Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I lay on the cold hardwood floor and wept until my throat was completely raw.

It took a long time before I managed to drag myself up and return every single item to its original place.

Just as I stepped out, Rhett pushed the front door open. I immediately put on a sleepy expression, padded over to him, and pulled his phone from his coat pocket.

"Routine inspection," I teased lightly.

This was our occasional playful routine. Rhett tapped my nose affectionately and chuckled. "Inspect all you want, sweetheart. I have nothing to hide from my wife."

This phone was merely a clean device he used to indulge me.

Because he never truly saw me as a threat, I easily extracted the private contact information of his fiercest rival, Damian Cross, and added him on my personal account.

The friend request was accepted almost instantly. I pouted and asked Rhett to go downstairs to fetch me some chicken broth.

The second he stepped out, I sent Damian a direct message: "I have a multi-billion-dollar deal for you. Interested?"

Damian replied with a single character: "?"

"In five days, help me vanish completely. In return, I will give you the rights to the Northgate commercial development."

"Don't worry. Rhett Montgomery will hand it over willingly."

Just as I locked my screen, Rhett walked back into the bedroom holding a warm porcelain bowl.

He looked at my phone with a brief flicker of suspicion in his eyes.

"Who were you texting just now, darling? You're pregnant now, so you shouldn't be using your phone too much. Radiation isn't good for the baby."

I smiled warmly, took the bowl, and leaned softly against his chest.

"I was using your black card to order some designer nursery furniture. What's the matter? Now that we have a baby, am I not your priority anymore?"

I pretended to sulk. Rhett immediately raised his right hand in a mock oath. "My wife is always my top priority. How could any child ever compare to you?"

The following morning, Rhett canceled all his executive meetings to accompany me to the obstetric clinic.

Halfway through the drive, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and his face shifted before he urgently commanded the driver to pull over.

Caught off guard by the abrupt brake, my forehead slammed violently into the front leather seat. Pain shot through my skull, bringing tears to my eyes.

He didn't even look at my forehead, only barking a curse at the driver before turning to offer a hasty excuse.

"Sweetheart, a massive crisis just erupted at the headquarters. I have to go handle it immediately. I'll have Alan send a car to take you for your ultrasound, okay?"

He planted a distracted kiss on my temple. "I'm so sorry. I'll buy you that limited-edition diamond necklace from the auction to make it up to you. The one called 'The Only One,' representing that you are my only love."

I gave a quiet nod and stepped out of the vehicle onto the curb.

His black Maybach sped away in a cloud of exhaust. I stood by the sidewalk, waiting in the biting wind.

Nearly forty minutes passed before a pair of rough hands suddenly clamped over my mouth from behind, dragging me violently into an unmarked van.

Traumatic memories I had spent years burying surged back into my consciousness. I shook uncontrollably, gasping for air.

When the van finally stopped in an abandoned warehouse, a greasy man threw me violently onto the concrete floor and slapped my cheek.

"Well, well. Don't tell me you forgot me? Because I sure as hell remember you. That tight little body, the way you cried..."

His filthy gaze roved over me like a swarm of insects. I gritted my teeth, preparing to scream threats, when Alan strolled casually into the room.

Seeing me bruised on the ground, Alan pulled out his smartphone and shoved a playing video right in front of my eyes.

It was Rhett. The so-called emergency at his company was actually him rushing to Sylvia's side at the pediatric hospital.

In the video, Rhett was pulling Sylvia into a desperate, tight embrace, his eyes rimmed with red. "Sylvia, you must take care of your own health. Please, pity me a little. To me, no one in this world is more important than you."

"Do you see it now?"

Alan grinned with cruel mockery, glancing at the shadows behind me.

"Did you honestly believe Mr. Montgomery was taking you to an ultrasound? Don't make me laugh."

The sharp click of stilettos sounded behind me. Sylvia stepped forward, grinding her high heel mercilessly into my back.

"You filthy piece of trash," Sylvia sneered in a venomous pitch. "Did you really think Rhett could ever stomach loving you after so many men took turns on you? Every time he slept with you to make this baby, he came straight to my apartment, scrubbing his skin until it bled just to wash off the disgust of touching you!"

An invisible fist gripped my heart and twisted savagely, making me dry-heave from the sheer agony.

Sylvia's laughter grew louder and more manic.

"Hey, why don't you say hello to your old woman properly?"

She gave a flick of her fingers to the burly kidnapper.

As the foul, familiar stench approached me again, the horrifying memories shattered the last shred of my sanity.

I lunged forward, sinking my teeth violently into the man's forearm, then sprang toward Sylvia like an avenging demon, locking my fingers tight around her throat.

Sylvia's face flashed from terror to a twisted smirk, before instantly dissolving into theatrical, tearful helplessness.

"Rhett... help me!"

The moment her desperate cry rang out, a heavy force kicked me squarely in the ribs. My body flew across the floor, crashing hard into the brick wall.

Rhett, who had just rushed through the warehouse doors, scooped Sylvia protectively into his arms, his chest heaving in panic.

"Sylvia! Are you hurt? Did she touch you?"