My Child's Last Beat, Her Lifeline

A week ago, when I was eight months pregnant, I slipped in the bathroom and hemorrhaged badly. I was terrified and completely alone.

I called my husband a hundred times, but he never answered once.

Then I made the hundred and first call to Alex.

He answered.

"Evelyn, why are you so desperate for attention? I told you I have important things to do, stop bothering me!" Alex's cold voice came through the phone.

Before I could speak, I heard a woman's voice in the background.

"Alex, darling, come back to bed. I can't wait anymore. Don't keep me waiting too long."

Then the phone was hung up.

I used my last bit of strength to shakily dial emergency services.

When I woke up, I found myself lying in a hospital bed.

The doctor said that due to the delay, my child didn't survive.

Just when I thought things couldn't get worse, I lay in the hospital bed and heard Alex's voice.

"Mr. Vanderbilt," the doctor said with a hint of helplessness in his voice, "I can't keep her unconscious any longer. If I continue giving her sedatives, her life will be threatened. The stem cell transplant surgery is complete, and Miss Lancaster has recovered. It's only fair to let Evelyn wake up now."

"Fair?" Alex asked harshly. "If Evelyn wakes up now, she'll discover that I deliberately caused her fall so Chloe could get the stem cells! I need her to stay unconscious until Chloe gives birth to my son."

My heart stopped beating.

Chloe, my husband's first love.

Two months ago, she came back from England, crying and begging Alex to help her.

She said she discovered her husband's affair, that he had been violent with her, causing her to miscarry.

After the divorce, she was homeless.

"She's my first love, Evelyn," Alex pleaded, gripping my hands tightly. "When my family abandoned me and I was heartbroken, she was there for me. Now she needs help, I can't abandon her."

I saw the pain in his eyes, my heart softened, and I agreed to let Chloe move into our home.

So all this time, I had been supporting my husband's kindness toward Chloe, never knowing she was carrying his child and stealing my life right under my nose.

The doctor gasped. "Keeping a patient unconscious for extended periods could kill her!"

"I don't care!" Alex roared. "I've paid you enough money. You better listen to me!"

My trembling hand pressed against my chest, tears silently streaming down my cheeks.

My husband was willing to kill me just to save his mistress.

How cruel fate is.

After they left, I shakily picked up my phone and called my father.

"Father... please come get me in five days. I've decided to accept the marriage proposal from the Williams heir, exactly like you always wanted," I whispered into the phone, my voice trembling and barely controllable.

"Marriage? What are you talking about? Are you divorcing Alex?" Father's voice carried both confusion and concern.

"That's right." I choked up, tears welling in my eyes. "Please start preparing for the wedding."

Before he could say another word, I hung up the phone. The phone slipped from my hand and clattered to the floor. I was trembling all over, covering my face with both hands.

After hanging up, I leaned back against the hospital bed, closed my eyes, and tried to calm myself down.

Suddenly, the hospital room door was pushed open.

I opened my eyes and saw Chloe walking in.

"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly, my voice hoarse.

"Oh, Evelyn, I just wanted to come see you." Her voice was sickeningly sweet. "You look so weak. After all, you just went through such a... painful experience."

"You bitch," my voice was hoarse and cold, "you destroyed my marriage and family."

Her voice was disgustingly sweet: "Darling, the one who isn't loved is the real mistress. I'm the woman Alex truly loves."

She pulled out a document. "Look at this."

It was a stem cell transplant consent form with Alex's signature.

"Your son's stem cells were a perfect match for me," Chloe said coldly. "The doctor told Alex that doing this might kill the child. But Alex signed it, agreeing to transplant his stem cells to me. Now, these precious cells are inside me, protecting our child."

I suddenly felt a chill. "What...? Didn't my child die before being born?"

"Oh my! Didn't the doctor tell you? Your son was born healthy, but your husband insisted on giving me the stem cell transplant. Unfortunately, your child still died in the end. Such a shame."

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I lunged at her like a wild beast, screaming, my hands grabbing her throat. "You monster! You killed my child!"

"Alex! Help!" Chloe screamed.

Then Alex rushed over, stunned for a moment, then grabbed my wrists and threw me hard to the ground. The back of my head hit the wall, and I tasted blood in my mouth.

"How could you do this?" Alex roared at me.

"She took my son's life! Why did you use my child's life to save her?! You two bastards—" I shouted.

"How can you be so vicious?" Alex interrupted me. "Your own child is dead, and you're still attacking a pregnant woman? You don't deserve to be a mother! This is why God took away your right to be a mother!"

His words stabbed my throat like knives, and I couldn't help but sob.

But he didn't even look at me again, gently lifting Chloe like a treasure, then walked away, leaving me alone on the floor.

I finally understood. Alex never loved me. He had always loved Chloe.

Alexander Vanderbilt, I will make you regret hurting me and my child.