Pregnant, I Took The Fall for My Husband, But He Dumped Me

On the night of my 27th birthday party, I received a call from my husband. His voice was low and shaken as he confessed to having hit someone with his car on the way to the venue—and begged me to take the blame.

After calming him down, I agreed without hesitation. I told him to stay where he was, grabbed my car keys, and prepared to leave.

Everyone at the party was stunned. Friends rushed to stop me.

"Ariella, are you crazy? That's a serious charge! You can't sacrifice yourself for Derek like this! Your child still needs a mother—and you're pregnant again!"

I gently cradled my baby bump and simply smiled.

The man involved was my husband, Derek. We had been married for seven years. For him, I was willing to give everything.

Without a backward glance, I sped through the streets and arrived at the scene. My parents were there, supporting each other as they approached me in tears, begging me not to take the fall. Derek stood nearby, his expression was solemn as he clutched my hand tightly.

But my mind was made up. Nothing would change it.

My mother collapsed to her knees in front of me. Overwhelmed, my father suffered a severe asthma attack and had to be rushed to the emergency room. Even then, I didn’t waver.

In the end, I confessed in place of Derek. When the police arrived, they arrested me on the spot.

In court, the judge ruled the accident was entirely my fault, and I was sentenced to ten years in prison. My parents fainted as the verdict echoed across the courtroom.

While being escorted out, wearing my prison uniform, Derek approached me with his childhood sweetheart, Jade. She rested her hand on her pregnant belly and sneered, tossing divorce papers in my face.

"You seduced Derek for all these years, and now you're a convicted murderer. You're not worthy to be part of the Ortiz family!"

"Sign these divorce papers and leave with nothing. Your son will have nothing to do with you in the future."

Our son, Cody, peeked out from behind Derek, his little face twisted in disgust.

"Daddy said you killed someone. You're a bad person. I don't want you—I want Aunt Jade to be my mommy!"

Mocked and humiliated, I said nothing. I struggled to control my trembling, handcuffed hands and signed the divorce papers without a word.

But as I was taken away, my heart remained calm. I had already made my plans.

Before being transferred to prison, I made one final call—after speaking briefly with my parents, I dialed a different number.

At that moment, fate shifted quietly.

In just one week, everything would change—for me, for Derek, and for everyone involved.

1

When I arrived at the scene, five months pregnant, I walked up to Derek, who stood dazed and bloody. The moment he saw me, tears welled up in his eyes.

"It's all my fault, Ariel... I'm so sorry," he choked out.

“It’s okay. I’ll handle it.” I gently stroked his hair and whispered comfort, promising to take care of everything.

Despite the pain, I climbed into the crushed driver’s seat of the wrecked car. Then I told him to call an ambulance and hide.

He slipped into the shadows just as the police and medics arrived.

The scene was a disaster. The victim’s identity was unclear, but a black birthmark on his arm caught everyone's attention. He was quickly taken to the emergency room.

I smeared myself with the blood on the car and feigned panic. When the police questioned me, I offered no explanations and took full responsibility. They soon contacted my parents, who arrived with our family lawyer, Leonel.

Before the officers could take me away, my trembling parents approached.

"Don't do this, Ariel!" my mother wept, clutching my hand. "You're our only child. If you go to prison, what will happen to us?"

I gently told her I had already arranged everything with my cousin, Mathias—he would look after them in my place.

My father's expression was grim, and he muttered bitterly, "So the one who did this just hides like a coward, letting his wife take the blame?"

Right then, Derek appeared, freshly changed into a sharp suit. The contrast between his polished appearance and my disheveled state was painfully obvious.

But he still kept up the act. With tears in his eyes, he held my hand and turned to my parents.

"You both know the Ortiz family business is about to go public. If this scandal breaks, it'll ruin everything. I'll never forget what Ariel has done for me. I'll take care of the baby—and take care of you, too."

His gentle gaze met mine with supposed sincerity. When I asked why he changed clothes, he claimed it was to look presentable for the upcoming trial. He was more anxious than I was, so I let it go.

Meanwhile, Attorney Leonel pulled Derek aside for a private word.

