Chapter 3

I turned down Spencer's offer to have the driver take me and instead took a taxi to the hospital myself.

When I reached the obstetrics department, I bluntly asked the doctor to perform an abortion.

The doctor looked at me with surprise. "Mrs. Marshall, you've endured so much to have this baby. Are you truly certain you want an abortion?"

He continued, "Given your physical condition, if you terminate this pregnancy, it's highly likely you will never be able to conceive again."

His dissuasion couldn't shake my resolve. I answered firmly, "Yes, I'm sure. I don't want this child."

Luckily, I was less than a month pregnant. The procedure was quick, and I was able to walk within hours.

On my way to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription, I ran into Kiara.

She walked over with a smile. "Are you here for a prenatal checkup?"

She added with a smile, "Spencer and I just had lunch. I told him my heart was feeling off, so he came with me to get it checked out."

I could tell she was trying to get under my skin. I kept a straight face and tried to walk past her.

But Kiara raised her arm, blocking my way.

Kiara smirked. "You heard me talking to Spencer in the office that day, didn't you? Celeste, your heart—it's beating so vividly inside my chest.

"You know, most people with an artificial heart barely live a few years, but you somehow managed to get pregnant. Guess you've got more luck than brains."

I froze—so she knew I had been standing outside the office that day.

She had said all those things on purpose, just to mess with me.

I clenched my fists, staring down at Kiara, her face oozing smug satisfaction.

With fury in my voice, I said, "You stole my heart—literally. Don't think I'll just let you get away with it."

Kiara scoffed. "You're an orphan. No one would have cared if you died. The fact that I could use your heart means your life had at least a sliver of value."

She added, "If it weren't for your heart in me, why would Spencer marry you and treat you so well? Face it—you owe it all to me."

Her eyes were burning with envy and hatred.

Kiara was born with a heart defect, so the Marshall family made it crystal clear—Spencer wasn't allowed to be with her, no matter what.

They went as far as to warn him that if he married Kiara, he'd be kicked out as heir and lose Marshall Group for good.

That was the real reason Spencer chose to propose to me.

I was just an orphan with nobody to rely on, barely scraping by until the Marshall family decided to sponsor me and put me through school.

Spencer was always telling me how much he loved my kindness, my grit when things got tough, and, of course, how pretty I was.

I used to laugh when he said stuff like that, but I had mistakenly believed he was sincere.

I shot back, "If you're so blessed, why not kick me out and become Spencer's wife yourself? Using my heart, yet you're still just Spencer's mistress."

I knew Kiara's weakness—she could never be Spencer's wife, no matter what. So I retorted to her.

Kiara, burning with embarrassment and rage, smacked me across the face so hard my head almost spun.

It seemed her body had recovered well—her slap came with serious force.

Dizzy and fragile, I gripped the wall, barely managing to keep myself from crumpling to the floor.

Kiara spat, "You bitch, you really know how to play the game. If I'd just finished you off that day instead of just making you miscarry, Spencer wouldn't feel so guilty about you now."

She sneered, "And now you've got the nerve to get pregnant again, using that baby to keep him wrapped around your finger. You really know how to work a man, don't you?"

Just as I was about to speak, Kiara's face changed dramatically.

Panic washed over her, and without warning, she dropped to her knees right in front of me.

Kiara cried out, "Celeste, please—I swear I never wanted to come between you and Spencer.

"I just had a sudden episode today, and Spencer brought me to the hospital because he was worried, that's all."

Kiara was shaking all over, tears rolling down her cheeks, switching from rage to pitiful in the blink of an eye.

Just then, Spencer's furious voice rang out from behind me. "Celeste, what the hell are you trying to do to Kiara?"

He yanked me back so hard that I slammed into the wall. My vision went white, and cold sweat broke out all over my body.

Kiara clutched her chest dramatically, acting like she was about to faint as she sobbed pitifully in Spencer's arms.

Kiara choked out between sobs, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked Spencer to bring me here today. I didn't mean to upset you, Celeste."

Then she looked up pitifully, "Spencer, don't blame Celeste. She's right to call me out. Someone like me shouldn't even be alive."

Spencer spun toward me, his eyes blazing, and shouted, "Celeste, don't think your pregnancy gives you a free pass to behave like this."

He snapped, "I must've spoiled you too much. She's struggling with a heart condition, and you still go after her like this?"

It was the first time Spencer had ever yelled at me like that. Sweat was trickling down my forehead.

Determined not to show any weakness, I mustered what little strength I had and snapped back, "And what about my heart? Did you forget I'm sick too?"

For a moment, Spencer was stunned into silence, guilt flickering across his face.

Kiara whimpered pitifully in Spencer's arms, and without another word, he picked her up and carried her away.

He gave me a hard look and warned, "If anything happens to Kiara, I won't let you off easy."

Then he walked away without looking back, holding Kiara.

Kiara peeked out from his arms, giving me a smug, victorious smile.