When Love Descends Into Darkness

The moment I grabbed my phone, I sighed in relief.

No one knew that I—an orphan—had found my biological parents a year ago. But back then, I had been blindly and hopelessly in love with Caleb, so I hadn't reunited with them.

Thus, they had left me a phone number, telling me to call them if I ever needed anything and that they would always be there for me.

I used to believe Caleb would protect me forever. Now, I saw how pathetic I had been to think that.

My biggest mistake wasn't just loving the wrong man—it was handing over my entire life and love to someone who had never had a heart to begin with.

When Yvette was six months pregnant, she asked Caleb to go abroad with her to ensure a smooth pregnancy. He agreed without hesitation.

Not only that, but he bought her a house overseas, making sure she was as comfortable as possible.

Before leaving, he told me, "Natalie, just stay home and take care of yourself. I'll be there when the baby is born. Once Yvette gives birth, everything will be over. I'll make it up to you by then."

I listened to him and never argued.

Caleb watched me for a long time. His gaze lingered like he was trying to read my mind. For a second, I almost thought he saw through me.

Then, Yvette called his name, snapping him out of it. He turned away, only to stop abruptly and glance back at me with sharp, unwavering eyes.

"You need to keep this baby, Natalie. If you still want to be my wife, you'll have to give birth to it."

How laughable. Even now, he still thought the title of Mrs. Lawson held power over me.

I didn't even want this baby anymore. Why would I still want to be his wife?

"Then can I move back into my old room?" I asked.

Caleb didn't even hesitate to refuse. "No. That room belongs to Yvie now. Don't touch her things—she wouldn't be happy about it."

So, even with Yvette gone, I was still stuck in that tiny storage room. So, that was what Mrs. Lawson was worth.

Once Caleb and Yvette left, the weight pressing down on my chest finally eased.

I glanced at my phone. In 12 hours, my parents would come for me. I was worried that they might be at a disadvantage with so many bodyguards here.

But over the phone, Dad just laughed. "Don't worry, Nat. The Lawson family wouldn't dare cross me. You're my only heir. Anyone who dares to lay a hand on you is declaring war against me. And I'll make sure they pay a gruesome price for that."

His words sent a wave of relief through me. But before I could even take a bite of food, Patricia and Albert barged in, along with Caleb's parents, Grace Samson and Frank Lawson.

They stood over me, looking down at me as if my very existence was an insult to them.

Grace didn't spare me a glance before tossing a stack of divorce papers onto the table.

"You're not worthy of being Mrs. Lawson, and that fatherless child of yours has no right to be born. Sign the papers, and we'll let this go," she said.

Patricia sneered. "You're being so kind. After what she's done, the whole world should know just how shameless she is."

I met her gaze coldly. "And what about your daughter? She seduced a married man and got pregnant. Is she any better?"

The Grant family claimed to be superior, but they were willing to let their daughter be a homewrecker for the sake of wealth. At the end of the day, they were just as rotten as the rest.

A sharp slap cracked across my face.

"How dare you compare yourself to Yvie? She and Caleb are a perfect match. You're just an orphan. Do you really think you deserve to be Mrs. Lawson?" Grace spat.

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and stared at them. I wanted to commit their faces to memory and burn every expression into my mind.

I grabbed the pen and signed the divorce papers without a second thought.

They didn't even let me breathe before dragging me straight to the hospital.

Just before the procedure, I looked at them indifferently. "If the baby I'm carrying is actually Caleb's, and Yvette's baby is the one without a father, will you ever regret this?"