On my thirtieth birthday,the first“surprise”I got was a livestream.

On the screen,Zion held an esports female streamer by the back of her neck and kissed her.

But an hour earlier,he had been kneeling in front of me,kissing my eight-month pregnant stomach.

All the guests at the banquet turned to look at me at once,showing pity and barely held-back excitement.

“Ma’am…”

The butler had sweat at his temples and quickly took the phone aside.“Do you want me to turn off this livestream room?”

He spoke in a low voice,worried I would break down again like before and hurt the baby.

My voice was calm.“No need.”

“Just go ahead and cut the cake.”

“Not…not wait for President Payne to come back?”the butler asked in a careful tone.

I shook my head.“No need.”

The people waiting to enjoy the scene went still.

Someone had intentionally placed the livestream in front of me,expecting me to fall apart,sobbing like all those times in the past.

But I did not.

I got up according to the plan,cut the cake,and blew out the candles.

Then the whispering stopped,hiding itself,speaking openly behind me.

“What’s wrong with Natalie Morrison?Why isn’t she crying?”

“Didn’t she always cry like the world was ending every time she caught him cheating?”

“Didn’t she catch Zion with that young model before?She got so mad,she risked the baby,cried for three days and nights until he bothered to come home.”

“Valentine’s Day was even worse,with that big stomach,she ran to the seaside crying and begging him to return.”

“And the ending?President Payne soothed her a little and went back to playing the next day.”

“Maybe she finally knows he doesn’t care about her tears.Looks like she learned something?”

“Haha,maybe she’s trying to copy that online‘strong female lead washing underwear with a cold face’trope?Too bad she didn’t cry this time.”

Laughter broke out again and again.

They believed I was acting like the“respectable wife.”

I heard every whisper but didn’t respond,only held my stomach and stared outside the window.

Fireworks burst one after another in the night sky.I had planned them for my own thirtieth birthday.

The lights reflected on the glass and also showed in my eyes,bright and brief,impossible to keep.

It wasn’t that I wasn’t hurting.

I had just cried too much,and I was tired.

After the banquet ended,I had just taken off my gown when Grandma Ravenna stormed in.

Her face was pale from anger,her cane hit the floor loudly,and she told someone to call Zion.

No one answered.

She had the butler throw the streamer’s livestream onto the tablet,turned on the mic,and said in a cold voice,“Zion,get back here right now!”

On the screen,Zion Payne leaned on the sofa in a lazy pose,smiling at the camera.The woman beside him adjusted her setup,with loud music playing behind them.

“Grandma,”he said in a laid-back voice,“I’m busy here.I won’t be coming home tonight.”

“The little girl is doing a PK battle;it’ll affect her ranking.”

After he ended,he seemed to recall something and added,“Oh,right,tell my wife she did fine today,didn’t cry.Finally acting like a real Mrs.Payne.She’s thirty now,anyway.Tell her to keep it going.”

The tablet was slammed down on the table.

Grandma Ravenna was shaking with anger,turning to grab my hand tightly.“This heartless kid!Natalie,if you want to cry,then cry.Don’t hold it in.Grandma is here.”

But I handed her a cup of water and softly said,“Grandma,I’m not angry,but I do have something I want to tell you.”

I started slowly,speaking gently,“The year I got into university,my family couldn’t afford the fees.You helped pay for my schooling.”

“I’ve always kept that kindness in mind.”

“So when you asked me to watch over Zion in college,I agreed.The reason I could later be with him was all because you brought us together.”

“I once thought I was really happy,but after five years of marriage,Zion changed into someone else,flirting everywhere.I cried,I argued,but nothing changed.Six months ago,I actually wanted to get a divorce.”

“But at that time,I learned I was pregnant.”

Grandma Ravenna’s hand tightened,as if she didn’t want to hear anything more.

“He acted like a caring father again,and I softened and stayed.But after a few months,he went back to the same habits.”

I lifted my head.My voice was quiet,but steady.

“Grandma,I’m thirty now.I don’t want my child to grow up with a dad like this.”

Grandma Ravenna’s eyes turned red.She pulled me close,patting my back,her voice rough.“If you want to leave,Grandma won’t stop you,but the child…”

“I want to keep the child but remove the father.”

I gently cut in,“The child will still be your great-grandchild,but will have nothing to do with Zion.This is my only wish at thirty,Grandma…can you help me?”

The room stayed quiet for a long while.I thought Ravenna would say no to such an unreasonable request.

But she shut her eyes for a moment,then finally nodded.

“Alright…I will take care of it.Even though I am Zion’s grandmother,in my heart,you are also my granddaughter.”

