you right away. Honey, are you okay?"

I forced a smile at him, but didn't have the strength to expose his lies.

Seeing me like this, Ethan suddenly grew flustered. He quickly looked away from my gaze.

"Alright, it's over now. I'm taking you home."

Perhaps out of guilt, he stayed in my room for the next two days, feeding me medicine and bringing me water.

Until the third day, when Rachel insisted he accompany her on a trip.

Ethan looked conflicted, but I said understandingly.

"I'm fine. You two go."

He paused. "You mean it? I knew you were the most considerate. Rest well at home while you recover. I'll be back soon."

After seeing him off, I put on the pendant I'd secretly taken from him when he wasn't paying attention.

I made up an excuse to send the housekeeper away, then threw off the covers and got out of bed.

The training program's departure time was this afternoon. I couldn't be late.

After packing my documents and essentials, I dragged my body to the door with difficulty.

The moment I gripped the doorknob, I breathed a sigh of relief.

All of this was finally ending.

I took one last look at this home, then reached out and turned the knob.

Clang!

My suitcase fell to the floor.

I stared straight ahead, my eyes trembling violently, all color draining from my face.

Outside the door stood a crowd of people!

At the front, Ethan wore a black suit, his expression twisted.

"Claire, you didn't actually think you could leave me, did you?"