Chapter 1
“Sir, if we don’t get her to the hospital right now, she might not survive. Are you really planning to use the fetus in your wife’s womb as a cure for Mrs. Maeve?”
The butler, who had seen more than his share of crises in his twenty years of service, was in a panic. Even for him, the gruesome scene unfolding before his eyes was too much.
Claudine Pitts lay unconscious in a pool of blood. Her face was deathly pale and the lower half of her body was a ghastly mess. Her consciousness flickered in and out.
But Elliot Graves didn’t waver for a second.
“That’s what the shaman said—only this unborn child can save Maeve! Her life depends on it!”
He barked his orders without a shred of remorse.
“Don’t just stand there! Get the baby out of her now—while she’s still unconscious!”
The butler froze in disbelief.
“Sir! That’s a human life! You can’t play with it! And don’t forget, she spent an entire day submerged in freezing water for you. The doctors said she might never be able to conceive again. If you do this, she might never carry another child for the rest of her life!”
Panicking, he pulled out his phone to call 911, but Elliot lunged forward, snatched it from his hands and smashed it to pieces.
“If you’re not gonna do it. Move! Get me a knife—I’ll do it myself!”
Elliot’s hand moved with terrifying precision. Cold. Calculated.
He didn't know that Claudine wasn't completely unconscious.
She saw everything he did, and his ridiculous marriage to two wives was just to take her child's life.
When she opened her eyes again, Claudine took out the contract on her own initiative.
She didn't want Elliot anymore, and she didn't want this marriage either.
No one knows that she is the biological daughter of the richest man living abroad, and now she wants to return to her original life.
However, when she left completely, the man frantically looked for her and begged for forgiveness.
——
“Sir, if we don’t get her to the hospital right now, she might not survive. Are you really planning to use the fetus in your wife’s womb as a cure for Mrs. Maeve?”
The butler, who had seen more than his share of crises in his twenty years of service, was in a panic. Even for him, the gruesome scene unfolding before his eyes was too much.
Claudine Pitts lay unconscious in a pool of blood. Her face was deathly pale and the lower half of her body was a ghastly mess. Her consciousness flickered in and out.
But Elliot Graves didn’t waver for a second.
“That’s what the shaman said—only this unborn child can save Maeve! Her life depends on it!”
He barked his orders without a shred of remorse.
“Don’t just stand there! Get the baby out of her now—while she’s still unconscious!”
The butler froze in disbelief.
“Sir! That’s a human life! You can’t play with it! And don’t forget, she spent an entire day submerged in freezing water for you. The doctors said she might never be able to conceive again. If you do this, she might never carry another child for the rest of her life!”
Panicking, he pulled out his phone to call 911, but Elliot lunged forward, snatched it from his hands and smashed it to pieces.
“If you’re not gonna do it. Move! Get me a knife—I’ll do it myself!”
Elliot’s hand moved with terrifying precision. Cold. Calculated.
And then he stumbled away, clutching something like it was the most precious thing in the world.
Only after he disappeared did the butler rush to Claudine’s side, finally calling for help and getting her to the hospital.
No one knew—Claudine had never lost consciousness entirely.
Her eyelashes fluttered weakly, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t open her eyes.
The pain was too much. It was a kind of pain that felt worse than having her heart ripped from her chest.
The sharp scent of disinfectant invaded her nostrils as she lay on the hospital bed. The room was dark, the windows pitch black against the night.
She instinctively reached for her belly.
Her baby… her only child… was gone.
Just hours ago, Claudine had been pushed down the stairs by her sister-in-law, Maeve Waller, during an explosive argument. The cause? Claudine had refused Mrs. Graves’s outrageous proposal—to let Elliot take on a second wife and give Maeve a child.
A week earlier, the Graves Family had been ambushed by an old enemy. Both brothers were kidnapped, and in the end, Melvin—Elliot’s older brother and Maeve’s husband—died shielding him from a bullet. Maeve, a newlywed, had become a widow in the blink of an eye.
Consumed by grief, Maeve spiraled. She tried to end her life multiple times, only to be stopped each time.
Desperate, Mrs. Graves had come up with what she called a “solution”: Elliot would father a child with Maeve. It would give Maeve a reason to live and preserve the Graves Family line. She framed it like an act of duty.
