Chapter 2

After washing the clothes, I stayed awake through the night, yet I felt no exhaustion.

Staring at the gray sky beyond the high walls of the estate, the memories of my five years of marriage flashed through my mind like scenes from an old film.

In the beginning, I was the Mrs. Mercer that everyone in Washington, D.C. envied.

People used to say that Adrian and I, having grown up in the same circles, were Washington's golden couple.

Until three years ago.

Adrian had just returned from the front lines of an overseas Joint Task Force deployment. He looked like a man who had walked straight out of hell—eyes bloodshot, radiating a murderous rage he couldn't suppress.

He pulled out his military-grade folding knife, the tip stopping mere inches from my neck, his voice hoarse.

"You knew she was dying, Maris. You knew, and you kept it from me."

"Just so you wouldn't ruin your precious Department of Defense Commendation Gala? You stole my last chance to see her."

"We are done. You are nothing to me."

During the struggle that night, the blade sliced a shallow cut across my neck.

Ivy took photos of the wound and saved the estate's security logs.

Since then, my marriage to Adrian existed in name only.

I fell from being the most envied woman in D.C. to the dirt beneath everyone's shoes.

Adrian, who had never once been touched by scandal, stopped bringing me to public events.

Instead, he frequently paraded different women through exclusive members-only lounges and private charity galas, eventually bringing them back to The Mercer Estate.

No one in our circle said it to my face, but everyone knew.

I became the punchline in charity circle gossip, the abandoned Mrs. Mercer in the media's tabloids.

I took a deep breath.

It was time to make things clear.

I picked up the clothes I had washed last night and walked toward Adrian's room.

Just as I reached the door, I heard his voice from inside, a mix of shock and elation.

"What? You're saying Talia is pregnant? But she was bleeding this morning—"

The Mercer family's private physician replied:

"Adrian, the blood work confirms it. Spotting is perfectly normal in early pregnancy. Congratulations."

I pressed my lips together, my hand subconsciously brushing against my own flat stomach. I said nothing.

Talia was a singer Adrian had picked up from an exclusive members-only lounge.

Rumor had it she came from a good family that had fallen on hard times, forcing her to make a living in the nightlife scene.

She had been at the estate for barely a month and a half, and she was already pregnant.

My lips twitched into a bitter smile.

Adrian spent almost every night in her room. It wasn't exactly a surprise.

The door opened.

The doctor glanced at me, didn't even bother to greet me, and hurried away.

Immediately after, Talia's joyful voice drifted from the room.

"Adrian, I'm so lucky you found me. I'm going to give the Mercer family an heir. You'll finally have a baby of your own."

She paused, her tone sickeningly sweet.

"I can do what Maris couldn't."

As she spoke, Adrian walked out with his arm around her.

I lowered my eyes and held out the freshly washed clothes.

"The clothes are clean. We need to talk."

I wanted to tell him that three years ago, he said we were completely done.

The only reason I endured it until today was to secure my mother's treatment.

Now that she was gone, I didn't need to trade my dignity for her medication anymore.

It was time for me to leave.

But Adrian raised a hand, cutting me off.

He shoved me aside.

I hit the doorframe, a jolt of pain shooting through my body.

His gaze swept over my stomach, his disgust deepening.

"Talk about what? About how you purposely swallowed poison to kill our baby?"

His tone was cold and hard, laced with years of suppressed hatred.

I opened my mouth.

But I knew that no matter what I said, he wouldn't believe me.

I had explained it too many times.

It never mattered.

Chapter 2

After washing the clothes, I stayed awake through the night, yet I felt no exhaustion.

Staring at the gray sky beyond the high walls of the estate, the memories of my five years of marriage flashed through my mind like scenes from an old film.

In the beginning, I was the Mrs. Mercer that everyone in Washington, D.C. envied.

People used to say that Adrian and I, having grown up in the same circles, were Washington's golden couple.

Until three years ago.

He pulled out his military-grade folding knife, the tip stopping mere inches from my neck, his voice hoarse.

"You knew she was dying, Maris. You knew, and you kept it from me."

"Just so you wouldn't ruin your precious Department of Defense Commendation Gala? You stole my last chance to see her."

"We are done. You are nothing to me."

During the struggle that night, the blade sliced a shallow cut across my neck.

Ivy took photos of the wound and saved the estate's security logs.

Since then, my marriage to Adrian existed in name only.

I fell from being the most envied woman in D.C. to the dirt beneath everyone's shoes.

Adrian, who had never once been touched by scandal, stopped bringing me to public events.

Instead, he frequently paraded different women through exclusive members-only lounges and private charity galas, eventually bringing them back to The Mercer Estate.

No one in our circle said it to my face, but everyone knew.

I became the punchline in charity circle gossip, the abandoned Mrs. Mercer in the media's tabloids.

I took a deep breath.

It was time to make things clear.

I picked up the clothes I had washed last night and walked toward Adrian's room.

Just as I reached the door, I heard his voice from inside, a mix of shock and elation.

"What? You're saying Talia is pregnant? But she was bleeding this morning—"

The Mercer family's private physician replied:

"Adrian, the blood work confirms it. Spotting is perfectly normal in early pregnancy. Congratulations."

I pressed my lips together, my hand subconsciously brushing against my own flat stomach. I said nothing.

Talia was a singer Adrian had picked up from an exclusive members-only lounge.

Rumor had it she came from a good family that had fallen on hard times, forcing her to make a living in the nightlife scene.

She had been at the estate for barely a month and a half, and she was already pregnant.

My lips twitched into a bitter smile.

Adrian spent almost every night in her room. It wasn't exactly a surprise.

The door opened.

The doctor glanced at me, didn't even bother to greet me, and hurried away.

Immediately after, Talia's joyful voice drifted from the room.

"Adrian, I'm so lucky you found me. I'm going to give the Mercer family an heir. You'll finally have a baby of your own."

She paused, her tone sickeningly sweet.

"I can do what Maris couldn't."

As she spoke, Adrian walked out with his arm around her.

I lowered my eyes and held out the freshly washed clothes.

"The clothes are clean. We need to talk."

I wanted to tell him that three years ago, he said we were completely done.

The only reason I endured it until today was to secure my mother's treatment.

Now that she was gone, I didn't need to trade my dignity for her medication anymore.

It was time for me to leave.

But Adrian raised a hand, cutting me off.

He shoved me aside.

I hit the doorframe, a jolt of pain shooting through my body.

His gaze swept over my stomach, his disgust deepening.

"Talk about what? About how you purposely swallowed poison to kill our baby?"

His tone was cold and hard, laced with years of suppressed hatred.

I opened my mouth.

But I knew that no matter what I said, he wouldn't believe me.

I had explained it too many times.

It never mattered.