Seven Years of Sacrifices

When I returned to the hospital room, I saw Cassian standing at the door.

He frowned at me before letting out a mocking laugh. "Why aren’t you playing the victim anymore? It seems like you're in great shape running around right after giving birth. Do you not need for postpartum recovery, huh?"

"I'm planning to bring Tessa to live in the villa. She's young, delicate and doesn't know how to do housework. So go ahead and get your discharge papers sorted. You can come back and be our maid."

As he spoke, Cassian leaned in closer, his face twisted in a cruel smile. "The sight of you in pain is the best aphrodisiac for me."

He stared at me intently, hoping to see me break down, to watch me crumble under his words.

But I remained utterly calm and so numb that even pain felt distant.

Finding it boring, Cassian turned to a passing nurse and blocked her path.

"Was the baby a boy or a girl? Bring it over. I want to see."

The young nurse looked panicked.

I sighed helplessly. "Grandpa took the baby away."

Cassian seemed like he wanted to say more, but just then, his phone rang.

As soon as he answered, his expression changed drastically.

The next moment, he slapped me hard across the face.

"Leona, what did you do to Tessa? If anything happens to her, I will never forgive you!"

Already weak, I stumbled from the force of the slap, crashing into the railing behind me.

The nurse hurriedly stepped forward to support me.

"Mr. Harland, she just gave birth! If you keep this up, you’ll kill her!"

But Cassian acted as if he hadn't heard a word.

Without a second glance at me, he rushed out, completely consumed by his concern for Tessa.

The nurse looked at me with sympathy, but my pale face remained expressionless.

It was as if seven years of torment had drained every last drop of emotion from me.

After examining me, the doctor advised me to rest.

I finally understood why Cassian was so furious.

The child was gone. Thomas was overwhelmed with grief and anger and he ordered a complete ban on Tessa across the entire internet.

Tessa mistakenly thought it was my revenge. She exaggerated the situation and went to Cassian to complain.

That was why Cassian laid hands on me.

But that wasn’t all.

Cassian revoked my shareholder status in the Harland Group and replaced me with Tessa.

To please her, he even bought a gold mine and named it after her.

During an interview, Tessa proudly flaunted the diamond ring on her hand.

"I never considered myself a homewrecker. If a woman can’t hold onto her husband’s heart, she deserves to be left alone. Besides, the current Mrs. Harland only married into the Harland Family for money. But I’m different. I truly love Cassian with all my heart."

The comments were sharply divided.

A group of brainless fanatic fans tagged my account, hurling all kinds of insults and demands for me to step aside for Tessa.

I looked at it all, feeling only ridicule.

After so many years, Cassian’s tricks to woo women hadn’t changed one bit.

Back then, he did the same to me.

When he found out that I came from a poor family and had never celebrated a birthday, he gave me twenty gifts on my twentieth birthday, from a gold locket for a one-year-old to a villa for a twenty-year-old.

He said it was to make up for the hardships I had endured over the past twenty years.

I still remember that night. Under the vast starry sky, he held my hand and said, "Leona, I was raised by my grandfather after losing my parents at a young age. I understand your feelings. From now on, I will treat your grandmother like my own and build the happiest family with you."

I melted in his deep, affectionate gaze, naively believing that I had found someone to spend my life with.

But later, when the novelty wore off…