In her dream, Begonia lost nine children. The ninth time, she was eight months pregnant when her husband Sigurd forced her into an operating room and took the baby from her womb. She died holding the premature child in her arms. His final words echoed through the void: "Scatter her ashes as far away as possible." She woke up gasping. Same room. Same bed. Same cold husband standing beside her, demanding she go through another round of IVF. But now she knew the truth. This wasn't love. This wasn't redemption. This was a carefully constructed cage—and it would end with her in a grave. So Begonia made a choice. She would do whatever it took to change her fate. The most dangerous man in the city was also the one person her husband couldn't touch: Sigurd's older brother, Cyrus—cold, untouchable, and completely immune to her fumbling attempts at seduction. She tried everything. He didn't blink. She was about to look elsewhere for help when Cyrus trapped her against a window, his voice low and sharp, "You came for me. You don't get to walk away now." Begonia had come to him for survival. She never expected him to be the one who taught her what love actually looked like.

Chapter 1In the hospital, Begonia Somerled supported her eight-month pregnant belly, lying on the ultrasound bed with extreme caution.This was her ninth round of IVF in three years.The previous eight attempts had all ended in miscarriage for one reason or another. Chemical pregnancies, car accidents, falling down the stairs, accidentally ingesting the wrong medication, inexplicable hemorrhaging...The shortest pregnancy lasted only until the day she tested positive. The longest lasted just over four months—the day she felt her baby kick for the first time.She had allowed herself to hope, time and time again. And time and time again, she was forced to watch helplessly as her child was reduced to a pool of blood.Before she could even process her grief, her husband, Sigurd Carson, would pin her to a hospital bed for the next round of IVF. Enduring both physical and psychological torment, she begged him every single time."Sigurd, please, just let me look at the baby! I've never even seen them..."But her desperate pleas were only met with cold indifference."Begonia, this is what you owe Snow and me."Snow Somerled was Begonia's older sister.Four years ago, on the night of Snow and Sigurd's engagement, Begonia had gotten blackout drunk and inexplicably woken up in Sigurd's bed. It was a night of absurd chaos, ending with them being caught red-handed.Furious and heartbroken, Snow stormed off. Sigurd drove after her, and the two collided head-on with a massive semi-truck. Snow and her unborn child were killed instantly, while Sigurd was left paralyzed from the waist down.Before taking his last breath, the truck driver pointed the finger at Begonia, leading the internet to dig up her three-year-long secret crush on Sigurd. She was accused of murdering her sister and sleeping with her sister's fiancé. Even without hard evidence, she was permanently nailed to the cross of public shame.Eventually, Begonia grew numb to it all. She went to the chapel every month, praying only that God would punish her and spare her children.Perhaps the heavens had finally taken pity on her. This baby had made it almost to full term.At the thought of this, a cold sensation spread across Begonia's belly as the baby cooperatively kicked against the gel.She looked up at the monitor, watching the baby's tiny waving hands, and couldn't help but reach out her own.*Baby, Mommy will get to hold your little hand so soon.*After the checkup, Begonia texted as she walked down the hall.[Sigurd, the baby is perfectly healthy. I promise I'll safely deliver your child this time...]Before she could finish typing, a familiar voice drifted out from the doctor's office beside her.Begonia froze, staring in absolute shock through the crack in the door. Sigurd, the man who was supposedly paralyzed, was standing perfectly straight, unassisted by his wheelchair.And the woman whose hand he was holding... was Begonia's sister, who had been dead for over four years, Snow Somerled!The two stood shoulder to shoulder, looking at ultrasound images on the computer screen.The doctor hesitated. "Sir, Begonia's baby is developing very well this time. Judging from the 3D scans, the child even looks like you. Are we still going to... terminate it like the others? If she miscarries again, she'll likely never be able to conceive."For a fleeting second, an unreadable emotion flickered in Sigurd's eyes.Noticing his distraction, Snow immediately shoved him away. "Feeling bad for her? Then go tell her right now that it was you who secretly orchestrated all of her miscarriages just for me. Tell her your marriage license is fake, and even if she gives birth, the baby will be nothing but a bastard.""Oh, and while you're at it, tell her your legs fully recovered three years ago, and you've been faking your paralysis just to trap her in your family so you can punish her for what she did to me and our baby."Snow turned to leave, but Sigurd reached out and pulled her back into his arms. An unprecedented look of absolute adoration melted in his eyes.But the very next second, when Begonia was mentioned, his expression turned utterly ruthless."Then let her remain barren forever. I'll make her pay a hundred times over for what she owes you and our child."Snow nestled into Sigurd's chest, a faint smirk playing on her red lips. "Forget it. Since she's my sister, let's not make her miscarry this time. Why don't we just cut the baby out right now? I'd love to see if the kid actually looks like you.""Alright."He was as deeply devoted to Snow as he was flawlessly cruel to Begonia.Just like that, separated by a single