"Though I may never get to be with her in this lifetime, I will clear every obstacle for her and our child."
"Make sure the operation is thorough. Remove her uterus completely. She must never have the chance to challenge Mandy’s child for the Hoffman family inheritance."
The assistant hesitated again and tried to reason with him.
"But sir, ever since she married you, she has been nothing but devoted. She loves you deeply. She—"
"Enough!" Sean snapped, his tone final. "My decision is made. Since I married Marie, I will make it up to her in other ways."
"But to ensure there are no mistakes, I will personally oversee the operation."
At that moment, though the anesthetic left me paralyzed from the waist down, my body trembled uncontrollably.
Five years ago, my stepsister, Mandy, was caught sleeping with her fiancé, Alden Hoffman, on the eve of their wedding.
I was just about to expose their betrayal when, in front of everyone, Sean—my fiancé’s elder brother—publicly proposed to me.
He claimed he had secretly loved me for years but never had the courage to confess. Now, fate had granted him a chance before I married another man.
Overwhelmed by his devotion, I agreed on the spot.
The very next day, the groom changed.
And I became the most envied woman in all of Washington.
After marriage, I devoted my heart entirely to Sean. Even when the robbers demanded my body in exchange for his life, I agreed without hesitation. But I never imagined that Sean would use this moment to stage a kidnapping right before my eyes.
The so-called perfect marriage—nothing but an elaborate lie. The man I thought was my savior turned out to be my executioner. And worst of all, the baby I carried, the child who had already grown inside me, was murdered by his own father.
A single tear slipped silently down my cheek.
Sean walked in at that moment, and his gaze immediately fell on me. He rushed to my side, gently wiping the tear from the corner of my eye. His touch was as tender as ever, but I no longer felt his warmth.
I wanted to open my eyes, but my body felt heavy. Sean, thinking I was in pain, quickly called a nurse. Moments later, the cold sensation of anesthesia spread through my veins.
Just before my world faded to black, I heard his voice—calm, emotionless—giving instructions to the doctor.
"You’ll personally guide me in removing my wife’s uterus later."