"Shut up!" This woman was bringing up divorce again.

Her stomach churned once more. Clara pressed one hand weakly against her lower abdomen, while the other braced against the conference table to keep from collapsing.

"Do you... hate me that much?"

"Hate? Eva was killed because of you. You destroyed my happiness with your own hands. Clara, don’t ever think about leaving my side for the rest of your life. I’m going to make you suffer forever."

Eva. It was always her.

The only name that Julian could ever speak with tenderness was Eva’s.

She finally lost control. "Eva died in a car accident. The driver fled the scene. If you want to find the killer, go find that driver! What does it have to do with me? And what about my child? My child was innocent too! Eva was the murderer—she was the one who killed the baby in my womb!"

When she was nine months pregnant years ago, Eva had caused her to fall down the stairs, and she hadn't been able to save the child.

She was still in surgery when Eva got into that car accident while fleeing.

The child she had longed for so much—when she woke up from life-saving surgery, the doctor told her the baby was gone.

Who understood the pain in her heart back then?

Julian held her responsible for Eva’s death and tortured her day and night, but whose fault was her own child’s death?

"Shut up! A vicious woman like you—losing the child was heaven’s punishment. Eva is the only innocent one here!"

"That was your child too." That child had Julian’s blood flowing through its veins; how could he say such things?

"Eva, that kind-hearted, silly girl, only chose to walk away because she saw you were pregnant. If I had known, I would have strangled that child myself before it was born so that Eva wouldn't have met with such a tragedy because of it!"

Everything went black before Clara’s eyes. In Eva’s presence, did her child—as long as it stood in Eva’s way—not even deserve to live?

A call came into Julian’s phone. After hanging up, Clara saw Julian flash his first smile in five years. He said, "Didn't you want a divorce? I agree."

Chapter 6: Who Dares Touch Her

Julian agreed to the divorce, but before Clara could react, he was already gone.

For an entire month, Julian didn't show up at the company.

The company was one they had built together, but Julian had become an absentee owner, leaving Clara to endure her physical malaise while stubbornly managing company affairs.

"Director Clara, your complexion hasn't been good lately. Should you take a break?" the secretary asked with concern.

Clara shook her head. "It’s okay. Let me know when Director Julian comes in."

"Director Julian is back today, and he brought someone with him."

Clara walked to the CEO’s office in her flat shoes.

As soon as she pushed the door open, her body froze.

A woman was sitting in Julian’s chair, her back to the door. Against the backlight, the chair turned. Clara’s heart trembled; she was all too familiar with this silhouette. It had haunted countless nightmares of hers. It was...

Eva gave a shy smile and said, "Clara, I’m back. It’s been a long time."

"You... how are you not dead?"

Slap! Her hand was struck away forcefully. Julian looked at Eva with intense concern. "Did she say or do anything to you?"

Eva shook her head, biting her lip, hesitating. "Julian, I shouldn't have come back, should I? I shouldn't disturb your life with Clara. Honestly, I’d be better off dead."

"What are you saying? Clara and I have nothing. You are the one I love—there’s no such thing as disturbing me." Julian knelt on one knee before Eva, gripping her shoulders with both hands.

Clara watched Julian’s protective, cautious demeanor—a look she had never seen him show her.

"How could we have no relationship? We are—husband and wife."

Eva’s car had clearly plunged off a cliff. If she hadn't died, then why had she endured Julian’s groundless hatred for so many years?

All these years of silently bearing his revenge now felt like a sick joke.

As the words left her lips, Eva’s expression stiffened. Clara gave a faint smile, the suppression in her heart finally easing slightly.

"We won't be husband and wife for much longer. This is the divorce agreement. Sign it, Clara."

Julian stepped forward, shielding Eva, and pulled an agreement from his desk drawer, tossing it in front of Clara.

Clara’s gaze fell upon it. The two large characters "Divorce Agreement" glared back at her, agonizingly bright.

She lowered her eyes and said softly, "I don't agree to a divorce."

"Clara, do you think I’m in the mood to joke with you?"

Clara bit her lip, her right hand instinctively shielding her stomach.

She couldn't divorce. She was pregnant. If something happened to her later, who would take care of the child?

Silence filled the office. Julian’s brow furrowed deeper. He snapped, "Are you playing with me?"

Clara remained silent.

Julian’s hands clenched into fists.

It was clearly this woman who had brought up divorce first, but now that Eva was back, the position of his wife could only belong to Eva.

Julian clapped his hands, and two bodyguards walked in from the doorway.

Clara’s face went pale.

They were going to force her to sign.

Eva walked up to her, her eyes filled with triumph. "Clara, we were in the wrong all those years ago. I’ve saved a few tens of thousands of dollars over these years, and I’m willing to give it all to you. Just let Julian and me be."

"Shut up."

Eva was clearly mocking her while putting on an act of pity.

Julian gripped her wrist. "This position never belonged to you. You’ve occupied it for so many years; it’s time to return it to its rightful owner. While I’m in a good mood, sign it, and I’ll give you satisfactory alimony. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what will you do to the daughter-in-law of the Lin family? Or perhaps, what will you do to the eldest grandson of the Lin family?" A stern voice rang out.

Chapter 7: The Mother-in-Law

Zhao Yun walked through the office door. She was dressed in an elegant cheongsam, her hair swept up to the back of her head. Her sharp gaze swept over Eva.

"Julian, I recall that you already broke up with this young lady. You were together for so many years, but she chose to go abroad and end things with you back then. I assume she had considered that clearly."

Eva’s face turned pale; she clutched Julian’s suit jacket helplessly. "Auntie, I..."

Julian protected Eva behind him, stepping forward. "Mom, Eva was young back then. Sometimes people don't think clearly when making decisions. Don't make things difficult for her."

Zhao Yun smiled. "I remember that Eva is the same age as your wife. Yet Clara is already a Vice President who can handle business independently."

Eva’s face flushed red with humiliation.

"What are you all doing? Taking a paycheck from the Lin family and failing to protect the young mistress of the house and the child in her womb? Do you want to lose your jobs?" Zhao Yun shouted. The bodyguards exchanged glances and let go of Clara. Zhao Yun took Clara’s hand, helped her stand up, and turned to Julian. "Your father and I are old. I don't know what you young people are up to, but the child in Clara’s womb is the eldest grandson your father and I have been expecting for a long time. I will not allow anyone to have designs on this child."

"Child?" Julian’s face was dark, his black eyes staring intently. "You’re pregnant? Why didn't you tell me!"

He was right—he shouldn't have trusted a woman like Clara.

Talking about divorce constantly was just a way to numb him and lower his guard.

So, she had been secretly pregnant and had found his mother to be her backer.

She wanted to use the child to elevate her status; how could she ever have thought of divorce!

Damnable.

Even now, she didn't forget to scheme against him!

Julian’s gaze was gloomy and cold. Clara held her stomach and retreated several steps.

The child was Julian’s, but his icy expression looked as if he were staring at an enemy.

It wasn't that she hadn't thought about telling him.

She wanted to find an opportunity to talk to him properly, but Julian never gave her that chance.

Julian seized Clara’s wrist, pulling her in front of him, his voice freezing. "Did you think you were safe once you found Mom to back you up? Do you think that by using such methods to secure the position of Mrs. Lin, you can sit comfortably for life? Don't try to fool me with that nonsense. Are you going to tell me you didn't tell Mom to make her your protector? Clara, no one dares to play me like this. I hope you’re prepared to bear the brunt of my fury."