Audrey Sinclair had news. The kind that should have been celebrated. But before she could tell her husband she was pregnant, he gave her news of his own. "She's back." Joaquin Judd's first love had returned—terminally ill, fragile, and demanding every ounce of his attention. He forgot he was a married man. He spent nights at her bedside, whispered reassurances to her, and offered Audrey nothing but silence and cold shoulders. So she swallowed her secret. She swallowed her pride. And she asked for a divorce. "For what?" Joaquin's voice was sharp, dismissive. "Because I'm caring for a dying woman? What are you even competing for?" That was the moment Audrey stopped competing. She signed the papers. She packed her bags. And she walked toward an airport gate with a belly he had never once bothered to notice. Then it hit him. He shut down the city, every road, every exit, every flight. He found her at the gate—breathless, desperate, knees hitting the cold floor. His hand locked around hers, not letting go. His voice cracked. "I... I just realized... I don't think I can lose you." But Audrey only looked at him with eyes that had already finished grieving. He had realized something—that the moment he chose another woman over his pregnant wife was the moment he had already lost her.

Chapter 1Audrey Sinclair was pregnant. Walking out of the hospital, her hands trembled as she dialed her husband's number."Joaquin..." Clenching the ultrasound results, her palms were slick with sweat. "I... I need to talk to you."There was a heavy pause on the other end before a chillingly smooth voice replied. "Good timing. I need to talk to you, too. I'll be home at seven."Then the line went dead.Listening to the dial tone, Audrey felt a sharp twinge in her chest. For some reason, Joaquin sounded colder than usual today.She took a deep breath, patting her cheeks to shake off the anxiety. He was the CEO of Silveridge City's largest multinational corporation; he had a lot on his plate. His tone probably wasn't directed at her.By seven o'clock, Audrey sat at the dining table, staring at a lavish spread of his favorite dishes. She had cooked everything from scratch, hoping to lift his spirits.But to her surprise, the famously punctual Joaquin Judd was late.At eight, the front door finally clicked open. The imposing man strode in, shedding his trench coat and handing it to the maid without a glance.Audrey immediately stood up, offering a warm smile. "What kept you?""Got held up." Joaquin Judd walked over with a folder in his hand and sat at the head of the table, crossing his long legs with effortless, aristocratic grace."You had something to tell me?" He didn't even pick up his fork. His fathomless eyes locked onto her, his voice devoid of warmth. "Go ahead."The suffocatingly cold atmosphere made Audrey’s throat tighten. The news of the baby suddenly felt impossible to say. She forced a strained smile. "Why don't... why don't you go first?"Joaquin was silent for a moment before he delivered the blow. "Rainey is back."Those three words plunged Audrey into an ice bath.Rainey Sinclair was her cousin. She and Joaquin were childhood sweethearts, practically raised together.A year ago, Rainey was the one supposed to marry him. But on the eve of the wedding, she vanished without a trace. To save the Judd and Sinclair families from total humiliation, the Sinclairs tracked Audrey down in her rural hometown and forced her to take Rainey’s place at the altar.Audrey always knew Joaquin didn't love her. She knew that if Rainey ever returned, she'd be expected to step aside. She just never expected that day to come so soon.Hiding her trembling hands in her pockets, she crushed the pregnancy results into a tight ball. "So..." She glanced at the folder next to his hand, her voice shaking. "Is that... a divorce agreement?""No." His tone remained flat and detached. "I have no immediate plans for a divorce."Audrey let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. But the relief was short-lived. 'No immediate plans' meant it was still inevitable.Fighting the ache in her chest, she swallowed hard. "Then what is that?""Rainey explained everything to me. She ran away because she thought she had a terminal illness and didn't want to drag me down. She isn't back to rekindle our relationship."He slid the folder across the table toward her. "She needs your help."Audrey hesitated before looking down at the document. It was a bone marrow compatibility report. And it stated that her bone marrow was a perfect match for Rainey.Staring at the medical jargon, her heart violently contracted! She didn't remember ever taking a bone marrow test.Unless...Biting back the pain, she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "Two months ago, when you had your assistant take me for a full health checkup... it was actually for a bone marrow match. Wasn't it?"Joaquin gave a curt nod. "Yes. I didn't tell you beforehand because Rainey's return had to be kept strictly confidential."Every word he spoke felt like an ice pick to her heart. That checkup had been the first time in their year-long marriage that he had shown any concern for her well-being. She had been overjoyed, foolishly believing their relationship was finally turning a corner.Looking back, it was both pathetic and hilarious. The affection she thought they were building was just him secretly hunting for a donor for the love of his life...Audrey lifted her chin, her gaze cutting across the extravagant dinner she had spent hours preparing, and met his eyes with unwavering