The doctor said the fainting was caused by the shock to my pregnancy combined with my weakened state. He stressed repeatedly that I needed complete rest for the remainder of my term and that I absolutely could not endure any more stress.
I nodded in silence. When the IV was finished, I prepared to leave the hospital.
The moment I stepped through the front doors, the Vance family driver was already standing at attention beside the car.
“Ms. Simmons, Old Mr. Vance asked me to take you directly to the family estate. Tonight is the annual Vance family banquet.”
I was ushered into the car, and it drove straight to the Vance estate.
When I pushed the door open and stepped inside, the living room was full of Vance elders and relatives. The laughter and chatter died the instant I crossed the threshold.
Every pair of eyes turned on me at once, some dripping with contempt, others ice-cold, others openly mocking.
“Well, well, if it isn't Mrs. Vance herself. I was starting to think you wouldn't show.”
The relative's voice was razor-sharp, her gaze undisguised disgust.
“Five years of marriage and not a single child to show for it. What's the point of keeping the title of Mrs. Vance?”
“Exactly. The Vance line has been single-heir for generations. We can't let it die out. Marrying a woman who can't bear children is a joke.”
The barbs came one after another, each one a needle driven straight into the rawest part of me.
I clenched my fists, nails biting deep into my palms, and forced my spine straight. I was about to fire back.
Before a single word left my mouth, Bartholomew walked in. Tall, immaculate in a tailored suit, his arm wrapped tight around Vivien as they crossed the room together.
The moment the two of them appeared, the entire room fell silent. Every gaze locked onto them.
Bartholomew swept his eyes across the room. When they passed over me, they didn't linger for even a fraction of a second. Instead, he took Vivien's hand and walked to Old Mr. Vance.
“Grandfather, everyone, I have an announcement. Vivien is carrying a Vance heir. She's two months along.”
The room erupted, then flooded with congratulations.
“Wonderful! Bartholomew, the Vance family finally has an heir!”
“Ms. Pruitt is truly blessed. You can just tell she's the lucky type. I'm sure it'll be a healthy baby boy.”
Their eyes slid toward me, brimming with disdain.
“See? The one who can give the Vance family a child is the one who matters. You should do yourself a favor and step aside.”
I clenched my teeth until my jaw ached. The pain in my chest had long since gone numb.
Then Bartholomew led Vivien to the hostess's chair and gently helped her sit down.
“Vivien, you're pregnant. Sit here where it's comfortable. Don't tire yourself out.”
Vivien put on a show of bashful reluctance：“Bartholomew, that's Kay's seat. I couldn't possibly……”
“Why not?”
Bartholomew cut her off, his gaze sweeping over me, cold and dismissive.
“It's just a chair. There's no yours or hers.”
A bitter laugh escaped me. The hostess's seat of the Vance family, and all it took was one careless sentence for him to hand it to Vivien.
I turned and walked toward the door, spine rigid, refusing to let a single tear fall in front of any of them.
I had barely made it past the estate gates when hurried footsteps sounded behind me. Vivien caught up.
She stepped in front of me, triumph and venom written across her face without the slightest attempt to hide it.
“Leaving just like that, Kay? You must be seething inside.”
Vivien folded her arms across her chest, blocking my path, her lips curling into a vicious smile.
“Bartholomew announced my pregnancy in front of the whole family. Every single one of them accepts me now. That seat belongs to me sooner or later. Do yourself a favor and disappear.”
I had no interest in engaging with her. I stepped to the side, trying to go around.
“Move.”
Vivien's hand shot out and locked around my wrist, her eyes full of cold malice.
“Kay, since you won't step aside on your own, don't blame me for what comes next. If you won't destroy me, I'll destroy you first!”
I struggled, trying to wrench free, but her grip was iron-tight.
In the middle of my pulling away, Vivien's expression shifted. She threw herself backward, straight toward the road behind her.
A car was speeding past at that exact moment. It struck Vivien and she hit the ground with a piercing scream.