"Mr. Ortiz," he said, "this isn’t right. If Miss Ariel changes her mind, she could reverse her testimony. You should handle your own mess—"

Before he could finish, Derek cut him off.

"Don't worry. Ariel loves me deeply—she would never betray me. Just focus on getting her a lighter sentence."

He said it with total confidence, his gaze fixed on me.

My father, suspecting something, pulled me aside. "Did he threaten you?" he asked. "Don't worry, we'll stand up for you."

My mother clung to me, sobbing. "You're still carrying a child. When you had Cody, you nearly died from blood loss. If you go to prison, who'll take care of you?"

I didn't answer—just begged them to take care of themselves.

My father, furious with my devotion, suffered another asthma attack. My mother quickly gave him emergency medication before he was rushed off to the hospital.

The police were almost ready to take me away when my mother fell to her knees.

"Please, my baby girl. Just tell them the truth. Say you didn't do it—we'll figure something out."

Tears welled in my eyes, but I couldn't respond. Before I could comfort her, the officers pulled me away.

Derek stepped forward, and held my hand. “I’ll look after your parents. I promise.”

Only then did I allow myself to be led off.

...

At the detention center, I spent six hours giving a statement. I admitted to everything. Outside, Attorney Leonel paced in frustration.

Before he arrived, he'd gone to the restaurant where I had booked my birthday party—hoping to retrieve surveillance footage and reservation records to prove my alibi.

But he was told everything had been wiped due to a "system error."

While I gave my statement, the hospital delivered devastating news: the victim was still unconscious, and was in critical condition. After investigation, the police identified him—he was Gavin Reed, a senior executive at the Reed Corporation.

With solid evidence and my confession, the case went to trial the next day.

Despite Attorney Leonel's best efforts, I was sentenced to ten years.

My parents collapsed in the courtroom.

During the recess, I was ordered to change into a prison uniform.

My parents, ignoring the staff’s objections, insisted on seeing me. The officers reluctantly gave them thirty minutes.

"My child... how could you be so foolish? Ten years—do you know how many ten years a person gets in life?" My mother sobbed against my shoulder, her body trembling with grief.

Even after the trial ended, Attorney Leonel couldn't shake his doubts.

"Ariel," he asked, "you were celebrating your birthday at the restaurant that night, weren't you? Why is it that only that day's surveillance footage is missing?"

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. Just then, the sharp clack of high heels echoed from the doorway.

"So, you're Ariella?" A flirtatious, saccharine voice rang out.

It was Jade—Derek's childhood sweetheart. She wore a sultry red dress that hugged every curve, strutting in like she owned the place. Her hand was interlocked with Derek's, their eyes practically tangled in a lovers' gaze.

"You have the nerve to show your face here? Came to see Ariel's downfall, is that it?" My father frowned, voice heavy with contempt. He clearly disapproved of the woman Derek had brought.

I quickly tried to calm him, not wanting to stir any more conflict.

But Jade let out a shrill laugh, clearly enjoying herself.

"Ariel, you really are the gentle, selfless saint they all say you are. Willing to serve ten years in prison for Derek without a word of complaint. Don't worry—I'll take good care of him and the child from now on."

Her voice grated on my ears.

My mother, now trembling with anger, snapped at Derek.

"Ariel is still your wife! What do you think you're doing, holding hands with another woman in front of us?"

But Derek just smiled, calm and composed. "Mom, don't get the wrong idea. Jade and I grew up together—Ariel knows that. She gets nervous in crowds and her hands shake, so I just held her hand to comfort her."

Jade leaned deeper into his arms with a delicate expression, the perfect picture of innocence. My father's face turned crimson, my mother clenched her fists, but I urged them to stay calm.

Just then, the guards began preparing to escort me away. Jade seized the moment and "accidentally" flung a divorce agreement straight into my face. The corner hit hard, but I forced myself to open it.

"Better sign it while there's still time. You've monopolized Derek long enough. Now that you're a convicted murderer, it's time to get out of the Ortiz family."

I looked at Derek.

He said nothing. He only tightened his grip on Jade's hand—and even slid his arm around her waist.

My father stood there speechless, stunned into silence. I sighed and braced myself to sign the agreement.

That's when Cody—my son—finally spoke. He had been hiding behind Jade the whole time.