resolve. "I won't do it."As she spoke, her hand instinctively moved to rest protectively over her flat stomach. This little life was only two months old. She couldn't risk it.Clearly not expecting a refusal, Joaquin frowned. "I will hire the best medical team in the world. You’ll receive top-tier aftercare, and it won't impact your health long-term. Rainey is out of time."Audrey stared at him with quiet, unyielding defiance. After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Joaquin, I'm pregnant."The dining room fell dead silent before Joaquin's mocking voice sliced through the air. "You really will make up any lie just to avoid helping her, won't you? We've used protection every single time since we got married. How exactly did you get pregnant?"Audrey's face froze, and a bitter smile touched her lips.Two months ago, on the night of that 'health checkup,' he had unexpectedly bought her a massive bouquet of red roses and drank heavily.That night had been wild. When she reminded him to use protection, he had simply kissed her earlobe and whispered, "Tonight, I don't want any distance between us."She had been so drunk on happiness, believing the flowers, the checkup, and his passionate attention meant he was finally falling for her.Now, the truth was glaringly obvious. His erratic behavior was simply because Rainey had returned. Only Rainey had the power to make a notoriously cold, self-disciplined billionaire lose control to the point where he couldn't even remember what he did while drunk.Taking her silence as guilt, Joaquin doubled down on his assumption. She was just lying to get out of the surgery."Audrey." He frowned, his tone turning businesslike. "I know you and your cousin aren't close."He pulled out an exclusive black card and tossed it onto the table. "There's ten million dollars on this card. Consider it your compensation."Audrey lowered her eyes to the gleaming gold 'J' embossed on the card, her bitter smile deepening.Over the past year, every dime of allowance and every gift he had ever given her barely added up to a million. Yet, for the woman he truly loved, he casually dropped ten million without batting an eye."If you have any other conditions, name them." Seeing her remain silent, Joaquin continued, "As long as you agree to the transplant, I will accommodate you."Audrey looked up at him, suddenly feeling like she was staring at a stranger. His detached, calculating demeanor made it feel like they were merely negotiating a corporate merger. The entire year of waking up next to him, the fleeting moments of tenderness—it had all been a delusion.But the baby growing inside her was very real.Closing her eyes, she swallowed the lump in her throat. When she opened them again, her gaze was filled with a hardened resolve. "Whatever you want to think of me, go ahead. I am not donating my bone marrow."As his brow furrowed in irritation, she met his stare with unflinching absolute finality. "If you think I'm being selfish and heartless, then we can get a divorce."The title of Mrs. Judd was never meant to be hers anyway, and he clearly didn't have an ounce of love for her. The only thing that truly belonged to her was this baby. She absolutely refused to risk her child's life for someone she couldn't care less about.A suffocating silence blanketed the room.A strange, unsettling feeling washed over Joaquin—a sudden realization that something was slipping out of his control.For an entire year, Audrey had been quiet, agreeable, and endlessly sweet. Whatever he asked of her, she accepted with a gentle smile. But tonight, she was like a cornered animal baring its teeth, refusing him, rejecting his money, and even demanding a divorce...Suddenly, the sharp ring of his phone shattered the tension.The moment he answered, his voice and eyes softened instantly. "What's wrong, Rainey?"The house was so quiet that even without speakerphone, Audrey could hear every word of Rainey's tearful, panicked voice."It hurts so much..." Rainey sobbed. "Joaquin, I was trying to get out of bed, and I accidentally hit my hand on the bedframe. The IV needle got ripped out, and there's so much blood... Am I going to die tonight?""I'm on my way." Joaquin stood up immediately, murmuring soothing words into the phone as he strode toward the foyer.At the door, he paused and glanced back at Audrey, who was still sitting frozen at the table. "Marriage isn't something you can just throw away because you're throwing a temper tantrum. I'll pretend you never said anything about a divorce tonight. Think carefully about the transplant.""I'll be home late. Go to sleep."With that, he walked out without looking back.The heavy door slammed shut with a definitive thud. Audrey felt her heart shatter into pieces right along with it. She closed her eyes, gently resting her hands over her stomach. "Don't worry, baby. Mommy is going to protect you."Since Joaquin had made his choice, she was done choosing him.A torrential downpour battered the windows that night. Audrey tossed and turned, unable to sleep as memories of her year with Joaquin flashed behind her eyes.Their grandfathers had been close friends, so the families visited often. She had actually known Joaquin since she was little.Even at eight years old, Joaquin had been an old soul—always dressed in custom miniature suits, aloof, and completely uninterested in childish games.But five-year-old Audrey would relentlessly follow him around, begging for his attention. Ever the gentleman, Joaquin would patiently tolerate her presence and look out for her.Once, she was