Chapter 2

My mom's voice was sharp and grating, kept hammering at my heart, making my chest tighten and chills run down my spine. I could barely breathe.

"Vera! You worthless animal! How dare you smear your sister's name? You've really crossed the line this time.

"I'm giving you one last chance to say what you're supposed to, or you can go back to your orphanage and see what it's like to be homeless!

"And don't forget, give me back the heart before you leave!"

My face was burning, but I met my mom's gaze head-on.

She stood there with her arms crossed, radiating confidence and certainty. She thought I'd cave when faced with life and death, but this time, she was dead wrong.

Just moving my lips made the burning pain in my face flare up.

But I still spoke up, my voice steady. "Go ahead, take my life if that's what you want. I did nothing wrong."

My words left Margaret Wade stunned. She lifted her hand to slap me again, but Mr. Lawson cut her off.

Mr. Lawson snorted dismissively.

"We've always dealt directly with Vera in our business with your company. We know exactly who she is, so stop trying to pin this on her.

"Tomorrow, I want Vivian in front of me. If she's not, I'll turn into your worst enemy. Maybe I can't destroy Wade Corporation, but I can drag your finances back to where they were twenty years ago," he said.

With that, he walked out without a backward glance.

Mr. Lawson spent most of his life overseas, and only came back to retire when he got older.

He had thought Vera was such a good kid, and that her sister must be just as decent, so he set up the engagement for his son. But he never expected it to end up like this.

Margaret hurried after him, her voice fading into the distance as she kept apologizing.

But suddenly, she was back.

She was clutching her phone, muttering curses. "Jason! Did you seriously not warn that wretched Vera before you left? She absolutely refused to apologize, and now Mr. Lawson is furious. He wants Vivian to come back and clear things up."

Vivian was sobbing on the other end of the line.

"I'm not going back! I finally made it to the polar region, and I can see the aurora. I'm not leaving now. Jason, you have to help me," she said.

"Okay, I'll help you out. I promised I'd make you happy, and I never break my promises," Jason replied.

His voice was soft, almost too soft to be real, then it suddenly turned cold.

"Vera, listen up. Go apologize right now! Just deal with it and make this go away," he ordered.

I tried to speak, but my voice cracked with emotion. "Jason, do you know where I am right now?"

Jason answered, "At the hospital." He sounded so indifferent, like he couldn't care less.

"Isn't this what you always do? Work yourself until you collapse, just to prove yourself and take over the company that was supposed to be Vivian's.

"Vivian never cared about power like you do, she gave it all to you. All she wants is to be happy, and making her happy is your job. So go apologize to Mr. Lawson," he continued.

She never cared about power like me.

I laughed, even as tears rolled down my cheeks.

I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white.

Turned out, that was how he saw me.

All those nights spent burning the midnight oil, handling one mess after another, he thought I was just pretending, trying to seize control.

I took a deep breath to calm myself and tried to explain, "I didn't end up in the hospital because I was overworked. It's actually because..."

"Whatever the reason," Jason cut me off. "Just go apologize. You've already killed my vibe. I'm blocking you for a few days so I can have fun with Vivian."

He cut me off before I could say anything, and honestly, I just didn't want to bring up the pregnancy anymore.

Something inside me finally broke.

I turned to Jason and said, "Let's get a divorce."