"Wait! I was wrong!" Kaia cried, desperation clawing at her throat. "I know I was wrong! Please, for the sake of the baby, have some mercy! I won't ask for anything! No responsibility, no child support, nothing! Just let me go! Please!" She regretted it. Why didn't I quit while I was ahead? Why didn't I take Wendy's 20 million offer? She'd done the math—just a few million would've been enough to break free of the Larks and live in comfort the rest of her life. She prayed hard that Ines still had a shred of humanity left. But hope was futile. Ines looked down at her as if she were already garbage. "Let's say it is mine. You think a gutter rat like you is fit to bear a Cross heir? I'd be ashamed for it to have your blood. Frankly, I don't even want to know if it's mine or not." With that, he snapped his fingers at the doctors. "Finish it. Make it clean." The lead physician hesitated, adjusting his glasses. "Mr. Cross, are you sure? At this stage, a forced abortion could put the mother's life at risk." "Cut the crap," Ines snapped, frowning. "My family pours millions into this place every year. I'm not paying you to question me. Do as you're told. I'll handle any fallout." The two doctors exchanged a glance, then nodded resignedly. "Yes, sir." At this final verdict, Kaia's tears fell in a steady stream. She pleaded with Ines until the very moment they wheeled her out of the room. The door closed, sealing his indifference. In the hallway, as they transferred her to a gurney, she grabbed the lead doctor's coat. "Doctor, please! You have to help me! If I die here, it'll be a scandal for you and the hospital! My family will come looking for answers! It'll ruin your career!" The doctor looked pained but resolute. "Ms. Lark, you're young and healthy. The surgery won't affect you.""No. Doctor, my body's not okay." Kaia shook her head wildly. Desperate, she ripped open the borrowed shirt, ignoring her shame, exposing the brutal, fresh wounds covering her torso. Both doctors gasped. "My God—" The senior one, experienced, could tell from the nature and placement of the marks what had likely caused them. While the clinic had Cross family backing, and Ines promised to cover any mishaps, the doctor knew the reality. If a patient died, especially under suspicious circumstances, he would be the first one thrown to the wolves. These wealthy clients were experts at avoiding blame. Thinking quickly, he instructed his assistant. "Take her to a treatment room. Clean and dress these wounds first. Then we'll proceed." It would lower her chance of dying—and protect his own career as much as possible. But while the assistant was cleaning her wounds, he slipped for one second—and she ran. Panicked, the assistant doctor wiped his sweaty brow and immediately alerted Ines' two bodyguards. The clinic went into lockdown. Fortunately, the response was swift. A check of all exit camera feeds confirmed she hadn't left the building. She was hiding somewhere inside. Kaia's body screamed with exhaustion. She pushed herself as hard as she could, but her legs felt like jelly. She didn't even make it out of the main wing. In the end, she slipped into a dark room full of—who knew what. Outside in the hallway, the initial commotion died down, replaced by an eerie silence. Safe for now. She pulled out her phone. Two bars of battery left. A flicker of relief. Her first instinct was to call 911. But with the Cross family's reach, would it be safe?Instead, she tried calling her father, Clyde Lark. The phone rang and rang. No answer. Next, her mother, Lydia Lark. Again, endless ringing. Just as despair was about to crush her, Lydia finally picked up. "Mom—" Kaia choked on a sob before she could even speak. "Where have you been?!" Lydia's voice was sharp with annoyance. "You don't come home, you don't answer your phone, and now you have the nerve to call? Get your behind back here this instant!" "Mom, I'm in trouble," Kaia whispered, forcing her voice low. "I'm at a hospital. They... they want to kill me. Please, send someone to get me!" "What nonsense are you spouting now? Who wants to kill you? You making excuses again? You get home right now! Mr. Lewis from Greenfield Group has been waiting! If you mess this up, he'll find someone else, and you'll regret it for the rest of your life!" The line went dead with a final, crushing click.Kaia's face went ashen. There was no sharp pain, just a cold, hollow emptiness. And then, a bizarre urge to laugh. She clamped a hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking with silent, hysterical laughter. Turns out her real parents never loved her. Even when she said her life was on the line, they called it an excuse.