playing too close to a lake and fell in. It was Joaquin who dove into the freezing water to drag her out, giving her CPR until she coughed up water. When Audrey opened her eyes, she thought she was looking at an angel.Later, her parents died in a car crash, leaving her as an unwanted burden to the Sinclair family. Sent away to live with her grandparents in a rural town, she never returned to Silveridge City, and never saw Joaquin again. That is, until a year ago, when her uncle Arthur Sinclair showed up at her grandparents' rustic wooden house in the dead of night.Everyone in high society whispered that she only married Joaquin to escape her pathetic, impoverished life and claw her way into wealth. But only she knew how violently her heart had pounded that night when she heard she was going to be his wife.Yet, she had always known this was just a beautiful dream granted by God.And now, it was time to wake up.Outside, the storm raged with thunder and lightning. Tucked under her covers, her turbulent emotions slowly began to settle....The next morning, Audrey was jolted awake by her ringing phone. Still half-asleep, she answered, only to be met with her mother-in-law Fiona's shrill, disgusted voice. "Do you have any idea what time it is? How are you still in bed? How did the Judd family end up with such a lazy, useless brat?"Audrey had endured this toxic, bitter nagging for a solid year. She always took it in silence. Not because she was a pushover, but because she didn't want to put Joaquin in a difficult position. She knew how stressful his life as a CEO was and wanted to spare him any family drama.But today, she was utterly done playing the punching bag.Fiona was still ranting. "If we hadn't been in a state of emergency a year ago with no other options, I would never have let Joaquin marry you! You are completely beneath my son—""I agree I'm beneath him, but a marriage takes two." Audrey took a deep breath and cut her off cleanly. "If you hate me and look down on me so much, you are more than welcome to convince your son to sign the divorce papers. Then he can go find someone on his level. He only married me out of necessity, and that crisis has passed, hasn't it?"Fiona was struck so dumb she literally couldn't speak. She couldn't believe her ears. Audrey—the timid, submissive girl who never talked back—was suddenly mouthing off to her?! Was she out of her mind?"Fiona, did you really call me at the crack of dawn just to complain? If you have this much free time, go talk to Joaquin about the divorce. I'm going back to sleep. Goodbye."Without waiting for a response, she ended the call.Listening to the dial tone, Fiona's eyes practically bulged out of her head. Not only did this brat dare to go back to sleep after being scolded, but she also called her 'Fiona' instead of 'Mom'?How dare she!Furious, she immediately dialed Joaquin."Has your wife lost her damn mind?!"The second he answered, Fiona unleashed her wrath. "I just called to wake her up, and she threw a massive tantrum! She even demanded that I convince you to divorce her! Is she on drugs?! Why is she acting so arrogant?!"Standing in the hospital corridor, watching the rain-washed emerald leaves outside the window, Joaquin felt a sudden, inexplicable surge of frustration. "Did Audrey... really say that?""Yes!" Fiona huffed. "Joaquin, I've begged you countless times over the last year to divorce her, and you always found some excuse to put it off. Now she's asking for it! I don't care what you're thinking, you need to divorce her immediately! Do you have any idea how many people in our circle secretly laugh at us for letting that country bumpkin into the family? You—""Mom." Joaquin frowned. "There was a massive thunderstorm last night. Audrey probably didn't sleep well because of the noise."He lifted his wrist, glancing at his absurdly expensive steel watch. "It's barely seven in the morning, and there's nothing important on her schedule today. Why did you even bother her?"As he spoke, he turned around and caught sight of a woman in a hospital gown standing in the doorway of a room.His eyes tightened. Lowering his voice, he spoke into the phone. "I have things to handle here. I'm hanging up."Pocketing his phone, he walked over to Rainey. "Why are you out of bed?"Looking deathly pale, Rainey gripped the doorframe and offered a weak, tragic smile. "I overheard... Fiona telling you that Audrey wants a divorce... Is she asking for a divorce because of me?"Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at him. "Joaquin... should I have stayed away?"Chapter 2Audrey Sinclair was pregnant. Walking out of the hospital, her hands trembled as she dialed her husband's number."Joaquin..." Clenching the ultrasound results, her palms were slick with sweat. "I... I need to talk to you."There was a heavy pause on the other end before a chillingly smooth voice replied. "Good timing. I need to talk to you, too. I'll be home at seven."Then the line went dead.Listening to the dial tone, Audrey felt a sharp twinge in her chest. For some reason, Joaquin sounded colder than usual today.She took a deep breath, patting her cheeks to shake off the anxiety. He was the CEO of Silveridge City's largest multinational corporation; he had a lot on his plate. His tone probably wasn't directed at her.By seven o'clock, Audrey sat at the dining table, staring at a lavish spread of his favorite dishes. She had cooked everything from scratch, hoping to lift his spirits.But to her surprise, the famously punctual Joaquin Judd was late.At eight, the front door