Chapter 5

The woman standing before me was Frank's mother, Hillary Byres. She looked elegant, wearing a massive pink diamond ring.

"I know who you are," Hillary said, looking down at me with utter disdain. "Frank's little plaything."

Her words crushed my last bit of hope.

"You seduced my son, keeping him away from his home and his legal wife."

"Nyla was kind enough to bring you here to care for you, and yet you are so ungrateful."

She snorted, and the maids immediately pinned me to the floor.

My knees hit the hard marble.

"Audrey, I looked into your past. You are the daughter of a mistress. No wonder you have such natural talent for ruining families."

"Normally, you wouldn't even be allowed in my presence."

"But Nyla is merciful. She felt pity for the bastard in your womb. Do you understand?"

Hillary looked at me like I was a piece of trash.

I laughed, a sound filled with pure despair. "Do you think I want to be in your disgusting family? I don't!"

"Frank lied to me with a fake identity! You failed to raise your son properly! Your family ruined my life!"

"Shut her mouth!" Hillary screamed, slamming her hand on the armrest.

"How dare you! Slap her!"

Louise jumped in, "Mother, she's pregnant with Frank's child!"

But Hillary cut her off coldly:

"Nyla gave us a son and a daughter. The Byres family does not need a bastard from a trashy street girl!"

A heavy slap landed on my face.

The maid didn't stop. The slaps kept coming, burning my skin.

Nyla smiled triumphantly. Louise turned her face away.

My ears buzzed. I could barely hear anything.

Through the haze, someone forced a cup of scalding tea into my hands.

"Apologize to Mrs. Byres right now!"

The burning pain in my hands brought me back. I sneered and threw the boiling tea straight at Hillary.

Hillary screamed as the hot water splashed on her designer clothes. The room fell into chaos.

Nyla's eyes flashed with rage. "You bitch! How dare you attack Hillary!"

"Beat her!"

The guards grabbed me, but suddenly, one of them froze.

"Mrs. Byres... She's... she's bleeding."

A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my abdomen. Warm liquid flowed down my legs.

My baby... was leaving me?

Maybe it was for the best. Without the baby, I would have no ties to this cursed family.

"Hillary said it herself! We don't need this bastard!" Nyla snapped. "She dared to attack the matriarch. If we don't teach her a lesson, she'll think she owns this place!"

Just then, the double doors were kicked open.

"Stop! Touch her and I'll kill you!"

Frank had finally arrived.