EMILIA'S POV "I won't ask again, Emilia. Whose child is in that womb of yours?" I heard him ask again in an agitated voice, holding the pregnancy report in his hands, the vein in his forehead popping out, making me seethe in fear of what he might do  "It...It's yours," I stammered, my voice trembling, then heard a murderous low laugh from him, and my legs immediately gave in as I stumbled to the ground "You expect me to believe that?" he stepped closer, towering over me. "I have never laid my hands on you, nor have I found you worthy of my urges, but you claim that child is mine." My eyes widened as I stared at him, hopeless. He really doesn't remember "Please, you have to believe me," I pleaded, tears burning down my face "Since you won't give me a name, you leave me no choice." My heart stopped as I watched the bodyguards come closer "What are you doing ... Let me go." Two bodyguards held me on both sides as they lifted me from the ground and took me out. I struggled, but their grip was steel "Tristan, please.... The child is yours, I promise you. Please don't do this," I pleaded, but it all fell on deaf ears. The cold, lifeless look in his eyes as he watched them take me felt like a weight suffocating me. I instantly felt nauseous, and a wave of dizziness blacked out my vision as everything went dark  I woke up to the harsh smell of antiseptic and blinding fluorescent lights; my eyes fought to adjust, but it only made my head ache more.  I tried to make out my surroundings, but my breathing immediately became ragged as I realized where I was The door opened, and three men in surgical scrubs walked in "Ahh, Mrs. Blackwell, you are awake. We will be starting the procedure shortly, I promise it will be painless," the lead doctor said smoothly. I remember he was an acquaintance of Tristan "What do you mean? What procedure? Where's Tristan? Don't touch me until Tristan gets here," I panicked as I held my stomach. I couldn't believe Tristan would allow them to do this to me "Mrs. Blackwell..." they hesitated, casting uneasy glances at themselves, a foreboding feeling settling in. Just then, Tristan walked in, and hope surged through me "Tristan, they want to take out our baby. Please stop them." he didn't even look at me. His eyes swept over the medical team with icy disdain, and his next words made my blood run cold "What are you all waiting for? I don't fund this hospital for you all to move like snails. Hurry up and take that bastard child out of her" "Yes, Mr. Blackwell." The doctors moved instantly, hardened by his command, probably threatened by Tristan's presence, and knowing Tristan practically owned part of the hospital I scrambled back as I held my stomach tighter, but the doctors held me down. I looked over to Tristan, but he only glanced at me with those ever cold eyes. Three years of marriage and this is what it all amounted to. "Wait!" I yelled with the last strength in me. Tristan held his hands up, signaling the doctors to pause "Anything else, Emilia?" he coldly asked "Why won't you just believe me?" I bit my lip until I tasted copper, trying to fight the tears threatening to come out. "You dare ask me why?" he asked with a devilish smirk on that godlike face of his, making him seem domineering. "You think I wasn't going to find out how you sent Lara away?" "What?" I asked, confused, not understanding what he meant "She came back and told me everything, how you forced her away and had my grandmother trap me into marrying you. You cunning snake." He said it with so much disgust that it made my eyes redden again, not able to hold back my tears anymore "Tristan, I don't understand." Nothing made sense. I remember Lara leaving Axel City three years ago, and Tristan suddenly agreed to marry me, so why is he saying I forced Lara away and made Old Madam Blackwell force him to marry me "Still trying to act dumb, Emilia? Alright, let's see how you would react to this evidence" Tristan brought out a bunch of pictures from his inner suit pocket and threw them harshly at my face. My hands trembled as I reached out for one, and my eyes widened at its content. I checked the others, and they all contained suggestive content. One of the pictures showed me and me at a breakfast diner the day before she left Axel City, and the others showed me with a drunk man I had strangely encountered several weeks ago. He was obviously drugged and wanted to have his way with me, but luckily someone had intervened. The angle the picture was taken from made it seem like we were kissing. "Tristan, this is ... I can explain..." "Save it. I had them authenticated, and they are all real, so you understand why every word you spit out sounds like a lie to me," he sneered "Tristan, it's not what it looks like, I promise," I badly wanted to explain, but knowing he wasn't going to believe me made me feel misunderstood and heartbroken. Of course he would believe the word of his