Chapter 4

Damien's face turned cold at her words.

"Victoria, you really are faking it!"

Tara gave a charming smile. "Victoria's just delicate, Damien. You should comfort her more."

"Victoria is so afraid of pain. Giving birth will be even harder for her."

Damien scoffed. "My son will be well-behaved. If she's afraid of pain, that's her problem. It has nothing to do with my son."

As he said this, his tone was full of pride.

By now, my consciousness was half-faded. In the moment before I lost awareness, I only saw Tara pulling him toward the door.

Endless despair surged through me.

When I woke again, the smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils.

Pain throbbed below. I moaned involuntarily, and then my hand was gripped tightly.

"Victoria!!"

It was my mother and father.

My mother's usually immaculate hair was disheveled, her eyes swollen from crying. Seeing me awake, her voice choked. "Victoria, it's okay. Everything will be okay..."

It slowly dawned on me—I was lying on a hospital bed being rushed toward the operating room.

"Doctor, the patient is hemorrhaging!!"

The baby might not survive. The situation was critical. My father called Damien multiple times before he finally picked up.

The male voice on the other end sounded surprised. "Is Victoria making a fuss about going to the hospital again? Ever since she got pregnant, she's been paranoid that something's wrong with the baby."

"It's just a pregnancy. Back in the day, my friend cooked and cleaned for herself even when she was months along."

"Victoria is just too delicate."

After those accusatory remarks, my father finally lost his temper. I heard him speak through gritted teeth. "Damien, do you even know what's happened to Victoria?!"

My father was the Alpha of Ashclaw pack. He knew Damien was a notorious playboy and had opposed our relationship.

But unfortunately, Damien was my mate. At the time, I was completely drunk on love, lost in Damien's deep green eyes.

When he proposed to me, Damien swore to my father that he would treat me well and make me happy forever. But now, it was clear those were all empty promises.

My father's voice shook with rage. Damien hesitated, worried that something might actually be wrong with me.

But just then, Tara's startled cry came through the phone.

"Ah! Damien, Leo has a fever..."

Damien stopped explaining to my father and hung up anxiously.

"Beep beep beep—"

The busy tone echoed through the corridor. After a long silence, my father said through clenched teeth, "Divorce! Once you're out of surgery and safe, you're breaking the mate bond with that scumbag!"

Cold anesthetic slowly entered my veins. My eyelids grew heavier, yet my body felt lighter.

When I woke again, my mother told me the baby was gone.

For a moment, I felt lost. My hand lightly touched my lower abdomen. An hour ago, a little life connected to me by blood had been there. Now there was nothing.

"Victoria."

My mother looked at me with concern. I gave her a weak smile. "Mom, I'm fine."

Later, I learned I had been unconscious for two days and one night.

I checked my phone. My call log was empty. Only my chat with Damien had a few cold messages.

All sent this morning.

[Remember to divorce in three days.]

[Not replying again? Do you think avoiding this will help? Victoria, I'm telling you—I WILL divorce you!]

[Sometimes I really wish Tara and Leo were my family. Leo is so well-raised. I can't imagine what kind of person our son would turn into if he grew up with you!]

I stared at those final messages and slowly typed: [Okay.]

After sending the message, I deleted all his contact information without hesitation.

The hospital's fluorescent lights were harsh. Holding the miscarriage report, I walked alone down the corridor to retrieve my child and arrange for burial.

The maternity ward was filled with couples. The expectant mothers' faces glowed with joy.

I clutched the small box, feeling as though my heart had been sealed inside with my dead child.

"Damien, thank you so much for this." A sweet, gentle female voice sounded. I looked up and met their eyes.

Damien held Leo's hand. Tara clung to his arm.

Standing together, they looked like a real family of three.

Damien glanced at me, then his expression changed. His gaze locked onto my flat stomach.