door, Sigurd effortlessly signed their child's death warrant.Begonia turned around in pure terror, catching her own reflection in the glass window.Years of relentless injections and medication had completely ruined her body. Her hair was thinning, her limbs were swollen, and her pale, exhausted face was marred with dark spots.Her hollow eyes were brimming with tears, but she didn't dare let them fall. Because Sigurd always said it was her pathetic crying that caused her to lose the babies.So no matter how painful the injections were, she never dared to cry.It turned out the last four years were nothing but a lie.Her babies... were nothing more than tools for Sigurd to please Snow!What was she to them?A free maid? A breeding machine?...Begonia rushed downstairs in a dizzy, panicked haze.There was only one thought screaming in her mind.Take the baby and run!But fate was cruel. Before she could even step out of the hospital doors, Sigurd's bodyguards dragged her back inside.A freezing needle pierced her skin. Within seconds, her strength evaporated. She could only stare blankly at the ceiling lights flashing by as she was wheeled down the corridor.When she saw the words 'Operating Room', pure instinct made her grip the clothes of the person walking beside her.It was Sigurd. He looked down at her from his lofty height. "Since you found out, you can pay off your debt properly.""No! This is your child too! The baby and I will be good! I'm begging you..."Begonia was trembling with every word, pleading for mercy. She clutched his pristine suit so tightly it warped, the fabric digging deep into her palms.But Sigurd didn't care. He pried her fingers off him one by one, watching with a deadpan expression as she was shoved into the operating room....The surgical lights flickered on.Begonia couldn't feel the pain, but she could feel the cold slice of the scalpel opening her stomach.Soon after, the weak, kitten-like cries of a newborn filled the air. Followed by the voices of Snow and Sigurd."Sigurd, this baby is so wrinkled and disgusting. It looks nothing like you.""Then don't look at it. Just let the doctors handle it."Sigurd gently escorted Snow out of the delivery room. He didn't even bother to spare his own child a single glance.The baby seemed to sense its own rejection, its cries growing weaker and weaker. Yet, one tiny hand remained suspended in the air, as if waiting for something.Begonia knew the baby was waiting for her. Waiting for her to hold its little hand.She reached out desperately, but it felt as though she were crossing an ocean. She could only watch helplessly as the baby turned purple, the life slowly draining from its tiny body.Beeeep—The flat red line on the monitor deeply dyed Begonia's eyes with the color of blood. It felt as though her soul had died right then and there. Her lips trembled. "Doctor... boy or girl?""A boy.""Let me hold him.""...Alright."The doctor gently laid the baby down. When he was placed against Begonia's chest, he still carried a faint trace of warmth, rising and falling with her breaths.She rested her chin against his tiny head. "Doctor, look, he's still moving. He's moving. He's not dead...""I'm so sorry for your loss." The doctor couldn't bear to look and turned away.But Begonia smiled, softly wrapping her hand around the baby's tiny fingers."Baby, Mommy has you. Mommy is right here with you."As she spoke, the pain in her body intensified, and fresh blood soaked the entire delivery bed."The patient's blood pressure is crashing!"After a frantic, futile attempt at resuscitation, the doctor carefully pulled a white sheet over the mother and child....Outside the operating room."Dead? What kind of stunt is she pulling now? It's not like it's her first time losing a kid. What is she faking for?" Sigurd scoffed coldly.He completely missed the unnatural exchange of glances between Snow and the lead surgeon standing beside him.The surgeon pressed, "Then... how should we handle the bodies?"The word 'bodies' caused an inexplicable, sharp ache in Sigurd's chest.Just as he went to turn around, Snow immediately linked her arm through his."Sigurd! Begonia has always loved playing the victim. She wouldn't be trying to make you feel guilty, would she?"Sigurd stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes turning glacial."She was always too cowardly to die. If she's actually dead, then burn her. Throw the ashes as far away as possible. Dying with the title of Mrs. Carson—isn't that exactly what she always wanted?"With that, he interlocked his fingers with Snow's, and they walked away.Meanwhile, Begonia's spirit stood right behind them. She clutched her baby tightly to her chest, the hatred and agony in her eyes dissolving into a sea of blood."Why do they get to live happily ever after?! Why did they do this to me?!"...The night felt like an endless plunge into darkness."Why?!"Begonia jolted upright in bed, her hands pressing desperately against her perfectly flat stomach as she gasped for air.It was just a nightmare.Knock, knock!A sharp rap at the door startled her."Begonia! Sigurd and Matilda want you in the dining room.""I'll be right there."After changing her clothes, Begonia inexplicably glanced at her phone.April 12th. A cursed date.In her dream, today was the exact day Sigurd would demand they have a child together.However, dreams were supposed to be the opposite of reality.After all, Sigurd despised her. They had been married for over ten months, and he hadn't even been willing to lay a finger on her. Why on earth would he want to have a child with her?Taking a deep breath, Begonia stepped out of her room, ready to endure the same monotonous marital routine she had suffered for the last ten months.First, she went to the kitchen to retrieve the bespoke