My nose prickled as I wrapped my arms around grandma,hearing her quiet mumble.“You two were so sweet back then…how did things end up like this?”

I dropped my gaze.

Zion had truly cared for me once.

The proud golden boy of Greenville’s elite circle had softened every hard habit for my sake,sitting through classes with me,building small game projects with me,cutting off all those messy friend groups.

On the day we had our wedding,the game we created together,“Knowing Me,”went live in a big way.

He said he wanted our love to stay forever,just like the game staying online.

On the day I became pregnant,he had reddened eyes as he moved all his property into my name,announced it publicly on every platform,and even placed the notice inside our game.

To countless people,we were seen as the perfect pair.

But when the moment came where our love shifted,the first person who chose to walk away was me.

Returning to my room late at night,I saw my phone suddenly light up.

Zion had sent over two photos of lingerie.

[I heard the little crybaby didn’t cry today?Getting more sensible,good girl.]

[So choose one for me,which of these two is more useful?]

[You pick one for me,and I’ll keep the other as your thirtieth birthday present.]

Chapter 2

Looking at those lines of text,I kept a blank face and sent nothing back.

Once the screen went dark,I didn’t feel even the smallest shift inside.

Zion had always been like this,liking to watch me get jealous,lose control,break down because of him,then be pushed to lower my head and give in because I loved him.

But I was truly worn out.

So drained that I didn’t even have the energy to argue with him anymore.

Grandma Ravenna said to give her a week,and she would settle everything.

I didn’t have to do anything,just quietly wait for the week to end,and I would finally be free.

The next morning,when I woke up,there was a familiar presence beside me.

I didn’t know when Zion had come back.He leaned against the headboard,his fingertips lightly playing with my loose strands of hair in a distracted way.

His other hand rested on my swollen belly,his head lowered,as if he were truly listening to something.

“The baby is moving.”

He smiled at me.“Wife,he’s scratching me.”

As if responding to his words,a clear small movement pressed against his palm,tiny but sure.

My heart suddenly ached sharply,but I didn’t move away.

Zion had always been like this.

No matter how wildly he fooled around outside,whenever he returned to me,he acted like the gentle,patient husband,the father waiting for his baby to come.

He would soothe me softly,pull the blanket over me,and when my emotions slipped,he would repeat over and over,“Wife,I’ll fix myself,”“Don’t cry,alright?”

As long as I ignored the dirty things he did outside,we could still keep a marriage that looked warm and proper.

But I couldn’t keep doing that,and that was why I chose to walk away.

“Sit up and eat a little.”

Zion leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“After we eat,I’ll drive you to the hospital for the checkup.Isn’t your appointment today?”

At the dining table,while he watched me drink milk,Zion suddenly chuckled,with a hint of testing in his voice.

“Wife,I thought you would call me last night crying,just like when you used to catch me cheating,calling nonstop until I picked up.”

“What happened,little crybaby suddenly switched personality?You really don’t care anymore?”

I held the cup without raising my head.

“Isn’t this exactly what you’ve been hoping for?”

My voice stayed even.“A quiet,obedient Mrs.Payne who acts like nothing ever happened.”

Zion clearly stopped,as if my words caught him off guard.

Then he reached out and brushed my hair,like calming a small pet that had finally stopped resisting.

“It’s good you understand now.Men like us,how could we not have social situations to deal with?”

“Wife,relax.No matter what,you will always be the only woman I marry.The ones outside are just passing shadows.”

Passing shadows.

Those simple words landed lightly,soft and weightless,yet hard to breathe through.

I suddenly thought back to many years ago.

When Zion confessed to me,he had promised that in this life,he would only love me,stay true to me,and never turn his back on me.

So promises really do wear away.To the point where even he no longer trusted his own.

My nails pressed into my palm,the small pain spreading slowly,barely keeping me alert.

“Let’s go.”

I got up,cutting off Zion.

During the drive to the hospital,the car stayed quiet.

In the past,I would speak happily at times like this,chatting about the baby.

Only when the topic was the baby did I feel that Zion still cared about me,still cared about this family.

But now,I didn’t want to keep pretending anymore.

And even though Zion looked at me several times through the rearview mirror,he didn’t say a word.

Right before we reached the hospital,Zion’s phone rang.

The voice on the other end sounded upset,saying something about“causing trouble at the house,”“pulling someone away,”and“forcing her to marry an old man.”

Zion’s face didn’t change at all.

“That’s her family’s issue.What does that have to do with me?Didn’t I tell you,when I’m with my wife,don’t bring me anything else?”

He ended the call right away.

A moment later,Zion parked the car at the hospital entrance,put his hand on my belly,and spoke softly,“Baby,we’re at the hospital.”

I thought Zion might still have a bit of conscience left.

