Chapter 1

After Silas Thorne was framed by his business rivals, he immediately told me to run for my life.

"Just survive, and act like you never met me!" he shouted.

I didn't listen. I jumped from a moving car while eight months pregnant and spent two days kneeling in the freezing snow. I stayed there until I convinced the witness to testify in court.

I lost my baby during that cold night, and the tragedy left my health in ruins.

I used to be a shining principal dancer, but now I'm just a fragile woman who struggles to breathe whenever the wind picks up.

When Silas finally climbed back to the top of his empire, he held my pregnant belly―the one I fought for through eighteen grueling rounds of IVF―and made a sacred vow.

"Once the baby is born, we'll name him Remi. I will never forget that you were the one who saved me," he whispered.

I cried tears of pure joy, thinking our struggle was finally over.

But shortly after giving birth, I overheard a conversation that shattered my world.

"Mr. Thorne, this is Elena's child after all. Is it really right to register the baby under Ms. Sinclair's name?" a voice asked.

Silas looked at Jade Sinclair with pure adoration as she cradled my baby. He didn't even hide his disdain for me.

"When I was framed, she was willing to throw her life away for me. Do you really think she'll care about a child?" Silas scoffed.

"Besides, she already lost one years ago. Losing another won't make a difference to her."

"At worst, I'll just leave her. It's not like we ever signed the official marriage papers anyway."

Standing outside the door, I clutched my aching stomach and turned away.

Since we never signed those papers, then we are done.

1

My body was still shaking when I stumbled back into my hospital room.

The nurse quickly handed me some painkillers to dull the agony.

A moment later, the door swung open.

Silas walked in, followed by Jade Sinclair. She was wearing a vibrant red dress and a smile that reached her eyes.

"How are you feeling, Elena? Are you a bit more comfortable now?" Jade asked sweetly.

She looked warm, but her fingers pinched my baby's cheek a little too hard as she held him.

I stared at my sleeping son, Silas's cruel words echoing in my head.

It felt like a cold hand was squeezing the life out of my heart.

Silas didn't even look at me. He was bent over, his entire world revolving around the child in Jade's arms.

"Elena, you just went through a difficult labor. Your body hasn't recovered yet," Silas said coldly.

"I'm taking Jaden back to the Thorne estate. I'll have the nannies take care of him."

I already knew this was coming, but hearing that name felt like a bucket of ice water being poured over my head.

"Jaden?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Silas paused, his expression remaining indifferent.

"I've already registered the child under Jade's name. From now on, his name is Jaden Sinclair-Thorne."

Jade gave Silas a playful, flirtatious look before finally glancing at me.

"Elena, don't take it the wrong way. Silas is only doing this for the baby's future."

"I'll love little Jaden as if he were my very own," she added.

Cold sweat broke out across my skin as I gripped the bedsheets tight.

"But you promised me... the baby..."

"That was before. I've changed my mind," Silas interrupted.

He was completely blind to my pain. His voice was like a slab of granite.

"Jade comes from a wealthy family and is a principal dancer. She is the best choice for the child's education and social standing."

"Since you've been with me for a few years, I'll make sure your basic needs are met. But as for anything else, don't even think about it."

Silas wrapped his arm around Jade and led her out. The door clicked shut in my face.

I felt the blood in my veins turn to ice.

I couldn't understand how the man who had vowed his love to my pregnant belly two months ago could turn so heartless overnight.

He knew what I had endured for this child. Eighteen rounds of IVF and three chemical pregnancies.

I had even lost my ability to ever have children again due to the complications of this birth.

The child I had traded my life for―and I myself―were nothing more than "anything else" in Silas's eyes.