Chapter 3

Yoseph clearly knew how biased my parents were. He knew the unfair treatment I suffered as a child, and he knew how desperately I wanted him to choose me with certainty.

And yet now, he had completely casted me aside because he was determined to be Sonia's savior.

This study held so much of my hard work and dreams; every moment of success still echoed in my mind. But now, it was disappearing bit by bit as it was being slowly devoured.

Soon, the study ceased to exist and was replaced by a brand-new walk-in closet—just like my life, which was gradually being overtaken by Sonia.

A small photo of me was left behind in the corner of the study.

Upon seeing that, Yoseph quietly walked over, picked it up, and carefully placed it into his wallet.

Back at the office, an employee told Yoseph that I hadn't come to work for several days and hadn't submitted a single design draft for the signed project.

Yoseph's expression immediately darkened with fury. He pulled out his phone and angrily tried to call me, only for the calls to go unanswered.

He lost his temper in front of his employees for the first time. He suddenly stood up and swept all the documents off his desk.

Ultimately, he fired me for "unexplained absenteeism" and appointed Sonia—who had never studied design—to take my position.

At the office, Yoseph eventually gave in to Sonia's seduction.

They held each other tightly, kissing passionately like a couple madly in love. They were tangled together on the desk and the chair.

I stood to the side, watching as a strong wave of nausea rose in my chest. I subconsciously touched my belly, feeling a deep sense of worthlessness.

I was one month pregnant.

I had planned to surprise Yoseph. But now, both my unborn child and I had ended up dead.

Over the following days, Yoseph, like a lunatic, sent message after message asking where I was.

Perhaps he'd sobered up from the thrill of the affair—his tone in every message was humble, pleading for me to come back.

But how could I possibly reply to him?

"Honey, what are you thinking about?" At some point, Sonia had walked over.

With her radiant, glowing face, she didn't look like someone suffering from a terminal illness.

Yet, Yoseph seemed blind to it all.

Upon hearing Sonia's voice, Yoseph panicked like he'd been caught doing something wrong. He hurriedly exited our chat.

When he turned around and raised his hand to embrace Sonia, he suddenly noticed the necklace around her neck.

"Isn't that Freya's necklace? Why do you have it?" he asked.

"Huh? Really? What a coincidence. I saw it online and bought it because I liked it."

Yoseph frowned. That was a necklace he had given me in college. It wasn't expensive, but I always wore it and never took it off.

A flicker of panic flashed in Sonia's eyes, and she quickly changed the subject, "Honey, we have to celebrate the pregnancy today. My parents have already made dinner and are waiting at home. Let's go, okay?"

As I watched their backs as they walked away, I instinctively reached for my bare neck.

That necklace had been taken by the attacker after I died. And now, an identical necklace was on Sonia's neck.

How could I possibly believe it was just a coincidence? Could my death have something to do with Sonia?

…

"Yoseph, Nia is risking her life to bear you a child. You'd better treat the child well!"

"You have to be good to Nia…"

At the dinner table, my parents teared up at the sight of Sonia's slightly thinner face.