Between Two Brothers, She Was Just a Bargain

"Magnus, you’ve already married Colette; stop coming here every single day to share Camille with me! Keep turning a blind eye to her like this; sooner or later, she’ll catch on!"

"From now on, you can only come to our room on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The rest of the days... Camille belongs to me, and me alone!"

Colette Moore stood frozen at the corner of the room, a bowl of hangover soup in her trembling hands. Her heart skipped a beat, no, several, as Spencer Ferrero’s words sank into her like cold steel.

The one speaking was Spencer, the man who was once her fiancé.

And the "Magnus" he spoke of was none other than his younger brother. Also, her current husband.

That night, what should have been her wedding night with Spencer, fate had played its cruelest joke.

Magnus Ferrero, drunk beyond reason, had stumbled into the wrong room. Blindfolded and completely unaware, Colette had fallen victim to a mistake neither of them saw coming.

Just as things spiraled out of control, Spencer had barged in, dragging along a noisy crowd of relatives who were stirring up trouble during the wedding celebration.

And there they were, utterly exposed, stripped of dignity and innocence, tangled in the worst misunderstanding of their lives.

Without missing a beat, Spencer had raised his phone, his hands steady, his heart cold, capturing every piece of their disgrace.

Then, mercilessly, he threw their shame online for the world to see.

Then and there, he shattered his lifelong engagement with Colette, a promise sealed since childhood, and without hesitation, proposed to the housekeeper’s daughter right before everyone’s eyes.

Overnight, Colette became the talk of the town, a walking joke, a name laced with ridicule.

They called her shameless. They accused her of sleeping with her fiancé’s brother on what was supposed to be her wedding night.

At the lowest point of her life, when all hope had drained from her veins, Magnus, the man she had unknowingly spent that night with, stepped forward like a storm breaking through her darkest sky.

Without flinching, he shouldered the blame and declared he would marry her in his brother’s place.

Colette’s heart trembled.

It felt like a drowning soul clinging desperately to a lifeline thrown at the final moment. Without hesitation, she registered her marriage with Magnus.

And just like he had promised, Magnus treated her like treasure. He was gentle, patient, and endlessly doting.

But now, that very man, who had once been her safe harbor, slammed his fist into the wall like a lion driven to madness.

“Spencer! I know you love Camille and want her all to yourself, but we had a deal! As long as I helped you break off your engagement with Colette, you promised to let me into your world, to be part of your relationship!”

“To make it up to Colette, I’ve already given her a title, a name, everything she ever wanted. I’ve been playing the perfect husband, and she doesn’t suspect anything! How dare you use her to threaten me, to keep me away from Camille!”

Colette shrank back into the corner, her tears falling like broken pearls, silent, endless, burning hot.

Only now did she realize that night had never been an accident.

Everything Magnus had done since then had been nothing but a wellcrafted lie.

Just like his brother, his heart and eyes had long been filled with only one person, the housekeeper’s daughter, Camille Blanc.

Blinded by their fury, the two men failed to notice the subtle movement in the corner. Their voices grew louder, their anger boiling over, almost coming to blows.

But just then, the door to Spencer’s bedroom quietly creaked open.

A girl with a sweet face and a graceful figure stepped out, draped in a thin spaghettistrap nightgown that clung to her like moonlight.

The moment she appeared, the two men froze in place. Their anger vanished like mist under the morning sun as they rushed to her side.

“Camille, why are you here? Did we wake you?”

Like a fragile bird, Camille nestled into Spencer’s arms. Yet, her slender, wellmanicured hand reached out and brushed gently against Magnus’s cheek.

A trace of sorrow clouded her delicate features.

“Magnus, it’s not that I don’t want to be close to you…” Her voice trembled like a fragile thread in the wind. “In my heart, both you and Spencer mean the world to me.”

“But I have no child to depend on. I’m not like other women. I can’t have children.”

“On the night of your wedding, Colette got pregnant with your child. Grandpa has already said the first grandson of the Ferrero family will inherit everything.”

“If Colette ever finds out about us as the mother of the heir, she will never let me go.”