Elliot refused at first, but things escalated quickly—and violently. In the heat of it all, Maeve shoved Claudine, sending her tumbling down the stairs. Claudine, who was pregnant at the time, never stood a chance.
Now, in the cold silence of the hospital room, a soft groaning broke through the dark.
“Mmh… Elliot, no… not here. Claudine’s right next to us.”
Maeve’s voice, sweet and breathy, was followed by the slick, unmistakable sound of two bodies tangled in the filthiest kind of betrayal.
“She’s still out cold. It’s fine,” Elliot muttered, unbothered.
“If we didn’t stage all this, someone as selfish as her would’ve never willingly given up that baby for you. Maeve, your illness… it’s finally going to be cured.”
Their bodies moved faster, the rhythm cruel and unapologetic. The curtain between their hospital bed and Claudine’s barely muffled the groans or the thumping of the headboard.
“Maeve,” Elliot whispered between gasps, “we’re going to have a child. A real Graves heir—just you and me.”
His voice was dripping with affection, adoration even, as he held Maeve tightly and buried himself deeper into her.
Not once did they stop to consider the broken woman just feet away—bleeding, empty and awake.
In the corner of the room, unnoticed and forgotten, Claudine shed a single tear. It slid down her cheek, silently soaking into the pillow.
Elliot didn’t stop that night. Over and over, he reached for Maeve, like Claudine was already gone. Like she’d never mattered.
By morning, Claudine had had enough.
She ripped out her IV, stumbled out of bed and left the hospital without looking back.
Later that day, she slammed a stack of papers down on Mrs. Graves’s polished mahogany desk.
“You got what you wanted. I’m walking away from Elliot,” she said, her voice icy but controlled. “But I have one condition—I’m taking every cent of the Pitts Family fortune with me. And I want ten million dollars.”
Chapter 2
Mrs. Graves’ smile froze halfway across her face.
She had been expecting Claudine to back down. But ten million? That was not part of the plan.
For a few tense seconds, Mrs. Graves hesitated. Then, grinding her teeth, she gave a reluctant nod.
“Fine. I’ll agree to it. But only if you promise—swear on whatever you hold dear—that you’ll never show your face in front of my son again. You know exactly what’ll happen if you do.”
Her lips curled into a tight, smug smile. There was a threatening undertone behind her controlled voice, like she’d been expecting this moment all along.
Without missing a beat, she turned to her butler.
“Draw up the contract.”
Claudine didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. She signed her name without hesitation.
“I’ll make sure you get every last cent,” Mrs. Graves said, her eyes flicking over the signature with thinly veiled contempt. “I’ll wire fifty million into your account today. The rest comes after you disappear for good.”
“I’ll have your exit arranged in a week. International flight, one-way.”
Her tone was dismissive, triumphant even. She didn’t hide the disgust in her eyes, nor the thrill she felt seeing Claudine finally step out of their lives.
Claudine knew. She had always known.
Mrs. Graves had never seen her as anything more than a nuisance. After Mr. Graves died, she pulled every string, used every trick in the book to force Elliot into a divorce. But back then, Elliot had stood in front of her like a fortress.
“She’s my wife. The only one I’ll ever have,” he’d declared in front of everyone. “If any of you bring this up again, I swear I’ll end my life right here.”
His threat had silenced them all.
After all, Claudine had no family. No legacy. Her only support had been the Pitts Family—until now.
Steadying herself, she met Mrs. Graves’s cold stare with calm defiance.
“No need to arrange anything. I’ll leave on my own in a week.”
Mrs. Graves smiled, smug and satisfied.
“Good. Smart girl. Now be a good dog and get out of my way.”
The words dripped with venom.
What none of them knew was that Claudine wasn’t even a blood relative of the Pitts Family. She’d been adopted. Three days ago, her biological brother had reached out, asking her to come home and reclaim her real name.
But everyone had been too preoccupied mourning Elliot’s brother to care. It was the most fragile moment in the Graves Family's history. She had planned to wait before telling anyone.
Now… what was the point?
“One more thing,” Claudine said coolly. “Don’t tell Elliot about this.”
Just as the words left her mouth, the door burst open and Elliot stormed in, his face a storm of rage and panic.
“Mom! Are you pressuring Claudine again? About having a child with Maeve? I’m warning you—I’ll never agree to something so sick and twisted!”
