Chapter 4

Julian narrowed his eyes, about to say something.

But Serena stood on the grand spiral staircase, looking down at me with pure contempt.

"Vivian, are you out of your mind?"

"Everyone in New York knows Tristan Carter is completely untouchable. He doesn't even let female business partners near him, let alone a wife."

"Besides, the Vance Group is currently in talks with the Carter Corporation for a merger. We would have heard if he got married."

I clenched my fists, desperate to argue, but a sudden, sharp pain flared in my lower abdomen.

My baby...

Looking at the unguarded front door, I bolted.

"Vivian! Where do you think you're going?"

Serena rushed down the stairs and threw her arms around me, blocking my path.

Losing all control, I bit down on her arm, hard enough to tear a piece of flesh off.

She screamed in pain, collapsing to the floor and clutching her bleeding arm.

"Julian! My arm... it hurts so much!"

The tenderness in Julian's eyes as he looked at her arm instantly turned into murderous rage when he looked up at me.

"Vivian Miller! Have you lost your mind?!"

Slap!

A brutal slap landed squarely on my face.

My vision went pitch black, and a loud ringing filled my ears.

Before I could recover, Julian dragged me by my hair to Serena's feet and kicked the back of my knees.

"Kneel down and apologize to Serena!"

"You hurt my mom! I'll beat you to death!"

Leo rushed over, slamming his heavy toy car repeatedly against my head.

My freshly bandaged wound split open, and blood began to gush out again.

I swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my mouth, struggling to crawl away.

But someone kicked me hard from behind, and my stomach slammed heavily against the sharp edge of the marble stairs.

A blinding, agonizing pain ripped through my body. I felt a warm, thick liquid trickling down my thighs.

Looking at the pool of blood beneath me, tears finally spilled over.

"My baby... Please, take me to the hospital..."

I tried to stand up, but the world spun violently, and I plummeted into darkness.

When I woke up again, the sharp smell of bleach and antiseptic filled my nose.

Faint voices drifted over from the side of the bed.

"Pregnant? Amnesia? What the hell does that mean?!"

"Mr. Vance, to be precise, it is dissociative amnesia. It's a defense mechanism her brain built to protect her from severe trauma."

The man's voice was tight with suppressed fury. "We provided her with everything she needed! How could she get a mental illness like that?!"

The doctor sighed heavily. "The patient's body has scars from sharp weapons, blunt force trauma, and multiple healed bone fractures. These are classic signs of prolonged, severe physical abuse."

"Her body was pushed far beyond its limits. When her mind finally broke down, it chose to completely wipe out all those agonizing memories to keep her alive."

Julian fell silent for a few seconds. When he spoke again, his voice was incredibly hoarse.

"I will look into this..."

"But the baby in her womb cannot stay. I am not raising another man's bastard."

I opened my eyes in sheer terror, trying to scream, but my body wouldn't obey.

They wanted to kill my baby!

Several medical staff approached, slowly pushing a syringe into my IV line.

Julian stood beside me, his eyes rimmed with red.

Using the absolute last ounce of my strength, I grabbed the edge of his jacket.

"Please... don't..."

He reached out and covered my tear-filled eyes.

Slowly, I slipped back into unconsciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the Vance mansion.

But I was strapped to a heavy metal chair, and a strange, cold device was strapped to my head.

"Vivian, you're awake."

Serena was kneeling in front of me, a sinister, triumphant smirk on her face.

"Julian told me about your little amnesia."

"But don't worry. We're going to help you remember everything."

Touching my flat, empty stomach, I let out a gut-wrenching scream of despair. My baby was gone.

Julian's eyes were bloodshot. He knelt down beside me, kissing the tears on my cheeks.

"The specialist said that after 99 electroshock sessions, your memory will return."

"Once you remember, I will personally destroy anyone who ever hurt you."

"As for that bastard child... I won't hold it against you anymore."

My entire body shivered violently as I shook my head in terror.

"No! Please! I really don't know you! I beg of you..."

"Start the machine," Julian ordered coldly as he stood up.

The switch was flipped.

A massive jolt of electricity surged through my veins like liquid fire, exploding from my fingertips straight into my vital organs.

Every muscle spasm felt like my bones were being crushed into powder. I screamed, my voice cracking into a raw, bloody shriek.

Blood poured from my lips. My vision went dark, leaving nothing but an endless, tearing agony.

And then, the dam in my mind finally burst.

Silent tears streamed down my face. I whispered hoarsely,

"I remember..."

I remembered all eight years of pure, suffocating hell.