Tears slid down Camille’s cheeks, falling like raindrops on pear blossoms, adding a heartbreaking beauty to her sorrow.

Seeing her pitiful, wronged expression, Colette felt a chill crawl down her spine.

A terrible premonition coiled around her heart like a venomous snake, tightening with every breath.

And just as if the heavens were mocking her, the next scene shattered the last thread of hope in her chest.

Without hesitation, Magnus and Spencer stepped forward, pulling Camille gently into their arms, their voices soft, overflowing with affection, as if cradling a fragile treasure.

Their words, like sharp blades, dipped in honey, sliced through Colette’s heart.

The men she had trusted most, the very ones she had once thought would shield her from every storm, exchanged a knowing glance.

Then, in perfect harmony, their voices rang out, cold, determined, and merciless.

“Don’t worry, Camille. No one will ever hurt you.”

“Especially not Colette; we won’t let her threaten your place.”

“We’ll stage an accident, get rid of the baby, and remove her uterus.”

Hearing those words, Camille’s face immediately turned pale with panic. She rushed to cover both of their mouths, her hands trembling.

“I didn’t mean to harm Colette. I was just too scared. I only wanted you both to be careful.”

Seeing her panicstricken sincerity, both Magnus and Spencer’s hearts melted instantly. Their expressions softened, and they nodded repeatedly, reassured by Camille’s words.

But the way they exchanged glances, long, quiet, and laden with unspoken promises, left Colette with no doubt. They still intended to follow through.

Unable to bear the sight any longer, Colette turned away, drifting like a ghost back to the bedroom where she and Magnus had once shared stolen moments of passion.

She had once dreamed of marrying Spencer, the man she had adored since childhood. But after everything that had happened, guilt twisted in her chest. She believed he had chosen someone else because of his disappointment in her.

Even after Spencer humiliated her time and time again, enlisting countless gossip sites to torment her online, Colette stayed silent, swallowing the bitterness in her heart.

When she married Magnus, the wounds began to heal slowly, almost imperceptibly. That small bedroom became her sanctuary, her personal utopia, a place where she could forget the pain.

But now, with the truth laid bare before her, Colette stood in the room Magnus had meticulously designed just for her, an unbearable irony gnawing at her heart.

Eight months ago, they had shared their first night here, the night they conceived their first child.

Colette’s eyes lingered on the bright red bedsheet, and a wave of nausea twisted in her stomach.

Her heart ached as she silently whispered an apology to the unborn child, already a target of its own father’s indifference.

With trembling hands, she reached for her phone and booked an appointment for an abortion.

To bring a child into this family, this twisted, broken family, would be a tragedy far too great.

Rather than waiting for them to destroy the child, she would take matters into her own hands and ensure the baby would never suffer.

The appointment was set for three days later, on the same day as their routine prenatal checkup.

She would have preferred another day, but since the wedding night scandal and the explosive nude photos, the gossip and online abuse had never stopped.

If she went out alone, the insults would drown her, a tidal wave of cruelty she could never outrun.

But with Magnus by her side, there was still a semblance of respect, a small buffer from the venomous public eye, thanks to the Ferrero family’s power.

Magnus didn’t notice a thing amiss. As always, he had prepared everything for the trip early in the morning, down to the last detail.

Along with the necessary documents and medical records, he had thoughtfully packed fruit and snacks.

Anyone observing them would have believed he was the perfect husband.

But now, staring at his flawless profile, Colette could only sigh bitterly. His act was convincing, too convincing.

Magnus’s car was an eyecatching sight. The moment they stepped out, a wave of gazes turned their way.

As expected, the admiration quickly turned to disdain and contempt the instant people saw her face.

One particularly bold woman shoved a camera in Colette’s face, shouting as she broadcasted live, “You little vixen! Seducing the Ferrero family’s eldest son wasn’t enough for you? Now you’ve gone after the younger one, too? The Ferrero family didn’t throw you out and even let you marry in, are you proud of that?”

Other onlookers quickly joined in, adding to the mob.

