Chapter 2

Ever since we married, Nancy had been sabotaging the Howard Group openly and in secret.

But Keith always managed to dismantle her schemes effortlessly, even turning every crisis into a win for the Howard Group, boosting its reputation and profits.

So, he figured this time would be just like all the others, and nothing would go wrong.

He thought he was the master of this game.

He didn't realize I'd been tired of all this for a long time.

I leaned my head against his chest, quietly listening to the beat of his heart.

When did Keith start to change?

He never used to be like this.

The first time Nancy launched a malicious attack against the Howard Group just for kicks, Keith completely lost it. He nearly pushed the Cooper family to the brink of bankruptcy.

That night, in a moment of despair, Nancy attempted suicide, cutting her wrists in the bathtub.

When Keith arrived, the water was already stained red with her blood.

With red, tear-filled eyes, he rushed her to the hospital and stayed by her side for an entire week, not leaving her for a moment.

When he returned home, he looked completely exhausted as he explained, "Shannon, you can't blame Nancy for everything this time. She's feeling really down.

"If I hadn't met you, her family and mine had planned for us to get married since we were little.

"She's always depended on me, and our marriage really hit her hard.

"You're my wife, so I hope you can cut her some slack from now on."

Thinking about it now, I was honestly pretty clueless back then. I actually fell for his weak excuses.

So for the past six years, I kept swallowing my pride and letting things slide, always trying to be the bigger person.

I thought if I kept this up, Keith would finally appreciate me, and Nancy would back off.

But the truth was, when Nancy said she wanted to see the blue ice caves in Aratland, Keith would drop everything, including our anniversary trip, and whisk her off in his private jet, flying halfway around the globe just for her.

Because she had a weak stomach, he'd spend the whole night driving from one end of the city to the other, just to hunt down that sandwich she was craving.

The most absurd part? When Nancy got scared of thunder, he ditched me, right after I'd lost our baby, and hopped on a red-eye to Traford just to keep her company.

Keith said, "Shannon, be good, okay? Try not to think too much about it.

"The doctor said you're fine now, but Nancy's by herself over there, and I can't help but worry about her."

I lost my baby, and my life became a slow, unending agony.

From that day on, I knew I'd never come out on top against Nancy.

I was just the trophy wife for the Reed family, there to reassure his relatives and the business world.

But Nancy was the one he doted on, the fragile "child" he always had to protect.

Later on, Nancy wasn't content with just messing with me emotionally. She turned her attacks toward the Howard Group.

For six whole years, she was busy wrecking things, while Keith played the hero, cleaning up her messes every single time.

To them, it was all just a game, and they didn't give a damn whether I lived or died.

At first, Keith felt bad about it.

But after it happened so many times, it just became normal for him, and he stopped caring.

He'd even get excited whenever Nancy came up with a new trick.

He'd even break it all down for me, walking me through Nancy's latest moves.

He'd say, "Nancy's shorting strategy was pretty slick this time. Too bad I blocked her just in time."

It was almost like he was showing off, or was flirting with Nancy.

If I told Keith that Nancy had messed with the contract this time, he would definitely step in and sort everything out for me.

But he'd just think Nancy had gotten even cleverer.

And I'd still be the helpless wife who couldn't do anything without him swooping in to rescue me.

Honestly, I was just so done with all of it.

Six years of this back-and-forth had worn me down to the bone.

I didn't want to be part of their endless cat-and-mouse chase anymore.

If Nancy wanted to wreck the thing I cared about most, then let her go ahead and do it.

If Keith wanted to play the savior, let him have at it.

I wanted to see if this financial genius would still smile when the day came and that contract, the one that'd destroy him for good, finally kicked in.

I thought my heart was already numb and hollow, just waiting for that do-or-die contract to take effect and bring everyone down with me.

I was just waiting to see how the proud faces of Keith and Nancy would contort in agony when the liquidation began.

However, three days later, an all-too-familiar wave of nausea washed over me.

I went to the hospital.

The cold ultrasound probe was lifted from my abdomen.

The doctor smiled. "Mrs. Reed, congratulations! You're about eight weeks along.

"After what your body went through with the miscarriage, I didn't think you'd be able to get pregnant again. This is really a miracle."

I clutched the test results, and for the first time in ages, a flicker of panic broke through my numb eyes.

Just when I'd decided to drag everyone down with me, my baby arrived.

It felt like the child Nancy killed five years ago had finally returned.

Without thinking, I placed my hand on my belly.