nutritional tonic her mother-in-law, Matilda Linden, insisted on drinking every morning.But as she stepped into the living room, she froze dead in her tracks.The Patriarch, Cedric Carson, was seated at the head of the table. The elders flanked him on both sides, their judgmental gazes piercing through her.For some reason, the scene felt terrifyingly familiar.Seeing her stand motionless, Matilda glared and let out a sharp cough. "No manners at all."Those four simple words were all it took to remind Begonia that she was walking on thin ice in the Carson Manor.Just as she opened her mouth to explain, the sound of a wheelchair rolling forward interrupted her."Apologize."The cold, authoritative tone left absolutely no room for argument.Begonia looked up, meeting Sigurd's mocking gaze.Even confined to a wheelchair, he looked immaculate, exuding an air of aristocratic elegance. His fingertips tapped lightly against the armrest—a gesture that felt like both a warning and an interrogation.*Begonia, do you really think you have the right to explain yourself?*She didn't."I'm sorry. It's my fault for keeping everyone waiting."Begonia bowed deeply, turning to apologize to each of them. Her humility was lower than that of the servants.Yet, even with her total submission, not a single person appreciated it.Cedric took a slow sip of his coffee, his gaze bypassing Begonia completely to land on Sigurd. "Sigurd, didn't you have an announcement to make?"The living room instantly plunged into silence.Except for Begonia, whose pupils shrank and body trembled violently the moment the words left Cedric's mouth. The lid of the tonic bowl in her hands rattled faintly.She stared instinctively at Sigurd's slightly parted lips, an overwhelming sense of dread clawing at her throat."Begonia has been part of this family for nearly a year and hasn't gotten pregnant. I intend to have her undergo IVF so Grandfather can hold his great-grandson sooner rather than later."[Begonia has been part of this family for nearly a year and hasn't gotten pregnant. I intend to have her undergo IVF so Grandfather can hold his great-grandson sooner rather than later.]As he spoke the words aloud, she silently recited them in her head. The two voices perfectly merged in Begonia's mind.It was this exact sentence!In her dream, this was the moment that kick-started her tragic, torturous life!Begonia snapped her head up. Everything around her was perfectly aligning with the nightmare.Snippets of the next three years flooded her mind like a tidal wave. The sheer hatred she felt before her death pierced her skin and heart like rusted thorns, hurting so intensely she couldn't breathe.The dream was real!Crash!The bowl shattered on the floor, sending porcelain flying everywhere.Sigurd merely frowned in annoyance.Begonia's body, as if trained by the nightmare of being a breeding machine, instinctively dropped to her knees to beg for mercy. "I don't want to do IVF!"Matilda glared at her and immediately started her passive-aggressive tirade. "Stop acting like a fragile victim. Weren't you the one who called Sigurd your brother-in-law to his face, only to sneak into his bed behind everyone's back? If it weren't for you, Sigurd wouldn't be paralyzed, and your sister wouldn't have died with her baby. And then you had the nerve to leak those bed photos to the press, forcing Sigurd to marry you just to smooth over the scandal!"The complaints quickly spiraled into a barrage of insults from the elders."Everyone knows you harbored a sick crush on Sigurd for years. You had hundreds of photos of him secretly saved on your phone. Too bad your womb is completely useless. See? You can't do wicked things without facing karma. This is your divine retribution!""Looking like a seductress, playing the innocent saint. She's acting like we're the ones bullying her."The exact same scene, the exact same words. Even the contemptuous glares boring into her were identical to the ones in her nightmare.In the dream, she had looked at Sigurd's paralyzed legs amidst the wave of accusations, lowered her head in guilt, and silently accepted the decision.What followed was pure hell. On one side, Sigurd forced her into constant pregnancies only to systematically destroy them. On the other side, her mother-in-law and the elders constantly berated her for being useless.Mentally shattered, she allowed them to manipulate her however they pleased. Until she was utterly reduced to a vessel for breeding.Right now, she lowered her head once more. Watching the porcelain shards bite into her palms, she let the fresh blood bloom like tragic flowers against the hardwood floor.Chapter 2In the hospital, Begonia Somerled supported her eight-month pregnant belly, lying on the ultrasound bed with extreme caution.This was her ninth round of IVF in three years.The previous eight attempts had all ended in miscarriage for one reason or another. Chemical pregnancies, car accidents, falling down the stairs, accidentally ingesting the wrong medication, inexplicable hemorrhaging...The shortest pregnancy lasted only until the day she tested positive. The longest lasted just over four months—the day she felt her baby kick for the first time.She had allowed herself to hope, time and time again. And time and time again, she was forced to watch helplessly as her child was reduced to a pool of blood.Before she could even process her grief, her husband, Sigurd Carson, would pin her to a hospital bed for the next round of IVF. Enduring both physical and psychological torment, she begged him every single time."Sigurd, please, just let me look at the baby! I've never even seen them..."But her desperate pleas were only met with cold indifference."Begonia, this is what you owe Snow and me."Snow Somerled was Begonia's older