Morning sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains.
Lucas Roscente entered the living room with a group of people.
Isabella Evans followed behind him, her eyes swollen like peaches.
His brothers had come along as well.
The moment Isabella saw me, she dropped to her knees with a thud.
"Sophia, it's all my fault."
Her shoulders trembled violently as she sobbed.
"I shouldn't have sent those messages to provoke you."
"But Lucas said the child can only stay if you agree."
"Please, let me keep this baby!"
She kowtowed hard, her forehead soon bleeding.
Lucas looked at Isabella, his eyes filled with pain.
But he restrained himself from helping her up.
One of his brothers couldn't take it anymore and yanked Isabella to her feet.
"Listen, Sophia, we have to speak the truth today."
"Isabella took a bullet for Lucas. Doesn't that count for something?"
"Besides, you can't have children. Why not let her join the family?"
Lucas snapped, "Enough!"
"Sophia will always be my wife."
"As for Isabella, I'll compensate her in other ways."
He lifted his shirt, revealing a scar on his chest.
This man, always so dominant, knelt before me.
"Sophia, I've paid with my flesh and blood."
"Isabella can't bear to lose the child. Please show mercy."
"When the baby is born, you'll be its rightful mother."
My heart felt like it was being torn apart.
"Fine."
In six days, I would disappear from this world anyway.
None of this mattered anymore.
Lucas exhaled in relief and glanced at Isabella with joy.
I turned to leave for my room, but he caught my arm.
He draped a blanket gently over my shoulders.
His fingers tenderly smoothed my stray hairs.
"You'll catch a cold dressed like this."
For a moment, he seemed like the husband who once adored me.
But his next words froze me to the core.
"Sophia, Isabella needs rest during her pregnancy."
"Let her have the master bedroom."
I stared at him in disbelief.
He wanted another woman to sleep in our marital bed.
In the climate-controlled bedroom he had specially designed for me.
Avoiding my gaze, he lowered his voice.
"I'll send her away as soon as the baby is born."
I closed my eyes and nodded faintly.
"Fine."
Lucas kissed my forehead.
"You're always so understanding, Sophia."
He turned and walked to Isabella, carefully lifting her into his arms.
Then he carried her straight into the master bedroom.
I stood rooted to the spot, my nails digging deep into my palms.