"I... I just wanted him to taste the baby's anniversary cake, but he... he said my child is a bastard who shouldn't be born, then he shoved me..."

"I didn't—"

Before I could finish, the temperature around Serena dropped. She slapped me across the face.

"Alex! Haven't you caused enough trouble? Why do you always have to go against him?!"

"I told you—when the child is born, nothing will change!"

"Pull this again, and you and your crippled dad can get out of the Gilbert family together!"

She used all her strength. I hit the ground, mouth filling with blood.

I laughed.

Laughed until tears came out.

Ten years of love, and in the end, it couldn't compare to his little performance...

And my dad—he became a vegetable saving her. Now he was just trash in her mouth.

Tears fell. My heart went cold.

Only one thought remained:

Take my father and leave this place.

I staggered to my feet, but Kyle let out a sharp scream and buried himself in Serena's arms.

"Serena, I'm so scared!"

"He pushed me this time—what if next time he tries something else to hurt the baby? You have to protect our child..."

Rage flared in Serena's eyes. She grabbed me, her gaze ice-cold.

"Alex. Apologize."

I knew if I didn't, she wouldn't let me go.

So I bent toward Kyle. "I'm sorry."

I straightened to leave, but Serena grabbed my hair and dragged me into the kitchen.

A massive strawberry cake sat on the counter.

Serena looked down at me.

"Eat all of it. Then we're done here."

I looked up in disbelief and roared:

"Serena, are you insane?!"

"Did you forget what happened back then? I can't even look at this stuff anymore—let alone eat it! Are you trying to kill me?!"

Her voice went ice-cold.

"I know. But you hurt Kyle. You should pay."

Then she slammed my face into the cake.

Jam flooded my nostrils.

Gradually, I couldn't catch my breath. My whole body convulsed, and I passed out face-first onto the cake.

When I woke up, it was the next morning.

I forced myself up despite the pain, determined to get to the attic and take my father away.

I grabbed my phone—and froze. Kyle had texted me last night.

[Alex, while you were in the hospital, Serena and I kissed and touched in every room of the house~]

[Oh right, you haven't been to the attic yet, have you? The trash up there probably hasn't been taken out~ I wonder, with all the noise we made, if your crippled dad could hear it. Maybe he got so mad he woke up on the spot~]

Ice gripped my heart.