But after I took my number and turned back around,I saw the seat beside me was already empty.

Zion’s reply showed up quickly.

[Something happened.]

[The day after tomorrow is your mom’s death anniversary.I will come back for you and the baby.]

[Do your checkup alone today.]

I laughed mockingly,finished all the examinations by myself,and sat quietly in the hallway waiting for the results.

On Instagram,that esports girl streamer posted a new picture.

The restaurant lighting was soft and close.The Zion who should have been sitting beside me at the hospital was sitting across from her,looking focused.

The caption under it read,[Thanks to Brother Zion,I wasn’t dragged off by my own mom to marry an old guy.I’ll love him forever and stay with him.]

My throat tightened.I bit the inside of my cheek,placed a hand on my belly,and slowly rubbed it.

“Baby.”

I asked calmly,“If one day Daddy and Mommy get a divorce…will you blame Mommy?”

Chapter 3

The baby inside me shifted,very lightly.

I already knew my own answer.

After leaving the hospital,I headed to the office by myself.

I started going through the shares,sorting the projects,and splitting the groups and resources under my control.

Anything I could settle clearly,I handled right away;anything I couldn’t finish yet,I placed into lists,noted with risks,numbers,and plans for division,packed together,and sent to the lawyer that Grandma Ravenna contacted for me.

As for the Payne family assets,I could not take a single part of them.

But this company was something Zion,and I built it from nothing,and I had to take what belonged to me.

Not for my own sake,but for the child inside me.

Since I had already decided she would not be born into the Payne family,I needed to lay out every step for her myself.

Her name,assets,and future,I would arrange them one by one for her.

Even if she no longer stayed in the Payne family,she still had to grow up secure and free,never having to rely on anyone’s pity.

After I confirmed the last file,my trusted assistant lowered his voice and asked,“President Morrison,for the project‘Knowing Me,’do you want the payout or the project itself?”

I didn’t reply right away.

Instead,I logged into“Knowing Me”again.

When the familiar page showed up,my fingers stopped for a moment.

This ancient-style game,from the world-building to the character design to every story path,was almost completely built during the best years between Zion and me.

Many nights staying awake,many times tearing everything down to redo it,those busy,focused,working-together days had truly existed.

I thought I had already settled my feelings,but right then,I still felt a small bit of hesitation.

I naturally tapped into the couple space shared by Zion and me,only to be pushed out instantly.

The female owner in that space had already been switched,at some unknown time,to that player“Maeve Larson.”

Zion clearly saw that I logged in.

He didn’t give a single word of explanation.

The next moment,a pop-up asking for a two-million transfer showed up on my screen.

[One of the small online figures working under me is streaming“Knowing Me”and needs a nice background setup.]

[The couple area,let me borrow it for now.]

He really knew how to“borrow”things.He took over the secret place we spent more than half a year building in a single second.

I chose to log out right away.

Then I looked toward my assistant and said,“I want the‘Knowing Me’project itself.”

And I wanted full say over it.I didn’t want Zion and another woman ruining this game.

During the next two days,I fully moved my attention away from Zion.

But he showed up everywhere.

Inside the game,Zion and the streamer Maeve were always together.

Her room stayed open nearly all day,the headlines growing more suggestive each time,the viewer count rising fast.

I never clicked in,but people kept“accidentally”sending me screen captures.

The latest picture showed Zion setting off fireworks in Maeve’s stream.

He lit them for a whole hour and a half just to celebrate her getting first place in a PK match.

I curved my mouth slightly and blocked the person who sent it,lowering my head again to sort the plans for my mother’s death anniversary.

Everyone kept talking about how Maeve was the woman Zion kept beside him the longest.

I guess whether she might one day take my place.

But no one noticed that I no longer wished to fight anyone for this“Mrs.Payne”role.

On my mother’s death anniversary,I dressed in all black,a white flower fastened to my chest,standing in the middle of the living room.

The guests all wore serious looks,lowering their voices while speaking.After giving their sympathy,they nodded at me one after another.

Everything should have ended calmly and with respect.

Until just as I was telling the staff to guide the guests to their seats,a purposely softened but still pointed voice came from outside the doorway.

“Ya…why is everyone wearing black clothes?”

I lifted my head and saw Zion standing at the entrance.

Behind him stood a woman dressed in bright red with heavy makeup,curled hair hanging over her shoulders.

She carefully leaned half her body forward,her eyes moving across the room,finally stopping on the memorial photo of my mother in the center of the living room,as if she only just understood.

“Ah…today…Someone passed away?”

Then she seemed to realize she had spoken out of place,quickly pulling a red flower from her hair,holding it between her fingers as she walked toward my mother’s memorial stand.