He positioned himself firmly between Claudine and his mother, shielding her with every ounce of righteous anger he could summon.
Claudine looked at his back, her heart hollow.
In another time, she might’ve cried from relief. But now? Now it just felt pathetic.
Disgusting.
Sick and twisted? And yet, he spent the entire night being intimate with Maeve in the hospital room next to hers..
Mrs. Graves opened her mouth to speak, but met Claudine’s eyes and thought better of it.
“Someday, you’ll agree to it,” she muttered instead, before walking out with her usual air of superiority.
Elliot pulled Claudine into his arms, his voice trembling.
“Claudine, why didn’t you wait for me? I was so scared when you disappeared... I thought something happened to you.”
But Claudine’s face remained blank.
If she didn't go home, would she stay there and continue watching him being intimate with another woman through the paper-thin curtains?
She couldn’t. She wouldn’t.
“Claudine,” Elliot said softly, “even if the doctors say you’ll never have children again, I don’t care. You’ll always be my wife. If it really comes to it, I’ll adopt. I don’t need—”
His voice buzzed in her ears. She couldn’t hear a word.
Then she cut him off coldly.
“Elliot, go ahead. Have a child with Maeve. The Graves Family needs an heir.”
Her words sliced through the air like a blade.
Elliot’s expression twisted in shock and fury.
“Did my mom put this idea in your head? I’m going to talk to her right now!”
Chapter 3
Claudine’s strange reaction made Elliot feel uneasy. Could she already know about him and Maeve?
But before she could say a word, a loud commotion came from outside.
“Mr. Graves! Mrs. Melvin passed out again!”
Elliot rushed out as fast as he could.
He cradled Maeve’s unconscious body tightly, his eyes filled with panic and fury.
“Call the doctor! What are you all standing around for?”
The hallway broke into chaos. Soon, Elliot sat at Maeve’s bedside, his face heavy with worry as he fired questions at the doctor.
“You told me she'd be fine as long as she took the medicine. Why did she faint again?”
The doctor, however, was all smiles.
“Congratulations, Mr. Graves—Mrs. Maeve is pregnant. She’s about two months along!”
Claudine froze for a moment. Maeve and Melvin had only been married for half a month and she had once accidentally seen Melvin's medical report—he had azoospermia, meaning he would never be able to have children.
So, the baby Maeve was carrying… It didn’t take a genius to guess whose it was.
Mrs. Graves rushed over, clutching Maeve’s hand with excitement, showering her with comfort and praise.
Elliot’s face lit up, unable to hide the joy in his eyes. He and Maeve shared a look so intimate, it might as well have been silk threads drawing them together.
Claudine closed her eyes, face numb and turned to leave.
But Maeve called out behind her.
“Claudine, aren’t you happy for me? I’m pregnant.”
Maeve looked at her, half-smiling with smug amusement.
Claudine opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Mrs. Graves shot her a sharp, scornful look.
“What’s with that face? Can’t have kids yourself and now you’re upset Maeve’s pregnant? Even a hen lays eggs eventually.”
“Maeve’s the capable one here—barely married a few weeks and already expecting. Not like you, always bringing bad luck. Got your own parents killed and now you've lost a child too, leaving the Graves Family without an heir. You’re absolutely useless.”
Claudine had grown used to Mrs. Graves’ constant jabs, but this time, her eyes drifted slowly to Elliot.
He didn’t say a word.
Didn’t stop them.
Didn’t defend her.
Just watched in silence.
“It’s okay, Claudine,” Maeve added, voice sugar-sweet. “I know you’re still grieving your loss. Here, take this bracelet— consider this a gift for your child.”
At that moment, Claudine finally noticed—the only heirloom her mother had left her, the bracelet, was now in Maeve’s hands.
Her pupils dilated in shock. She stepped forward on instinct to grab it, but Elliot shoved her back with force.
“Claudine, be reasonable. Maeve’s pregnant now. It’s just a bracelet. I’ll buy you another one—heck, I’ll buy you a few.”
She staggered backward, staring at Elliot with disbelief.
He knew.
He knew what that bracelet meant to her.
Elliot looked away, guilt flickering across his face.
“You know how much it means to me, don’t you?” Claudine’s voice cracked. “It was the last thing my mother left me!”
Her eyes burned red as she screamed, voice hoarse with fury.