first love over the woman he was forced to marry "You tried to trap me with another man's child. How despicable, Emilia. I'm glad Lara helped me see through your tricks" "Lara sent you these pictures?" That explains a lot, it all made sense now. Lara had set me up and sent those pictures to Tristan, so of course he wasn't going to believe me, and the fetus was too early for a DNA test. So was this it? Was I going to lose my baby this way when I had just found out about it? For three years I had swallowed every insult because I loved him, and he still couldn't see through me. What happened to all my years of dedication and devotion to him? Just one word from Lara and none of it mattered anymore "So what if the baby turns out to be yours?" "And what makes you think I would want to have a baby with you? Where would that leave Lara?" Hearing him, I let out a low laugh, then a slightly louder one, then it became louder until my ribs started to hurt. I noticed the doctors exchanged alarmed looks, wondering if I had lost it. Even Tristan had creases on his forehead as he stared down at me, but I didn't care anymore. I couldn't believe it took me three years to get my answers. The answers were really clear, that even a three-year-old could figure it out. "Fine, Tristan, I will abort the child, but on one condition" Tristan's eyes narrowed. "How dare you try to make a deal with me?" "You leave me no choice, Tristan!" I took a deep breath to calm my raging heart. I could feel my inner turmoil, my chest constricting. It really hurt, but I just had to do this. "Let's get a divorce"

TRISTAN'S POV The evidence was as clear as day, she had played with another man while still married to me. Who does she think she is? How dare she cuckold me? And make me take responsibility for her bastard child. It was better to get rid of it before it becomes too late, so that Emilia knows where she stands and knows not to try me again. "Let's get a divorce." I froze immediately, not believing she said that. Looking straight at her face, searching for a twitch, a flicker of panic, anything to show she was bluffing so I could rethink the procedure. But her expression remained locked. How dare she make a deal like that with me? She keeps underestimating me, but if that's what she wants, then no problem. I want to see how long she survives without the title Mrs. Blackwell she had fought so hard to secure. She's going to crawl back and beg me to take her back, and I will show her why no one dares go against me. "I see no reason why I shouldn't grant you your wish," I said, testing her. There was only a sad smile on her face and a hint of relief. Does she really want to divorce me that bad? Something in me stirred up, and I felt unsettled for no reason. "You know I don't take back my words, so think carefully if this is what you want," I asked, giving her a chance to take back her silly condition "Yes, Tristan, I have thought about it several times, waiting for a particular answer, and I got it. This is what I want." Hearing her say that made me chuckle softly. Did she think I was going to tell the doctors to stop the abortion so we don't get divorced? Better luck next time, Emilia "What are you waiting for?" I turned to the doctors who were on standby, watching the whole drama unfold speechless. "Take out the bastard this instant. And you," I turned back to Emilia. "I will have my assistant bring the papers to you, and you can't change your mind" I left the room, lost in thought, wondering what she meant when she said she had been thinking about the divorce several times, waiting for a particular answer. There was no way. I'm sure she was only saying that to guilt trip me. Emilia had used all the manipulative tricks in the book to marry me, there was no way she would have thought of giving it all up. The Ashfords couldn't do well without the Blackwells. If Emilia thinks she can divorce me just like that without thinking about the consequences she would face from her family, then she was just so reckless after all. My phone in my pocket chimed after, and I brought it out, my eyes unknowingly softened seeing the caller ID EMILIA'S POV I slowly opened my eyes to my new reality. Assistant Luke came in with the divorce letter, and I hurriedly signed it before he even finished explaining the terms, not wanting to have anything to do with the Blackwells anymore. It's been the worst three years of my life, and I'm glad it was all over. Instinctively, I touched my stomach that once held a life. I can't believe it was gone in less than a day; I found out of its existence. A sudden hollow ache washed over me, but I forced my jaw tight. At least there was no remaining thread binding me to Tristan. "The settlement stipulates you leave with no alimony, property, or corporate backing," Luke explained politely. "All joint projects with the Ashfords are officially terminated. You will hear from our legal