"Murderers don't deserve to be mothers. I want Aunt Jade to be my mommy."

My mother stepped forward, trying to pull him away, but he bit her hand and shoved her to the floor. Then he laughed and ran behind Jade again, giggling like nothing had happened.

My mother stared at him, utterly shocked. Just days ago, he was still the sweet, obedient little boy we knew.

The guards began urging me along. Derek looked impatient. My father subtly signaled me not to sign, but I turned away from them all. No one could see my expression or the motion of my hand. As I was being led away, I tossed the divorce papers aside.

Derek quickly released Jade's hand and rushed to retrieve the document, looking genuinely startled.

"Don't sign it, sweetheart... this is all my fault. I was the one who allowed you to marry that man!" My mother cried as she stumbled after me down the hallway.

Her sobs were so gutwrenching that even the guard faltered. Though the rules were strict, he sighed and pretended to have a sudden "urge to use the restroom," discreetly granting us five minutes of private time.

"It's all your mother's fault," she whispered, gripping my hands tightly. "I'll go to Leonel—I'll tell him it was all Derek's doing! You were only covering for him!"

I gently patted her hands, urging her to stop talking about Derek.

Even though we stood at the far end of the corridor, I noticed Derek and Jade watching us intently. A small crowd had also gathered nearby, whispering and gawking like it was some kind of drama.

"Mom, don't worry. I'll take care of myself." I looked at her in the eye, my voice calm and heavy. "Before I came here, I told Leonel everything. We went to school together—he'll take care of you and Dad."

My tone carried a finality that made it feel like a farewell.

Leonel and I were university classmates—we both studied law. He was diligent, driven, and eventually passed the bar exam to become a licensed attorney. I passed too, but instead of pursuing a legal career, I chose to marry Derek and assist the Ortiz family with their legal affairs.

Both Leonel and I knew the stakes of taking the fall for someone else. Once the verdict was sealed, if there wasn't overwhelming evidence to overturn it, you're doomed to spend the rest of your life behind bars—unjustly and in silence.

Thinking about it now, I sighed. I had always known how difficult and dangerous this road would be. And yet... I still chose to listen to Derek.

I lowered my head, falling into silence.

My mother noticed the redrimmed corners of my eyes and leaned closer, whispering in a trembling voice,

"Sweetheart, did Derek threaten you with something? Tell me—we'll stand up for you no matter what. Or... is it that you really love him that much? So much that you're willing to throw your life away for him?"

I gave her a faint smile and shook my head helplessly.

Derek and I had been married for seven years. We had known each other for almost ten. He had become a part of my life I couldn't imagine being without. After a long pause, I slowly nodded.

Seeing she couldn't change my mind, my mother gave up and instead began to remind me of all the little things.

"Don't get into fights in there, protect yourself and the baby. No matter what it takes—no matter if we lose everything—your father and I will get you out. Ariel, you must..."

Before she could finish, a staff member glanced at the digital clock on the wall and gave a few deliberate coughs, stepping forward to take me away.

As they pulled me along, my mother clung to my hand with all her strength. But the moment I was pulled from her grasp, she lost her footing and fell hard to the ground.

She wept silently on the cold floor.

Across the hall, Jade, who had been eavesdropping from around the corner, smugly retracted her head. She was beaming with satisfaction. In the end, I hadn't exposed Derek—not even once. That alone made her feel victorious.

My father stood rigidly before her, fists clenched, grinding his teeth in helpless fury.

Derek's brows twitched slightly as he watched me part with my mother, especially after he'd picked up the divorce papers I'd tossed aside earlier.

He hadn't expected me to actually sign.

In our seven years together, he'd always thought of me as the understanding, dutiful wife—never clingy, never overbearing, but always there when he needed me. In his mind, I had always been the thoughtful, devoted wife.

He never imagined that just a few words would be enough to make me agree to a divorce.

He said nothing, but inside, he was thrilled. Still, in front of so many people, he kept up appearances—head lowered, wearing a carefully crafted look of guilt.

But when he looked up, he met my father's glare.

