Chapter 1

Lately, I hadn't had much of an appetite and kept throwing up everything I ate, so I went to the hospital for a check-up. When the doctor told me I was pregnant, I shed tears of joy.

My husband and I had been childhood friends and married right after university, but we hadn't been able to conceive. He always tried to comfort me, saying, "Pregnancy should come naturally. Maybe our baby is just waiting for the right moment."

Now, that moment had finally arrived.

"Ma'am, you're already four months pregnant. The fetus is healthy, but you should still be careful to avoid any physical impact."

With a gentle smile, I rested a hand on my slightly protruding belly. Four months already.

My periods had always been irregular, and when my waistline started expanding, I just assumed I was eating too much.

At home, I could hardly contain my excitement. I cooked a special meal to bring to my husband's office so I could share the good news in person.

Carrying the lunchbox, I walked right through the entrance of the Sterling Group.

Just as I was about to push open the door to my husband's office, a glamorous woman blocked my path.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Her tone was icy as she looked me up and down with open hostility.

I lifted the lunchbox to show her. "I'm here to deliver lunch to Arthur."

I preferred not to call Arthur "my husband" in front of the staff.

She let out a breath and sneered. "Oh, so you're just the help. I'm Chloe, Mr. Sterling's chief secretary. Hand over the food. You can leave now."

I shook my head. "I'm not a servant. I want to deliver this to Mr. Sterling personally. Please step aside."

Her eyes flashed with sudden rage, and she snatched the lunchbox right out of my hands.

"Who do you think you are? You're just the hired help, and you think you can seduce Mr. Sterling? Dressed like a cheap tramp, too. I'm going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget."

Before I could react, she grabbed my arm, dragged me into the adjacent meeting room, slammed the door shut, and slapped me hard across the face.

My cheek instantly swelled, and the force of the blow sent me crashing to the floor.

Before I could even catch my breath, a sharp kick landed against my head.

*The baby!*

Ignoring the pain, I curled into a tight ball, wrapping my arms protectively around my stomach.

"Let's see what kind of garbage you're trying to feed Mr. Sterling."

Chloe Vance popped open the lunchbox and dumped the contents directly over my head.

The beef soup I had spent hours simmering was scalding hot, dripping through my hair and pooling on the floor.

My scalp burned in agony.

Still, I didn't dare uncurl my body, terrified of exposing my baby to her kicks.

"Oh, roast chicken too? You can forget about trying to win over Mr. Sterling with cheap trash like this!"

She grabbed my chin roughly, digging her nails in to force my mouth open.

"If you love cooking so much, why don't you have a taste?"

She slammed the greasy roast chicken directly into my face.

Grease and spices burned my eyes and nose, and I cried out in pain.

Chloe clapped her hands together in disgust. "So gross and greasy. You almost ruined my new manicure."

Looking down at me with absolute contempt, she sneered, "Do you honestly believe that garbage about winning a man's heart through his stomach? Look at you. What makes you think someone of your status deserves Mr. Sterling?"

I tried to speak, but the oil caught in my throat, sending me into a violent coughing fit. I gasped for air, completely unable to form a sentence.

At that moment, a sharp knock echoed from the meeting room door.

"Chloe, what's going on in there?"