My stomach hit the sharp corner of a table. The pain was blinding.

Stephanie's weeping grew louder, even more fragile and piteous than before.

"Don't blame Joanna. It's all my fault... I'm just not good enough. That's why she hates me."

I sat crumpled on the cold floor. Something warm trickled between my legs.

I stared at my mangled, gauze-wrapped hands. My mind went blank.

"Dominic... I think I'm bleeding..."

A cold scoff was all I got in return.

"You think a lie like that is going to make me feel sorry for you?"

I shook my head frantically. "I'm not lying. I'm pregnant..."

"Please, just take me to a doctor."

Stephanie tugged at her tears, putting on the look of a stubborn, delicate flower.

"Go take Joanna to the doctor. She needs you more than I do right now."

A nurse happened to walk in on her rounds and began going over instructions with Stephanie.

"You're showing signs of a threatened miscarriage. You absolutely cannot let yourself get upset."

After she finished, I felt a searing gaze land on me.

The nurse glanced my way with visible disgust. "And you, sir, even if you want to carry on with your mistress, at least don't let it affect your wife's pregnancy."

Dominic didn't argue. He just gave a quiet murmur of acknowledgment.

The moment the nurse left, Dominic signaled his bodyguards to throw me out.

I lay sprawled on the cold hospital floor, my lower abdomen ripping apart as if a thousand hands were tearing at it from the inside. I couldn't breathe through the pain.

Everything around me was darkness. My voice came out raw and broken as I called for help.

Footsteps passed by. Not a single person stopped.

"That's the shameless woman who's been throwing herself at Mr. Mercer. Can you believe it? Trying to worm her way in as his mistress."

"Too bad Mr. Mercer only has eyes for his wife. He didn't even spare her a glance."

I dragged myself forward on my hands and knees, begging them to help me.

But someone shoved me hard from behind. I tumbled down dozens of steps, clawing desperately until my fingers caught the railing.

My grip kept slipping. I was about to lose hold.

If I fell, the baby wouldn't survive.

I squeezed my eyes shut in despair. The moment my fingers gave way and my body plunged into freefall, a pair of strong arms swept me up.

"I'm sorry. I should have been here sooner."