sister.Four years ago, on the night of Snow and Sigurd's engagement, Begonia had gotten blackout drunk and inexplicably woken up in Sigurd's bed. It was a night of absurd chaos, ending with them being caught red-handed.Furious and heartbroken, Snow stormed off. Sigurd drove after her, and the two collided head-on with a massive semi-truck. Snow and her unborn child were killed instantly, while Sigurd was left paralyzed from the waist down.Before taking his last breath, the truck driver pointed the finger at Begonia, leading the internet to dig up her three-year-long secret crush on Sigurd. She was accused of murdering her sister and sleeping with her sister's fiancé. Even without hard evidence, she was permanently nailed to the cross of public shame.Eventually, Begonia grew numb to it all. She went to the chapel every month, praying only that God would punish her and spare her children.Perhaps the heavens had finally taken pity on her. This baby had made it almost to full term.At the thought of this, a cold sensation spread across Begonia's belly as the baby cooperatively kicked against the gel.She looked up at the monitor, watching the baby's tiny waving hands, and couldn't help but reach out her own.*Baby, Mommy will get to hold your little hand so soon.*After the checkup, Begonia texted as she walked down the hall.[Sigurd, the baby is perfectly healthy. I promise I'll safely deliver your child this time...]Before she could finish typing, a familiar voice drifted out from the doctor's office beside her.Begonia froze, staring in absolute shock through the crack in the door. Sigurd, the man who was supposedly paralyzed, was standing perfectly straight, unassisted by his wheelchair.And the woman whose hand he was holding... was Begonia's sister, who had been dead for over four years, Snow Somerled!The two stood shoulder to shoulder, looking at ultrasound images on the computer screen.The doctor hesitated. "Sir, Begonia's baby is developing very well this time. Judging from the 3D scans, the child even looks like you. Are we still going to... terminate it like the others? If she miscarries again, she'll likely never be able to conceive."For a fleeting second, an unreadable emotion flickered in Sigurd's eyes.Noticing his distraction, Snow immediately shoved him away. "Feeling bad for her? Then go tell her right now that it was you who secretly orchestrated all of her miscarriages just for me. Tell her your marriage license is fake, and even if she gives birth, the baby will be nothing but a bastard.""Oh, and while you're at it, tell her your legs fully recovered three years ago, and you've been faking your paralysis just to trap her in your family so you can punish her for what she did to me and our baby."Snow turned to leave, but Sigurd reached out and pulled her back into his arms. An unprecedented look of absolute adoration melted in his eyes.But the very next second, when Begonia was mentioned, his expression turned utterly ruthless."Then let her remain barren forever. I'll make her pay a hundred times over for what she owes you and our child."Snow nestled into Sigurd's chest, a faint smirk playing on her red lips. "Forget it. Since she's my sister, let's not make her miscarry this time. Why don't we just cut the baby out right now? I'd love to see if the kid actually looks like you.""Alright."He was as deeply devoted to Snow as he was flawlessly cruel to Begonia.Just like that, separated by a single door, Sigurd effortlessly signed their child's death warrant.Begonia turned around in pure terror, catching her own reflection in the glass window.Years of relentless injections and medication had completely ruined her body. Her hair was thinning, her limbs were swollen, and her pale, exhausted face was marred with dark spots.Her hollow eyes were brimming with tears, but she didn't dare let them fall. Because Sigurd always said it was her pathetic crying that caused her to lose the babies.So no matter how painful the injections were, she never dared to cry.It turned out the last four years were nothing but a lie.Her babies... were nothing more than tools for Sigurd to please Snow!What was she to them?A free maid? A breeding machine?...Begonia rushed downstairs in a dizzy, panicked haze.There was only one thought screaming in her mind.Take the baby and run!But fate was cruel. Before she could even step out of the hospital doors, Sigurd's bodyguards dragged her back inside.A freezing needle pierced her skin. Within seconds, her strength evaporated. She could only stare blankly at the ceiling lights flashing by as she was wheeled down the corridor.When she saw the words 'Operating Room', pure instinct made her grip the clothes of the person walking beside her.It was Sigurd. He looked down at her from his lofty height. "Since you found out, you can pay off your debt properly.""No! This is your child too! The baby and I will be good! I'm begging you..."Begonia was trembling with every word, pleading for mercy. She clutched his pristine suit so tightly it warped, the fabric digging deep into her palms.But Sigurd didn't care. He pried her fingers off him one by one, watching with a deadpan expression as she was shoved into the operating room....The surgical lights flickered on.Begonia couldn't feel the pain, but she could feel the cold slice of the scalpel opening her stomach.Soon after, the weak, kitten-like cries of a newborn filled the air. Followed by the voices of Snow and Sigurd."Sigurd, this baby is so wrinkled and disgusting. It looks nothing like you.""Then don't look at it. Just let the doctors handle it."Sigurd gently escorted Snow out of the delivery room. He didn't even bother to spare his own child a single glance.The baby seemed to sense its own rejection, its cries growing weaker and weaker. Yet, one tiny hand remained suspended in the air, as if waiting for something.Begonia knew the baby was waiting for her. Waiting for her to hold its little hand.She reached out desperately, but it felt as though she were crossing an ocean. She could only watch helplessly as the baby turned purple, the life slowly draining from its tiny body.Beeeep—The flat red line on the monitor deeply dyed Begonia's eyes with the color of blood. It felt as though her soul had died right then and there. Her lips trembled. "Doctor... boy or girl?""A boy.""Let me hold him.""