Chapter 3

I struggled against the guards, using every ounce of my strength to yell out the window. "Julian! Julian! Help me!"

Julian looked up, shocked.

"Evelyn? What the hell is going on?"

He ran up the stairs and yelled at the guards holding me down. "Hey! Let her go!"

"What do you think you're doing to a pregnant woman in broad daylight?"

I let out a sob of relief.

"Julian knows me. He can prove who I am!"

I glared at Victoria. "Even if you are a Vance, you have no right to kidnap me! Let me go!"

But Victoria didn't flinch. She smiled warmly at Julian.

"Julian, what did you just call her?"

"Since when does Ethan have another wife that I don't know about?"

Seeing Victoria's face, Julian’s expression instantly changed. All his anger vanished, replaced by pale terror.

"Mrs. Vance... I didn't realize it was you."

He quickly stepped closer to Victoria, lowering his voice. "Why waste your time with someone like her?"

My heart plunged into a freezing abyss.

Ethan Vance... did you really plan all of this? Did you lie to me from the very start?

Julian continued to whisper to Victoria, his tone submissive. "She’s just a plaything Ethan kept on the side. You shouldn't lower yourself to deal with her."

"If Ethan really cared about her, he wouldn't leave her in a cheap apartment like this without even a single guard, right?"

He pointed to our nanny, who was crying in the corner.

"If you just ignore her, Ethan will appreciate your grace. There's no need to ruin your reputation over a side chick."

I ignored his insults and demanded with a shaking voice, "Is Ethan Miller actually Ethan Vance? Is he married to her?"

Julian turned his face away, refusing to look me in the eye, and nodded slowly.

Victoria laughed triumphantly. "Hear that? Now you know your place."

"A cheap mistress trying to act tough in front of me. Hilarious."

But I was not a weak girl who would just take this. Otherwise, I wouldn't have survived my uncle's abuse.

I thrashed wildly, ignoring the pain in my belly.

"I am not a mistress! Even if he is a Vance, I will not be his dirty secret!"

"I want to ask him myself! If he lied to me, I will pack my bags and leave! I don't want his money!"

Victoria sneered. "Do you think I’m going to fall for your reverse-psychology tricks?"

"Whether you like it or not, you're coming to the Vance estate today. If you won't walk, my men will carry your body."

She waved her hand, and the guards threw a heavy black coat over my head.

Julian quickly warned, "Careful, she’s carrying Ethan's child."

Victoria hesitated for a second, then ordered, "Tie her hands and put her in the car."

I tried to scream for help, but a rough hand shoved a cloth into my mouth.

Tears streamed down my face. My heart was completely dead.