She could endure everything else—but not this.
“Ugh, a keepsake? How morbid.” Maeve sneered, peeling the silver bracelet off her wrist with exaggerated disgust.
With a loud crack, she let it fall to the floor, where it shattered into jagged pieces.
“Claudine, that’s enough! You’re being completely out of line!” Elliot roared.
She knelt down, trembling hands gathering the shards, her eyes wide with disbelief.
This was the first time Elliot had ever raised his voice at her—for Maeve’s sake.
“For now, stay away from Maeve. You need to reflect on your behavior.”
He turned to the staff.
“Take her to her room. No one lets her out unless I say so.”
Claudine clenched her fists until her nails pierced her palms, the sharp pain the only thing anchoring her to reality.
“Don’t touch me!”
She yanked her arm away and walked off without looking back.
She was done with all of it.
Chapter 4
Claudine was confined to her bedroom, but gossip had a way of seeping through the walls.
“Mr. Graves spent the night in Maeve’s room again. Looks like there’s a new lady of the house.”
“Yeah, I heard Maeve was his first love. Somehow he ended up marrying Claudine by mistake.”
“Mistake or not, Mr. Graves brother died saving him and now Maeve’s carrying the Graves Family’s only heir. It makes the real lady of the house pretty obvious, isn’t it?”
“I feel bad for Claudine. She’s an orphan and back when Mr. Graves had nothing, she stuck by him through thick and thin. And now—just because of some fortune teller’s nonsense—her only child was ripped out of her… all so Maeve could be cured.”
The maid didn’t finish her sentence. A chill crept down her spine.
Claudine was standing behind her.
Her face was eerily calm.
“M-Mrs. Graves…”
No one knew how broken she truly was inside—her heart was already in shreds.
The maid quickly fled, but not before throwing in one final blow as she walked off:
“Don’t call her Mrs. Graves anymore. Mr. Graves said from now on, there’s only one lady of the house–—Mrs. Melvin Graves.”
That night, Claudine came down with a high fever. Burning up and barely able to stand, she forced herself to find the family doctor—only to be met with rejection.
That night, Claudine came down with a high fever. She dragged herself to the family doctor, only to be turned away.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Claudine,” the doctor said, not meeting her eyes. “Mr. Graves instructed us to prioritize Mrs. Maeve from now on.”
Claudine gave a bitter laugh, her body trembling as she made her way back. As she passed Maeve’s room, she heard something through the door.
She froze.
Through the crack, she saw Elliot—pressed against Maeve, kissing her feverishly.
“Mmm, Elliot… careful. I have baby in there.”
“Relax, Maeve. Of course I’ll be gentle,” he murmured against her skin. “This baby’s the Graves Family's only heir, after all.”
The air was thick with passion and Claudine felt like she couldn’t breathe.
“I just wonder,” Maeve purred, “if Claudine is as stiff in bed as she is in real life…”
“Don’t talk about her,” Elliot grunted. “She’s like a corpse in bed—stiff, unresponsive. Not like you. You drive me crazy. You’re the one I’ve always loved.”
“If you hadn’t broken up with me back then, I never would’ve married her.”
His words slammed into her like a freight train.
Claudine bit down on her lip so hard it bled, not even realizing it.
When she finally snapped out of it, her face was soaked with tears.
She turned and walked away. She didn’t even know how she made it through the night.
The next morning, she sent her brother a text.
[I’ve made up my mind. I’ll join you and the family overseas. I just need to settle something first.]
His reply came almost instantly.
[You serious? That’s amazing, Claudine. Mom and Dad are gonna be thrilled. I’ll take care of the immigration paperwork.]
[What about your husband.]
[I’ll divorce him.]
Her whole body felt drained. Her forehead still burned.
Before she could rise, the door creaked open.
It was Maeve.
Smirking, she gently touched her still-flat stomach.
“I take it you saw everything last night? Elliot’s been sleeping with me every night now. And this baby… it’s his.”
Claudine’s heart clenched. So it had all been intentional. Maeve had wanted her to see.
“Oh, and that bracelet? I smashed it on purpose. And guess what? I casually mentioned that your baby’s stem cells might help cure me and Elliot didn’t even hesitate. He personally took the baby out of you.”
She gave a mocking laugh.