finally clicked open. The imposing man strode in, shedding his trench coat and handing it to the maid without a glance.Audrey immediately stood up, offering a warm smile. "What kept you?""Got held up." Joaquin Judd walked over with a folder in his hand and sat at the head of the table, crossing his long legs with effortless, aristocratic grace."You had something to tell me?" He didn't even pick up his fork. His fathomless eyes locked onto her, his voice devoid of warmth. "Go ahead."The suffocatingly cold atmosphere made Audrey’s throat tighten. The news of the baby suddenly felt impossible to say. She forced a strained smile. "Why don't... why don't you go first?"Joaquin was silent for a moment before he delivered the blow. "Rainey is back."Those three words plunged Audrey into an ice bath.Rainey Sinclair was her cousin. She and Joaquin were childhood sweethearts, practically raised together.A year ago, Rainey was the one supposed to marry him. But on the eve of the wedding, she vanished without a trace. To save the Judd and Sinclair families from total humiliation, the Sinclairs tracked Audrey down in her rural hometown and forced her to take Rainey’s place at the altar.Audrey always knew Joaquin didn't love her. She knew that if Rainey ever returned, she'd be expected to step aside. She just never expected that day to come so soon.Hiding her trembling hands in her pockets, she crushed the pregnancy results into a tight ball. "So..." She glanced at the folder next to his hand, her voice shaking. "Is that... a divorce agreement?""No." His tone remained flat and detached. "I have no immediate plans for a divorce."Audrey let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. But the relief was short-lived. 'No immediate plans' meant it was still inevitable.Fighting the ache in her chest, she swallowed hard. "Then what is that?""Rainey explained everything to me. She ran away because she thought she had a terminal illness and didn't want to drag me down. She isn't back to rekindle our relationship."He slid the folder across the table toward her. "She needs your help."Audrey hesitated before looking down at the document. It was a bone marrow compatibility report. And it stated that her bone marrow was a perfect match for Rainey.Staring at the medical jargon, her heart violently contracted! She didn't remember ever taking a bone marrow test.Unless...Biting back the pain, she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "Two months ago, when you had your assistant take me for a full health checkup... it was actually for a bone marrow match. Wasn't it?"Joaquin gave a curt nod. "Yes. I didn't tell you beforehand because Rainey's return had to be kept strictly confidential."Every word he spoke felt like an ice pick to her heart. That checkup had been the first time in their year-long marriage that he had shown any concern for her well-being. She had been overjoyed, foolishly believing their relationship was finally turning a corner.Looking back, it was both pathetic and hilarious. The affection she thought they were building was just him secretly hunting for a donor for the love of his life...Audrey lifted her chin, her gaze cutting across the extravagant dinner she had spent hours preparing, and met his eyes with unwavering resolve. "I won't do it."As she spoke, her hand instinctively moved to rest protectively over her flat stomach. This little life was only two months old. She couldn't risk it.Clearly not expecting a refusal, Joaquin frowned. "I will hire the best medical team in the world. You’ll receive top-tier aftercare, and it won't impact your health long-term. Rainey is out of time."Audrey stared at him with quiet, unyielding defiance. After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Joaquin, I'm pregnant."The dining room fell dead silent before Joaquin's mocking voice sliced through the air. "You really will make up any lie just to avoid helping her, won't you? We've used protection every single time since we got married. How exactly did you get pregnant?"Audrey's face froze, and a bitter smile touched her lips.Two months ago, on the night of that 'health checkup,' he had unexpectedly bought her a massive bouquet of red roses and drank heavily.That night had been wild. When she reminded him to use protection, he had simply kissed her earlobe and whispered, "Tonight, I don't want any distance between us."She had been so drunk on happiness, believing the flowers, the checkup, and his passionate attention meant he was finally falling for her.Now, the truth was glaringly obvious. His erratic behavior was simply because Rainey had returned. Only Rainey had the power to make a notoriously cold, self-disciplined billionaire lose control to the point where he couldn't even remember what he did while drunk.Taking her silence as guilt, Joaquin doubled down on his assumption. She was just lying to get out of the surgery."Audrey." He frowned, his tone turning businesslike. "I know you and your cousin aren't close."He pulled out an exclusive black card and tossed it onto the table. "There's ten million dollars on this card. Consider it your compensation."Audrey lowered her eyes to the gleaming gold 'J' embossed on the card, her bitter smile deepening.Over the past year, every dime of allowance and every gift he had ever given her barely added up to a million. Yet, for the woman he truly loved, he casually dropped ten million without batting an eye."If you have any other conditions, name them." Seeing her remain silent, Joaquin continued, "As long as you agree to the