...Alright."The doctor gently laid the baby down. When he was placed against Begonia's chest, he still carried a faint trace of warmth, rising and falling with her breaths.She rested her chin against his tiny head. "Doctor, look, he's still moving. He's moving. He's not dead...""I'm so sorry for your loss." The doctor couldn't bear to look and turned away.But Begonia smiled, softly wrapping her hand around the baby's tiny fingers."Baby, Mommy has you. Mommy is right here with you."As she spoke, the pain in her body intensified, and fresh blood soaked the entire delivery bed."The patient's blood pressure is crashing!"After a frantic, futile attempt at resuscitation, the doctor carefully pulled a white sheet over the mother and child....Outside the operating room."Dead? What kind of stunt is she pulling now? It's not like it's her first time losing a kid. What is she faking for?" Sigurd scoffed coldly.He completely missed the unnatural exchange of glances between Snow and the lead surgeon standing beside him.The surgeon pressed, "Then... how should we handle the bodies?"The word 'bodies' caused an inexplicable, sharp ache in Sigurd's chest.Just as he went to turn around, Snow immediately linked her arm through his."Sigurd! Begonia has always loved playing the victim. She wouldn't be trying to make you feel guilty, would she?"Sigurd stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes turning glacial."She was always too cowardly to die. If she's actually dead, then burn her. Throw the ashes as far away as possible. Dying with the title of Mrs. Carson—isn't that exactly what she always wanted?"With that, he interlocked his fingers with Snow's, and they walked away.Meanwhile, Begonia's spirit stood right behind them. She clutched her baby tightly to her chest, the hatred and agony in her eyes dissolving into a sea of blood."Why do they get to live happily ever after?! Why did they do this to me?!"...The night felt like an endless plunge into darkness."Why?!"Begonia jolted upright in bed, her hands pressing desperately against her perfectly flat stomach as she gasped for air.It was just a nightmare.Knock, knock!A sharp rap at the door startled her."Begonia! Sigurd and Matilda want you in the dining room.""I'll be right there."After changing her clothes, Begonia inexplicably glanced at her phone.April 12th. A cursed date.In her dream, today was the exact day Sigurd would demand they have a child together.However, dreams were supposed to be the opposite of reality.After all, Sigurd despised her. They had been married for over ten months, and he hadn't even been willing to lay a finger on her. Why on earth would he want to have a child with her?Taking a deep breath, Begonia stepped out of her room, ready to endure the same monotonous marital routine she had suffered for the last ten months.First, she went to the kitchen to retrieve the bespoke nutritional tonic her mother-in-law, Matilda Linden, insisted on drinking every morning.But as she stepped into the living room, she froze dead in her tracks.The Patriarch, Cedric Carson, was seated at the head of the table. The elders flanked him on both sides, their judgmental gazes piercing through her.For some reason, the scene felt terrifyingly familiar.Seeing her stand motionless, Matilda glared and let out a sharp cough. "No manners at all."Those four simple words were all it took to remind Begonia that she was walking on thin ice in the Carson Manor.Just as she opened her mouth to explain, the sound of a wheelchair rolling forward interrupted her."Apologize."The cold, authoritative tone left absolutely no room for argument.Begonia looked up, meeting Sigurd's mocking gaze.Even confined to a wheelchair, he looked immaculate, exuding an air of aristocratic elegance. His fingertips tapped lightly against the armrest—a gesture that felt like both a warning and an interrogation.*Begonia, do you really think you have the right to explain yourself?*She didn't."I'm sorry. It's my fault for keeping everyone waiting."Begonia bowed deeply, turning to apologize to each of them. Her humility was lower than that of the servants.Yet, even with her total submission, not a single person appreciated it.Cedric took a slow sip of his coffee, his gaze bypassing Begonia completely to land on Sigurd. "Sigurd, didn't you have an announcement to make?"The living room instantly plunged into silence.Except for Begonia, whose pupils shrank and body trembled violently the moment the words left Cedric's mouth. The lid of the tonic bowl in her hands rattled faintly.She stared instinctively at Sigurd's slightly parted lips, an overwhelming sense of dread clawing at her throat."Begonia has been part of this family for nearly a year and hasn't gotten pregnant. I intend to have her undergo IVF so Grandfather can hold his great-grandson sooner rather than later."