team in a week." Knowing my divorce will also affect the Ashfords, I couldn't care less. I had sacrificed so much already it was time they tried to fit in my shoes "Goodbye, Miss Ashford; it was nice serving you while I could." Assistant Luke bowed before leaving, and I felt utterly alone. The doctor came later on and told me I could leave the next day, but I couldn't wait that long and prepared for my discharge. Being a divorced woman brought a sense of relief to me, but why do I feel a suffocating emptiness in my chest I left the hospital and flagged down a taxi to take me to the Blackwell estate to collect my remaining personal belongings It was a long, silent ride. Halfway through, I snapped out of my thoughts and looked out the window, and then I noticed the dense trees and the narrow road. This wasn't the usual route to the estate. I brought it to the attention of the driver, but when I met his eyes in the rearview mirror, his expression was blank. Something was off about his behavior. I grew tense, knowing something was definitely wrong "Where are you taking me?" I asked, trying to act calm and less frightened, but my voice gave way. "This isn't the right way." He didn't answer, but I heard the central lock click with a sharp snap Fear spiked through my veins. "Who sent you? Who are you working for?" "You should blame yourself for offending the wrong person," I heard the deep voice, and that intensified my fear. "What do you mean? Who sent you?" My voice broke, realizing this was more serious than I had earlier imagined. "You're going to die anyway, I might as well tell you" I froze instantly. No way he just said I was going to die, did I hear wrong? How and why was I so unlucky? "Tell me," I said, acting less intimidated "President Blackwell ordered this. Might as well know who to hunt when you die," the driver said, and immediately the car came to a halt in the middle of a deserted two-lane road. The driver came out of the car. I tried to reach out for the door handle on my side but realized the child locks were engaged. I was trapped My heart trembled as I sank into the realization that my ex-husband had ordered me to get killed, as if killing my child was not enough. Did he hate me that much? Tears fell freely from my eyes. How could he do this to me? A blinding light and the loud horns from a truck could be heard clearly. I looked to the right and saw a large truck speeding towards the stationary car. I looked around for the driver and saw he had disappeared, and realization hit me hard. This was it? The truck soon hit the car, sending it violently rolling meters away. I shrank against the seat, closing my eyes as the metal crushed inward. Everything happened like a blur, but before I knew it, I had fallen into the embrace of darkness

FIVE YEARS LATER TRISTAN'S POV I walked into the airport terminal with Luke half a step behind me and a few of my bodyguards flanking our perimeter. I was going for a short business trip cause I needed to be back immediately to stay by the Old Madam's side. The Old Madam's health had taken a turn for the worse. I was slightly exhausted and visibly different from how I used to be. The past five years had dragged by in a dull grey blur, it was like I had lost a part of me cause nothing seemed to be worth my time and attention anymore. Something I couldn't explain. I thought I would feel better with Lara by my side, but strangely there was this unexplainable emptiness I felt. I paused in my tracks as I felt a sudden impact against my knees. Something, or rather someone, had bumped into me. I looked down to see a tiny figure sitting on the floor from the impact of the bump. She had her hands covering her eyes, my forehead creased as I thought she was going to cry, which would be bothersome, but she looked up, and I noticed a striking set of crystal blue eyes that were strangely familiar. My bodyguards reacted immediately, stepping forward to take her away, fearing she was a threat, but I held my hands up, signaling them to stop. I reached down, wanting to help her up, but stopped in my tracks, unsure of how to behave in front of a child Luke noticed my awkwardness and crouched down to help the little girl up "Little girl, are you lost? Where are your parents?" he asked, but she surprisingly turned to me "Mister, you bumped into me, aren't you meant to say sorry?" she questioned, puffing out her cheeks, and I was rendered speechless; no way she had just demanded I apologize to her. She was clearly not looking and ran into me, so why should I be the one to apologize "You were careless and bumped into me," I pointed out, finding myself explaining to a toddler "Mister, are you arguing with a little kid?" she said, and for the second time I was tongue-tied. Was I actually arguing with a little kid in the middle of an airport? "Where are your parents?" Luke had to ask again, probably thinking I was angry, but I was