transplant, I will accommodate you."Audrey looked up at him, suddenly feeling like she was staring at a stranger. His detached, calculating demeanor made it feel like they were merely negotiating a corporate merger. The entire year of waking up next to him, the fleeting moments of tenderness—it had all been a delusion.But the baby growing inside her was very real.Closing her eyes, she swallowed the lump in her throat. When she opened them again, her gaze was filled with a hardened resolve. "Whatever you want to think of me, go ahead. I am not donating my bone marrow."As his brow furrowed in irritation, she met his stare with unflinching absolute finality. "If you think I'm being selfish and heartless, then we can get a divorce."The title of Mrs. Judd was never meant to be hers anyway, and he clearly didn't have an ounce of love for her. The only thing that truly belonged to her was this baby. She absolutely refused to risk her child's life for someone she couldn't care less about.A suffocating silence blanketed the room.A strange, unsettling feeling washed over Joaquin—a sudden realization that something was slipping out of his control.For an entire year, Audrey had been quiet, agreeable, and endlessly sweet. Whatever he asked of her, she accepted with a gentle smile. But tonight, she was like a cornered animal baring its teeth, refusing him, rejecting his money, and even demanding a divorce...Suddenly, the sharp ring of his phone shattered the tension.The moment he answered, his voice and eyes softened instantly. "What's wrong, Rainey?"The house was so quiet that even without speakerphone, Audrey could hear every word of Rainey's tearful, panicked voice."It hurts so much..." Rainey sobbed. "Joaquin, I was trying to get out of bed, and I accidentally hit my hand on the bedframe. The IV needle got ripped out, and there's so much blood... Am I going to die tonight?""I'm on my way." Joaquin stood up immediately, murmuring soothing words into the phone as he strode toward the foyer.At the door, he paused and glanced back at Audrey, who was still sitting frozen at the table. "Marriage isn't something you can just throw away because you're throwing a temper tantrum. I'll pretend you never said anything about a divorce tonight. Think carefully about the transplant.""I'll be home late. Go to sleep."With that, he walked out without looking back.The heavy door slammed shut with a definitive thud. Audrey felt her heart shatter into pieces right along with it. She closed her eyes, gently resting her hands over her stomach. "Don't worry, baby. Mommy is going to protect you."Since Joaquin had made his choice, she was done choosing him.A torrential downpour battered the windows that night. Audrey tossed and turned, unable to sleep as memories of her year with Joaquin flashed behind her eyes.Their grandfathers had been close friends, so the families visited often. She had actually known Joaquin since she was little.Even at eight years old, Joaquin had been an old soul—always dressed in custom miniature suits, aloof, and completely uninterested in childish games.But five-year-old Audrey would relentlessly follow him around, begging for his attention. Ever the gentleman, Joaquin would patiently tolerate her presence and look out for her.Once, she was playing too close to a lake and fell in. It was Joaquin who dove into the freezing water to drag her out, giving her CPR until she coughed up water. When Audrey opened her eyes, she thought she was looking at an angel.Later, her parents died in a car crash, leaving her as an unwanted burden to the Sinclair family. Sent away to live with her grandparents in a rural town, she never returned to Silveridge City, and never saw Joaquin again. That is, until a year ago, when her uncle Arthur Sinclair showed up at her grandparents' rustic wooden house in the dead of night.Everyone in high society whispered that she only married Joaquin to escape her pathetic, impoverished life and claw her way into wealth. But only she knew how violently her heart had pounded that night when she heard she was going to be his wife.Yet, she had always known this was just a beautiful dream granted by God.And now, it was time to wake up.Outside, the storm raged with thunder and lightning. Tucked under her covers, her turbulent emotions slowly began to settle....The next morning, Audrey was jolted awake by her ringing phone. Still half-asleep, she answered, only to be met with her mother-in-law Fiona's shrill, disgusted voice. "Do you have any idea what time it is? How are you still in bed? How did the Judd family end up with such a lazy, useless brat?"Audrey had endured this toxic, bitter nagging for a solid year. She always took it in silence. Not because she was a pushover, but because she didn't want to put Joaquin in a difficult position. She knew how stressful his life as a CEO was and wanted to spare him any family drama.But today, she was utterly done playing the punching bag.Fiona was still ranting. "If we hadn't been in a state of emergency a year ago with no other options, I would never have let Joaquin marry you! You are completely beneath my son—""I agree I'm beneath him, but a marriage takes two." Audrey took a deep breath and cut her off cleanly. "If you hate me and look down on me so much, you are more than welcome to convince your son to sign the divorce papers. Then he can go find someone on his level. He only married me out of necessity, and that crisis has passed, hasn't it?"Fiona was struck so dumb she literally couldn't speak. She couldn't believe her ears. Audrey—the