Chapter 1 [Prologue]

"Abort your pregnancy."

The voice pierced straight to Victoria's heart. The unexpected yet clear words came from the woman in front of her, Chelsea Lancaster. With trembling hands, Victoria stared at the check lying on the table. The amount written on it was enough to change anyone's life. Enough to buy a mansion, a car, even temporary freedom. But it was not the freedom she wanted. Not the freedom she was looking for.

Seeing that the young woman in front of her seemed interested in the check she gave, Chelsea said again. "Take this check, and leave my son. Live well, away from our family. It's the only way out for you." She folded her arms across her chest, her smile cold and haughty.

Victoria stared at the check with a turbulent heart. The hand that had been hesitating, now trembled more strongly. What was Chelsea thinking? Did this woman really believe she could just erase her from their lives? Not to mention her eyes that repeatedly looked at the check and the woman sitting in front of her.

"You really think I would do that?" Victoria tried to hold back her shaky voice. "Abort this innocent baby just because you don't want me to be a part of your family's life?"

Chelsea looked at her sharply, as if measuring every word that came out of Victoria's mouth. "I don't want to lower our family into the mud just because of a girl like you. You're not good enough for my son. And you're right, I don't want you in my family." Chelsea grinned sarcastically. "You don't deserve to be part of the Lancaster family."

Victoria clasped her hands on the table, trying to contain the anger that was about to explode. "I don't need your acceptance to love Damian. I don't need your money to keep this baby. I just need your trust and our love."

"Trust?" Chelsea chuckled. "What do you know about trust, Miss? You're just a scholarship student. What family do you come from? Who will support you when my son leaves you? The Lancaster family will never accept you as a daughter-in-law."

"Don't speak as if you know everything about my life," Victoria retorted in a firm voice. "Damian loves me with all his heart, Mrs. Chelsea. And we will raise this child together. What you are offering is not a solution but an embarrassment."

Chelsea looked at her with piercing eyes and then stared at the check still lying on the table. "Take that and stay away from my son." She pointed with the tip of her chin. "Or your life will be ruined. I'll make sure everything you've built will come crashing down in an instant. So... don't miss the good opportunity that comes your way today."

With a now steadier hand, Victoria lifted the check, tearing it in a swift motion. The sound of the tear seemed to open a new chapter in her life. "Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Chelsea. But I choose to keep this baby. I love Damian and we will get through everything together."

Chelsea was silent for a moment, her eyes narrowed sharply, then laughed. The sound of her laughter was mocking and condescending. "All right. That's your choice. I just want you to know, you'll never know what I can do if you go against my will. I will make your life a nightmare."

Victoria felt a cold wind blow as the words slipped from Chelsea's lips. However, her heart remained steadfast. "I'm ready to face whatever you do. I'm sure Damian will always be by my side."

Chelsea stood up with a haughty gesture. "You think Damian will stay with you after all this? Just because you're carrying his child? I hope you're not too late to realize how naive you were."

Victoria stared at her unflinchingly. "We'll see who's more naive in the end, Mrs. Chelsea."

After those words, Chelsea turned and left the table with arrogant steps. Victoria sat back down, her eyes fixed on the torn check. Feelings of fear and anxiety tried to creep into her heart, but she brushed them aside. No matter what happened, she would not back down. She and Damian would raise this child together, no matter what they had to face.

However, the next day, Victoria's life changed in an instant. News of Damian's engagement to Jessica Vladimir, Victoria's college friend, appeared on almost every social media and newspaper. Damian, whom she had always loved, disappeared without a trace. There was no news, no explanation. Everything was gone.

On campus, her scholarship was revoked, her internship site issued her a letter of release, and even the house she lived in was seized by the bank.

What happened? Why did the world seem to collapse so quickly?

Victoria didn't know the exact answer. But one thing she was sure of: this wasn't the end. This was just the beginning.