“I heard you and the eldest Ferrero were childhood sweethearts for over a decade. Now you’ve just switched husbands, so there’s no lingering affection, huh? The second son treats you so well. Are you cheating on him behind his back?”

As the words were spoken, the crowd’s eyes roamed over her with filthy gazes, their laughter laced with cruelty.

Colette had heard this kind of talk so many times that she was numb to it. Instinctively, she raised her hands to shield her face.

Yet, despite her best efforts, the tears still fell uncontrollably, and the pain in her chest intensified.

She knew she hadn’t cheated; it was never her intention. The ones who had orchestrated everything were Magnus and Spencer.

But to the outside world, the elder son was the poor, betrayed victim, while the younger one appeared to be the loyal, devoted man who stayed by her side through it all.

And the one carrying all the blame was her and her alone.

“What are you filming for?! This is illegal, don’t you know that?! Believe it or not, the Ferrero family can sue you one by one!”

Magnus arrived just in time, gripping Colette’s hand tightly and shielding her completely behind him.

She had witnessed scenes like this countless times before, each one moving her to the brink of tears. But today, something changed, and Colette suddenly understood.

With the Ferrero family’s power, if Magnus truly wanted to sue, how could she have weathered this storm for so long?

She was a fool; not once had she ever questioned him.

Slowly, Colette pulled her hand from his grasp. She could no longer bear to watch him play the role of the dutiful young master from a prestigious family.

“…Let’s go to the consultation room.”

Once inside, she would ask to switch the checkup for an abortion. She would release the child from this mess.

Magnus noticed the resistance in her touch, the coldness in her expression. For a brief moment, his body froze.

He reached out again, nervously taking her hand and asking what was wrong.

Before she could answer, his phone rang its special ringtone, the one he had set himself, cutting through the tension.

Magnus quickly picked up his phone, and the nervousness in his eyes vanished like smoke.

As he read the message on the screen, a grin spread across his face, impossible to suppress.

“Colette… the baby’s fine, really. It’s just some routine checkups, nothing to worry about.”

“I won’t be much help just standing there. Something urgent came up at the office, so I’ll head back first.”

Colette understood instantly, and a bitter irony twisted inside her.

It was Tuesday, the day Magnus could spend with Camille.

“Alright.”

“But there are too many people around. You need to walk me to the consultation room first.”

Magnus didn’t hesitate. “Colette, it’s just a little crowd. When did you become so sensitive? They’re not going to eat you,” he said, brushing her off as he strode ahead.

He pushed through the crowd without a second glance.

Feeling the growing, invasive stares from every side, the familiar sense of dread crept up on Colette once more.

She shouted Magnus’s name, trying to follow him, but the crowd pressed in, blocking her way.

He paused for a split second, his head turning at the sound of her frightened voice.

But then, the text from Camille flashed in his mind, asking to meet, and without a second thought, Magnus chose to leave.

No matter how loudly Colette called after him, he didn’t so much as glance back.

As the crowd saw him walk away, their murmurings grew louder, and the air thickened with tension.

Then, as if the sight of her abandonment had stirred something in them, a group of burly men surrounded her.

“Colette, your husband doesn’t want you anymore; what now? Looking for another man? We can help with that.”

Colette pushed back, but the pressure from the growing crowd was overwhelming.

Her pregnant belly, heavy and sensitive, was shoved and squeezed, sending waves of pain shooting through her body.

A cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

“No… Please, stop…” she whispered, her voice trembling, but no one heard her or cared.

The crowd closed in tighter, suffocating her. She had nowhere to turn.

It felt like she was drowning in a sea of strangers.

By the time security arrived, her body was battered and bruised, and half her clothes had been torn away, leaving her shoulder exposed to the air.

Seeing her crumpled on the floor, the crowd descended like hungry wolves sensing blood, their phones raised high, snapping photos and filming the spectacle.

Colette curled up in a ball, feeling as though she were nothing more than a stray dog discarded by its owner.

It wasn’t until a compassionate nurse rushed to her side and guided her into the consultation room that the crowd finally dispersed, their eager gazes following her every step.

