Chapter 1 A toy car was thrown from the seventeenth floor of our estate . It struck my daughter on the head . After three days in the ICU , she stopped breathing . I collapsed , having cried until I could no longer breathe ; grief hollowed me out . I made the decision to take our upstairs neighbor to court . My husband , Brandon Whitmore , held me close , his voice thick with sympathy . " No matter what you do , I'll support you . We will get justice for Bella . " But on the day of the trial , the property management company claimed the surveillance footage from that day had been " accidentally " corrupted . They insisted I had seen wrong . They called it a tragic accident - a child's mistake . I couldn't accept it . I lost it right then and there . Brandon said he was worried about my health and ordered someone to inject me with a sedative . When I woke up , he wasn't by my side . Instead , I heard a woman's voice coming from the dimly lit stairwell just outside . " Brandon , thank god you paid off the property manager . But I swear I didn't mean to …" " That toy car was the one you gave Caleb for his third birthday , " she murmured with guilt . " He treasures it so much , he's been crying for it in his dreams the past few nights . " Brandon comforted her with a low chuckle . " It's fine . I'll get him something even bigger and better tonight . " " And that girl ? " he added coldly . " So what if she's dead ? She was just unlucky . Caleb is the only heir I'll ever acknowledge . As long as I'm here , you two have nothing to worry about . " *** In the gloomy corridor , Bianca feigned hesitation . " Ava just lost her child . She must be devastated . You should probably stay home with her tonight . I'll celebrate Caleb's birthday on my own . " " But he really misses you . If he finds out you're not coming , he'll cry his heart out … and honestly , I miss you too . " Her eyes shimmered with tears . Brandon's expression softened . He pulled her into his arms , voice gentle like I hadn't heard in years . " I've never missed a single one of his birthdays in five years , have I ? I may not be able to marry you , but I'll always be the rock you and our son can lean on . " Chapter 1 1.00 % Online Party & Chat " As for Ava , she's a grown woman . It's time she learned how to be strong . " Bianca sighed and pushed at his chest with faux reluctance , whispering , " I get what you mean . But Ava's still young . Sooner or later , she'll get pregnant again . You really think she'll let Caleb inherit everything if she has another kid ? " " Forget it . I don't want to put you in a hard spot . I'm content just seeing you from time to time … even if it's unfair to our son . " Brandon's eyes softened - too much . His expression shifted , as if he'd already made the decision . He pulled out his phone and called the property manager . " I'll wire you two million more . In a few minutes , I'll pretend to leave the house . You bring your guys over with iron rods and take care of it . Make sure Ava's womb is destroyed and she can never have children again . " " Bianca , I promised you Caleb would be my only legal successor . I meant every word . No one will stand in your way - not even my wife . " From the shadows of the stairwell , I watched the two of them wrapped in each other's arms . I stumbled back into the bedroom . I dropped onto the bed , numb , body trembling , tears streaming down my face . So the footage didn't get destroyed by accident . Brandon had destroyed it to protect the woman he truly loved . The man I'd devoted seven years to had already had a secret child and a mistress living one floor above me . What was I , then ? And what was Bella - my poor , sweet Bella ? " Ava , are you crying ? " I hadn't heard Brandon enter . He grasped my hands , eyes on me with concern . " Ava , I know you're still heartbroken over Bella . She was my daughter too . I'm hurting just as much as you . I'd trade places with her in a second if I could . " " But life has to go on . You've been skipping meals a lot recently and you've lost so much weight . It breaks my heart . I'l run to the mall and grab you some supplements . " If I hadn't heard what I did earlier , maybe I would've been moved . But behind every soft word he spoke now was a plan to destroy me . " Brandon , I don't want to be alone tonight , " I whispered . " Please don't go . " Brandon hesitated for just a second before smiling helplessly . Chapter 1 1.00 % Online Party & Chat " Be good , Ava . It's for your own sake . Once you're healthy , we can try for another baby . Okay ? " He peeled my fingers off his wrist and walked away without looking back . Seconds later , the door burst open . A group of masked men stormed into the room , grinning with cruel delight and wielding iron rods . One of them kicked away my phone before I could call for help . They pinned me down . And then the iron rods came crashing down . Blow after blow landed on my stomach . The pain was so sharp it blacked out the edges of my vision . My forehead bulged with veins and it felt like they would burst from the agony . Blood gushed from between my legs . My body convulsed . Only when I passed out did they stop . One of them laughed , assuming I was unconscious . " Good thing Mr. Whitmore was worried something might go wrong and let us into the living room ahead of time to put Miss Sterling's mind at ease - otherwise that woman really would've cut off my paycheck ! " The voice belonged to the property manager . And just before the darkness took me , I thought bitterly : Brandon , you really went this far just to clear the path for your son and mistress ? When I opened my eyes again , I was back in bed . A private doctor stood at the foot of the mattress , sighing , cast a pitying glance at me and left . Brandon sat at my bedside , red - eyed and solemn . " Ava , I'm sorry . It's my fault . I should've checked the locks before I left . That's how those thugs got in . " "The police said they were masked - might be tough to catch , but I swear , no matter what it takes , I'll find them and make them pay . " " But … the doctor said you suffered severe trauma to the abdomen . Your uterus was permanently damaged . " " You won't be able to conceive again . " " But Ava , please believe me . I still love you . Even if you can't have more children , I'll take care of you for the rest of my life . " But I knew the truth . There was no police report . Chapter 1 1.00 % Online Party & Chat He'd helped those men escape Seravelle before I even woke up . I stared at him , expression blank , not bothering to expose his lies . Brandon glanced at his watch , a flicker of impatience in his eyes . " Ava , I have a very important client meeting tonight … " " I'm fine , " I said softly . " You can go . " He smiled with relief . " That's my girl . So understanding . Get some rest , okay ? I'll come home early . " He gave my forehead a perfunctory kiss , then hurried off without looking back . Ten seconds later , I heard a door slam upstairs - and the sound of laughter from a woman and child . I dragged my aching body to the living room . He must've been in such a rush to see his beloved Bianca that he forgot his other phone on the sofa . A phone I never even knew he had . In all our years together , I had never known he had a second phone . I picked it up . The password was Bianca's birthday . Chapter 1 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!