A little over three months ago, he came home from the casino reeking of perfume.
I clutched the pregnancy test in my hand and tested the waters：【Lewis, if I were pregnant, would you give up Lydia and come back to the family?】
Lewis's hand froze on his tie, mid-pull.
He lowered his arm, tapped my stomach with one knuckle, and let out a scornful laugh：【If you're knocked up, get rid of it. I'm not done having fun.】
【You want kids? We'll talk about that after the wedding.】
In that moment, I buried any thought of telling him the truth.
I refused to let the child I'd fought so hard to conceive die at its own father's hands.
But Tessa's condition worsened so suddenly. In the end, I still couldn't protect my baby.
Pain dragged me out of the memory.
Lewis shoved me away. I lost my footing and my lower back slammed into the corner of the table.
What little color remained in my face drained completely.
Lewis didn't even glance at me.
【Lydia's right. Everyone knows what kind of person you are.】
【Don't think you can wave some random piece of flesh around and guilt-trip me.】
【Stunts like this only make me sick.】
With that, Lewis called the housekeeper over.
【Clean this up and throw it in the dumpster. Don't let Lydia see it.】
The moment I watched the housekeeper toss the box into the dumpster with a look of disgust, the pain nearly suffocated me.
I lunged forward, reaching into the bin.
But Lewis gave the guard dog a command：【Stop her.】
The dog charged at me, barking savagely, and tore a chunk of flesh from the back of my hand.
The pain was blinding, but I didn't pull back.
My complete disregard for my own safety sent Lewis over the edge.
He grabbed me and wrenched my hand out of the dog's jaws by force.
【What the hell is wrong with you, Stella?!】
【You've made your point! Do you really have to take it this far?!】
In just that sliver of time, the housekeeper had already wheeled the dumpster out and handed it off to the garbage truck.
I watched the truck pull away, growing smaller and smaller, and something inside me collapsed. My legs gave out and I sank to the ground, eyes hollow.
Lewis exhaled hard and crouched down in front of me.
【Stella, let's just put this behind us. No more of this nonsense.】
【I promised I'd marry you, and I keep my word.】
【A dog bite isn't something you ignore. Let me take you to the hospital.】
I pulled away from his outstretched arms and gripped the edge of the table, dragging myself to my feet.
【No need.】
I was going to die soon anyway. A wound like this was nothing.
My coldness stung Lewis.
But before he could lash out, my next words pinned him where he stood.
【By the way, don't worry about the wedding. I won't pressure you anymore.】
【If you don't want to marry me, we can break off the engagement……】
【What did you just say?】
Lewis seized my wrist.
He'd forgotten about my hand.
His fingers pressed directly into the wound, deep enough to show bone. I sucked in a sharp breath through my teeth.
Something uneasy flickered in the depths of Lewis's eyes.
Lydia caught every bit of it. Terrified of losing her grip on Lewis, she rushed to fan the flames.
【Stella really knows how to play hard to get.】
She looped her arm through Lewis's.
【Lewis, you're just too easy to fool.】
【Her sister is still lying in the hospital. Without your money, Tessa won't survive.】
【You really think Stella would let you break things off?】
Lewis bought it.
Relief loosened something in his chest, and in its place, anger flared white-hot.
He flung my arm away and let out a cold, biting laugh.
【Stella, you really do keep me on my toes.】