“Sorry,sorry,I didn’t know…can I put this flower here?”

Seeing her reach toward my mother’s memorial,the blood in my body went cold.I almost acted on instinct and pushed her away.

“Leave!Who told you that you could come in!”

The woman stepped back in a rush,almost losing her balance,but Zion caught her with his hand.

I stared at Zion,my voice shaking from trying to hold myself together,“Zion,didn’t I tell you not to bring those cheap women from outside into this house,messing up the place!”

“And today is my mother’s death anniversary!”

All the guests went still,their eyes turning toward that woman.

Maeve clearly hadn’t expected me to actually push her.She stared at me for a few seconds,looking lost,then her eyes turned wet right away,tears dropping as if on command.

“I-I didn’t try to cause trouble,it’s my birthday today,so I wore red…just hoping for a bit of luck…”

“I really didn’t know today was your mother’s death anniversary,I just…I just came home with Brother Zion because he told me to…”

Her voice got weaker and weaker,and in the end,she leaned straight into Zion’s arms,acting like she’d been hurt badly.

Zion’s face had already darkened completely.

He lowered his head first,checking her carefully,then eased his voice.“Were you scared?”

Maeve shook her head,then nodded,tears falling even faster,but she still held onto him as she whispered,“I’m okay.”

Only then did Zion lift his head and stare at me,his eyes cold and empty.

“Natalie,I assumed you had finally matured and learned to think.I didn’t expect you to still act like this!”

“Your mom has been gone for so long.I only learned today that her death anniversary falls on the same date as Maeve’s birthday.”

“I brought her in because I thought adding a bit of cheer might make the day lighter for your mom’s death anniversary.It’s not like I did anything wrong.And even that bothers you?”

“So childish.”

Chapter 4

I angrily laughed.

When my mom was still here,she treated Zion like her own child,yet he walked in with another woman dressed in a red dress,standing in front of my mom’s memorial,and he still dared to say I was narrow-minded.

I raised my head,looked at Zion,and my voice became steady.

“Zion,on my mom’s death anniversary,you brought your mistress home.Is that what you call being broad-hearted?”

My sudden reply made Zion’s face turn dark in an instant.

He stared at me for a few moments,then let out a cold,short laugh.

“Natalie,you’re unbelievable!You can’t recognize kindness when you see it!”

He reached over,pulled Maeve into his arms,and covered her as he turned to walk out,as if saying even one more word to me was pointless.

I drew in a deep breath.

Then I turned around,forced a proper smile onto my face,and offered apologies and farewells to every relative and friend.

After the last guest left,I slowly stepped toward my mom’s memorial tablet and let all my defenses fall.

“I’m sorry,Mom.”

“Today is your death anniversary,but I ended up upsetting you.Okay,let’s stop bringing up things that hurt…Mom,I set up a room for the baby.Will you come see it?”

I held the memorial tablet and slowly walked toward the small room.

But the moment the door opened,I froze on the spot.

The room was in chaos.

The baby clothes I had folded neatly were gone,and the little toys I had arranged on the shelf had vanished too.

My first thought was that a thief had broken in.

I quickly called security to ask what had happened.

The security guard’s voice sounded unsure.

“Ma’am…this…it wasn’t someone from outside.”

“It was Mr.Payne…he had people take everything away.”

I stood frozen,a loud ringing filling my ears.

After hanging up,I opened Maeve’s social media and scrolled through her posts one by one.

Soon,in a few photos that looked casual,I spotted something I knew too well.

The dog in Maeve’s house was wearing the tiny outfit I had bought for my baby.

The once soft fabric had been chewed out of shape,soaked with spit.

On the carpet,torn into pieces,were the toys I had gotten for my baby!

I clenched my teeth so hard that my chest was sore to the point I could hardly breathe.

If these were things I had bought at random,maybe it wouldn’t have hurt this much.

But they weren’t.

Those clothes were ones I received by asking favors,borrowed from the children of respected people in different fields,and they were hand-me-downs from their kids.

I fixed each piece bit by bit,washed,dried,pressed them,pouring into them my hopes and wishes for my baby’s days ahead.

The toys came from old friends and family,each one was a heartfelt gift they handed me when they learned I was pregnant.

And now,Zion had personally taken them away.

To hand them to his mistress’s dog!

I lost all calm,held my belly,and rushed straight to the company.

The front-desk assistant stopped short when he saw me,then quickly stood up in alarm.“Ma’am,Mr.Payne can’t see anyone right now—”

I ignored him and walked right inside.

The assistant rushed after me,stepping in front of me,lowering his voice with clear intent to stop me.

“You really can’t go in right now.”