Even after sitting in the quiet room, Colette’s body trembled as though the wolves outside were still circling, ready to strike.

The obstetrician, a woman with a soft touch, stroked Colette’s hair gently. After hearing the nurse’s account, her face softened with pity.

“No wonder you were so determined to terminate. ”

“At this stage in your pregnancy, we typically wouldn’t allow it. But given your situation, we can make an exception and apply for it.”

Just as the doctor turned to leave, Colette’s hand shot out and grasped hers.

“No, doctor, I’m not having an abortion.”

“I want a divorce, now.”

When Colette returned to the Ferrero Residence, a thin stack of papers weighed heavily in her hand: a divorce agreement.

Just moments before, she had called her family, her voice unwavering as she declared her decision to divorce. No matter the consequences, no matter the losses tied to severing the marriage alliance, she was ready to bear it all.

Her parents had scolded her sharply, their voices cutting through the phone line.

“Colette! Haven’t you already embarrassed the Moore family enough?!”

“You made a scene on your wedding night, and the Ferrero family let it slide because of our ties. And now you’re throwing a tantrum?!”

Colette had bit her lip, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. If she had a choice, she wouldn’t have torn apart the marriage alliance; she had only wanted a quiet life in the Ferrero family.

But after everything that had unfolded, she saw the truth clearly: Magnus and Spencer had never seen her or the child growing inside her as anything more than a pawn in their games.

Magnus knew what would happen if he left her alone there, but still, he chose to meet Camille.

“Even if it means embarrassing myself again, I’m getting a divorce!”

Her father’s anger flared at her words, his rage almost palpable.

“No matter what happens, the marriage alliance between the Moore and Ferrero families cannot be broken! If you insist on divorcing, we’ll adopt Camille as our goddaughter!”

The moment those words left his mouth, everything changed. Their fury seemed to evaporate in an instant.

Gwen Moore, her mother, suddenly beamed with excitement.

“Why didn’t we think of this before? We can adopt Camille as our goddaughter! She’s sweet, wellbehaved, and capable. If she joins the Moore family, she’ll definitely bring us honor!”

Like flipping a switch, they went from furious to eager, their thoughts now consumed with finding the perfect excuse to welcome Camille into their fold. They even pressured Colette to go through with the divorce immediately.

Colette’s heart, already shattered, was now ripped open once more, but this time, it was by her own parents.

She looked up at the sky, letting out a bitter laugh that seemed to mock her own pain.

"Don’t worry. I’ll get a divorce."

With a final, resolute glance at the villa she had once called home, she walked inside.

Magnus had always played the part of the perfect husband, greeting her with a warm smile the moment she returned. He’d even go as far as to help her take off her shoes and socks as if to prove his devotion.

But today, as Colette searched every corner of the house, she found no sign of him.

It wasn’t until she reached the second floor that she heard his voice, the familiar, low sound of him panting.

And then, to her horror, there were two other voices, voices thick with shameless passion.

At that moment, her body went stiff, frozen to the spot.

She never could have imagined that their socalled "sharing" would mean three people together. And worse, this betrayal, this humiliation, had unfolded in broad daylight while she had been at the hospital for a prenatal checkup.

Colette’s hands trembled as she threw open the bedroom door with a force that echoed through the room.

The three figures tangled on the bed and froze in shock at the sight of her.

But Magnus and Spencer quickly snapped to attention, rushing to cover Camille with a quilt, desperate to shield her from Colette’s gaze.

Spencer’s voice boomed, sharp and defensive.

“Who gave you permission to come in?! Camille’s body is none of your concern!”

Magnus, too, looked at her with a mixture of disbelief and confusion.

“Colette, weren’t you at the hospital? Why are you back so soon?”

Colette's gaze was cold, filled with an icy disappointment that made the air feel heavier.

She glanced slowly at the trembling woman wrapped in the blanket, the image of betrayal carving into her heart.

“This socalled ‘urgent company matter’... was this it?”

