As if not satisfied with how calm I was, Lorenzo suddenly spoke, “I plan to move Miguel’s registration under my name.”
“When my brother passed away, the child had just been born. His registration was never settled. This can’t be delayed anymore. I’ll raise Miguel from now on.”
“Don’t be upset. I’ve thought this through carefully.”
I looked at him without emotion, only feeling a little tired.
“As you wish.”
I cut him off.
Lorenzo froze. “What?”
“I said, as you wish.” My voice was so calm that even I found it unfamiliar. “Handle it however you want.”
“Then from now on, Miguel will be our child.”
Lorenzo said it casually, even with a hint of closeness.
“I’ll treat him well. He’ll definitely take care of us when we’re old. Anyway, yours is probably a daughter.”
I followed his gaze and looked over.
Miguel was also staring at me.
In his eyes, there was only disgust.
Take care of us when we are old?
He likely hoped even more that I would simply vanish.
I gave a careless nod.
“Hmm, you’re right.”
He could register if he wished.
In any case, I would soon no longer belong to this family.
Even if he planned to remarry Ariella next, I wouldn’t bother to look again.
For a brief moment, the Ortiz family seemed confused. Their gazes shifted between him and me, but no one spoke up.
At the banquet, Lorenzo mingled with the guests, yet his eyes kept drifting back to me.
I acted as if I didn’t notice, turned away, and walked toward the restroom.
Unexpectedly, just as I was about to leave, the door was locked from the outside.
I twisted the handle twice, my tone turning cold. “Who is outside? Open the door.”
No one replied.
The next moment, a bucket of freezing water suddenly poured down from above.
The cold soaked me from head to toe at once, and my whole body shook hard.
At the same time, the light went out.
Darkness closed in.
Just as I was about to speak, a voice came from the dark.
“Bitch, stay here quietly and wait to die.”
I quickly turned my head. “Miguel? What are you doing? Open the door!”
Miguel’s voice sounded cold, nothing like a child.
“If you and that bastard die, everything in the Ortiz family will belong to my mom and me.”
I shook with anger, my voice unable to hold it back. “Do you know what you’re saying? Open the door!”
But the only reply I got was the sound of footsteps fading away.
Soon, everything outside went completely silent.
Cold water slid down my clothes, chilling me to the bone.
My stomach suddenly tightened hard.
I knew I couldn’t stay locked in the restroom like this for long.
With shaking hands, I took out my phone and called Lorenzo.
No answer.
I clenched my teeth and called again.
“Lorenzo… answer the phone…” My voice shook.
No reply.
Third time.
Fourth time.
I couldn’t hold back the choking sob anymore.
“Answer… please…”
“Something’s wrong with the baby… I’m so scared…”
The other side of the call stayed silent.
The next moment, the signal suddenly cut off.
The screen showed no service.
Fear crept up little by little.
At that moment, I heard footsteps outside the door.
I almost rushed over and hit the door.
“Is anyone there? Please let me out!”
The person outside paused for a moment, their voice a bit weak.
“Ma’am… I was just listening to Ariella and watching you…”
I recognized it.
A distant relative of the Ortiz family.
My tone turned cold. “How much did Ariella give you?”
She paused. “One million…”
I clenched my teeth. “I’ll give you ten times that.”
She was clearly shocked. “Ten times? That’s ten million… can you pay that?”
The pain in my stomach kept rising again and again. I could barely stand, my hand pressing hard on my belly.
“I will.” My voice was rough. “Let me out now. I’ll give it right away.”
Outside stayed quiet for a long time.
She was unsure.
I was about to fall, cold sweat running down my forehead. “Hurry!”
Finally, there was a “click.”
The door opened.
That person was still uneasy. While holding me, she quickly said, “I already called emergency for you. You can’t break your word.”
I couldn’t hear clearly anymore.
Because at that moment, I felt warmth running down my legs.
The amniotic fluid broke!
My eyes were full of fear. I held her hand tightly, my voice shaking badly.
“Hospital…”
“Quick… take me to the hospital…”
“I’m going into premature labor…”
