My scalp burned as though it were being torn off, but I still managed to laugh. "Luca, you’ve really made a noble sacrifice for Lilian Yates."
He threw me to the floor. Looking down at my pathetic state, he sneered, "You should be thanking Lilian, then. If she hadn’t accidentally leaked that photo of you as a joke, would you even have the chance to marry me?"
"No need." I rose slowly, brushing myself off and looked at him with composure. "I’m not marrying you. Marry your beloved Lilian."
He said word by word, "Can you say it again?"
His cold words sliced through the air. "Say that again."
I did not bother to repeat myself. I turned to go back to the bedroom, but he grabbed my arm with such force it nearly dislocated.
I stumbled, completely off balance and crashed into the coffee table, landing hard on my lower back.
Seeing me in so much pain that I could not get up, Luca scoffed impatiently, "Stop pretending, Zara Yvonne."
Pain shot through my abdomen like a blade and a sudden warmth trickled down my thighs, pooling on the floor beneath me.
Just before everything went black, I heard him calling my name in a panic.
But I no longer wanted to listen.
When I woke up in the hospital, I was not shocked, just relieved.
The door creaked open. Luca entered, his expression unreadable. After a pause, he asked, "Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?"
I let out a cold chuckle. "How would I know if the child was even yours?"
His face twisted in anger. "You’re already four months along. Whose else could it be?"
"Right. A strong child, really. At three months, you drugged me and handed me over to Grant for an entire night and it still survived." I turned my head slowly and stared at him, my voice laced with venom. "How is it today? Still holding on?"
The color drained from his face. He went quiet for a long time, then muttered, "I’ll have another child."
I did not respond. He seemed embarrassed, fumbling for an excuse. "If you had told me earlier… this wouldn’t have happened."
"That night at the award ceremony… I wanted to tell you after the event. Did you even give me the chance?"
"At least I wouldn’t have…"
"What? Wouldn’t have sent me to Grant’s bed?" I cut him off with a cold laugh. "No. You’d have forced me to get an abortion, claimed I wasn’t worthy to bear your child, then kept sending me to sleep with investors… all so you could boost Lilian’s career."
My words struck deep. His face twisted with fury and shame. He snapped, "Is that really how you see me? Zara, don’t forget, if it weren’t for me, you’d still be a nameless orphan, working odd jobs to survive. Becoming a top actress would’ve been nothing but a dream!"
"I’ve given the title back to you. The child, too. And even my body."
I endured the pain and asked with steady calm, "Tell me, Luca York, what exactly do I still owe you? I’ll repay every last bit."
He opened his mouth to respond, but his phone rang. The moment he glanced at the caller ID, his expression shifted. I did not need to look to know who it was. Who else but Lilian?
"Lilian, I’m at the hospital."
"It’s nothing serious. Zara had a miscarriage."
"You don’t need to come. If the reporters catch wind of it, it’ll damage your image to be linked with someone like her."
In the end, Lilian had won. I watched as Luca’s tone softened into a familiar smile. "All right, all right. I’ll listen to you. You’re always overthinking, silly girl."
When the call ended, he turned to me as he spoke with a cold voice, "Lilian will be here soon. Watch your mouth. Say the right things, keep the rest to yourself."
I nodded with mock obedience. "Don’t worry. Even if she hurts me just like you did, I’ll forgive her."
"After all, you’re protecting her. And I know better than to fight a losing battle."
Half an hour later, Lilian walked into the ward, her face hidden behind a tight-fitting mask. She did not even bother to take it off before she started. "Miss Yvonne, are you all right?"
I looked at her calmly and replied, "Do you think a person is ever all right after a miscarriage?"