My father stormed over and snatched the agreement from his hands. When he saw that I had really signed it, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"If you have even an ounce of decency left, then take care of Cody. From now on, don't you dare meddle in anything to do with Ariel again!"

He flung the signed agreement onto the floor and turned back to help my mother up.

Jade, unfazed by my father's fury, simply smiled sweetly. The matter was settled—nothing else mattered.

Looping her arm through Derek's, she said with delight, "That went even smoother than I expected. Come on, Derek—let's go. You can move all my things into Ortiz's house now."

My son, Cody, clung to Derek's leg, whining about wanting new toys. Too young to understand where he was or what had just happened, he only found the adults' conversation boring.

Jade bent down and stroked his hair dotingly.

"Of course, sweetheart. Whatever you want, Mommy will buy it for you."

Cody beamed and threw himself into her arms.

Derek tightened his hold on Jade's hand and prepared to leave with them—his "new" family.

Whispers from the onlookers rippled through the hall like wildfire.

"She's being forced into a divorce the moment she's sentenced? That poor woman..."

"That arrogant woman must be the mistress. She made the legal wife’s parents faint from rage—it's disgusting!"

"The wife is too soft. She let them walk all over her like that? If it were me, I'd make them regret it the moment I got out."

The murmurs grew louder and more accusatory.

My father noticed that my mother was sobbing too hard, her breathing became erratic, and she collapsed—suffering from acute hyperventilation and suspected cyanide poisoning. Paramedics rushed in and whisked her away in an ambulance.

Chaos erupted at the scene. The public's fury turned toward Derek and Jade.

Jade was quickly losing patience, but she couldn't care less about the gossip. She had already gotten everything she wanted.

She yanked Derek away with her, flashing a smug smile at Attorney Leonel as they left.

Derek, while somewhat moved by the sacrifice I'd made, was secretly thrilled to finally be able to be with his childhood sweetheart openly. In the car, he had already prepared flowers and gifts to celebrate her "homecoming."

Elated, Jade practically jumped into his arms. Their joy was a stark, jarring contrast to the mess of pain and tears they'd left behind in the hall.

—

When they returned to the house, Jade took it upon herself to pack up all Ariella's belongings and dump them in the musty basement.

The wedding photo in the center of the living room was an eyesore to her—it was the last symbol of the life Ariella once had. With a single glance from her, Derek silently gave his consent. Jade tore the frame off the wall and tossed it aside like trash.

Already five months pregnant, Jade's motherly warmth quickly vanished when she looked at Cody, who stood nearby clutching his toy.

With a cold voice, she declared, "We need to make space for the new baby. Cody's room will have to go."

Derek, busy helping her unpack, agreed without hesitation.

With his approval secured, Jade threw Cody's belongings and dragged him up to the attic.

She flung his things carelessly on the damp wooden floor and said sharply, "This is your room now. Don't bother me unless it's important."

Then she turned and walked away.

Cody looked around at the cramped, dark attic, still clutching his toy. A cold draft crept through the cracks in the walls. On the floor lay the shattered remains of the jade bracelet Ariella had crafted for him on his third birthday—Jade had smashed it earlier in a fit of irritation.

He froze, stunned, then accidentally stepped on a shard. With a cry of pain, he fell to the floor, holding his bleeding foot.

However, no one came.

In the past, whenever he got hurt, his mother was always there to treat his wounds. Now, he was left alone—his sobs echoing off the attic walls.

...

Meanwhile, downstairs, Jade basked in the satisfaction of finally having a place of her own in this house. She turned to Derek, giddy with excitement.

"She signed the divorce papers already. Let's get married in a few days, okay?"

She had been waiting for this moment for so long, and when Derek nodded in agreement, her heart finally settled.

Yet ever since returning, Derek's expression had been clouded. Though Ariella had appeared calm and compliant, a lingering fear gnawed at him—that she might one day reverse the verdict and expose the truth.

And just as that fear lingered in his heart.

—

In the hospital's intensive care unit, after a tense emergency rescue, Ariella's mother finally regained consciousness.

"You're finally awake!" Ariella's father cried from the bedside, tears streaming down his face. Fortunately, his wife, who had collapsed earlier, finally opened her eyes.

"Ariel..." was the first word from her lips. The moment she realized her daughter wasn't there, her heart sank again.