only intrigued by how bold she was. Kids weren't this brave to approach me or question me this way, but she was different. "Mister, you clearly don't want to say sorry, so I will be the bigger person and let this go." I froze. Behind me, I heard a few of my men clear their throats, hiding chuckles. Normally I would have them fired on the spot. But staring down at this fearless little girl, I felt a rare flicker of amusement. She unfolded her hands and turned to Luke. "I don't have a father," she explained, not a hint of sadness in her voice. "I was looking at the big screen; I didn't know when my mom walked away," She said, and I was annoyed at how careless her mom was to lose track of her daughter in a place as busy as the airport "Assist the little girl to find her mom" I ordered, oblivious to the weird glances the men passed around themselves. I was also surprised by my behavior. I was not one to bother myself with tasks like this, but it was the least I could do for bumping into her, right? "Oh! There she is!" The little girl pointed towards a woman in the distance with long, brown, wavy hair; she had her back to us, looking frantically everywhere, probably for the little girl. I walked forward with the little girl's hands between mine, her hands, though tiny and warm, felt nice within mine. Suddenly Luke came forward again, with his phone in his hands and a complex emotion on his face. My jaw tightened. "Sir, the Old Madam Blackwell had collapsed again." I had expected it, but it only meant I had to reschedule the trip "Call the Millers and have them reschedule." I looked at the woman's back one last time before looking at the little girl. "Ensure the young lady reunites with her mum." I turned around and left the airport "Bye, Mister," I heard her say, and unknowingly had a little smile on my face. What a strange, bold little girl EMILIA'S POV "Dr. Winston, we've checked the whole left wing but did not come across Miss Xenia." This was the second person coming to tell me they did not see my daughter. So where the hell did she go Panic clawed at my chest. I had just set foot back in Axel City after five years, and my daughter was already missing. Was coming back here a mistake? I looked down at my four-year-old son, who was seemingly unbothered by the disappearance of his sister as he leaned against a luggage cart with his arms crossed, completely unfazed. "You could at least show how worried you are, Xavier," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I offered to go look for her minutes ago, but you refused" "Of course I can't lose you both." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You know what? Don't bother." I was deeply troubled to care about how nonchalant he was "We might need to notify the airport security. Dr. Winston," my assistant, Judy, suggested softly. If I involved security, my return won't stay quiet for long. The press would pick on my arrival. But I had no other choice; this was not how I expected my first day at Axel City to be. 'Xenia, just wait till I find you first' "Mummy." I heard an all too familiar voice, and my heart leapt with joy watching her small legs run so fast as she jumped into my arms. I quickly pulled her back to check her arms, legs, and face to see if she was okay or if there were any bruises on her body, but she seemed to be in good condition "Where did you go, Xenia? Are you okay? How could you run away without letting me know?" I scolded her, "Do you have any idea how terrified I was? You had the whole team looking for you." Several thoughts had gone through my head while Xenia was missing, considering this place held many bad memories "Mummy, how could you blame me when you were the one who walked away without me?" Xenia pouted; her blue eyes were wet with tears, and I was instantly rendered speechless. I had forgotten how much I had spoiled her. Yes, I am the one to blame "You were careless, and as usual you won't take responsibility after putting everyone on high alert," I heard Xavier say behind me "Mummy told you to hold my hand, but you dropped it! And walked away without taking me along; who is to blame?" Xenia said, glaring at her brother "Your careless self for not being fully aware of your surroundings," he retorted smoothly, and I could tell their usual bickering was about to start "Enough, both of you," I interrupted, positioning myself in between both of them and grabbing both of their hands. "We've wasted so much time already. Let's go" Not much had changed, but I had. Five years ago, I had left Axel City in a bloody wreck with the most painful memories, stripped of my child, my dignity, and my name, and today I was back as a whole new person. It was a miracle I was still alive and with kids who had made every single day worth living for, so now I just have to live my life without thinking of my past, which was going to be difficult considering the reason why I came back.