Her life was worth less to them than a marriage alliance with Barry. Of course. Marrying him would bring the Lark family tangible benefits. What use was her worthless life? Kaia wiped her tears, her trembling hands returning to the phone. Who else could she call? Who could she still count on? Two names surfaced in her mind. Right—Darcy, Ione. She could still try them! Even after everything, they wouldn't abandon her completely. But scrolling frantically through her contacts yielded nothing—no Darcy, no Ione. With shaking fingers, she checked WhatsApp, Instagram, every social media app...Nothing. No trace of them anywhere. Of course. She had been the one to block and delete them. She'd declared she wanted nothing more to do with them. Regret and bitterness washed over her, drowning her. She slumped to the floor, a low, guttural cry escaping her lips as she pounded the cold tiles with her fist. I was wrong! I was so wrong! Someone, please... just one more chance to make it right! Just then, the storage room door flew open. Harsh fluorescent light flooded the space, blinding her. She shielded her eyes. When her vision adjusted, she peered through her fingers. A tall, shadowy figure stood in the center of the room, his silhouette menacing. The shadow spoke, his voice a predatory purr. "Done running?"Kaia trembled violently, every bone in her body rattling. She knew, with chilling certainty, that hope was gone. Only despair remained. When she woke again, she had no idea how many days had passed. Bolting upright in bed, she threw off the covers, her hands flying to her abdomen. It was flat. Her eyes burned, but no tears came. The baby is gone. She tried to get up, but a sharp, wrenching pain from between her legs forced a gasp from her lips, cold sweat breaking out on her skin. Right then, the door opened. To her shock, it was Clyde and Lydia who entered. Kaia remembered that ice-cold call and said flatly, "What are you doing here?" Their answer was two stinging slaps across her face. Slap! Slap! "You shameless slut!" Clyde roared, his face purple with rage. "Getting knocked up by some random man! If Mr. Cross hadn't informed us, we'd still be in the dark!" The more he talked, the angrier he got. He raised his hand to strike again, but Lydia grabbed his arm. "Not the face! We're taking her to see Mr. Lewis tomorrow. If he sees bruises and calls off the arrangement, we're ruined!" Clyde reluctantly lowered his hand, grumbling, "You're right. Got to think ahead." Lying in the bed, Kaia watched the pair coldly as they discussed tomorrow's plans to sell her off like livestock right in front of her. Was she angry? Of course. But what could she do? Run? When they'd entered, she'd seen a line of bodyguards stationed outside the door. Her previous escapes had made Ines cautious. With so many eyes watching, escape was impossible. After a few more minutes of callous instructions, her parents left. Not once did they ask how she felt, if she was in pain. Kaia had no tears left. She'd cried them all until her eyes were dry and hollow. Now, there was only regret. I never should have been so eager to join the Lark family. Life with the Gales was simpler, harder maybe, but Darcy and I could have built something real together. But regret was useless. It was far too late. Not long after her parents left, a messenger arrived, sent by Ines. "Mr. Cross has a message for you," the man said, his tone impersonal. "From now on, you'll have an escort wherever you go, until you're safely married off to Mr. Lewis. Cooperate, and you'll keep your life. Try to run or call the police... well, let's just say things won't end well for you."Kaia buried her face in the pillow, teeth clenched so hard her jaw ached. When he finished, her bloodless lips forced out two words. "Get out." ... After Darcy got back from a business trip, she received two calls. The first was from Mara. "John has folded," Mara said. "He'll accept your terms, provided you drop the lawsuit and agree not to publicize it." "Oh?" Darcy was surprised. She hadn't expected him to capitulate so quickly. But the reason clicked a moment later. Zora and Zane's engagement party was only a few days away. For the Moss family, Zora's engagement was the real headline. If a scandal broke right now, the Vances would definitely have opinions. "Good," Darcy replied. "Please draft an agreement that states he won't harass my mom or me again. Once it's ready, I'll meet him to sign." "Consider it done," Mara agreed. The second call was more unexpected. When Darcy answered, the voice on the other end called her "Darcy" with a familiar, long-lost intimacy. It was Kaia. A mix of surprise and immediate wariness flashed in Darcy's eyes. She stayed silent, waiting.