Chapter 2

When Sophia came to again, she was still lying on the same bed where they'd drawn her blood. But the doctors and nurses from before were gone. Instead, there was a young man with a sharp nose standing beside her. "Dr. Bennett? What are you doing here?" Her mind was still foggy. She tried rubbing her temples, but every part of her body ached—it took too much effort just to lift her arm. "You passed out right after the blood draw yesterday. Things got pretty serious, so Mr. Bennett called me over." Yesterday? Blood draw? Sophia's eyes snapped wide open. Thankfully, the heaviness in her belly was still there—only then did her heart settle back in place. "Thanks." Her voice was hoarse, and the embarrassment on her pale face was hard to miss. Three years ago, Mark claimed he could cure Eva' strange illness but needed to run tests on her first. Back then, all she felt toward him was fear and resentment. Now, after turning down his idea, Lucas had made her life a nightmare—while Mark, of all people, had saved her more than once. "It's nothing. Just rest for now," Mark said as he poured her a glass of warm water, then turned to leave. Before he could step away, though, Sophia tugged on his sleeve. "Dr. Bennett, I... I want to go for a walk in the garden." This room—it used to be their bedroom, hers and Lucas's. Now, it felt more like a cage where she was being drained dry. She couldn't stand another minute here. "Alright." From a medical standpoint, getting some fresh air could help her recover. He agreed easily. The room was on the second floor, so to get to the garden, Mark had to help her down the stairs. But Sophia missed a step, and her weight tipped forward. "Careful!" Mark caught her in time. "Thanks." She steadied herself with a hand on his waist, but before she could move it away, a tall figure stepped into view—backlit and brimming with fury. It was Lucas.She didn't even need to see who it was—Sophia's face turned ghostly pale on the spot. "Sophia, are you really this shameless? First you steal Eva's boyfriend, now you're trying to hook up with her doctor too?" "Mr. Bennett, it's not what you think—" Seeing Lucas's expression get darker by the second, Mark Bennett rushed to explain, but Sophia cut him off. "Dr. Bennett, you should go. This is between me and him. It's got nothing to do with you." As an outsider, Mark didn't need to see the mess she was in. She didn't want anyone witnessing her lowest point in this marriage. But to Lucas, her words sounded like she was defending Mark. A woman this cheap and twisted—he had once actually treasured her. Without a second thought, Lucas grabbed her, completely ignoring the fact that she was seven months pregnant, and threw her onto the bed. "Sophia, since you're so desperate that you'll even seduce Eva's doctor, let me help you out." As he spat out the words, he pinned her down from behind. With one harsh rip, her maternity dress was torn to shreds. There wasn't a hint of gentleness in him—he forced himself on her like she was nothing. — For two straight hours, Sophia knelt on the bed, one hand clutching her belly, the other gripping the carved wooden bedpost. Through gasps and sobs, she begged and endured each brutal wave from Lucas. She could feel the blood trickling slowly down her legs. "Lucas," she called out, voice shaking, but she forced it as steady as she could. "Please, don't hurt our baby. I'll let you be with Eva... Just please, spare our child…" "Our baby? How do I know this bastard even belongs to me?" Lucas sneered, roughly grabbing her chest, never once easing the rhythm of his assault. "It's yours. It could only ever be yours. You're the only man I've ever been with," she whispered, tears spilling uncontrollably, but her voice firming with resolve. Then, quietly but clearly, she said: "Once I give birth, I'm willing to be Eva's lab rat… just give me the divorce."