timid, submissive girl who never talked back—was suddenly mouthing off to her?! Was she out of her mind?"Fiona, did you really call me at the crack of dawn just to complain? If you have this much free time, go talk to Joaquin about the divorce. I'm going back to sleep. Goodbye."Without waiting for a response, she ended the call.Listening to the dial tone, Fiona's eyes practically bulged out of her head. Not only did this brat dare to go back to sleep after being scolded, but she also called her 'Fiona' instead of 'Mom'?How dare she!Furious, she immediately dialed Joaquin."Has your wife lost her damn mind?!"The second he answered, Fiona unleashed her wrath. "I just called to wake her up, and she threw a massive tantrum! She even demanded that I convince you to divorce her! Is she on drugs?! Why is she acting so arrogant?!"Standing in the hospital corridor, watching the rain-washed emerald leaves outside the window, Joaquin felt a sudden, inexplicable surge of frustration. "Did Audrey... really say that?""Yes!" Fiona huffed. "Joaquin, I've begged you countless times over the last year to divorce her, and you always found some excuse to put it off. Now she's asking for it! I don't care what you're thinking, you need to divorce her immediately! Do you have any idea how many people in our circle secretly laugh at us for letting that country bumpkin into the family? You—""Mom." Joaquin frowned. "There was a massive thunderstorm last night. Audrey probably didn't sleep well because of the noise."He lifted his wrist, glancing at his absurdly expensive steel watch. "It's barely seven in the morning, and there's nothing important on her schedule today. Why did you even bother her?"As he spoke, he turned around and caught sight of a woman in a hospital gown standing in the doorway of a room.His eyes tightened. Lowering his voice, he spoke into the phone. "I have things to handle here. I'm hanging up."Pocketing his phone, he walked over to Rainey. "Why are you out of bed?"Looking deathly pale, Rainey gripped the doorframe and offered a weak, tragic smile. "I overheard... Fiona telling you that Audrey wants a divorce... Is she asking for a divorce because of me?"Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at him. "Joaquin... should I have stayed away?"Chapter 3Audrey Sinclair was pregnant. Walking out of the hospital, her hands trembled as she dialed her husband's number."Joaquin..." Clenching the ultrasound results, her palms were slick with sweat. "I... I need to talk to you."There was a heavy pause on the other end before a chillingly smooth voice replied. "Good timing. I need to talk to you, too. I'll be home at seven."Then the line went dead.Listening to the dial tone, Audrey felt a sharp twinge in her chest. For some reason, Joaquin sounded colder than usual today.She took a deep breath, patting her cheeks to shake off the anxiety. He was the CEO of Silveridge City's largest multinational corporation; he had a lot on his plate. His tone probably wasn't directed at her.By seven o'clock, Audrey sat at the dining table, staring at a lavish spread of his favorite dishes. She had cooked everything from scratch, hoping to lift his spirits.But to her surprise, the famously punctual Joaquin Judd was late.At eight, the front door finally clicked open. The imposing man strode in, shedding his trench coat and handing it to the maid without a glance.Audrey immediately stood up, offering a warm smile. "What kept you?""Got held up." Joaquin Judd walked over with a folder in his hand and sat at the head of the table, crossing his long legs with effortless, aristocratic grace."You had something to tell me?" He didn't even pick up his fork. His fathomless eyes locked onto her, his voice devoid of warmth. "Go ahead."The suffocatingly cold atmosphere made Audrey’s throat tighten. The news of the baby suddenly felt impossible to say. She forced a strained smile. "Why don't... why don't you go first?"Joaquin was silent for a moment before he delivered the blow. "Rainey is back."Those three words plunged Audrey into an ice bath.Rainey Sinclair was her cousin. She and Joaquin were childhood sweethearts, practically raised together.A year ago, Rainey was the one supposed to marry him. But on the eve of the wedding, she vanished without a trace. To save the Judd and Sinclair families from total humiliation, the Sinclairs tracked Audrey down in her rural hometown and forced her to take Rainey’s place at the altar.Audrey always knew Joaquin didn't love her. She knew that if Rainey ever returned, she'd be expected to step aside. She just never expected that day to come so soon.Hiding her trembling hands in her pockets, she crushed the pregnancy results into a tight ball. "So..." She glanced at the folder next to his hand, her voice shaking. "Is that... a divorce agreement?""No." His tone remained flat and detached. "I have no immediate plans for a divorce."Audrey let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. But the relief was short-lived. 