Chapter 4

"There's something wrong with what she brought!"

The bouquet was flung aside.

Nathan checked on Kayla with an aching heart.

Then he turned and roared at me.

"How ruined do you have to make her before you're satisfied?!"

He closed the distance in two strides and kicked my bag away.

My hand, which I had just slipped into the bag, was cut by the zipper, leaving a long, thin gash.

Blood dripped onto the floor.

The files inside spilled out.

"You want a divorce?"

For some reason, Nathan's eyes turned red.

"You've turned Kayla into this, and now you think you can just walk away?"

I looked at him steadily.

"From beginning to end, did you ever once believe me?"

He gripped my chin, hard enough that it felt like he might crush it.

"Do you think you're worth trusting, Ebony Cox?"

He was the one who once said he would always believe me.

And now he was the one who wouldn't listen to a single word of explanation.

"Since you don't believe me, then let's divorce. I'll let you both go."

The grip on my chin loosened.

Then Nathan swung his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

He scooped Kayla up.

The look he gave me was ice-cold.

"Strip off her outer clothes and let everyone get a good look—see whether Ebony Cox, who's crossed the wrong people, can still keep living her glamorous life!"

Kayla sobbed in his arms.

"It hurts so much, everything hurts..."

Several hands reached out and started tearing at my clothes.

I couldn't spare a thought for the pain in my body.

"Nathan, you can't do this!"

"The baby... I'm still carrying your baby..."

Nathan didn't even glance at me before stepping into the elevator.

My clothes were ripped to shreds, until only the bare minimum was left to cover me.

I was shoved downstairs and driven out of the lobby.

I don't know who called them, but reporters with cameras and long lenses closed in tight around me.

"Ms. Cox, was running through the company naked also part of your effort to hold on to Mr. Mason?"

"Is it true, as rumored, that you suffer from a mental illness?"

A car came speeding up, and the reporters scattered out of the way.

I could only watch as it stopped right in front of me.

They pulled me into the car.

On the other side,

Kayla had already arrived at the hospital.

After a round of tests,

the doctor said with a smile.

"Congratulations, Mr. Mason—Miss Henson is expecting!"

A flicker of joy showed in Nathan's eyes.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the divorce agreement on the table.

The joy faded quickly.

Kayla pressed a hand to her belly, about to say something.

Nathan answered his phone.

The person on the other end was Old Mrs. Mason.

Old Mrs. Mason gave a cold laugh—

but she wasn't calling to speak up for me.

"Nathan, I don't care who you're with, but that person absolutely cannot be Kayla Henson!"

Nathan frowned.

The next instant, his whole body went rigid.