Chapter 4

Jane woke up in the bedroom.

Nathan entered with a lunchbox, his eyes lighting up when he saw her awake. "You're up? I made you some broth and your favorite osmanthus pastries. Try them?"

Jane glared at him, her eyes burning with resentment.

Nathan brought a delicate pastry to her lips, coaxing softly. "Come on, honey, don't be mad. It was just flour in those boxes, a joke. Not your parents' ashes."

Jane swatted his hand away. "You think I can't tell my own parents' ashes? Claire swapped them out long ago!"

"You're talking nonsense. Claire's in the hospital. She doesn't have that kind of power." Nathan softened his tone. "I went too far this time. Name any condition, except divorce, and I'll make it happen."

Jane shot him a mocking look. "Fine. Make Claire lose her baby."

Nathan's refusal was instant. "No."

It was as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her. Jane's heart sank, and she let out a bitter laugh.

Nathan tried to explain patiently. "Honey, that child will be ours too."

He opened his mouth to say more, but his phone rang abruptly.

Claire's sobbing voice came through, complaining about her morning sickness.

Nathan's expression turned anxious. "Don't cry, sweetheart. I'm coming to you now."

He grabbed his coat and left without looking back.

Staring at the empty room, Jane laughed bitterly.

Before Nathan came in, Claire had texted her.

She had taken Jane's parents' ashes and taunted her, saying Nathan would never believe Jane.

She bragged that one call would bring him running to her side.

And just as Claire predicted, it happened.

Nathan knew how much Jane's parents meant to her, yet he used their ashes to threaten her, all because Claire wanted broth Jane made.

When Jane had struggled with morning sickness and called him, he brushed her off, saying he was too busy with work. But one call from Claire, and he dropped everything.

Even when Jane was hospitalized in pain, she found provocative underwear in his car.

The dashcam footage showed Nathan and Claire in reckless abandon.

Back then, Jane wanted a divorce but hesitated, remembering how much Nathan once loved her.

Now, knowing the truth, she realized how foolish she had been.

Lucas Kane called at that moment. "Miss, three days from now, the Western Coast has the weakest defenses. If you can get there, my people will meet you."

"Western Coast?" It was a place she and Nathan had visited before. Getting there wouldn't be hard. "No problem."

This was the only good news she had today.

Soon, she could escape this den of wolves.

The next day, Jane was woken by voices.

She stepped out of her room.

In the living room, Nathan, who days ago swore Claire wouldn't appear in front of Jane, now had Claire sitting on his lap, tenderly feeding her fruit slices. "Sweet enough?"

"Very sweet!" Claire's eyes crinkled with a smile. Noticing Jane, she pouted playfully, wrapping her arms around Nathan's neck and glancing at Jane provocatively. "Nathan, your wife's awake."

Nathan glanced at Jane and explained. "Honey, Claire needs a stable place to rest for the baby, so I brought her here. Don't be upset."

Jane's eyelashes trembled. She took a breath and said flatly, "Got it."

Her calm reaction stung Nathan's heart like a needle.

He softened his voice. "There's an auction today. Buy whatever you like."

Jane had no interest, but Nathan insisted she go, bringing Claire along.

Jewelry auctions used to excite Jane.

She loved collecting beautiful pieces.

But now, she sat listlessly beside Nathan.

Then she saw a white jade hairpin.

Jane recognized it instantly. It was the one her mother sold when their family went bankrupt.

Seeing her interest, Nathan bid on it and placed the hairpin in her hands.

The hairpin seemed to carry the warmth of her mother's touch from years ago.

Jane's eyes reddened.

During that dark time, her mother sold all her jewelry, but it wasn't enough to save them.

Her father begged business associates for help, but none offered aid.

Jane had thought them heartless.

She hadn't known Nathan was behind it all, orchestrating her parents' deaths to trap her by his side.

Claire's voice broke the silence. "Nathan, I love that jade hairpin too. Can you give it to me?"