[Begonia has been part of this family for nearly a year and hasn't gotten pregnant. I intend to have her undergo IVF so Grandfather can hold his great-grandson sooner rather than later.]As he spoke the words aloud, she silently recited them in her head. The two voices perfectly merged in Begonia's mind.It was this exact sentence!In her dream, this was the moment that kick-started her tragic, torturous life!Begonia snapped her head up. Everything around her was perfectly aligning with the nightmare.Snippets of the next three years flooded her mind like a tidal wave. The sheer hatred she felt before her death pierced her skin and heart like rusted thorns, hurting so intensely she couldn't breathe.The dream was real!Crash!The bowl shattered on the floor, sending porcelain flying everywhere.Sigurd merely frowned in annoyance.Begonia's body, as if trained by the nightmare of being a breeding machine, instinctively dropped to her knees to beg for mercy. "I don't want to do IVF!"Matilda glared at her and immediately started her passive-aggressive tirade. "Stop acting like a fragile victim. Weren't you the one who called Sigurd your brother-in-law to his face, only to sneak into his bed behind everyone's back? If it weren't for you, Sigurd wouldn't be paralyzed, and your sister wouldn't have died with her baby. And then you had the nerve to leak those bed photos to the press, forcing Sigurd to marry you just to smooth over the scandal!"The complaints quickly spiraled into a barrage of insults from the elders."Everyone knows you harbored a sick crush on Sigurd for years. You had hundreds of photos of him secretly saved on your phone. Too bad your womb is completely useless. See? You can't do wicked things without facing karma. This is your divine retribution!""Looking like a seductress, playing the innocent saint. She's acting like we're the ones bullying her."The exact same scene, the exact same words. Even the contemptuous glares boring into her were identical to the ones in her nightmare.In the dream, she had looked at Sigurd's paralyzed legs amidst the wave of accusations, lowered her head in guilt, and silently accepted the decision.What followed was pure hell. On one side, Sigurd forced her into constant pregnancies only to systematically destroy them. On the other side, her mother-in-law and the elders constantly berated her for being useless.Mentally shattered, she allowed them to manipulate her however they pleased. Until she was utterly reduced to a vessel for breeding.Right now, she lowered her head once more. Watching the porcelain shards bite into her palms, she let the fresh blood bloom like tragic flowers against the hardwood floor.Chapter 3In the hospital, Begonia Somerled supported her eight-month pregnant belly, lying on the ultrasound bed with extreme caution.This was her ninth round of IVF in three years.The previous eight attempts had all ended in miscarriage for one reason or another. Chemical pregnancies, car accidents, falling down the stairs, accidentally ingesting the wrong medication, inexplicable hemorrhaging...The shortest pregnancy lasted only until the day she tested positive. The longest lasted just over four months—the day she felt her baby kick for the first time.She had allowed herself to hope, time and time again. And time and time again, she was forced to watch helplessly as her child was reduced to a pool of blood.Before she could even process her grief, her husband, Sigurd Carson, would pin her to a hospital bed for the next round of IVF. Enduring both physical and psychological torment, she begged him every single time."Sigurd, please, just let me look at the baby! I've never even seen them..."But her desperate pleas were only met with cold indifference."Begonia, this is what you owe Snow and me."Snow Somerled was Begonia's older sister.Four years ago, on the night of Snow and Sigurd's engagement, Begonia had gotten blackout drunk and inexplicably woken up in Sigurd's bed. It was a night of absurd chaos, ending with them being caught red-handed.Furious and heartbroken, Snow stormed off. Sigurd drove after her, and the two collided head-on with a massive semi-truck. Snow and her unborn child were killed instantly, while Sigurd was left paralyzed from the waist down.Before taking his last breath, the truck driver pointed the finger at Begonia, leading the internet to dig up her three-year-long secret crush on Sigurd. She was accused of murdering her sister and sleeping with her sister's fiancé. Even without hard evidence, she was permanently nailed to the cross of public shame.Eventually, Begonia grew numb to it all. She went to the chapel every month, praying only that God would punish her and spare her children.Perhaps the heavens had finally taken pity on her. This baby had made it almost to full term.At the thought of this, a cold sensation spread across Begonia's belly as the baby cooperatively kicked against the gel.She looked up at the monitor, watching the baby's tiny waving hands, and couldn't help but reach out her own.*Baby, Mommy will get to hold your little hand so soon.*After the checkup, Begonia texted as she walked down the hall.[Sigurd, the baby is perfectly healthy. I promise I'll safely deliver your child this time...]Before she could finish typing, a familiar voice drifted out from the doctor's office beside her.Begonia froze, staring in absolute shock through the crack in the door. Sigurd, the man who was supposedly paralyzed, was standing perfectly straight, unassisted by his wheelchair.And the woman whose hand he was holding... was Begonia's sister, who had been dead for over four years, Snow Somerled!The two stood shoulder to shoulder, looking at ultrasound images on the computer screen.The doctor hesitated. "Sir, Begonia's baby is developing very well this time. Judging from the 3D scans, the child even looks like you. Are we still going to... terminate it like the others? If she miscarries again, she'll likely never be able to conceive."For a fleeting second, an unreadable emotion flickered in Sigurd's eyes.Noticing his distraction, Snow immediately shoved him away. "Feeling bad for