“You have no idea, Claudine… That thing was nearly formed. Almost a little person.”
“Enough! Get out of my room!” Claudine’s voice shook with rage.
She didn’t want to hear anymore. Couldn’t bear to think about it.
That baby had been her whole heart.
And they’d destroyed it like it meant nothing.
Chapter 5
Claudine staggered to her feet, refusing to spare Maeve another breath. If Maeve wasn’t leaving, then she would.
But just as Claudine turned to go downstairs, Maeve suddenly darted in front of her, grabbed her hand and threw herself backward.
The two of them tumbled down the staircase together.
The memory of her miscarriage—the last time she’d fallen like this—flashed violently in Claudine’s mind.
“Maeve!” Elliot shouted.
“Elliot, it hurts—oh God, the baby!” Maeve cried out.
“I’m sorry. I never should’ve used that fetus for treatment. If you’re angry, take it out on me, Claudine. The baby doesn’t deserve this.”
Claudine’s head slammed hard against a step. Her vision blurred, ears ringing. The accusation echoed in her ears, but she was in too much pain to defend herself.
“You’ve gone too far,” Elliot growled, voice sharp as steel. “I never thought you could be this cruel. If anything happens to the baby Maeve’s carrying, I swear you’ll pay for it.”
His eyes were full of disgust, like he didn’t even recognize her anymore.
Maeve curled into Elliot’s arms like a wounded bird, tears slipping prettily down her cheeks. She looked fragile. Devastated.
Claudine didn’t care about any of that. She forced out a whisper, using the last of her strength. “Please… take me to the hospital…”
Her voice faded, her eyes fluttering shut.
“No one is to help her,” Elliot said coldly. “Let this be a lesson to her.”
Maeve. The way he’d cried out her name—it said everything. They didn’t even bother hiding it anymore.
As their figures faded from view, Claudine’s body finally gave out. Darkness swallowed her whole.
***
Claudine opened her eyes two days later in a hospital room.
“You’re finally awake. You’ve been out for a full forty-eight hours,” the nurse said, adjusting her bandages.
“Where’s your family? Dropping you off and then vanishing? What kind of family does that?” she muttered.
“I don’t have a family,” Claudine replied softly.
The nurse paused. The air turned heavy with silence.
“You had a high fever that wouldn’t break and the head trauma left you with a mild concussion. You need to rest. No emotional stress, alright?”
No sooner had the nurse stepped out than Elliot walked in.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” he said flatly. “I know you’re grieving the baby, but you went too far. Maeve’s only a little shaken, thank God. You need to apologize to her. Consider this a wake-up call.”
His voice was cold, rigid.
Claudine had long stopped expecting compassion from Elliot, but that didn’t make his cruelty hurt any less.
She didn’t argue. Just gave a faint hum, eyes cast downward.
Something flickered in Elliot’s gaze—uncertainty, maybe even guilt.
The Claudine he knew would’ve snapped back, denied the blame, met him blow for blow. But now she just lay there, quiet and wrecked. And it rattled him.
“Tonight’s Maeve’s birthday,” he said, his tone softening. “I’ve already picked out a gift for you to bring. A car will be here to take you to the party.”
He turned to leave.
“Can I not go?” Claudine asked cautiously.
“No,” Elliot said without hesitation. “What happened last time was your fault. She’s your sister-in-law. It would be rude if you didn’t show up. Besides, this is a good chance to smooth things over between you two.”
Claudine forced a hollow smile.
She didn’t argue.
She picked up her phone and checked the notification from the airline.
Three more days.
Just three days until she could finally leave it all behind.
Chapter 6
The banquet hall was a floral wonderland, covered in freshly flown-in blooms from France.
Maeve stood in the center of the crowd, radiant in an elegant designer gown, soaking up the compliments and admiration like a queen basking in her court.
When Maeve spotted Claudine at the entrance, her lips curled slightly. Her face said welcome, but her eyes screamed mockery.
She walked through the crowd and took Claudine’s hand with fake warmth.
“Claudine, I’m so glad you could make it to my birthday,” she said in a sugary voice. “The baby and I are truly grateful,” she added, placing a gentle hand on her belly. Her gaze flicked toward Elliot with a shy smile, like a doting mother waiting for approval.
Before anyone could process what was happening, Elliot stepped up to the mic.
