Chapter 3

The noise around me was deafening, but I couldn't hear anything.

His words echoed endlessly in my ears until I caught sight of a streak of bright red blood.

Looking down, I discovered my wedding dress was already drenched in blood.

Pain—so much pain. Blood gushed from my abdomen in waves.

I clutched my lower abdomen and crouched down with difficulty.

Inside me was a three-month-old baby.

I had fertility issues. For this child, I'd endured countless injections and suffering.

Back then, Sebastian had gently caressed my belly.

"Mila, this baby is hard-won. We should treasure it."

But before I could even process my grief, people hurriedly helped me into an ambulance.

There was another person lying in the ambulance.

My hearing returned at that moment. I heard them say:

"Mila, your grandfather couldn't handle the shock from earlier. He had a stroke."

Blood trickled from Grandfather's mouth. Gasping for breath, he gripped my hand, trembling uncontrollably.

Even in this state, he still tried to comfort me.

"Mila, call Sebastian back. There must be some misunderstanding between you two. Once it's cleared up, everything will be fine. Once it's cleared up, I can die without regrets..."

I was Grandfather's most beloved granddaughter, and Sebastian was Grandfather's favorite young man.

Our meeting was even arranged by Grandfather.

He'd always praised Sebastian endlessly. When Foster Corporation went bankrupt, he'd emptied his coffers to help, forcibly pulling the company back from the brink.

Looking at his weakened state, I knew he didn't have much time left.

Without hesitation, I called Sebastian.

After three calls, he finally picked up.

"Grandfather... Grandfather doesn't have much time left. Can you please come see him one last time!"

My choked voice formed a stark contrast to his angry tone.

"Mila Rivers, since when did you start lying too?"

"I already said at the wedding—if you want the wedding to continue, transfer all joint assets to Vivian's name..."

"I agree! Just please say in front of Grandfather that you're still willing to marry me!"

"Too late, Mila. I want to cancel our engagement."

"I did have some feelings for you, but I just figured it out. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Rather than keeping you around to disgust Vivian, I'd rather just marry her."

I don't remember how I ended that phone call. I only remember that until Grandfather closed his eyes, I didn't dare look him in the face.

The doctor told me to watch my diet, but I got blackout drunk instead.

In the past, if I came home even a little late, Sebastian's concerned calls would flood in.

"Mila, almost home?"

"Mila, let me come pick you up."

But today my phone was so quiet it felt unsettling. What arrived before any call was a divorce agreement Sebastian sent, along with a string of cold text.

"Sign it. There's five million in the account. If it's not enough, I can add more. Mr. Rivers helped me considerably, so consider this repaying his kindness."

"But Vivian doesn't owe you anything, so you still need to apologize to her."

My vision went black for a moment.

Money was the one thing I never lacked.

In a single day, I'd lost both family and my child, and the person responsible was trying to use money to force me to back down.

"I should congratulate you both. Hope you two lovebirds stay locked together forever!"

After cursing a few times, I blocked Sebastian on Snapchat.

But my heart felt suddenly lost, not even knowing where I belonged next.

I'd been raised by Grandfather since childhood. Sebastian was the partner Grandfather had chosen for me.

Grandfather was dead. Sebastian didn't want me anymore. What came next? Where was my home?

Under the influence of alcohol, after wandering around, I somehow ended up back at the Fosters' new house.