Before I said anything,sounds came from the slightly open office door at the end of the hall.

A woman’s forced,shaky breaths,mixed with a man’s low,suggestive chuckles,and the faint thuds of furniture being bumped,all reached my ears at once.

A wave of heat rushed to my head,then drained in an instant,leaving my arms and legs cold.

I didn’t look at the assistant again.

I lifted my hand and pushed the door open.

The door hit the wall hard.

The scene inside the office appeared right in front of me with nothing hidden.

The messy desk,documents scattered,the chair pushed aside,and Zion leaning against the desk with his clothes in disarray,while Maeve was half leaning into his hold,her skirt wrinkled,her face flushed.

The air carried a sickening smell.

Maeve jumped in surprise;the next moment,her eyes watered instantly,and she curled into Zion’s arms by instinct.

I stood in the doorway,my fingers pressing into the frame,a tight pain spreading across my belly.

“Zion.”My voice shook.

“Why did you hand the clothes I got ready for my baby…to this woman’s dog?”

The moment she heard that,Maeve’s tears dropped right away.

“Sis…Sis…”Her tone was soft and hurt.“I just…just saw those outfits on Brother Zion’s phone a few days back,and I thought they looked so cute…so I casually said…it’d be nice if my dog could try them on…”

“And Zion gave me those clothes and toys the next day.I honestly didn’t know they were for your baby.If I knew,how could I take them?”

A sharp pain throbbed at my temples.I had barely opened my mouth when Zion let out a short laugh.

He lowered his head to look at Maeve,his tone gentle and doting.

“Why bother saying so much to her?”

“How could she not take them?”His tone was careless.“Those worn-out old outfits,letting a dog use them fits just fine.”

A loud buzzing rushed through my head.

Worn?

Good for a dog?

My voice scraped out of my throat with effort.“Zion,those were the clothes I begged—”

“Enough.”Zion impatiently interrupted me.

“Can you stop making such a big deal?”

He lightly touched Maeve’s back,sounding completely dismissive.

“What you did at your mom’s death anniversary upset Maeve.I took a few outfits and toys to compensate her.What’s the issue?”

He looked straight at me,his expression cold.“And now you run to the company to yell?”

Compensate?

Using our baby’s clothes and toys to make it up to his mistress?

Chapter 5

I stood where I was,the hurt in my chest making it hard to breathe.

I had always believed that when it came to the baby,at least Zion cared.

I believed he was ready to be a decent father.

But now I finally understood that it was nothing more than my own fantasy.

The baby wasn’t even here yet,and Zion could already,without a second thought,take everything meant for her and use it to flatter another woman.

I didn’t dare picture if the baby were truly born,would she really end up fighting a dog for clothes?

The small hope I still held that Zion might try to be a good father broke apart right then.

When I didn’t speak,Zion walked toward me instead.

He leaned down,his eyes dropping to my belly,his voice soft.“Baby,when the time comes,Daddy will buy you the nicest,the prettiest clothes,alright?”

“Those second-hand clothes from someone else,we don’t need them.”

Zion pinched my cheek again,smiling just as sweetly and charmingly as usual.

“Don’t make that sad look,little crybaby,”he said.“Relax,I’ll make it up to you.”

Staring at the face I knew so well yet felt so distant from,a wave of ridiculousness rushed through me.

There was a time when Zion and I spent night after night in this same office,staying up late,discussing proposals,chasing investors,planning the future.

But now,papers were scattered across the ground,flipped over in a mess,and even a few used condoms lay plainly on the carpet.

Everything here was dirty enough to make me sick.

That heavy sense of collapse hit me hard,and I couldn’t stop it.I covered my mouth violently.

The next moment,I spun around and ran out of the office,nearly tripping as I rushed into the restroom and threw up until I could barely stand.

When I came back,I never mentioned the clothes again.

Instead,I gently packed every single item set aside for the baby,the outfits,the toys,the little books,the mobile for the crib,and quietly had them moved to the house I bought abroad years ago.

Zion didn’t notice any of it.He assumed I had finally learned to be“understanding.”

So he started buying things to make up for me.

Pricey maternity outfits,limited-edition accessories,sets of designer clothes,pile after pile stacked inside the walk-in closet.

I didn’t even look at them.

He sent one round,and I had someone take one round away exactly as they came.

At the same time,Maeve started streaming more often.

Sometimes,during her broadcast,with just a small turn of her head,Zion’s figure would show up.

Sometimes he was passing her water,sometimes lowering his head to talk to her,sometimes only a fuzzy side view.

But even those so-called accidental moments together sent the comment area wild.

More people began pairing the two of them.

