"Get out."

The words crashed into Mei like a slap, his voice cold enough to freeze the air between them. She stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the man before her.

It was the face she had once fallen hopelessly in love with. The face she had dreamed of waking up beside every morning. The face that had once made her feel safe, protected, and certain that no matter how cruel the world became, she would never have to face it alone.

Now, that same face stirred nothing but hatred, despair, and a helpless ache that threatened to consume every last piece of her.

"I'm telling you the truth, Lucian," she whispered, her voice trembling as though it would break apart at any moment. "The child is yours."

Summoning the last shred of courage she had left, Mei slowly reached out with trembling, pale fingers, hoping to touch him just once.

Lucian took a step back.

The movement was neither hurried nor forceful, yet it was enough. He avoided her touch as though she carried a disease that would stain him the moment their skin met.

The tiny action shattered the last fragile thread of hope holding her together.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

How ridiculous, even touching her had become unbearable to him. Her vision slowly blurred as tears gathered in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Once, Mei had been the treasured daughter of the Zhao family. Her father was one of Thailand's wealthiest tycoons and the owner of the country's largest construction company. She had lived a life many could only dream of until the day her mother died.

The moment her mother closed her eyes forever, everything changed.She lost the status she once possessed within the Zhao family and was quietly sent away to the countryside, where she spent years growing up far from the home that had once belonged to her.

When she finally returned, nothing was the same anymore.

To strengthen the influence of both families, the Zhao family arranged a marriage alliance with the Fu family, a marriage built entirely upon business rather than love.

The Fu family dominated the construction industry across both Thailand and China. Their influence stretched farther than anyone dared imagine. Any company hoping to establish itself in the industry had little choice but to stand beneath the Fu name.

The Zhao family had been no exception.

And Mei...

She became the price of that alliance.

Her father's voice echoed inside her mind.

She remembered the day she had fallen to her knees before him, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face as she begged him to cancel the marriage. She begged until her throat turned hoarse.

She cried until there were no tears left to shed,yet he had never listened.

Instead, all she remembered were the mocking smiles on Odessa's and Camille's faces.

Their eyes had glittered with satisfaction as they watched her world collapse piece by piece.

Mei's knuckles slowly turned white as her nails dug painfully into her palms. If only her mother were still alive.

If only she hadn't left her alone in such a ruthless world.

"Security. Get this woman out of my sight."

Lucian's icy voice tore her away from the painful memories.

She slowly lifted her tear-filled eyes to meet his emotionless gaze before instinctively taking a step backwards.

Before she could move any farther, two security guards rushed forward and seized her by both arms.

They dragged her mercilessly across the smooth marble floor before throwing her heavily onto the ground without the slightest concern for the child she carried.

Pain exploded through her body.

"Lucian!" Mei cried desperately as she struggled against their grip. "I'm carrying your child. Even if you don't believe me, there's an innocent baby inside me. You're hurting your own child."

Her voice cracked into broken sobs as another wave of pain spread through her body.

Almost instinctively, she wrapped both arms around her stomach, desperately shielding the tiny life growing inside her.

She couldn't lose this baby.

Ever since she had discovered she was pregnant, the emptiness buried deep within her heart had slowly begun to disappear.

For the first time in years, she no longer felt completely alone. This tiny life had become her only family,even if the child grew up without a father...

She was willing to love them enough for both parents.

Lucian lowered his eyes and looked at her as though she were nothing more than dirt beneath his shoes.There wasn't the slightest trace of pity in his gaze, only disgust and resentment .

If he had known things would come to this, he would never have signed that marriage contract, no matter how much pressure had been placed upon him.

His eyes lingered briefly on Mei's tear-stained face, there was still no warmth, no guilt, no sorrow.

Then, almost naturally, his gaze shifted towards Camille.

His expression softened ever so slightly as his eyes rested on the gentle curve of her stomach, there was unmistakable warmth on that look.

Mei noticed it immediately.

Something inside her quietly shattered. Her heart felt as though countless needles had pierced straight through it.

If only...

If only Lucian had looked at her like that even once in the past.. She would have been the happiest woman alive.

"Take her to the asylum," he said calmly without a flicker of emotion. "She's insane."

Mei's eyes widened.

The asylum

"No..." she whispered as she shook her head frantically. "I'm not crazy. I'm really pregnant. Lucian... please... it's your baby. Please believe me."

Ignoring the pain throughout her body, she struggled to stand and reached towards him once more with trembling hands.

"Please..."

Before she could take another step, a sharp blow landed against the back of her neck.

A dull pain spread through her body as darkness slowly swallowed her consciousness.

"Luci... an..."

Her voice faded into silence.

The last thing she saw was Lucian's devastatingly handsome face.

And that look.

The look filled with mockery, disgust, and complete indifference. The face she had once loved more than her own life.

Now...

She hated it.

"Lock her up," Lucian ordered coldly.

He didn't spare her another glance as the security guards lifted her limp, fragile body from the floor and dragged her away.

His expression never changed, as though the woman being taken away had never existed in his life.

"Make sure she never leaves the asylum," he continued without hesitation. "As for the child..."

His voice remained calm, completely devoid of emotion.

"Make sure it never sees the light of day."