Magnus stiffened, his body freezing at the words. His mouth opened, but no sound came out, the weight of the truth pressing down on him.

Then, from the bed, Camille’s voice broke through, weak and remorseful.

“I’m sorry… Colette, I’m so sorry… I know you’re angry; it’s all my fault… You can hit me, yell at me... I won’t fight back.”

Magnus instantly panicked, his arms shooting out to pull her close. His voice roared in anger.

“Colette, you’ve gone too far!”

“Even if you saw something, couldn’t we have talked it out afterward? Why barge in like this?”

“Don’t you know how humiliating this is for a woman? Did you ever think about Camille’s feelings when you burst in here like that?”

Colette looked at him, stunned, disbelief spreading through her like a cold fog.

Her heart, already numb from everything she had endured, was stabbed again.

So, he did understand that it was a woman’s humiliation to be caught like this.

Yet, on their wedding night, he had let Spencer and the whole Ferrero family barge in, a crowd of strangers watching them.

Even her parents had stood there.

The nightmarish scene flashed before her eyes, those photos, naked and degrading. Every time she dared step out into the world, she was bombarded, cursed, and taunted. It was too much for her to bear.

Her vision blurred, swallowed by the darkness of those memories.

With the last of her strength, Colette slammed the divorce papers in front of Magnus.

“If you love her so much, then divorce me! I’ll give you what you want!”

Magnus furrowed his brows in irritation as if her words were some kind of joke.

“Colette, are you a child? Throwing a tantrum over something so trivial?”

“Our families have been intertwined for generations. Our bond is deeper than that. It can’t just end with us.”

Colette could no longer be bothered to argue. Without hesitation, she flung the divorce papers at his face.

“I’ve already spoken to my family. They agreed. All that’s left is for you to sign.”

At those words, the confident look on Magnus’ face slowly began to falter, as though his resolve was beginning to crack.

Magnus stared in disbelief as he picked up the divorce agreement. Colette’s signature was already on it.

“This can’t be… How could your family agree to this? What about the cooperation between our families?”

Thinking back to how her parents had glowed with excitement when they spoke of adopting Camille as their goddaughter, that same bitter feeling spread through Colette once more. She tugged at the corners of her mouth, forcing a faint smile.

“It’s just a divorce between us. The cooperation between the families stays intact.”

“The Moore family will adopt Camille as their goddaughter. That way, the families remain tied through marriage.”

As soon as the words left her lips, both Magnus and Spencer’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“Really? Uncle and Auntie are actually going to adopt Camille?” They rushed to embrace Camille, planting a kiss on her cheek.

“Camille, did you hear that? You’re going to be the Moore family’s daughter now!”

“You won’t need to feel inferior about your background anymore. I’ve always said you’re a precious gem, and you’ll never be left to gather dust!”

Magnus, eager now, turned to Colette and snapped, “Where’s the pen? You came here to divorce me, and you didn’t even bring a pen?”

He gave her a suspicious look.

“Colette, you’re not just here to test my reaction, are you?”

“I’m telling you, this is happening whether you like it or not!”

Colette quietly observed the three of them on the bed. They’d known each other since childhood, but right now, they all felt like strangers. It was as if she’d never truly known them at all.

Without a word, she pulled out a pen and handed it to him. Only then did Magnus breathe a sigh of relief, hastily signing the divorce agreement.

As though afraid she might change her mind, he immediately locked the document in the safe.

Once everything was settled, he slowly dressed and approached her, draping his arm over her shoulders.

“Colette, you’ve really helped Camille this time. We won’t forget this.”

“Don’t worry. Even after the divorce, I’ll still treat you the same. You can continue living here at the residence.”

Colette coldly shrugged off his hand.

“I already booked a flight. Once the divorce is finalized at City Hall next week, I’m leaving.”

Magnus froze, his hand suspended awkwardly in midair. For once, a flicker of guilt stirred within him.

“Colette, you don’t have to be like this. I was wrong earlier. I thought you were trying to hurt Camille. But now that you’ve helped her, of course, I won’t treat you like that again. Just stay.”

