The moment River saw that property deed, his face went ghost white, like he couldn’t believe his eyes.


    “How… how is this possible? My parents took the deed… this can’t…”


    I was about to let him have it with a cold snort when Vivian, who’d been silent this whole time, marched right up to me.


    “What the hell is that supposed to mean? So what if my name’s on there? Didn’t you give this house to my brother? If it’s his, he can put whoever’s name he wants on it. What’s it to you?”


    “Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts? Want to take the house back? Ha! And here I thought you were some rich daddy’s girl. Turns out you’re just petty and cheap…”


    Watching Vivian run her mouth with that smug look stered all over her face, I couldn’t stop thinking about those disgusting photos in that folder.


    I’d had enough.


    My hand flew across her face with a sharp crack, cutting her off mid–sentence.


    Vivian never saw iting–my p sent her crashing to the floor.


    River was shocked by my sudden move. He shoved me aside and rushed to help Vivian up.


    The second their eyes met, Vivian’s filled with tears, putting on this whole wounded puppy actplete opposite of her bitchy attitude from seconds before.


    “I just couldn’t stand watching her treat you like that. I got a little carried away.”


    “You’re my brother–the one I’ve always looked up to. How can you let her walk all over you like this? I just wanted to protect


    you!”


    As she spoke, fat tears started rolling down her cheeks.


    Forget River–even I was almost buying this pitiful performance.


    But now I couldn’t say anything.


    River’s shove had been brutal–my lower back mmed hard into the corner of the coffee table, and the sudden pain made it impossible to get up.


    My abdomen felt like someone was squeezing it in a vise, every pore in my body screaming in agony.


    Vivian’s shaky voice reached my ears.


    “Blood… there’s so much blood beneath her…”


    I finally couldn’t hold on anymore and cked outpletely.


    When I came to, I was in the hospital.


    Before I could process what happened, River’s mom was already going off.


    moment she finally gets pregnant, she loses it! She’s trying to end our family line!”


    “You heartless witch, I know you did this on purpose! Vivian is our adopted daughter, River’s sister! Just because we added Vivian’s name to the deed, you threw this tantrum and killed my grandson. You’re nothing but a petty, poisonous shrew!”


    Hearing River’s mom’s words, my throat tightened as my hand instinctively moved to my stomach.


    Had there really been a child there?


    Before I even knew he existed, he was already gone forever.


    The thought filled me with rage.


    I pointed at River and Vivian standing nearby and confronted his mother.


    “You keep saying they’re siblings–tell me the truth! Are they actually brother and sister or not!” <fn7888> Updates are released by Find_Novel(.</fn7888>


    At my challenge, both River’s parents‘ faces shed with guilt, and my heart plummeted.


    By now, what didn’t I understand?


    From the very beginning, River’s parents knew exactly what was going on between them. I was the only one who’d been kept in the dark this whole time.


    River quickly stepped forward, shielding me as he addressed his mother.


    “Mom, nobody wanted to lose the baby. Maya’s the child’s mother–she’s obviously hurting the most. Stop making things worse and just go home.”


    Then River turned and took my hands.


    “It’s okay, Maya. We’re still young. We’ll have more children. Don’t worry–I’ll be right here with you.”


    Looking at River’s tender expression made me want to puke.


    Without hesitation, I hit the nurse call button.


    “Nurse, please get all these people out of my room!”


    A nurse arrived quickly. River looked like he wanted to say something, but seeing my stone–cold expression, he swallowed his


    words.


    “Maya, I know you’re upset. Get some rest–I’lle check on youter<b>.</b>”


    Once all four members of the Reed family left, the room finally fell quiet.


    I stared at the door and pulled out my phone to call my brother.


    “Marcus, I need you to look into thepany’s cash flow over the past few years and all of River’s assets. I’m filing for divorce.”