Leonel stepped in to comfort them both.

"I've already submitted the paperwork to the court for visitation rights. By tomorrow, you'll be able to visit her. Just one more day."

Even though it was only a prison visit, that sliver of hope was enough to lift their spirits.

Elsewhere, in another hospital wing... In the ICU, Gavin's fingers twitched slightly—then his eyes opened.

Despite the severe trauma to his body and brain, his mind was working fast. The doctor, noticing the change, let out a sigh of relief. After confirming his condition had stabilized, Gavin was moved to the general ward for further observation.

On the day of the prison visit, Ariella's parents set out early in the morning. Attorney Leonel was supposed to accompany them, but he left first, claiming he had something urgent to attend to.

In truth, Leonel had already learned through his network that Gavin had regained consciousness. Without delay, and before Derek could catch wind of it, he rushed to the hospital to meet him.

The Ortiz family's company was on the verge of going public, and the momentum was strong. But a scandal involving a criminal coverup—especially one involving a life—could destroy everything. If Derek learned that Gavin had woken up, he might resort to drastic measures to silence him for good. After all, only Gavin's death would make it impossible to overturn Ariella's conviction.

Leonel had sharply sensed this and arrived at the hospital before sunrise. He had already done his homework. On paper, Gavin was a senior executive at the Reed Group, but in reality, he was the illegitimate son of Chairman Reed.

Ariella grew up with Gavin. When they were older, he was taken abroad by his family, and they lost contact. Leonel's visit was a gamble—would Gavin remember who the real killer was at the scene of the crime?

Faced with a stranger, Gavin remained wary and silent no matter what Leonel said. But Leonel came prepared. He pulled out the official court documents and explained in detail what had happened while Gavin had been in a coma.

"She confessed to the crime?!"

Gavin finally spoke, a trace of an unreadable smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

Still, he remained suspicious of Leonel's identity. Even when Leonel explained he was Ariella's university classmate and had been entrusted by her parents to handle her case, Gavin stayed cautious. Though Leonel didn't get a direct statement, his visit was enough to stir something in Gavin's heart.

Shortly after, Gavin quietly arranged a hospital transfer. His whereabouts became unknown.

—

In the prison visitation room, a thick pane of glass separated me from my parents. Just one day apart had felt like a lifetime.

My mother noticed how gaunt and exhausted I looked, and her eyes filled with heartbreak. On the other hand, I put on a calm expression, pretending I had accepted my fate and comforted them instead.

Just then, my mother's phone buzzed again. With an annoyed expression, she picked it up—and sure enough, it was exactly what she expected. Seeing my puzzled face, she turned the screen toward me.

Derek's social media posts were pouring in like a flood, documenting every sweet moment of his new life with Jade.

[Today is Jade's first day home. She's sleeping so soundly.]

The attached photo showed Jade lying in the master bedroom, wearing my cherished nightgown, looking fragile and content. There were even faint red marks on her neck and collarbone.

[Made a heartfelt breakfast for Jade. Hope she likes it.]

A lavish breakfast spread filled the table. This was the same man who claimed he couldn't cook during our entire marriage—and had never once made me a proper meal.

Even when I was burning with a 40°C (104°F) fever and begged him, all he made was a bowl of plain porridge, and tossed it on the table with a frown.

So it wasn’t that he couldn’t—it was just that I wasn’t worth the effort.

He had pinned his latest post to the top.

[Some reunions are destined by fate. The right person is always waiting for you.]

In the picture, he and Jade held hands tightly, standing in front of a flower wall I had painstakingly built for his birthday.

I had spent months researching the perfect fragrant and visually stunning flowers, and bled many times arranging them into a giant heart. And now, that heartshaped wall had become the backdrop for his public declaration of love for someone else.

The comments section was filled with blessings—and a few thinly veiled jabs at me.

Obviously, I was the only one kept in the dark about their affair.

I clenched my fists so tightly my knuckles turned white. My mother noticed the disappointment in my eyes and quickly put the phone away, trying to change the subject.

"Leonel said the victim had regained consciousness," she whispered, leaning close.

"Ariel, don't worry. Your father and I will do everything we can to get you out of here."

