Nathan's eyes tightened, "Do everything you can to protect my child. I'll be there soon!"
With no time to think further, he hung up the phone and shoved the divorce papers into Karen's hands.
"Just sign it and leave it at home. I'll send someone to pick it up later!"
After saying that, he hurriedly got into his car and drove off.
Karen held the divorce papers, watching the car disappear into the distance, feeling her heart turn to ashes. Five years of unrequited love and three years of marriage-she thought she had given everything, only to be undone by a casual phone call. Was there really no need to salvage this marriage anymore?
She didn't even look at the contents of the papers.
Once back in her room, she grabbed a pen and hastily signed it, then quickly packed a few of her clothes and headed downstairs.
The maid, Felicia, was surprised to see her carrying a large suitcase.
"Ma'am, where are you going at this hour?"
Karen remembered Nathan's earlier words and smirked sarcastically.
"Don't call me 'ma'am' anymore. Just call me Karen."
He didn't want her as his wife, so she wouldn't be one anymore. Felicia was left speechless. Although she didn't know exactly what had happened between them, she had faintly heard the argument earlier and didn't dare to say another word.
Karen suddenly remembered something and took off a bracelet from her wrist.
"Felicia, I know your daughter has been sick, and I haven't been able to help much. This bracelet is made of icy jade and is worth at least five hundred thousand. Take it and use it for your daughter's medical expenses," Karen said, her voice firm.
Felicia was stunned. "I can't accept something so valuable..."
"It's fine," Karen insisted, shoving the bracelet into Felicia's hands.
This bracelet had been a wedding gift from Nathan, a token of his affection that felt rather poor for a man worth billions. It also reflected his mockery of her as his wife. Yet, she had treasured it and wore it every day. Now that her marriage was over, she felt no need to keep it any longer.
Karen didn't say anything more and walked away, dragging her suitcase behind her. Half an hour later, she met her brother Oliver, who had come to pick her up.
Oliver was her brother in every way that mattered, though they are not blood-related. He had always treated her with kindness.
Karen was not the biological daughter of the Carter family, and she had never expected them to take her in as a "divorced woman." That's why she had turned to Oliver for help.
Seeing her standing on the roadside in just a thin jacket, Oliver's eyes filled with anger.
"Why are you out here dressed like that? Where's Nathan? I'll go confront him!"
Karen pulled him back. "Oliver, it's okay! I'm a bit cold. Can you take me home first?"
Seeing this, Oliver quickly took off his jacket and draped it over her.
"Alright, I'll take you home first. We can talk about everything later."
They arrived at Oliver's small apartment, and after hearing the whole story, he was furious. "This is outrageous! How could he treat you like this? Doesn't he know you're pregnant?"
"I don't think he does."
Oliver was momentarily speechless. Then Karen continued, "I've come to realize that a marriage without love is meaningless, even if it's tied together by a child."
"I used to be so naive, thinking that even a block of ice could be melted slowly. But now I know he's not ice. He's cold iron, and cold iron can't be melted. So, I don't want to force it anymore. Please don't push it either. Just let him go and let me go too."
After eight years, she had built a dream for herself. Now that the dream was over, it was time to let go. Oliver felt a deep ache in his heart, but after the pain, a complex emotion began to stir within him.
"Don't worry! If Nathan doesn't want you, I'm here for you. Once the baby is born, I'll help you raise it."
Karen smiled, appreciating his kindness.
"What are you planning to do next?"
"I want to go abroad."
Karen was studying business administration at the university and had been with Nathan for three years. While she didn't have much, she did have some money on her card. She planned to use that money to study abroad and, at the same time, give birth to her child.
Oliver had no objections-in his eyes, going abroad was a good idea. It meant getting far away from Nathan, which would prevent any further harm from him. So, they agreed to book tickets to leave the next day.
That night, Karen decided to spend one last night at his apartment. However, in the middle of the night, she was suddenly jolted awake by a loud crash.
Then came Oliver's furious shout, "Who are you? What do you want...?"
Karen quickly jumped out of bed and rushed into the living room, only to see five masked figures standing there.
She screamed in fright and subconsciously tried to run away, but in the next moment, a cloth was pressed over her mouth from behind. She caught a whiff of a strange scent, and then everything went black.
