###Chapter 4
I stood frozen at the doorway, feeling like I couldn’t breathe.
What did I even do wrong? The one that caused us difficulty in having a child was Robert.
Then, Silvia? Five years ago, when she was first adopted, Robert didn’t even like her. She was thin and fragile from long-term malnutrition. I was the one who felt sorry for her.
“Her mother is dead and her father disappeared,” I used to tell Robert. “She’s already suffered enough. You’re her family now, Robby. You should treat her better.”
I cared for Silvia like my real younger sister. Whenever I bought something, I carefully prepared an extra set for her. When Robert became impatient with her, I tried to act as a bridge between them.
Without me noticing, she grew into a healthy, beautiful young woman with a striking figure.
I trusted Robert too much. I never realized that the way he looked at her had already changed.
The moment Theodore and Mary saw me, their smiles froze. “You still had the guts to show up?” Mary rolled her eyes. “Good. Tell us honestly, did you abuse Silvy?”
“What? That’s ridiculous!” I shouted. “I never even scold her!”
“Still denying it?” Theodore stood up. His tall figure was intimidating. “Silvy told us herself. Those bruises on her body are because you were pinching her.”
Silvia hid behind Mary, lowered her collar slightly and sent me a mischievous smile.
I understood everything. Those weren’t bruises from me. They were love bites. Mary and Theodore discovered them, so she pushed the blame onto me.
How shameless.
Mary glared at me. “She was only staying at your house for a few days and you harassed her? You even called her a cheap woman who seduced your husband. Is that true?”
I trembled. “Isn’t that exactly what she is?”
Suddenly, Silvia’s eyes turned red. She covered her face and started crying. “Kayla, I didn’t know you hated me so much… You would accuse me and my brother of something dirty just to chase me away?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “Fine, I’ll leave. I’ll leave the Kleinns. I’ll never show up in front of my brother again!”
Mary immediately pulled her into her arms and comforted her. “The one who should leave is her, not you.”
With a gesture from Theodore, their family's lawyer stepped forward.
“Take back all the shares of Kleinn Corporations under her name,” Theodore said coldly. “Transfer them to Silvy.”
Silvia’s face flashed with joy. Then she quickly shook her head, pretending to be shy. “No, Dad, that’s too valuable. I can’t accept it!”
My blood felt freezing. “You have no right! Those shares belong to me!”
For three years at Kleinn Corporations, I had secured projects that others failed to win. Didn’t they know that? All because of one lie from Silvia?
Around us, Mary’s guests looked at me strangely. Waves of criticism and contempt surrounded me.
“Even if Silvy is adopted, she’s still a rich family’s daughter. She won’t let some bad woman harass her.”
“Kayla’s useless herself, so she’s jealous of the adopted daughter being favored. Maybe she was planning to take over the Kleinns' property all along. Now she’s pregnant with a defective child. Well, serves her right!”
I wanted to scream that my baby was healthy. We could go to the hospital and check right now!
But the words stopped in my throat. Because my baby was already gone. I had lost even the evidence to defend myself.
Helplessness and panic tightened around my chest. My vision went dark.
“Mom, Dad, why are you pressuring Ayla again? I already said our baby doesn’t matter. If you keep doing this, we won’t come back anymore!”
Robert’s cold voice came from behind me.
Almost instinctively, I turned toward him, hoping for support.
But Silvia was faster. She threw herself into his arms, crying as if she had suffered terribly.
“Brother, I’m sorry! I embarrassed you. I forgot that you’re married now. You’re not just my brother anymore…”
Robert froze for a moment, then caught her steadily. He looked down at her tear-stained face, his eyes full of concern. “Silly girl, what are you saying? Don’t cry. Tell me, who harassed you?”
Silvia wrapped her arms tightly around his strong waist and buried her face in his chest. Her shoulders trembled, looking innocent and fragile.
“I shouldn’t have disturbed you and Kayla’s private time. Brother, can you hug me one last time? After today, I’ll disappear. I won’t make Kayla angry again…” She pretended to be the victim, but her eyes glanced timidly at me.
Robert held her even tighter. His voice was so gentle it almost dripped with warmth. “You are never a nuisance. And don’t ever talk about going away. I won’t allow it.”
His gaze burned with emotion, as if he was about to say what he truly felt... that he no longer wanted to be just her brother.
I stood there like an outsider in all this matter.
Finally, Robert looked at me. But his eyes were full of blame. “What did you say to Silvy? Didn’t I tell you she’s just my sister?”
His gaze dropped to the hand I was holding over my stomach. His brows tightened. “Are you taking out your pregnancy frustration on her?”
I replied, “I didn’t—”
“I’m sorry, Kayla!” Silvia suddenly screamed, cutting me off. “I don’t want my brother anymore. I don’t want the shares of Kleinn Corporations either! I just beg you, please stop making things hard for me!” She cried pitifully.
The air around Robert turned cold. After a moment of silence, he spoke without any warmth. “Silvy is part of this family. She obviously deserves a share of Kleinn Corporations. Transfer half of Ayla’s shares to her.”
The lawyer handed me the contract.
“Ayla. Sign it.” Robert looked at me with a clear warning. As if saying that if I dared to touch Silvia again, I would pay the price.
He had already decided his stance. Now he pressured me.
But I only gave a faint smile. “I’ll sign.”
Two soft words. I was filled with deep disappointment. Finally, I lowered my gaze, my eyes red.
For a brief second, something pierced Robert’s heart.
I picked up the pen and signed my name with force, almost tearing the paper. I threw the document and the birthday gift I had carefully prepared toward Robert. I wasted no time to leave the place.
Robert held the thin documents, but it felt as heavy as iron. Like he was holding the document that ended our marriage.
“Ayla!” He reached out to grab me.
Silvia suddenly cried out in his arms, “Brother, my chest hurts! I think Kayla hit me just now!”
Robert immediately withdrew his hand and lifted Silvia into his arms. “I’ll take you to the hospital right now!”