Some envied her,saying Maeve was lucky,that Zion was mature,wealthy,gentle,and even willing to publicly appear with her.

But not every comment was a blind cheer.

Clear voices showed up soon after.

[Isn’t this basically cheating?]

[Wow,cheat long enough and it becomes‘real love’?]

[When Zion chased Mrs.Payne back then,wasn’t he giving her anything she asked for,practically offering his life?]

[Let’s be real.He’s just fooling around.]

When I saw these comments late at night,I suddenly thought of many years ago.

In university,I was the top student in our department.

Scholarships,contests,professor recommendations,everything came to me easily.

My whole life back then was made up of the library,the lab,and stacks of heavy textbooks.

But Zion was the opposite.

He skipped class,showed up late,had no interest in lessons,and was often called out by instructors,a walking warning sign in my academic world.

If it weren’t for Grandma Ravenna,I would never have crossed paths with him.

That year,with Ravenna’s financial help,I was able to finish school smoothly.

She treated me kindly,and she was very straightforward.

She said,“Zion has a wild streak.You steady him.”

I agreed.

So I began dragging Zion to class,pushing him to hand in assignments,pulling him to review,even sorting his notes for him.

I used every simple method I could think of to make him“act like a student.”

Later,he slowly changed.

He started arriving for class on time,started avoiding those messy circles,and started putting his energy into studying and real work.

And later,Zion fell for me,openly and loudly.

He ended all unclear relationships,wanted everyone to know he was chasing me,and even began seriously taking over work duties just to make me happy.

People in our circle all said I was the rope that held Zion down.

Back then,I believed it too.

I thought I was special.

I thought I was the one who pulled him out of trouble,the one who shaped who he became.

But now,thinking back,I suddenly saw it clearly.

I wasn’t a rope.

Maybe I had just shown up earlier than the others.

There were only three days left before the divorce.

And today was the livestream for the 5th anniversary of‘Knowing Me.’

We had prepared for an entire year for this day.

I had always assumed that even if our marriage was full of cracks,at least in business,Zion would keep basic logic.

After all,‘Knowing Me’wasn’t only my effort.

It was something Zion and I built from zero,the core of the company,and the shared memories and feelings of countless players.

Because I was pregnant and tired,the one who was supposed to stand onstage today and face the audience was Zion.

During the practice two weeks earlier,everything went almost flawlessly.

I thought today would go the same way.

The host’s voice rose with energy as he introduced the main guest of the night.

The lights brightened,and the person who should have stepped forward was a newly popular actor we had paid a huge fee to bring in.

Instead,Zion showed up,holding Maeve’s hand,slowly lifting from the platform.

Chapter 6

I felt like my whole body was fixed in place.

In my earpiece came the backstage staff’s lowered but tense voices.Several people kept asking“what happened,”but no one dared to run onstage and stop it.

The audience went quiet for one second.

The next moment,angry shouts rose like a wave.

“Where is he?We came for the superstar!”

“Who is that?Walked onto the wrong stage?”

“Get off!!”

Maeve held the mic,her voice shaking,going off-key as soon as she tried to sing.

Her already weak singing collapsed even more in this situation,every line harder to listen to.

My head rang,and ignoring all formality,I nearly rushed to the backstage area,coldly telling them to cut the music right away.

But someone blocked me.

He looked uneasy.“Ma’am…this was President Payne’s plan.”

I was stopped by Zion’s people and kept from getting onstage.

That song was forced to the end by Maeve.

The shouting in the venue grew even louder.

Based on the planned schedule,next was Zion’s speech.

In front of countless cameras,he began,“These past few years,for‘Knowing Me’to reach this point,it also needs to thank one person.”

“If not for Maeve’s livestream support,the rise of‘Knowing Me’wouldn’t have happened this fast.”

“Today’s growth of‘Knowing Me’is thanks to Maeve.”

The audience burst out again.

I shut my eyes,my chest tightening again and again.

My phone shook nonstop in my hand.

The PR team,investors,partners,core staff…calls came one after another.

Yet Zion stood on that stage,openly protecting his mistress.

He treated everyone’s hard work like a tool to please a woman.

After his speech ended,the host almost rushed out to save the scene,quickly pulling the event back on schedule,bringing out the famous young actor we originally invited.Only then did the mood barely settle.

But the programs that followed became more and more rushed.

And offstage,Zion stayed at the side,softly comforting Maeve.

Her eyes were red,quietly crying.“It’s all my fault…if I hadn’t gone off-key,no one would yell at you like this.”

Zion’s voice was gentle,even pampering.“It’s fine,people forget fast,it’ll fade soon.”

I couldn’t stand it anymore,so I walked over and held my phone in front of him.

On the screen was the fresh top trending tag.