'No immediate plans' meant it was still inevitable.Fighting the ache in her chest, she swallowed hard. "Then what is that?""Rainey explained everything to me. She ran away because she thought she had a terminal illness and didn't want to drag me down. She isn't back to rekindle our relationship."He slid the folder across the table toward her. "She needs your help."Audrey hesitated before looking down at the document. It was a bone marrow compatibility report. And it stated that her bone marrow was a perfect match for Rainey.Staring at the medical jargon, her heart violently contracted! She didn't remember ever taking a bone marrow test.Unless...Biting back the pain, she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "Two months ago, when you had your assistant take me for a full health checkup... it was actually for a bone marrow match. Wasn't it?"Joaquin gave a curt nod. "Yes. I didn't tell you beforehand because Rainey's return had to be kept strictly confidential."Every word he spoke felt like an ice pick to her heart. That checkup had been the first time in their year-long marriage that he had shown any concern for her well-being. She had been overjoyed, foolishly believing their relationship was finally turning a corner.Looking back, it was both pathetic and hilarious. The affection she thought they were building was just him secretly hunting for a donor for the love of his life...Audrey lifted her chin, her gaze cutting across the extravagant dinner she had spent hours preparing, and met his eyes with unwavering resolve. "I won't do it."As she spoke, her hand instinctively moved to rest protectively over her flat stomach. This little life was only two months old. She couldn't risk it.Clearly not expecting a refusal, Joaquin frowned. "I will hire the best medical team in the world. You’ll receive top-tier aftercare, and it won't impact your health long-term. Rainey is out of time."Audrey stared at him with quiet, unyielding defiance. After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Joaquin, I'm pregnant."The dining room fell dead silent before Joaquin's mocking voice sliced through the air. "You really will make up any lie just to avoid helping her, won't you? We've used protection every single time since we got married. How exactly did you get pregnant?"Audrey's face froze, and a bitter smile touched her lips.Two months ago, on the night of that 'health checkup,' he had unexpectedly bought her a massive bouquet of red roses and drank heavily.That night had been wild. When she reminded him to use protection, he had simply kissed her earlobe and whispered, "Tonight, I don't want any distance between us."She had been so drunk on happiness, believing the flowers, the checkup, and his passionate attention meant he was finally falling for her.Now, the truth was glaringly obvious. His erratic behavior was simply because Rainey had returned. Only Rainey had the power to make a notoriously cold, self-disciplined billionaire lose control to the point where he couldn't even remember what he did while drunk.Taking her silence as guilt, Joaquin doubled down on his assumption. She was just lying to get out of the surgery."Audrey." He frowned, his tone turning businesslike. "I know you and your cousin aren't close."He pulled out an exclusive black card and tossed it onto the table. "There's ten million dollars on this card. Consider it your compensation."Audrey lowered her eyes to the gleaming gold 'J' embossed on the card, her bitter smile deepening.Over the past year, every dime of allowance and every gift he had ever given her barely added up to a million. Yet, for the woman he truly loved, he casually dropped ten million without batting an eye."If you have any other conditions, name them." Seeing her remain silent, Joaquin continued, "As long as you agree to the transplant, I will accommodate you."Audrey looked up at him, suddenly feeling like she was staring at a stranger. His detached, calculating demeanor made it feel like they were merely negotiating a corporate merger. The entire year of waking up next to him, the fleeting moments of tenderness—it had all been a delusion.But the baby growing inside her was very real.Closing her eyes, she swallowed the lump in her throat. When she opened them again, her gaze was filled with a hardened resolve. "Whatever you want to think of me, go ahead. I am not donating my bone marrow."As his brow furrowed in irritation, she met his stare with unflinching absolute finality. "If you think I'm being selfish and heartless, then we can get a divorce."The title of Mrs. Judd was never meant to be hers anyway, and he clearly didn't have an ounce of love for her. The only thing that truly belonged to her was this baby. She absolutely refused to risk her child's life for someone she couldn't care less about.A suffocating silence blanketed the room.A strange, unsettling feeling washed over Joaquin—a sudden realization that something was slipping out of his control.For an entire year, Audrey had been quiet, agreeable, and endlessly sweet. Whatever he asked of her, she accepted with a gentle smile. But tonight, she was like a cornered animal baring its teeth, refusing him, rejecting his money, and even demanding a divorce...Suddenly, the sharp ring of his phone shattered the tension.The moment he answered, his voice and eyes softened instantly. "What's wrong, Rainey?"The house was so quiet that even without speakerphone, Audrey could hear every word of Rainey's tearful, panicked voice."It hurts so much..." Rainey sobbed. "Joaquin, I was trying to get out of bed, and I accidentally hit my hand on the bedframe. The IV needle got ripped out, and there's so much blood... Am I going to die tonight?""I'm on my way." Joaquin stood up immediately, murmuring soothing words into the phone as he strode toward the foyer.At the door, he paused and glanced back at Audrey, who was still sitting frozen at the table. "Marriage isn't something you can just throw away because you're throwing a temper tantrum. I'll pretend you never said anything about a divorce tonight. Think carefully about the transplant.""I'll