###7
I quickly kicked the suitcase behind the cabinet to hide it and replied calmly,
“Nothing. The house is messy—I’m just tidying up.”
His expression relaxed a little, and he smiled.
“Baby, your wound hasn’t healed yet. You should rest. I’ll have the staff take care of it.”
He handed me a leather handbag.
“I bought this for you. Do you like it?”
He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my face away, letting his lips meet only air.
I glanced at the bag. Wasn’t this the same one Cassie had posted herself throwing away on social media?
Nate, do you really think I’m this cheap?
Worth nothing more than her trash?
His smile froze. His eyes narrowed, searching my face.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Before I could reply, Cassie’s voice cut in.
“Wow, it’s so pretty. Can I have it?”
She was staring at the necklace in my hand.
My mother’s green jade necklace—the only thing I had left after she destroyed my wedding dress.
I took two steps back and refused coldly.
“No.”
Nate frowned.
“Ruth, it’s just a necklace. Let her borrow it—take it as an apology for what happened.”
“I didn’t hurt her at all!” I snapped.
Before I could react, my palm was empty.
Nate snatched the necklace and handed it to Cassie.
“I hate being lied to,” he said with a trace of disappointment. “But don’t worry, I’ll buy you another one tomorrow.”
Whatever Cassie wanted—stars in the sky, moon on the water—he’d move mountains to give it to her.
And whatever she said, he believed.
Not me.
Why did I have to keep backing down for her?
“No! Give it back to me, now!”
I lunged forward, but Cassie curled her lips and deliberately let go.
Clang.
The jade shattered on the floor.
My eyes widened. A tidal wave of grief and rage crashed through me.
The baby was gone. And now the last memory of my mother was destroyed too.
My already fractured heart froze over.
Nate’s face paled.
“Ruth… Oh God, I’m sorry.”
He knew what the necklace meant to me—and he still took it.
My fists clenched. My voice broke.
“What good is sorry now?! You monsters!”
Cassie shrank into his arms, trembling.
“I didn’t mean to! She scared me—I just let go by accident…”
Nate instinctively wrapped his arms around her, shielding her.
As if I were the threat.
I had stood beside him for years.
When had he ever protected me like that?
I couldn’t speak. The pain in my chest was suffocating.
I knelt down to gather the shattered pieces.
But they were beyond saving.
Just like my love for him.
Seeing my devastation, Nate panicked. He knelt beside me, whispering apologies.
“She didn’t mean it. I’m sorry for her. Please—”
I slapped him across the face.
My voice was hoarse.
“Who is she to you? You don’t get to apologize on her behalf!”
You’ve killed me inside, again and again—for her.
His mouth opened, but no words came.
He saw despair in my eyes and tried to hug me.
I shoved him away, nausea rising like a bile.
I turned and vomited on the floor.
“Oh my God, Ruth!”
He knelt beside me again, eyes red. He didn’t care about the mess—just wanted to hold me.
“Don’t touch me!”
I staggered to my feet. My voice was like ice.
“This is the last time, Nate.”
As he stood frozen, I walked out the door.
“Ruth, wait! Our wedding’s in two weeks!”
He chased after me, but Cassie clutched his arm tightly.
“Nate, I’m scared. Please don’t leave me alone. Please…”
He hesitated.
Then he stayed.
And walked her back inside.
I ran straight to the bank.
I needed to withdraw the childcare savings—tens of millions, the future I’d prepared for our unborn child.
Enough to pay Bert. Enough to make Nate regret everything.
But I was stunned.
The account was empty.
“Your fiancé made a full withdrawal recently. Here’s the signed authorization.”
The bank staff handed me the document nervously.
I stared at the signature—his unmistakable handwriting.
All the color drained from my face.
Then I remembered: Nate had promised to help pay off my father’s debts.
The date on the receipt… it matched.
But that was our child’s future.
Our savings.
And he gave it away—to her.
I walked out of the bank in a daze.
Wandering the streets, completely lost.
I couldn’t kill him.
I had no money.
No child.
No justice.
I didn’t even notice the truck speeding toward me.
