Chapter 1

For ten years of our marriage, whenever Damian Blackwood cheated, I was the one who cleaned up his messes.

It had become an open secret, whispered throughout the elite circles of Los Angeles.

Until he started toying with a viral model from Texas and carelessly knocked her up.

As was my routine, I threw down a ten million dollar check, ordering her to have an abortion and disappear.

But that very night, as Amber Lynn lay in the hospital, tears streaming down her face, Damian lost all control and kicked the door open.

"Who told you to lay a hand on her?"

"Claire, Amber isn't like the others. I'm keeping this child."

"From today onwards, you are to take care of her every need. If anything happens to the child, you'll be held solely responsible!"

His investment partner, standing nearby, tried to placate me:

"Mrs. Blackwood, this is just a passing fancy for him. Don't take it to heart. Amber is merely a pretty plaything; how could she ever measure up to you?"

"Making a bit of a fuss is one thing, but that should be the end of it. You wouldn't actually dare to divorce him, would you? You've endured this for ten years; this time will be no different."

He had cheated hundreds of times before, and each time, I was the one managing the public relations fallout.

Everyone said I was hopelessly devoted to Damian, that I'd sooner die than leave his side.

But this time, I suddenly felt… weary.

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1

The negotiations were forced to a halt before they even began.

The hospital corridor was packed with the friends Damian had brought.

He held Amber protectively in his embrace, his gaze cold as ice as it fixed on me.

"Claire, I've told you before, Amber isn't like those others. You shouldn't have touched her."

"I'm keeping this baby. The lawyers have already drafted the transfer agreement for the Malibu villa, the one currently in your name. It will be transferred to Amber for now, as a form of security for her."

"After the baby is born, I'll buy you another house. As long as I'm here, I won't let you go hungry."

I remained silent for a long moment, and Damian's expression immediately hardened.

"Do you have any objections?"

I shook my head in panic.

By defying his wishes this time, I had already jeopardized the entire funding for my family's charitable foundation.

If I refused again, I didn't dare to imagine what kind of compensation he would demand.

I couldn't afford to gamble, and I didn't dare to.

I signed the agreement with a swift, clean stroke and handed it to Amber.

"Here, this is for you. I hope you can be the bigger person and forgive me for this."

Seeing me lower my head in submission, a satisfied smile finally curled Damian's lips.

"That's better. You're being sensible. Don't worry, women are merely tools for bearing children to me. Your position as Mrs. Blackwood will not be shaken."

A flicker of jealous hatred flashed in Amber's eyes.I nodded, releasing my grip, about to leave.

She suddenly cried out in pain.

The tip of her finger had been pricked by a fountain pen, and ink, mingled with blood, began to ooze out.

Damian instantly panicked.

"Where's the doctor? Call them over!"

Before his assistant could even react, he swept Amber into his arms and strode swiftly away.

He was like a completely different person compared to his usual composed self.

Last month, I fell from a horse at the equestrian club. I desperately called him, begging him to sign the surgical consent form.

At that time, he was with Amber at a Las Vegas casino, having rented out the entire VIP section for her, indulging in a high-stakes gamble.

Through the receiver, his voice, sharp with extreme irritation, stood in stark contrast to the doctor’s anxious tones.

"Not dead? If you're not dead, why are you calling? Don't you know I'm busy?"

"Notify me when you're dead! What a damned nuisance."

My phone screen lit up; he had sent me a message.

"Don't disturb me when I'm at the casino. Have you forgotten the rules?"

"Claire, your pitiful act doesn't work on me."

After hearing the doctor read out that last message, I completely lost consciousness.

That night, the hospital issued three critical condition notices, but he never once showed up.

And I... I lost my first child.

Recalling the past, I let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh.

When you don't cherish yourself, it's no wonder love doesn't find you.I turned, ready to leave the hospital.

But as I passed the surgical outpatient clinic, his business partner roughly yanked me back.

An Italian handmade leather shoe slammed into my shin, and I crumpled to my knees in pain.

Damian’s face was icy.

"Trying to leave already?"

"Otherwise..."

Before I could finish, he sneered,

"That would be letting you off far too easily!"

"Ink is dangerous for pregnant women. You deliberately pricked Amber with that pen, and not even a single word of apology?"

"First, you arranged an abortion behind my back. Then, you hurt Amber right in front of me. Claire, how did I never realize you were so petty?"

Probably because he was too busy cheating, his affections had never truly settled on me.

Amber’s gauze-wrapped fingertip gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Damian, please, let it go. Claire didn't mean it; it was an accident. A simple apology will be enough. Don't make things so hard for her."

"We're all going to be family soon."

Damian stared at me coldly, waiting for my reaction.

I lowered my head submissively and bowed to her.

"I'm sorry."

Sorry, I shouldn't have presumed to understand Damian's heart; I shouldn't have deluded myself about their bond.

I shouldn't have, as his legal wife, come to confront his pregnant mistress.

Countless grievances were swallowed back, lodging in my throat.

Through a blur of tears, I pushed myself to my feet."Can I go now?"

Damian dismissed me with an impatient wave of his hand.

"Go back and prepare Amber's nourishing meals. If you don't know how, look it up online."

"Remember, this is the last time. If I find you targeting Amber again, don't blame me for turning nasty."

He said many other things, but I couldn't hear them anymore.

In a daze, I stumbled to the hospital entrance.

A throng of reporters, lying in wait, surged towards me.

"Excuse me, are you Mrs. Blackwood? Did you leak Miss Amber's private photos?"

"We heard that Mr. Damian treats Miss Amber very specially. Is Damian aware of your jealous actions?"

I froze on the spot instantly.

I couldn't understand a single word they were saying.

Before I could even think, two bodyguards suddenly rushed out from behind me and restrained me.

A black cloth was thrown over my eyes. Then, a heavy thud to the back of my head, and I lost consciousness completely.