“Tonight isn’t just a celebration of my sister-in-law’s birthday,” he said. “I also have an announcement to make. From now on, all assets of the Graves Corporation will go to the child Maeve is carrying. He or she will be the sole heir to the Graves legacy.”
The room erupted into applause and congratulations.
Elliot stepped off the stage and leaned close to Claudine, whispering in her ear.
“Melvin died saving me. We owe this to Maeve. And let’s be real—you won’t be able to have children, Claudine. This baby is probably the only heir the Graves Family will ever have. But don’t worry, you’ll never have to struggle. I’ll make sure all your needs are taken care of."
But his eyes never left Maeve, who stood glowing at the top of the stairs, soaking in every moment.
That look—so full of love—cut through Claudine like glass.
Of course it hurt. Of course it was the people closest to you who knew exactly where to twist the knife. The wounds they left behind were the deepest. The ones that never quite healed.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
Before she could collect herself, Maeve turned to her, beaming.
“We had a little misunderstanding, Claudine and I,” Maeve said to the crowd. “But now that I’m about to be a mother, I understand her emotions better.”
She turned to Claudine, voice syrupy and sweet.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to apologize to me, Claudine? Don’t be shy now. Everyone’s watching. Admitting you were wrong is the first step toward making things right.”
All eyes shifted to her.
“Claudine, you need to apologize,” Elliot said sternly, giving her no way out.
Whispers rippled through the room like wildfire.
“I heard she pushed Maeve down the stairs because she couldn’t handle losing her own baby.”
“God, that’s sick. That poor baby never even had a chance.”
“She’s lucky all she has to do is apologize…”
Claudine caved.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice trembling, her eyes fixed on Elliot—who stood there in silent approval.
But Maeve wasn’t finished.
“You don’t sound very sincere,” she said lightly, with a fake little laugh. “How about you show us how sorry you are? Drink the wine and I’ll consider you forgiven,” She gestured to a long table covered in tiny, gleaming shot glasses—lined up in neat little rows.
Ninety-nine glasses of wine.
Claudine’s eyes bounced between the glasses and Maeve.
This woman had already caused her to lose her baby. Had yanked her down the stairs. And now she wanted her to drink—knowing full well she had alcohol intolerance?
Maeve wasn’t just humiliating her. She was trying to kill her.
Claudine turned to Elliot, praying he would stop this. That he’d finally, finally defend her.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he spoke like she was the one being unreasonable.
“Don’t embarrass her tonight, Claudine. It’s her birthday.”
It felt like a slap.
“But… I’ll die,” she said through clenched teeth, anger flaring in her gut.
“You won’t,” he replied coldly. “Besides, all of this started because of you.”
Claudine let out a bitter laugh. There was no use fighting anymore.
She picked up a glass.
Then another.
And another.
One by one, she downed them like water, her throat burning with each swallow.
The liquor stung like fire.
Her tears mixed with the bitterness, drowning her in shame.
Chapter 7
Elliot remained silent, his gaze dark and piercing as he stared at her.
A sharp scream pierced the air.
“Ah!”
Maeve collapsed to the floor, the elegant gift box before her containing two blood-soaked dead geese—one large, one small. The stench of blood quickly filled the room.
Maeve clutched her stomach in panic, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls.
“My stomach, it hurts, the baby!” she cried.
“Claudine, I don’t understand why you keep targeting me and the baby. I’ll let the baby call you mom if it will make things better! Please, leave me and my baby alone! I just want to have a safe pregnancy and give birth peacefully.”
Maeve sobbed, desperately pleading.
Only then did those around them realize that the box containing the dead geese had been brought by Claudine.
Elliot immediately scooped Maeve into his arms, turning to face Claudine with a look of cold fury.
For the first time, his anger flared.
“Claudine, you’ve gone too far! If anything happens to Maeve or the baby, I want you out of the Graves Family immediately. We’re getting a divorce!”
This was the first time Elliot had ever mentioned divorce.
Years ago, when he had pulled her from the freezing ocean, he had held her cold, stiff body close to his, eyes filled with worry and helplessness.
“I’m sorry, Claudine. I promise I’ll never let you get hurt again.”
Every night, he had whispered promises into her ear.
“We’ll be together forever, Claudine. Never to part.”
But everything had changed since Maeve entered the Graves Family.