be home late. Go to sleep."With that, he walked out without looking back.The heavy door slammed shut with a definitive thud. Audrey felt her heart shatter into pieces right along with it. She closed her eyes, gently resting her hands over her stomach. "Don't worry, baby. Mommy is going to protect you."Since Joaquin had made his choice, she was done choosing him.A torrential downpour battered the windows that night. Audrey tossed and turned, unable to sleep as memories of her year with Joaquin flashed behind her eyes.Their grandfathers had been close friends, so the families visited often. She had actually known Joaquin since she was little.Even at eight years old, Joaquin had been an old soul—always dressed in custom miniature suits, aloof, and completely uninterested in childish games.But five-year-old Audrey would relentlessly follow him around, begging for his attention. Ever the gentleman, Joaquin would patiently tolerate her presence and look out for her.Once, she was playing too close to a lake and fell in. It was Joaquin who dove into the freezing water to drag her out, giving her CPR until she coughed up water. When Audrey opened her eyes, she thought she was looking at an angel.Later, her parents died in a car crash, leaving her as an unwanted burden to the Sinclair family. Sent away to live with her grandparents in a rural town, she never returned to Silveridge City, and never saw Joaquin again. That is, until a year ago, when her uncle Arthur Sinclair showed up at her grandparents' rustic wooden house in the dead of night.Everyone in high society whispered that she only married Joaquin to escape her pathetic, impoverished life and claw her way into wealth. But only she knew how violently her heart had pounded that night when she heard she was going to be his wife.Yet, she had always known this was just a beautiful dream granted by God.And now, it was time to wake up.Outside, the storm raged with thunder and lightning. Tucked under her covers, her turbulent emotions slowly began to settle....The next morning, Audrey was jolted awake by her ringing phone. Still half-asleep, she answered, only to be met with her mother-in-law Fiona's shrill, disgusted voice. "Do you have any idea what time it is? How are you still in bed? How did the Judd family end up with such a lazy, useless brat?"Audrey had endured this toxic, bitter nagging for a solid year. She always took it in silence. Not because she was a pushover, but because she didn't want to put Joaquin in a difficult position. She knew how stressful his life as a CEO was and wanted to spare him any family drama.But today, she was utterly done playing the punching bag.Fiona was still ranting. "If we hadn't been in a state of emergency a year ago with no other options, I would never have let Joaquin marry you! You are completely beneath my son—""I agree I'm beneath him, but a marriage takes two." Audrey took a deep breath and cut her off cleanly. "If you hate me and look down on me so much, you are more than welcome to convince your son to sign the divorce papers. Then he can go find someone on his level. He only married me out of necessity, and that crisis has passed, hasn't it?"Fiona was struck so dumb she literally couldn't speak. She couldn't believe her ears. Audrey—the timid, submissive girl who never talked back—was suddenly mouthing off to her?! Was she out of her mind?"Fiona, did you really call me at the crack of dawn just to complain? If you have this much free time, go talk to Joaquin about the divorce. I'm going back to sleep. Goodbye."Without waiting for a response, she ended the call.Listening to the dial tone, Fiona's eyes practically bulged out of her head. Not only did this brat dare to go back to sleep after being scolded, but she also called her 'Fiona' instead of 'Mom'?How dare she!Furious, she immediately dialed Joaquin."Has your wife lost her damn mind?!"The second he answered, Fiona unleashed her wrath. "I just called to wake her up, and she threw a massive tantrum! She even demanded that I convince you to divorce her! Is she on drugs?! Why is she acting so arrogant?!"Standing in the hospital corridor, watching the rain-washed emerald leaves outside the window, Joaquin felt a sudden, inexplicable surge of frustration. "Did Audrey... really say that?""Yes!" Fiona huffed. "Joaquin, I've begged you countless times over the last year to divorce her, and you always found some excuse to put it off. Now she's asking for it! I don't care what you're thinking, you need to divorce her immediately! Do you have any idea how many people in our circle secretly laugh at us for letting that country bumpkin into the family? You—""Mom." Joaquin frowned. "There was a massive thunderstorm last night. Audrey probably didn't sleep well because of the noise."He lifted his wrist, glancing at his absurdly expensive steel watch. "It's barely seven in the morning, and there's nothing important on her schedule today. Why did you even bother her?"As he spoke, he turned around and caught sight of a woman in a hospital gown standing in the doorway of a room.His eyes tightened. Lowering his voice, he spoke into the phone. "I have things to handle here. I'm hanging up."Pocketing his phone, he walked over to Rainey. "Why are you out of bed?"Looking deathly pale, Rainey gripped the doorframe and offered a weak, tragic smile. "I overheard... Fiona telling you that Audrey wants a divorce... Is she asking for a divorce because of me?"Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at him. "Joaquin... should I have stayed away?"