After that day, Lily found herself effectively under house arrest by James Carter, all her means of communication taken away, save for a television to pass the time.

Through the TV, she learned that Johnson Corporation was consecutively losing business deals. Even projects that were about to start were abruptly halted, and their stock continued to plummet without hitting rock bottom as if someone was toying with them, leaving them gasping for breath.

Every day, James would return home to torment her. She had no chance to explain. Even if she did, he wouldn't listen. He only believed what his eyes had seen.

This went on for a month, and one evening, as Lily looked at the fish belly on the dinner table—a dish she normally loved—she felt an overwhelming sense of disgust and rushed to the bathroom to vomit.

After rinsing her mouth, she saw her reflection in the mirror—her complexion was abnormally pale.

As she was about to leave, she saw James standing at the door with a grim expression. Instinctively, she covered her stomach and stepped back, fear written all over her face.

"Are you pregnant?" James asked, his voice dark and heavy.

If he remembered correctly, she had missed her period last month.

Seeing James like this, Lily guessed what he intended to do.

She backed away, covering her stomach, "James, you can't do this. This is your child."

James advanced step by step, his face dark as ink, his anger slowly igniting, "Abort it!"

"No! You can't, James, it truly is your child. I had nothing to do with Mark Johnson, nothing happened. It was a trap set by Emma Wilson, believe me, James."

"Believe you? I saw it with my own eyes, and you still dare to lie. It seems you're not ready to give up," James said, grabbing Lily's wrist and pulling her out, "We're going to the hospital."

"No, I won't go! James, this is your child. You can't abort it."

James didn't hesitate, pulling Lily out forcibly.

"No!" Lily clung desperately to the doorway, but she was no match for James's strength.

And Lily, protecting the child in her womb like this, only fueled James's anger more. He pried her hands from the doorway and dragged her downstairs.

"Chris Cloud, to the hospital!"

Chris, who had been waiting downstairs, was taken aback to see Lily being dragged down so roughly by James.

His heart skipped a beat. The boss loved his wife so much, how could he bear to hurt her like this?

"No, Chris, I'm not going to the hospital," Lily screamed.

James, pulling her along, passed right by Chris. Lily tried to reach out to Chris for help, which only made James even more furious.

"What are you waiting for, to the hospital!" James's icy voice, laced with rage, made Chris hastily follow.

On the way to the hospital, no matter how much Lily cried or made a scene, James wouldn't budge, insisting on taking her to the hospital for an abortion.

Chris came to understand the situation from Lily's cries, and he believed her. After all, Lily loved James too much to betray him. James's disbelief was due to his overbearing control and suspicion, which, at the root, was still too much love for Lily. Two people clearly in love, yet they tormented each other.

Arriving at the hospital, James dragged Lily out of the car. His hand, which he used to grab Lily, was bitten beyond recognition, blood staining his white cuffs, yet he seemed to feel no pain.

"James, it is your child. You can't do this."

Lily continued to cry and plead, but James wouldn't listen to a word. All he knew was that Lily was willing to hurt him so much for the "bastard" in her stomach, resisting him.