Chapter 3

I never showed up at the hospital.

The next morning, Julian arrived at my apartment, flanked by my parents.

The moment the front door swung open, my father raised his hand and struck me hard across the face.

The crack echoed in the foyer. "You ungrateful brat! What have you done?!"

His hand shook with rage. "Mia had a burning fever all through the night, screaming for her mother! Where were you?! Do you have a shred of conscience left?! That is your flesh and blood!"

My mother held onto his arm, weeping as she pleaded with me. "Serena, please, come with us to the hospital. The child is innocent! Even if you and Julian are having problems, you can't take it out on a little girl!"

Julian stood behind them, his face a portrait of tragic sorrow. "Serena, I was wrong. I shouldn't have involved Nicole. Just come home with me, please. Mia needs her mother."

He acted so convincingly, like a devoted father torn apart by grief. If I hadn't already uncovered the truth, I might have fallen for his act all over again.

Holding my burning cheek, I looked at the three of them with dead eyes. "Are you done talking? If you're done, get out."

Julian blinked in disbelief. "What are you talking about?"

"I said, get the hell out of my house!" I pointed firmly toward the door.

"You insolent—!" My father raised his hand to hit me again, but I swiftly leaned back, dodging his palm.

Julian stepped in between us, playing the peacemaker.

"Sir, please don't be angry, this is entirely my fault. I made Serena feel neglected, so it's natural she's lashing out at me."

He turned back to face me, his eyes bloodshot and pleading. "Serena, I handled things poorly before, but you can't just abandon me and our child. We've spent a decade building this life. How can you throw it all away over a petty argument?"

He reached out to take my hand, but I stepped back, avoiding his touch entirely.

"Julian, stop acting. Aren't you exhausted?"

His expression froze for a fraction of a second. A flash of pure malice sparked in his eyes, but he quickly smothered it.

"Serena, why have you become so cold? Are you really willing to give up your title as the lady of the Sterling family? Are you really throwing away our child? You were never like this before."

"You're right," I nodded plainly. "I used to be an idiot. But now? I don't want any of you."

Seeing how utterly unmoved I was, my parents broke down into despair.

My mother wiped away her tears, her voice trembling with finality. "Serena, if you go through with this divorce, consider yourself dead to this family. We are cutting all ties with you."

I looked at them. The final ember of familial love inside me flickered and went out.

I nodded quietly. "Fine by me."

That single phrase stunned my parents and Julian into silence.

They genuinely believed that by using emotional blackmail, I would fold, just like I had done dozens of times over the past decade. They thought I would soften, clean up their messes, and return to playing the dutiful mob wife.

Unfortunately for them, their leverage was gone.

After shutting the door on them, my lawyer, Daniel, called.

"Serena, Julian's team has officially acknowledged receipt of the divorce filing. But someone just leaked stories to the press claiming you abused and abandoned your dying child. Public outrage is spiraling."

I unlocked my phone. The internet was flooded with venom.

Posts and viral clips were blowing up by the minute on Twitter and TikTok, each headline more sensational than the last.

The comment sections were a bloodbath of hatred.

My photos, my real name, and my address had all been doxed. Outside the Sterling-owned private clinic, a mob of self-righteous protesters was already gathering, waving banners and demanding a public apology from me.

The Sterling family leadership hadn't released a statement yet. I wasn't worried. Julian was letting Nicole run wild, but I doubted the syndicate council would tolerate this public circus for long.

That afternoon, Nicole called me.

Her voice came through the speaker, sickeningly soft and innocent. "Serena, please don't be mad at Julian. You pushed him into a corner."

"Mia isn't doing well at all. She needs her mother. Can't you please... just come see her?"

"In what capacity are you making this call?" I asked coldly.

The line went silent for a few moments. "I... I'm Mia's aunt, and your friend."

"Friend?" I let out a sharp laugh. "Nicole, do you really think you're worthy of that word? Did you honestly think I wouldn't trace those press leaks right back to your publicist?"

With that, I hung up.

A few minutes later, a photo popped up on my screen from Nicole.

In the picture, Mia lay unconscious in the hospital bed, with Nicole leaning tenderly over her, dabbing her forehead with a damp cloth.

Julian and his mother stood by her side, looking down at them with warm, adoring smiles.

The scene looked sickeningly harmonious.

Right after, a messenger from the Sterlings reached out: "Report to the ancestral estate. The Patriarch demands an audience."

A cold smile crossed my lips. My moment had finally arrived.