#KnowingMeFiveYearAnniversaryDisaster

#ZionBringsMistressOnStage

I stared at him,asking each word clearly.“No big deal?”

“Zion,tell me—”

“Who is going to make up for the losses caused today?!”

Clearly,Zion had never expected people online to push back against Maeve this hard.

The livestream of“Knowing Me”was nearly drowned out;the rolling comments were packed with jokes and doubts.

The backstage inbox was blowing up.

I held the trending page toward him.In just a few seconds,the phone shook several more times;every call was from a business partner.

But he only wrinkled his brow a little.

“Is it that serious?”

“Players just want some emotional comfort.Give them a few free skins,some limited outfits,and they’ll forget.”

Zion spoke casually,“I’ll take care of tonight’s losses.Don’t make a big fuss.”

As soon as he finished,partners rushed over to pull him away;there was a pile of follow-up chaos waiting for him.

Once Zion left,the always quiet and obedient Maeve finally raised her head.

The fear on her face vanished in an instant,replaced with a barely hidden smug look.

“Natalie,look at you,so what if you’re pregnant?”

“You can’t even hold onto your man.”

“The way you look now,you’re already being pushed aside.Why not be smart and hand over your spot?If you wait until they throw you out,it’ll only look worse.”

I looked at her and said calmly,“What are you,that you think you can talk to me?”

Her expression froze,and she opened her mouth angrily.

I didn’t let her continue.

I slapped her.

Clear and loud in the tight backstage room.

“Being a mistress is one thing,but someone as cheap as you,this is the first time I’ve seen it!”

Maeve held her cheek,stunned.Then tears fell in streams.

And almost at that moment,Zion rushed back.

He pushed me aside without holding back,pulling Maeve straight into his arms.

“What happened?Maeve,who bullied you?”

Curled in his arms,she cried hard,“Brother Zion…I only wanted to explain to Sister…”

“But she called me cheap and suddenly hit me…”

Twisting the truth completely,her words flowed smoothly.

I had been shoved by Zion so hard I stumbled,my back hitting a nearby camera,the metal edge sending a sharp sting through me.

My stomach tightened.

But Zion was already staring at me coldly.

“Natalie,have you made enough trouble?”

“Look at yourself now,what part of you still looks like Mrs.Payne?You look just like a jealous,loud woman!”

“What decent woman in our circle acts like this,bullying normal people?”

“How did you become so harsh?We’ve only been married five years,how did you turn into this?Where did the gentle you from before go?”

I held my stomach,my fingers cold,fighting the pain in my nose.

“So what?”

“Is kindness only when I swallow everything,hide and cry,stay quiet,fight for nothing?Is that what you call kind?”

“Like before,staying home feeling miserable,pretending not to notice anything,only then do you see me as a good wife?”

I lifted my head to look at him,my voice shaking.

“I’m not the same as five years ago.”

“And you?Zion…”

“You brought your mistress home,getting more bold every day,are you still the Zion who once said he only loved me?!”

Chapter 7

Zion’s face tightened for a moment.

But he didn’t notice my reddened eyes,nor did he hear how close my voice was to breaking.

He only saw that I questioned him in front of others,with no sign of holding back.

The next moment,his whole expression turned dark.

Zion,burning with anger,lifted Maeve and walked away.

He left behind only one cold,hard line.“You better not regret this.”

The pain in my back made my chest race.I didn’t even have time to ask where Zion was heading.He clearly still had a pile of things waiting for him.I could only go to the hospital by myself first.

Only when the results came out,and the doctor said the baby was safe,did I finally let out a breath.

The fear that lingered rushed through me again.I sat on the bench in the hallway,covering my face,crying until I could barely breathe.

I didn’t dare think about what I would do if something truly happened to the baby.

When I returned home,Grandma Ravenna already knew what had happened today.

She held my hand,her eyes red with pain for me.

“There are only two days left before the divorce papers are done.”

“Natalie,you’ve suffered.”

I sniffed and forced a small smile.“I’m okay.”

Grandma Ravenna sighed and muttered,“Tomorrow is your grandpa’s 80th birthday.”

“He doesn’t have much time left.Could you…at least for these last two days,let him feel at ease?”

I still agreed.

Grandpa Kale’s birthday gathering was held at the old house.

Ravenna and I arrived first.

Grandpa Kale sat in the main hall’s armchair.His energy wasn’t good,yet he still pushed himself upright.When he saw me walk in,he nodded.

He looked toward the doorway and couldn’t help sighing.

“Where’s that brat?On a day like this,he still refuses to show up.”

Clearly,he wasn’t unaware of Zion’s recent behavior.

I only gave a faint smile and didn’t reply.

