In the days that followed, Emma lived like a ghost in her own home.


    She watched as Braydon bent over backward to please Caitlin-


    how he came up with new ways every day to make her smile, how he prepared her tonics, and how he even pushed backpany meetings just to cheer her up.


    One day, when Braydon was out, Caitlin deliberately blocked Emma''s path, her nose in the air as she gloated.


    "So what if you married Braydon? He promised me that this baby will carry hisst name-


    and more than that, he''ll be the sole heir to the Lederer Group! And the one you''re carrying? Just a bastard."


    Emma was headed downstairs to get a ss of water. Without even ncing at her, she turned slightly to move past.


    That indifference set Caitlin off.


    "Emma, are you still pretending to be better than everyone when you''re already this pathetic?"


    She suddenly lunged forward and shoved Emma hard.


    Caught off guard, Emma stumbled backward.


    Everything spun. Then came a dull, sickening thud


    as the back of her head struck the stair railing-and the world went ck.


    When she woke up, she was already in the hospital.


    Braydon stood at the bedside, and the first


    thing out of his mouth was a harsh usation. "It wasn''t enough that you got Caitlin''s parents hurt- you had to push her down the stairs too? Are you


    seriously telling me you didn''t know she was pregnant?"


    Each word stabbed her straight through the heart.


    Emma gave a shakyugh, her whole body trembling from it.


    "Braydon," she rasped, "do I look like an idiot to you?"


    "What?"


    "If I wanted


    to hurt her," she said slowly, propping herself up, "why am I the one lying in a hospital bed right now?"


    "Because you panicked after pushing her and threw yourself down the stairs to make it look like an ident!" Braydon''s eyes burned with disappointment. “Emma, I don''t even recognize you anymore. You agre He turned toward the door. "I''m noting back. You need to think about what you''ve done."


    With that, he walked out, mming the hospital room door behind him.


    Emma stared at the ceiling, her eyes welling with silent tears.


    She took a slow, steady breath and repeated to herself, "It''s almost over. Just a little longer."


    The day she was discharged was also the day the mandatory divorce cooling-


    off period ended.


    Emma went straight to the courthouse and picked up the divorce certificate.


    Back at the house, she began packing up her things, finally ready to leave it all behind.


    As she dragged her suitcase downstairs, Braydon walked in unexpectedly.


    "What eyeing of the


    you doing?" He frowned,


    got out


    hospital, and you''re alret luggage. "You just


    SWO


    donating stuff again?"


    He thought she was once again giving away all the luxury goods he''d bought her.


    Emma didn''t bother exining.


    Braydon stepped closer and pulled out a gilded invitation from his suit pocket Caitlin''s


    kind-hearted-she''s letting bygones be bygones. It''s her birthday today. Grab a nice gift ande with me."


    Emma was about to decline when his phone rang.


    Caitlin''s sweet voice floated out. "Braydòn, where are you? Everyone''s waiting..."


    "I''m on my way," Braydon replied


    warmly, then turned to Emma. "It''s getting date. I''ll head over first. You go finish your ''donating'' and meet us there. Don''t forget the gift." With that, he walked out. ''


    Emma stared after him, then suddenlyughed.


    Oh, she''d bring a gift, alright-one that no one would ever forget.


    She ced the divorce certificate and the miscarriage report neatly into a gift box and called a courier.


    "Deliver it to this address," she said calmly. "Make sure they open it in front of everyone."


    Once the courier was gone, Emma rolled her suitcase out the door without looking back. The sun was shining brightly.


    She took a deep breath and stepped forward into her new life.