Chapter 5

"Although your child won't be the firstborn, I won't play favorites. I promise, whatever Sophia's child has, yours will have too."

"I told you, the person I love most is you. For this lifetime, you'll always be my Mrs. Morrison."

I bit through my lip, my smile mixed with blood.

Ethan, your love is too heavy a burden. I don't want it.

And I don't want you anymore.

The next moment, someone lifted me up.

Ethan carried me all the way back to the hospital room, personally watching as the doctor administered the suppressant before leaving satisfied.

I lay in the hospital bed all night.

I'd pass out, then be jolted awake by the pain.

I couldn't live, and I couldn't die.

The nurse who changed my dressing looked at me with disgust, deliberately pinching my leg hard.

Her unconcealed gossip cut into my heart.

"Mistresses deserve it. In so much pain and no one cares. She might as well die."

"Who told her to be so arrogant? The wife is giving birth, and this homewrecker has the nerve to show up and compete for attention, thinking spreading her legs makes her the man's true love."

"The wife really knows how to handle people. Fully dilated, got the epidural, but just won't push. As long as she doesn't deliver, the mistress can die in pain for all she cares and still won't be allowed in the delivery room. So satisfying."

I pulled at my lips, the smile bitter.

Satisfying? But I was Ethan's wife.

I couldn't understand how someone who once would have risked his life for me could now be so cruel.

Another contraction hit.

Before I could scream, the hospital room door was pushed open.

Sophia walked in holding her newborn baby, supported by someone.

I never expected my mother, whom I hadn't seen in years, would accompany her.

Sophia looked at me with triumphant eyes.

"Mia, knowing you're suffering, I specially brought your nephew to see you."

"Both mother and baby are safe. When the baby was born, Ethan was so moved he cried."

I suppressed my anger and looked at her.

"He's not my nephew. Take your bastard and get out."

Sophia gave a cold laugh and slapped me hard across the face.

"What right do you have to tell me to leave?"

"Last night when you were screaming, Ethan was right next door in the delivery room with me. But he didn't care at all, only focused on comforting me."

"So what if you're Mrs. Morrison? The unloved one is the mistress. The one in your belly is the bastard."

Blood mixed with tears from my split eye.

But Sophia wasn't planning to let me off.

She bent close to me, malice unconcealed in her eyes.

"You really are lucky to be alive. After suffering all night and you're still fine. How about I help you out and send you and your bastard on your way together."

She grabbed the thermos from the floor and swung it hard at my belly.

I pushed her away desperately and stumbled toward the door.

As soon as I ran out of the room, I crashed into a familiar embrace.

After seeing Ethan's concerned face clearly, I gripped his sleeve tightly, my voice trembling.

"Ethan, save me. Sophia's gone crazy—she's trying to kill our baby."

Ethan's expression changed. Just as he was about to speak, a baby's shrill cry came from the hospital room.

He shoved me aside hard and kicked the door open, rushing in.

The next moment, someone grabbed my hair and dragged me back into the room.

The scene before me made me tremble uncontrollably.

Sophia knelt in the middle of the room, holding the blood-covered baby.

"Ethan, I just wanted Mia to share in my joy so she could deliver smoothly, so I brought the baby to see her."