Soon after,there was movement at the entrance.

Zion walked in with Maeve trailing right behind him.

In that instant,the air in the hall froze on the spot.

Grandpa Kale’s expression turned dark right away.His cane struck the ground with a heavy hit.

“You still dare bring some shameless girl here?!”

The next moment,the cane was already swinging down.

“You brat!”

Zion stumbled back a step,his face tight,but he didn’t fight back.And Maeve suddenly rushed forward.

She lifted her arms,blocking in front of Zion,tears spilling right away.

“Grandpa,don’t hit Brother Zion…”

“It’s all because of me.”

“It’s because I’m not good enough,because I’m pregnant with Zion’s baby,that he brought me back.”

“I understand I come from nothing,that I don’t deserve to stand in a place like this…”

She bit her lip,then added softly,“But the baby is innocent…”

Baby?

I stared at Maeve,unable to believe it.

Zion’s face changed slightly.He reached out and pulled Maeve into his arms.

“Maeve is pregnant.It’s my child.I need to take responsibility.”

He paused,then,almost as if giving himself courage,said,“And also,Maeve’s baby is a boy.Natalie’s baby is a girl.”

“Grandpa,I’m doing this for the family line.”

For the family line.

Those words were like an old,dull knife pushed straight into my chest.

A family like the Payne family had known the gender of my baby the moment I had prenatal tests.

But whether it was Ravenna,Kale,or Zion’s parents abroad,not one of them ever cared.

Back then,Zion had held me close,swearing again and again,“No matter boy or girl,as long as the baby is yours,it’s precious to me,the one who carries on the Payne family.”

This past year,there were plenty of women who tried to get pregnant with his child.

He turned all of them away.

But now,Maeve was pregnant.And she was carrying a boy.

And this baby was now being pushed in front of me by my own husband,said with those words,“carry the family line,”as if it were completely reasonable.

I instantly drew in a deep breath.

That almost-breaking collapse,I forced it down into the bottom of my chest.

Grandpa Kale,upset,kept shouting nonstop,his cane hitting the floor again and again.

Ravenna’s eyes were red,too.She kept hitting Zion’s back,scolding him for being stupid.

Everyone thought I would lose control.

Cry,question him,fall apart.

But I didn’t.

I only stood up,my voice so calm it felt cold.“Today is Great-Grandfather’s birthday.It’s a joyful day.Let’s not ruin it over these things.”

“As for the baby…We’ll talk when it’s time.”

The whole room went still.

Grandma Ravenna opened her mouth,but in the end,she could only swallow her anger,forcing herself to keep the scene steady and continue the banquet while everyone hid their own thoughts.

During the dinner,I said I wasn’t feeling well and left early.

Seeing me not argue and not cry,a sudden,strange fear rose in Zion’s chest.

Was she planning to divorce?

But he quickly brushed the idea away.

How could I ever bring myself to leave him?

Chapter 8

My car had just rolled off the main road outside the old house when an unfamiliar van appeared in the rear-view mirror.

At first,I didn’t think about it until that vehicle suddenly sped up out of nowhere and swerved hard toward me.

A sharp screech tore through the night.

The next moment,my car door was pulled open from the outside.

I didn’t even have a second to react before someone dragged me out.

The world spun,the back of my head hit something hard,and before I could make a sound,a hand covered my mouth,and I was shoved roughly into the van.

The door slammed closed with a loud bang.

In the darkness,I heard the engine start again.

Fear rushed up in me.

On instinct,I wrapped my arms around my belly,my fingers shaking badly,my trembling hand trying to find my phone in my bag.

When the screen lit up,I dialed Zion’s number almost without thinking.

No answer.

I refused to stop and called again.

A third time.

A fourth time.

The phone vibrated again and again in my hand,but he still didn’t answer.

I started sending voice messages,my tone pressed down low but still shaking out of control.

“Zion…something happened to me.”

“Pick up the call,alright?”

“Just answer the phone,I’m begging you…”

Each voice clip went out like it was tossed into a deep void,with not even a sound coming back.

I stared at the screen,my hand turning colder bit by bit.

The man across from me suddenly let out a laugh.

“Stop calling.It won’t work.”

The van's light was dim.His face stayed in the shadows,but his voice carried clear mockery.

“Mrs.Payne,right?”

“You look really sad right now.”He spoke in a lazy tone,“Can’t even get your own man to answer.Really makes me wonder why you’re still sticking to him.”

I forced myself to settle down,my throat tight,but I still asked,“Why did you kidnap me?”

“Because you’re standing in my sister’s way!”

“If someone stands in the way,then she has to be removed!”

My heart dropped straight down.

“Your sister…is she Maeve?”