Chapter 1

I was pregnant. Just as I was about to go to Julian’s office to share the amazing news, his mother blocked me right outside his door.

She screeched, calling me a cheap gold digger who was trying to use a baby to trap her son and climb into their old-money family.

"Let me tell you something, bitch. Countless girls throw themselves at my son every single day. Look in the mirror. You think you're worthy?"

"Using a pregnancy to trap him? In your dreams!"

She dragged me into the VIP lounge, kicking and punching me, trying to force a miscarriage.

Afterward, she looked down at me, gloating. "My son’s life belongs to me. I make his decisions!"

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Lately, I hadn’t been feeling well. I had no appetite and felt nauseous all the time. After a quick trip to the clinic, the doctor delivered the news: I was pregnant.

My eyes welled up instantly. I grabbed the doctor's hand, trembling. "Are you serious? Really?"

The doctor smiled and nodded.

At that moment, tears streamed down my face.

Julian and I met back in college. We had been married for five years, but we had never been able to conceive.

It had been a silent ache in our hearts.

Even though Julian always comforted me, telling me not to rush it, I could always see the faint sadness in his eyes.

But now, finally, I was pregnant.

I gently placed my hand over my lower belly, heading straight to his company to surprise him.

But the moment I reached his office suite, a woman rushed out and blocked my way.

In our five years of marriage, I had never met Julian’s parents in person, but I had seen their photos.

The woman standing in front of me was his mother, Judith.

I kept my manners and greeted her politely. "Hello, Mom."

Hearing that, her face twisted instantly. "What did you just call me?"

"Mom, I’m here to see Julian."

Her eyes turned sharp as she scanned me up and down. "Who the hell do you think you are? What business do you have with my son?"

"I’m his wife."

Before the words could even fully leave my mouth, a loud *slap* echoed through the hallway. My face whipped to the side, burning. "What kind of trash dares to call herself my son's wife?"

"Clearly, he hasn’t taught you your place. I’ll do it for him today."

Before I could react, she grabbed my wrist with surprising strength and dragged me into the adjacent VIP lounge. The moment the door slammed shut, she shoved me violently to the floor.

I looked up at her in utter shock, quickly shielding my stomach with both hands.

The doctor’s warning was still ringing in my ears: *The first trimester is the most critical. You must be extremely careful.*

"You dare glare at me?"

She lunged forward and kicked me. I gasped, collapsing entirely onto the cold floor.

Suppressing the sharp pain, I gasped, "Judith, even if you don't accept me, you can't humiliate me like this! Besides, I—"

"Shut up! Who gave you permission to speak my name? My son never told me he got married."

"You’re just a cheap sugar baby he keeps on the side, yet you honestly think you can become a princess? Dream on."

She sneered, grinding the heel of her designer shoe onto my right hand. "Let me tell you the truth. Any girl who wants to marry my son has to pass me first. No worthless slut is ever getting into my family."

Staring at her twisted, disgusted face, a sudden realization hit me. I remembered asking Julian why his parents didn't attend our wedding five years ago.

He had brushed it off, saying they were too busy. Now I realized the truth. His parents had never approved.

In fact, they didn’t even know he was married!

Just then, the lounge door clicked open. A young female intern walked in.

For a second, I thought I was saved. But Judith immediately barked at her to get out.

"I’m disciplining my son’s side-chick. What are you looking at? Get the hell out!"

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