Although everything had already been decided, my parents were still doing their best. I was deeply moved, tears welling up in my eyes, but I said nothing.

Just then, my best friend Gemma called. My parents left, giving me those final precious minutes to speak with her.

As they were leaving, my mother reminded me again. "The victim is awake now. We'll go beg him for forgiveness... maybe it'll help reduce your sentence."

I watched my parents shuffle away with heavy hearts. As they disappeared from sight, the ringing phone in my hand pulled me back to reality.

"Ariel! I already heard about that scumbag Derek—are you okay now?" Gemma's anxious voice crackled through the receiver.

I reassured her softly, telling her not to worry about me and to focus on recovering from her own injuries.

"I told you to stop driving already... and now look—you're stuck in bed with those serious injuries, just staring at the ceiling."

A while ago, during one of Derek's business trips, Gemma had offered to stay with me for a while. On her way to my place, due to her poor driving skills, she accidentally hit someone. The victim had only suffered minor external injuries but was hospitalized for a few days to recover.

Gemma had stayed by the patient's side the entire time until he was discharged. She hadn't known his identity—only that he had a dark birthmark on his lower leg.

They thought the matter had been resolved quietly. But not long after, someone deliberately targeted Gemma. While she was home recovering, she was hit by a car in a vicious "accident" and knocked unconscious. The road had no surveillance cameras, and to this day, the truth remained a mystery. Gemma had no choice but to swallow the injustice.

It wasn’t until later that she discovered the man she had accidentally hit was someone from the Reed Group. Knowing how the Reed family operated—strict, calculating, and always repaying debts—she immediately suspected they were behind the hitandrun. After all, her family had worked with them before, and the Reed Group was infamous for being ruthlessly fair and unforgiving.

“Wait—what?! That man was from the Reed family?” Gemma exclaimed in shock and sat upright in her hospital bed.

I could practically hear the gears in her mind turning. She had never understood why I insisted on taking the fall for Derek. Now she was starting to piece things together. Looking at the cast on her leg, she nodded silently with a complicated expression.

"Take care of yourself, Ariel," she said quietly. "Once I'm better, I'll come see you."

After I ended the call, my parents' words echoed in my mind.

"The victim has regained consciousness..."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips. It was time for me to start playing my own chess game.

I had five minutes left before returning to my cell. I was about to dial a number on a slip of paper I'd been holding when the phone rang again.

"Gemma? What is it? Don't worry too much about me. I'll find my own way out."

Just as I was about to hang up, a deep, magnetic voice came through the line.

"Ariel. It's me."

My heart froze. I dropped the phone in shock.

"You're... you're really awake," I whispered, trying hard to suppress the surge of emotion welling up inside me.

Before he could reply, the visitation time ended. The call cut off automatically, and the phone was taken back by the guard.

Back in the cold, damp prison cell, I gripped the piece of paper with the number I never got to dial. My mind was already spinning—the next move had to be flawless.

Determined to earn another visitation opportunity, I decided to fully cooperate and maintain model behavior for the next few days.

That night, I lay in bed early, memories flooding my mind like a broken dam.

I thought about everything between me and Derek.

We met in our teens. I'd fallen for him at first sight. After months of pursuing him, we naturally became a couple—like fate itself had drawn us together.

On a warm summer day, he threw a surprise party. In front of all our friends and family, he knelt on one knee with flowers and a ring, vowing his future to me. We married on my 20th birthday.

"Ariel, you'll always be my one and only. I can't live without you."

"Ariel, hold on a little longer. I'm almost at the hospital. You and the baby must be okay!"

"Ariel, Cody's crying again. Can you look after him? I'm heading out."

"Take the kid away. Don't embarrass me in front of my drinking buddies!"

His words echoed like a tangled web in my head, each memory pulling me deeper into heartache. Sweat broke out on my forehead.

"Ariella! Wake up!"

The warden’s shout blared from the loudspeaker, yanking me from my restless sleep. I wiped the cold sweat from my brow and started another grueling day.

Even though I hadn’t been here long, some of the older women in the cell already couldn’t stand me. When I worked seriously, they’d mess with me on purpose. During meals, they’d dump their leftover scraps into my bowl. Before bed, they’d drench my mattress with urine.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I stormed over and yelled at them in fury.

