Chapter 2

Sophia's POV

I opened the door to a delicate, innocent face.

Her features were refined and pretty, her skin smooth and fair. Youth practically radiated from her.

I looked at the woman before me in disbelief. Tears filled my eyes. I even forgot to run away.

Footsteps approached from behind. A pair of large hands gripped my shoulders. Ethan's voice came from above my head.

"Why are you crying?"

He frowned slightly, looking down at me in his arms, his fingers tightening.

"Did someone bully you?"

I didn't answer. The paper in my hand was crumpled. I stared hard at the woman in front of me.

Ethan followed my gaze. As if only now noticing the person at the door, displeasure flashed in his eyes.

"Why are you here?"

Lily nervously twisted the corner of her clothes, then pulled out a certificate from her bag.

"The doctor said the fetus is unstable and I should drop out to rest. I've already processed my leave of absence."

She glanced at the man's dark expression, then at me, stammering.

"You... you said... if I ever had any trouble, I could come to you..."

"You're the baby's father. You can't abandon your responsibility."

Lily seemed to gather courage, looking at the man before her.

Ethan irritably rubbed his temples and let go of me.

"Come in first. I'll go upstairs and call someone to take care of you."

Then he squeezed my hand reassuringly.

"Don't worry. She'll leave soon."

Ethan didn't explain Lily's identity or the pregnancy. He turned and went upstairs to the study to get his phone.

After he left, Lily's previously timid expression vanished. She walked straight to the sofa and sat down, looking at me from across the room as if she were the mistress of this house.

"So you're that promiscuous wife Mr. Pierce talks about?"

Promiscuous wife?

Is that how Ethan referred to me behind my back?

I struggled to breathe.

Having just had surgery and lost a lot of blood, combined with my emotional turmoil, I staggered, bracing my hands against the doorframe, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Seeing me like this, contempt flashed in Lily's eyes.

She crossed her arms and walked up to me step by step, warning in a low voice.

"You're a slut who slept with other men. How are you worthy of bearing Mr. Pierce's child?"

She proudly touched her still-flat belly.

"Mr. Pierce said I'm the purest one. Only I'm qualified to bear his child."

"Everyone says Mr. Pierce loves you, but..."

Lily looked at my dazed expression.

"If it came down to the child or you, who do you think he'd choose?"

What does that mean?

A bad feeling suddenly hit me. I jerked my head up to look at her.

The sound of a door closing came from upstairs. Before I could react, Lily suddenly grabbed my hand and violently pushed herself to the ground. Tears instantly streamed down her face.

Lying on the floor, Lily clutched her belly, breaking out in cold sweat from the pain.

"The baby, my baby..."

Hearing the commotion, Ethan rushed downstairs and scooped Lily into his arms.

"How did you fall? I'll take you to the hospital right now."

But Lily grabbed his arm tightly, her eyes on me, her voice weak.

"Mrs. Pierce, I never wanted to compete with you, but why can't you tolerate even a child? Why did you push me?"

"I didn't!"

Meeting Ethan's gaze, I shook my head in denial.

"I didn't push her! You know I just had a miscarriage. How could I harm someone else's child?"

I kept shaking my head. I'd had nine miscarriages. No one knew better than me the pain of losing a child.

How could I possibly want to harm anyone?

Ethan clearly didn't believe me. His eyes were frighteningly cold as he spoke word by word.

"I saw it with my own eyes! Sophia, are you trying to deceive me again like last time?"

"She fell on her own! She's trying to frame me!"

I didn't understand why Ethan would never truly believe me.

"There's a camera at the door. Why won't you just check it?!"

I explained desperately, a sense of helplessness welling up inside.

Ethan's expression shifted, but Lily in his arms went stiff, then clutched her stomach in painful cries.

"Mr. Pierce, my stomach hurts so much. Did we lose our baby?"

Ethan's thoughts were interrupted. He immediately lifted Lily in his arms.

"Lily has always been pure and kind. This is your first time meeting today. She has no reason to frame you. I saw you push her with my own eyes. There's no need to check the footage."

"Sophia, you've disappointed me again."

Ethan held the pale-faced Lily tightly in his arms, pushed past me standing in the doorway, and hurried out.

Unprepared, my already unsteady body was knocked aside. I fell heavily to the ground with a thud and cried out in pain.

Ethan's steps paused. He didn't look back.

I finally understood. Ethan had never believed me.

Those lost children were his punishment for me.