her? Then go tell her right now that it was you who secretly orchestrated all of her miscarriages just for me. Tell her your marriage license is fake, and even if she gives birth, the baby will be nothing but a bastard.""Oh, and while you're at it, tell her your legs fully recovered three years ago, and you've been faking your paralysis just to trap her in your family so you can punish her for what she did to me and our baby."Snow turned to leave, but Sigurd reached out and pulled her back into his arms. An unprecedented look of absolute adoration melted in his eyes.But the very next second, when Begonia was mentioned, his expression turned utterly ruthless."Then let her remain barren forever. I'll make her pay a hundred times over for what she owes you and our child."Snow nestled into Sigurd's chest, a faint smirk playing on her red lips. "Forget it. Since she's my sister, let's not make her miscarry this time. Why don't we just cut the baby out right now? I'd love to see if the kid actually looks like you.""Alright."He was as deeply devoted to Snow as he was flawlessly cruel to Begonia.Just like that, separated by a single door, Sigurd effortlessly signed their child's death warrant.Begonia turned around in pure terror, catching her own reflection in the glass window.Years of relentless injections and medication had completely ruined her body. Her hair was thinning, her limbs were swollen, and her pale, exhausted face was marred with dark spots.Her hollow eyes were brimming with tears, but she didn't dare let them fall. Because Sigurd always said it was her pathetic crying that caused her to lose the babies.So no matter how painful the injections were, she never dared to cry.It turned out the last four years were nothing but a lie.Her babies... were nothing more than tools for Sigurd to please Snow!What was she to them?A free maid? A breeding machine?...Begonia rushed downstairs in a dizzy, panicked haze.There was only one thought screaming in her mind.Take the baby and run!But fate was cruel. Before she could even step out of the hospital doors, Sigurd's bodyguards dragged her back inside.A freezing needle pierced her skin. Within seconds, her strength evaporated. She could only stare blankly at the ceiling lights flashing by as she was wheeled down the corridor.When she saw the words 'Operating Room', pure instinct made her grip the clothes of the person walking beside her.It was Sigurd. He looked down at her from his lofty height. "Since you found out, you can pay off your debt properly.""No! This is your child too! The baby and I will be good! I'm begging you..."Begonia was trembling with every word, pleading for mercy. She clutched his pristine suit so tightly it warped, the fabric digging deep into her palms.But Sigurd didn't care. He pried her fingers off him one by one, watching with a deadpan expression as she was shoved into the operating room....The surgical lights flickered on.Begonia couldn't feel the pain, but she could feel the cold slice of the scalpel opening her stomach.Soon after, the weak, kitten-like cries of a newborn filled the air. Followed by the voices of Snow and Sigurd."Sigurd, this baby is so wrinkled and disgusting. It looks nothing like you.""Then don't look at it. Just let the doctors handle it."Sigurd gently escorted Snow out of the delivery room. He didn't even bother to spare his own child a single glance.The baby seemed to sense its own rejection, its cries growing weaker and weaker. Yet, one tiny hand remained suspended in the air, as if waiting for something.Begonia knew the baby was waiting for her. Waiting for her to hold its little hand.She reached out desperately, but it felt as though she were crossing an ocean. She could only watch helplessly as the baby turned purple, the life slowly draining from its tiny body.Beeeep—The flat red line on the monitor deeply dyed Begonia's eyes with the color of blood. It felt as though her soul had died right then and there. Her lips trembled. "Doctor... boy or girl?""A boy.""Let me hold him.""...Alright."The doctor gently laid the baby down. When he was placed against Begonia's chest, he still carried a faint trace of warmth, rising and falling with her breaths.She rested her chin against his tiny head. "Doctor, look, he's still moving. He's moving. He's not dead...""I'm so sorry for your loss." The doctor couldn't bear to look and turned away.But Begonia smiled, softly wrapping her hand around the baby's tiny fingers."Baby, Mommy has you. Mommy is right here with you."As she spoke, the pain in her body intensified, and fresh blood soaked the entire delivery bed."The patient's blood pressure is crashing!"After a frantic, futile attempt at resuscitation, the doctor carefully pulled a white sheet over the mother and child....Outside the operating room."Dead? What kind of stunt is she pulling now? It's not like it's her first time losing a kid. What is she faking for?" Sigurd scoffed coldly.He completely missed the unnatural exchange of glances between Snow and the lead surgeon standing beside him.The surgeon pressed, "Then... how should we handle the bodies?"The word 'bodies' caused an inexplicable, sharp ache in Sigurd's chest.Just as he went to turn around, Snow immediately linked her arm through his."Sigurd! Begonia has always loved playing the victim. She wouldn't be trying to make you feel guilty, would she?"Sigurd stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes turning glacial."She was always too cowardly to die. If she's actually dead, then burn her. Throw the ashes as far away as possible. Dying with the title of Mrs. Carson—isn't that exactly what she always wanted?"With that, he interlocked his fingers with Snow's, and they walked away.Meanwhile, Begonia's spirit stood right behind them. She clutched her baby tightly to her chest, the hatred and agony in her eyes dissolving into a sea of blood."Why do they get to live happily ever after?! Why did they do this to me?!"