But they didn’t back down—in fact, it fired them up. One of them suddenly slapped me hard across the face, knocking me to the floor.

"You filthy bitch! How dare you show your face here? I’ll rip your mouth apart!"

I was quickly overwhelmed. One against many—I had no chance. They pinned me down and began beating me mercilessly, delivering brutal kicks straight to my stomach.

Blood quickly filled my mouth. A searing pain tore through my abdomen, and a gush of warm amniotic fluid soaked down my legs.

Only when they’d finally vented their rage did they stop. One of them gagged me, tied my hands and feet, and tossed me back onto my bed like a broken doll.

Before I could even sit up, I was slammed hard onto the floor again. Dazed, I looked up and saw the ringleader—an older woman—counting money and handing out bills to the others. The payout wasn't small.

“Thanks, sisters. Easy work, right? Fast cash, too.”

I couldn’t speak, but my eyes burned with fury as I glared at them from the corner—hatred etched deep in my bones.

Still bound and gagged, I endured hours of excruciating pain before finally blacking out. It wasn’t until the next day that the warden found me—face pale, lips bloodless—and rushed me to the infirmary.

When I woke up, the doctor gave me the news. The baby was gone.

The women who attacked me all stuck to the same story. With no witnesses and no solid evidence, the incident was swept under the rug with nothing more than a verbal warning.

I said nothing—but in my heart, I knew exactly who had orchestrated this. I knew who saw me as an enemy worth eliminating at all costs.

...

When the news broke that I had been badly injured and lost the baby, Jade closed her phone with glee and burst into laughter.

"What's got you in such a good mood this early, babe?" Derek lazily wrapped his arms around her from behind.

Riding the height of her victory, Jade cheerfully suggested they go out for drinks and have fun. Derek, ever the obedient fool, readily agreed. The two of them soon left the house.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the attic, Cody called out weakly for his father, but Derek didn't even flinch. After they drove off, the child, alone and starving, fainted from hunger.

Since Jade had moved in, she'd done nothing but indulge in pleasure with Derek, who catered to her every whim. He hadn't been to the office in days. No one in the house even remembered that Cody existed.

—

Back in the infirmary, I wept in silence. The warden, finally moved by my misery, granted me another visitation.

When my parents arrived and saw my pale face, frail body, and lifeless eyes, my mother instantly noticed the flatness of my stomach and burst into tears.

“My baby... who did this to you? I swear, I’ll tear Derek to pieces! That coward hides behind that vixen Jade while you suffer like this!”

My father, equally griefstricken, told me that he had gone looking for the accident victim to beg for forgiveness—but the man had already been transferred to another hospital. No one knew where he'd gone.

Long before my parents arrived, I'd managed to get hold of a phone and dialed that number. The voice on the other end was like a shot of adrenaline, completely calming my heavy heart.

As my parents raged on in my defense, I glanced calmly at the digital clock.

Seven days.

It had only been seven days since I entered this hell.

But very soon, everything was about to change.

"Mom, Dad... trust me. Karma is coming—and it won't be gentle."

They looked at me in confusion, thinking I must be delirious. After all, Derek seemed to be flying high. The Ortiz Group had just announced they would go public in three days.

I was about to explain when suddenly Leonel burst into the visitation room, soaked in sweat and panting heavily.

He took a deep breath and shouted, “Derek says he’s turning himself in!”

The room went still.

Leonel looked flustered. “He just called me—said he’s taking the evidence to the police and wants to confess that he was the one behind the wheel!”

My mother’s knees buckled, and she fell to the floor in disbelief.

I finally smiled triumphantly.

Still stunned, Leonel turned to me. “Say something—what’s going on here?”

Everyone looked at me with bated breath.

I stood tall, confidence glowing in my eyes.

"Confession? That's not enough. Karma doesn't come with just one slap—it comes with the full storm."

"And turning himself in? That’s just the beginning.”

The Reed family never lets things go. Their precious son was critically injured. I didn’t even have to lift a finger—they’ll handle Derek for me.

Everything was going exactly as planned.

And the real show was only just the beginning.