Colette suddenly burst into laughter, a bitter, hollow sound. Tears streamed down her face as she laughed.

Stay? Stay and wait for them to figure out how to kill her baby and remove her uterus.

She didn’t want to stay another second. Without a word, she turned, ready to return to her room and pack.

But just as she reached the door, Spencer’s voice rang out, stopping her in her tracks.

“Wait! There’s one more thing before the divorce!”

Spencer’s gaze fell heavily on Colette’s belly, his eyes dark and unyielding.

“Even if you divorce him, the child you’re carrying still has Ferrero's blood. He’s entitled to the Ferrero inheritance.”

“Colette, you almost fooled us. How cruel, trying to steal the Ferrero fortune!”

Colette instinctively covered her belly, stepping back in alarm. The child was the only thing she had left to protect.

When she’d made the decision to divorce, she had already resolved to shield the child from this twisted family. His father had abandoned him; she never would.

“I can sign an agreement. Neither I nor my child will have anything to do with the Ferrero family.”

“I’m divorcing you because I refuse to let my child be born into a family like this! He will never return here!”

Her words left Magnus and Spencer in stunned silence. Their hands clenched tightly as they exchanged a look. After what felt like an eternity, Magnus sighed, stepping forward with a predatory grace and moving through the dim light like a shadow.

“Colette, I want to believe you.”

“But this involves Camille’s safety. I can’t take that chance.”

“We’re already divorced! Magnus, this is your child too! Can you be this heartless?!”

Colette clutched her belly, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked at him.

But Magnus simply reached out, grabbing her wrist with a force that left her breathless.

“This child was an accident from the start. Doing this now… is just putting things back on the right track.”

His grip tightened, too strong for her to break free. Colette, already weakened by her pregnancy, had no strength to resist.

Tears slid down her face, and in desperation, she turned to Spencer, the man who had once been her fiancé, the one she had known for nearly ten years since their childhood engagement.

“Spencer, we’ve known each other for so long. You know me better than anyone. I’ve never gone back on my word!”

But instead of the sympathy she had hoped for, Spencer’s eyes grew colder.

He grabbed her other arm, and they dragged her toward the door together with Magnus.

“You still have the nerve to talk about character?!”

“You said you were in Japan during the earthquake, but Camille saved me. You stole her credit because she was too kind to speak up!”

“If I hadn’t overheard the doctors talking, I never would’ve known she damaged her uterus saving me that day! I was such a fool; I almost fell for all your lies! How could I ever trust someone like you again?!”

Colette’s eyes widened in shock, her mind blank. Spencer was speaking of something that had happened four years ago.

But it wasn’t Camille; Colette had been the one to drag Spencer’s injured body out of the rubble, lifting stone after stone with her bare hands, her fingers raw from the effort, leaving scars that still ached today.

Colette couldn’t help but defend herself. “I don’t know what happened with Camille, but I never lied. I was the one who pulled you from that rubble!”

Spencer’s laugh was cold and sharp. “How many times have you pulled this act? You think we’ll believe you again?”

At that moment, Camille rushed over, her voice frantic. “Colette! Let me explain! I promised I’d keep that secret for you, and I meant it; I never wanted to ruin things with Spencer. He only found out by accident! I swear, I didn’t mean for it to happen!”

Colette was left even more confused.

She had barely spoken to Camille, much less asked her to keep secrets.

Yet, Magnus and Spencer had already decided and wouldn’t give her a chance to explain. Spencer wrapped an arm around Camille’s waist and led her back to the bedroom, throwing Magnus a look that spoke volumes.

Magnus immediately understood. He pulled out his phone and dialed for a private doctor, then grabbed a tie and roughly bound Colette’s hands behind her back. Just to be thorough, he tied her feet as well.

Colette was forced to lie face down, her stomach still sore from the earlier crowd incident at the hospital. Now, it felt like invisible hands were crushing it from all sides. The pain was excruciating, draining the color of her face.

With her body pinned, she couldn’t even turn over. A hot stream began to flow between her legs, and as she locked eyes with Magnus, her voice trembled with desperation.