She had lost the baby, lost her husband and seen the true nature of this marriage filled with calculation and deceit.
A bitter, metallic taste surged up Claudine’s throat. She couldn’t stop herself from collapsing, darkness taking over her vision.
Under the eyes of everyone, her husband once again chose someone else.
The two of them were rushed to a private hospital.
A sharp pain shot through her and as she opened her eyes, she saw a large needle attached to her arm, drawing her blood.
“Don’t move! Maeve was shocked and fainted, she needs an emergency blood transfusion and you happen to have RH-negative blood,” Elliot said, his voice full of concern, though his gaze wasn’t directed at her.
A nurse rushed in, looking alarmed.
“The patient's condition isn’t looking good; she may need more blood.”
Elliot’s expression darkened, his voice cold and firm.
“Keep drawing!”
The nurse hesitated, her brows furrowing with sympathy as she tried to gently stop him.
“We can’t take more. She came in with a severe alcohol-induced allergic reaction and her condition is critical. We’ve already drawn 800cc—if we take more, she might not survive.”
Elliot’s expression darkened. The air thickened with tension as he stepped closer, eyes cold and unreadable.
“I’m your boss,” he said icily. “If you won’t follow my orders, get out.”
Under his threat, the nurse reluctantly moved to draw blood from her other arm, since the first one had been used up.
Claudine’s face grew pale. She fought against the nauseating taste in her throat, too weak to speak. The world spun around her, her body unable to fight back, left at the mercy of others.
Finally, Elliot stopped the procedure.
Twelve hundred cc of blood—and one unborn child. That was what the Graves Family had taken from her. She figured they were even now. Their so-called kindness had been repaid in full.
They left her in a cold, empty hospital room.
Her mind drifted in and out of consciousness, swaying between brief moments of clarity and fevered delirium.
Outside the room, two nurses passed by.
“I heard that Mr. Graves treats his wife so well. She just had a little scare, but he stayed up all night by her side, even had blood transfused for her. What a sweet couple. I envy them,” a nurse whispered.
“Shh, I heard she’s not Mr. Graves' wife. The one in the bed is his wife, the other is his sister-in-law,” another nurse quickly corrected.
Chapter 8
After the nurses left, Claudine slowly opened her bloodshot eyes.
The pain behind them was bone-deep—devouring, endless. It wasn’t the kind of pain that made you cry. No tears would come. No sounds escaped her throat. It felt like invisible hands were choking her, keeping everything locked inside.
The man she had once trusted the most… the man she had loved with all her heart… had been the one to shove her into the bottomless abyss.
She couldn’t wait any longer.
The next day, dragging her weak body, she went to the airport. She had rebooked her ticket the night before. Her suitcase rattled quietly behind her as she read the message from her lawyer:
[The divorce agreement has been drafted according to your wishes and it will be delivered to your husband’s company tomorrow.]
She replied with a single word.
[Thanks.]
She took out her phone card and snapped it in half. She then removed her diamond ring from her left hand and tossed it into the trash bin.
She glanced at the bruises and needle marks on her arm. Before boarding, she gave one last look at the city.
She knew she’d never come back.
***
Back at the hospital, Elliot hadn’t slept a wink.
He stayed by Maeve’s side all night, only relaxing slightly when she finally woke up.
“Elliot, I’m fine... Claudine didn’t mean it. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed her like that,” Maeve murmured tearfully, her voice weak and trembling.
“Maeve, this isn’t your fault. I’ll take care of everything,” Elliot said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
After comforting Maeve, Elliot went to check on Claudine.
But when he entered her room, it was empty.
“Where is the patient here?” he asked, irritation in his voice.
“She checked herself out early this morning,” the nurse replied.
A sense of unease washed over Elliot. He pulled out his phone and called the butler.
“Tell Claudine this isn’t over. Tell her we’re going to the courthouse tomorrow. We’re getting divorced!”
The butler’s voice was filled with confusion. “Sir? I thought Madam was still in the hospital?”
Then, realization hit him like a punch to the gut.
“Forget it,” he snapped. “If she comes back, let her know running away won’t work on me. If she doesn't want a divorce, she’d better come back and apologize to Maeve.”
He hung up.
A moment later, his assistant came rushing in, looking flustered.
“Sir! Mrs. Graves just had divorce papers delivered to your office!”