...The night felt like an endless plunge into darkness."Why?!"Begonia jolted upright in bed, her hands pressing desperately against her perfectly flat stomach as she gasped for air.It was just a nightmare.Knock, knock!A sharp rap at the door startled her."Begonia! Sigurd and Matilda want you in the dining room.""I'll be right there."After changing her clothes, Begonia inexplicably glanced at her phone.April 12th. A cursed date.In her dream, today was the exact day Sigurd would demand they have a child together.However, dreams were supposed to be the opposite of reality.After all, Sigurd despised her. They had been married for over ten months, and he hadn't even been willing to lay a finger on her. Why on earth would he want to have a child with her?Taking a deep breath, Begonia stepped out of her room, ready to endure the same monotonous marital routine she had suffered for the last ten months.First, she went to the kitchen to retrieve the bespoke nutritional tonic her mother-in-law, Matilda Linden, insisted on drinking every morning.But as she stepped into the living room, she froze dead in her tracks.The Patriarch, Cedric Carson, was seated at the head of the table. The elders flanked him on both sides, their judgmental gazes piercing through her.For some reason, the scene felt terrifyingly familiar.Seeing her stand motionless, Matilda glared and let out a sharp cough. "No manners at all."Those four simple words were all it took to remind Begonia that she was walking on thin ice in the Carson Manor.Just as she opened her mouth to explain, the sound of a wheelchair rolling forward interrupted her."Apologize."The cold, authoritative tone left absolutely no room for argument.Begonia looked up, meeting Sigurd's mocking gaze.Even confined to a wheelchair, he looked immaculate, exuding an air of aristocratic elegance. His fingertips tapped lightly against the armrest—a gesture that felt like both a warning and an interrogation.*Begonia, do you really think you have the right to explain yourself?*She didn't."I'm sorry. It's my fault for keeping everyone waiting."Begonia bowed deeply, turning to apologize to each of them. Her humility was lower than that of the servants.Yet, even with her total submission, not a single person appreciated it.Cedric took a slow sip of his coffee, his gaze bypassing Begonia completely to land on Sigurd. "Sigurd, didn't you have an announcement to make?"The living room instantly plunged into silence.Except for Begonia, whose pupils shrank and body trembled violently the moment the words left Cedric's mouth. The lid of the tonic bowl in her hands rattled faintly.She stared instinctively at Sigurd's slightly parted lips, an overwhelming sense of dread clawing at her throat."Begonia has been part of this family for nearly a year and hasn't gotten pregnant. I intend to have her undergo IVF so Grandfather can hold his great-grandson sooner rather than later."[Begonia has been part of this family for nearly a year and hasn't gotten pregnant. I intend to have her undergo IVF so Grandfather can hold his great-grandson sooner rather than later.]As he spoke the words aloud, she silently recited them in her head. The two voices perfectly merged in Begonia's mind.It was this exact sentence!In her dream, this was the moment that kick-started her tragic, torturous life!Begonia snapped her head up. Everything around her was perfectly aligning with the nightmare.Snippets of the next three years flooded her mind like a tidal wave. The sheer hatred she felt before her death pierced her skin and heart like rusted thorns, hurting so intensely she couldn't breathe.The dream was real!Crash!The bowl shattered on the floor, sending porcelain flying everywhere.Sigurd merely frowned in annoyance.Begonia's body, as if trained by the nightmare of being a breeding machine, instinctively dropped to her knees to beg for mercy. "I don't want to do IVF!"Matilda glared at her and immediately started her passive-aggressive tirade. "Stop acting like a fragile victim. Weren't you the one who called Sigurd your brother-in-law to his face, only to sneak into his bed behind everyone's back? If it weren't for you, Sigurd wouldn't be paralyzed, and your sister wouldn't have died with her baby. And then you had the nerve to leak those bed photos to the press, forcing Sigurd to marry you just to smooth over the scandal!"The complaints quickly spiraled into a barrage of insults from the elders."Everyone knows you harbored a sick crush on Sigurd for years. You had hundreds of photos of him secretly saved on your phone. Too bad your womb is completely useless. See? You can't do wicked things without facing karma. This is your divine retribution!""Looking like a seductress, playing the innocent saint. She's acting like we're the ones bullying her."The exact same scene, the exact same words. Even the contemptuous glares boring into her were identical to the ones in her nightmare.In the dream, she had looked at Sigurd's paralyzed legs amidst the wave of accusations, lowered her head in guilt, and silently accepted the decision.What followed was pure hell. On one side, Sigurd forced her into constant pregnancies only to systematically destroy them. On the other side, her mother-in-law and the elders constantly berated her for being useless.Mentally shattered, she allowed them to manipulate her however they pleased. Until she was utterly reduced to a vessel for breeding.Right now, she lowered her head once more. Watching the porcelain shards bite into her palms, she let the fresh blood bloom like tragic flowers against the hardwood floor.