Victoria Lee was nine months pregnant when she died, just about to give birth.
In the dead of night, she stumbled upon her husband, Oliver Crane, fooling around with her best friend, Isabelle Sebastian.
She ran after them, missed a step, and tumbled down the stairs.
Blood soaked the pristine white cashmere rug beneath her in seconds.
Clutching her belly, her face twisted in agony, she choked out, "Oliver, please… take me to the hospital, save me and the baby..."
Her so-called perfect husband stood above her, eyes icy cold, completely detached.
"Victoria, now that you've found out… you really think I’d let either of you live?"
"It’s your child!" she cried.
Before he could respond, Isabelle curled into his arms, a smug grin on her face.
"The baby in your belly? Not even his. Remember your wedding night? You were blackout drunk. I brought in some random guy to keep you 'company.' Oliver? He was in my bed."
Victoria's eyes widened in horror. Her chest tightened as her world crumbled.
"You’re lying! Oliver would never…"
She had known him for a year, dated for two. Right after college graduation, he proposed at their ceremony. They got married not long after, and he’d doted on her ever since—like she was his whole world.
Isabelle looked at her like she was pathetic.
"Can’t believe she actually bought into your act, Oliver. Has she seriously never heard that love can be faked?"
Oliver pressed a kiss to Isabelle’s lips, arms wrapped around her waist.
The slick sound of them kissing was enough to make anyone sick.
"If she wasn’t such a fool, how would she have ended up as our pawn? These years of pretending with her? Absolutely exhausting."
"No… I don't believe it..."
Victoria shook her head wildly, tears flooding down her face. Nothing hurt more than hearing the truth from someone you once loved.
The shock sent pain ripping through her abdomen, blood gushing out uncontrollably.
"Oliver… you're joking, right? Please tell me you're joking..."
She couldn't accept it—that four years of love meant absolutely nothing to him. That he’d rather let her and their unborn child die right there.
But she had overestimated his humanity.
Oliver let go of Isabelle and slowly stepped toward her.
She thought there was hope, clutching weakly at his pant leg, body trembling with pain, sweat dripping from her forehead.
"I can't… I can't hold on… call an ambulance… please…"
"You really had to go snooping in the middle of the night. The original plan was to wait until you gave birth, then hit you with a cheating charge and kick you out with nothing. But since you found out, guess you and that bastard can go straight to hell."
His voice was ice cold as he pulled out a blade and slashed across her stomach.
"AHHH—"
Her scream pierced through the walls of the villa.
A fully formed baby was ripped from her womb.
In her horrified gaze, he held the baby up—then hurled it onto the floor.
Blood splattered across his handsome face, but Oliver looked like a demon straight out of hell.
"Why… why would you do this to me?"
Oliver gripped her fragile neck with one hand, ruthlessly squeezing.
"You forget how high and mighty you acted back then? Treating me like dirt?"
"You said I wasn’t even as good as a dog, that I didn’t deserve to shine your shoes.""Dragging you down from your pedestal? Trust me, it took everything in me not to throw up playing along with your little act."
"And hey, I should be thanking you. If it weren’t for you, I’d never have become the Crane family’s heir. Once you’re out of the picture, everything the Lee family owns will be mine, no questions asked."
"Oh yeah… that car accident your dad had? Yeah, I paid the driver to mess with the brakes."
"And your mom? I was the one who pulled her oxygen mask. Sent her off personally."
"Oliver Crane, I swear I hate you to my bones! Even if I turn into a ghost, you’ll never have peace!"
Victoria Lee stared at him, eyes bloodshot and fierce, the last breath leaving her lips as her body slowly went cold.
She died bearing hatred.
——
Wall Street, New York.
At the top of a sleek skyscraper.
A man sat behind a large office desk, perfectly tailored suit hugging his tall frame. Every gesture carried an effortless air of power.
With golden sunlight filtering through the massive windows, his sharp features looked even more striking—like they were sculpted, dangerously captivating.
"Mr. Harlow, we found the woman from that night nine months ago, the one you were set up with..." The assistant walked in swiftly, laid the file on the desk, hesitating mid-sentence.
Domenic Harlow’s gaze landed on the photo. An oval-shaped face, delicate brows, defined features, and a high ponytail. A flicker of shock crossed his face.
The hazy blur in his memory suddenly sharpened into focus.
"Where is she now?" His voice darkened, knuckles tightening faintly.
"She… passed away last night during childbirth. Massive hemorrhage. They didn’t save her… or the baby." The assistant braced himself, stealing a glance at his boss.
The room dropped into a chilling silence.
Domenic’s expression turned ice-cold, jaw clenched tight. "Find out everything. If there’s anything shady behind her death, I’ll make sure those responsible pay—no mercy."
——
"Victoria, once I’m officially in the Crane family, we’ll get engaged!"
The gentle voice beside her made Victoria turn her head stiffly. Seeing Oliver Crane’s familiar smile made her heart twist with rage.
Thank god—she’d come back before he was fully accepted into the Crane family.
In her previous life, she’d given away billions of assets without her father James Lee’s knowledge, helping Oliver win the Crane family’s approval and inherit the legacy.
After their engagement, he'd climbed fast in the business world, all because of her family's power.
That bastard, once seen as an unwanted son, had turned into a rising star in the corporate world.
Footsteps echoed from the stairs above. A middle-aged man carefully helped an elderly gentleman, upright and dignified, down the steps.
Oliver stood up quickly, clearly nervous. "Mr. Crane, Mr. Henry…"
Victoria stayed seated, her mind flashing back to this exact day—when she came with Oliver to formally connect him to the Crane family, handing over everything to him.
Henry Crane gave a polite nod. But when his eyes landed on Victoria, a small approving smile appeared.
"Miss Lee, did you bring the documents?"
Victoria’s fingers twitched, then clenched tightly around her purse. She stood and gave a casual smile.
"Actually, I’ve reconsidered. Honestly, it feels like a bad deal. Whether your family wants to accept Oliver or not—what’s it gotta do with me?"
Was she really that stupid and generous in her past life, handing everything over to a backstabbing fox?
Without waiting for their reactions, she turned and walked off briskly.
"Victoria Lee, come back here!"