But Magnus remained utterly unmoved. It wasn’t until the sound of a car pulling up outside did he finally cast a brief glance down at her.

And all he said was, "Colette, the doctor said inducing labor at eight months is risky. With your condition, we can’t use anesthesia. If you just relax and stop being so stubborn, it’ll hurt less. Otherwise, I can’t promise what’ll happen."

He kissed her gently on the forehead, then picked her up in his arms, walking toward the car.

"We’ll find a way for Camille to have her own baby. And if you really love children so much, maybe we’ll let you be the godmother."

Colette curled up in agony, cold sweat dripping down her forehead.

She could feel liquid continuing to flow from beneath her, but by now, she was so weak that words escaped her.

It wasn’t until she lay on the operating table in the Ferrero family’s private hospital that the doctor spoke in surprise.

"The amniotic sac has already ruptured. We can’t use drugs to terminate the fetus anymore."

Magnus panicked, his voice urgent. "Then what now? Are you saying we can’t get rid of the baby?"

The doctor’s brow furrowed. "It’s too late. We’ll have to deliver the child first."

Colette clung desperately to the doctor’s hand as if it were the only lifeline left in a stormy sea.

"Doctor, please! I beg you! You have to save my baby!" she cried, her voice trembling with raw fear.

Magnus, seething with frustration, pounded his fist against the operating room door. But it was already too late; Colette had gone into labor, and there was nothing more he could do. The doctor urged him to step outside.

The birth was traumatic, premature, emotionally taxing, and complicated by the inability to use anesthesia. Colette teetered between consciousness and oblivion, but in the end, the baby was born safely.

Tears filled Colette’s eyes as she struggled to lift her hand, her fingers brushing against the baby’s tiny, wrinkled face.

Just as she was about to express her gratitude to the doctor, the door flew open. Magnus stepped inside, his face cold, his expression darker than ever.

His gaze froze when he saw the baby in the doctor’s arms, and his voice came out dazed.

"This... this is really my child?"

Colette nodded, her heart pounding, hoping that seeing the tiny life might soften him.

"Yes. You’re a father now."

"This is your own child; no father could hurt their own baby. I’ll keep my word. I’ll leave, and I won’t stand in your way."

Magnus hesitated, his hands trembling as he took the baby into his arms. His face revealed the storm of emotions churning inside him.

Suddenly, a familiar ringtone pierced the air, pulling Magnus's attention away.

Camille’s soft voice echoed through the speaker, full of the usual sweetness.

"I heard from Spencer that Colette delivered safely, and it’s a boy! Colette is so lucky. I just knew she and the baby would be okay."

"Grandpa Enrico is over the moon. He said he refuses to allow the divorce and insists the baby will be the Ferrero heir. He already tore up the divorce papers."

"Colette’s talk of divorce was probably just a moment of anger. You should talk to her, don’t let your relationship suffer because of me—"

But before Camille could finish, Spencer’s furious voice suddenly cut through, his rage crackling over the phone.

"That child cannot stay! The whole divorce was Colette’s scheme! She knew Grandpa would side with her if she had the baby!"

"Because of her, Camille’s been punished for kneeling for three whole months! If she brings that baby back into the family, Camille’s life will be ruined!"

Magnus froze, the words hitting him like a tidal wave.

His arms trembled as he held the baby, his expression swirling with conflict and pain.

The voices were so loud that Colette heard every word. Despite just having given birth and still being extremely weak, she dragged herself off the operating table and fell to her knees, begging Magnus Ferrero.

“Magnus, please believe me! I will take the child and leave! I’ll talk to Grandpa myself! I’ll take the punishment for Camille!”

“Please, I’m begging you, don’t hurt the baby!”

Magnus looked down at Colette in her pitiful state, then back at the newborn in his arms. A flicker of hesitation and pity crossed his eyes.

But then, he placed his hand around the baby’s tiny, fragile neck.

“Colette... I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you…”

And with that, he began to squeeze.

The baby’s face instantly turned purplered, and a pained, piercing cry echoed throughout the operating room.