Chapter 260:

Flashback (23 Years Ago)

Narrator’s POV

Violet stood frozen, her hand involuntarily pressing against her stomach as it began to contract in a steady, unsettling rhythm. A bitter lump settled in her throat, as if the city’s suffocating air refused to enter her lungs. This wasn’t just a passing ailment; inside her mind, doubts were gnawing at her peace, confirming a single truth she was trying to outrun: she was pregnant.

Every sign surrounded her like prison bars. She had slept with that dangerous man nicknamed "The Snake" just a month ago—a night where all caution had vanished, and no contraception was used. Now, the consequences were surfacing as sudden bouts of dizziness that made the world spin, and persistent nausea that drained her strength, not to mention the missed period that acted as a blaring alarm.

As a medical student, she understood her body’s language perfectly. She didn’t need years of study to realize that a life had begun to form within her womb, but she fought this reality with every fiber of her being, screaming internally, refusing to believe that one mistake could destroy all her plans.

Thomas noticed the pallor that had invaded her face and her labored breathing. He approached her with concerned steps, confusion etched on his face as he asked, "Violet... your face looks like a fading candle. What’s wrong, my love?"

She swallowed hard, struggling to paint a faint, fake smile on her trembling lips. "Nothing, Thomas... don’t worry. It’s probably just a bit of food poisoning from last night’s dinner."

Thomas wasn’t convinced. He knitted his brows, his concern deepening, and reached out to take her hands. "I don’t like the look of you at all," he said firmly. "I’m taking you to the hospital immediately to check on you."

Her body jolted as if struck by an electric shock. She recoiled a step, waving her hands in a panic she desperately tried to suppress. "No! I don’t want to go to any hospital. I told you I’m fine; it doesn’t require all this."

Thomas sighed, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder to soothe her. "Violet, be logical... I’ll be worried the whole time if we don’t find the cause of this fatigue."

She exhaled sharply in visible annoyance, hiding the tremor in her voice that almost betrayed her. "Thomas... please. I said I’m fine and I don’t need a doctor. Just a little rest and it’ll all be over," she said sharply to end the discussion.

He lowered his hand in surrender, though the look of worry never left his eyes. "Fine... as you wish. I won’t pressure you further."

At that moment, anxiety was eating at Violet’s vitals like a hungry beast, but she began taking deep, rhythmic breaths, trying to convince herself that she was exaggerating her fears. It’s illogical to get pregnant from just one night, she thought. She adjusted the strands of hair that had been ruffled by her tension and said, in a desperate attempt to reclaim her mask of strength and femininity, "Come on, Thomas... let’s not ruin our day. Let’s go."

"Should we postpone our trip so I can take you home to rest?" he asked, opening the car door for her with his usual gallantry.

Her eyes gleamed with a spark of possessiveness and greed. "No," she replied decisively. "I want to go to the jewelry store, where we were headed originally... you promised me that piece."

Thomas smiled with a pure heart, unaware of what she was hiding. "Fine... as you wish. Get in the car."

The car set off toward the most prestigious jewelry boutiques in the city. There, Violet didn’t settle for the necklace she had mentioned before; instead, her fingers pointed with calculated charm and greed toward many other pieces studded earrings and eye-catching gold bracelets. She savored every moment Thomas pulled out his card to buy her whatever caught her eye without hesitation. She felt a surge of euphoria as she exploited his generosity and blind love, proving to herself that she could own anything she desired with a single word.

When they left the shop, Violet held the luxury bags like trophies of her victory. Thomas looked at her deeply, taking in her features which had suddenly regained their vitality thanks to the jewelry. "Are you feeling better now, darling? Have you recovered?" he asked warmly.

She adjusted her posture flirtatiously and nodded with a stunning smile. "Yes... I feel perfectly fine now."

Thomas turned to her, a cryptic smile forming on his face. His eyes shone with a brilliance she couldn’t interpret at that moment. "There is another surprise waiting for you," he said in a low voice full of love.

Her eyes widened with curiosity and passion. "A surprise?! What is it? Tell me!" she asked eagerly.

He winked lovingly as he opened the car door for her again. "Get in the car first..." he said promisingly. "And very soon, you will know everything."

They got into the car, and Thomas drove with a calm, steady confidence, while Violet tried desperately to fathom the depths of his silence. With her usual feminine curiosity, she asked him repeatedly, "Tell me, Thomas, where are we going? What is this surprise?" But he only maintained a cryptic smile, casting side glances at her filled with promises without uttering a single word, which only served to fan the flames of her curiosity.

The car finally came to a halt in one of the city’s most prestigious streets, lined with towering buildings of luxurious architecture and marble facades reflecting immense wealth. Violet scanned the area through the car window with questioning eyes. "What are we doing in this upscale neighborhood?" she asked.

Thomas turned off the engine and looked at her, his voice thick with suspense. "You’ll know everything now. Let’s go."

They stepped out of the car and entered a massive building with a grand marble entrance that reeked of opulence. They rode the elevator in silence until they stood before a sleek apartment door on the upper floors. Violet asked in bewilderment as she looked at the elegant door, "Whose house is this, Thomas? Are we visiting one of your friends?"

He ignored her question completely. With a confident motion, he pulled a golden key from his pocket, inserted it into the lock, and pushed the door open. He then stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter as he spoke with a tone of pride: "Welcome to your new home, Violet."

Violet walked in, stunned. She took in the vast living area with its high ceilings, the carefully curated luxury furniture, and the upholstery that screamed wealth. "Do you mean your house?" she asked, her voice nearly choking from shock. "Are we going to live here together?"

Thomas smiled vanity and approached her. "No, my love... it is your house. Yours alone. I bought it for you and registered it in your name, so you could have your own private kingdom."

Violet couldn’t believe Thomas had gone to such lengths; the apartment was a carbon copy of Morgan’s lavish residence, seemingly priced at an exorbitant rate that only the elite could afford. "Thomas... I truly can’t believe this generosity," she whispered, still under the influence of the shock. "It’s too much."

He took her hands tenderly and looked into her eyes. "You deserve nothing less than a palace encrusted with diamonds, my dear. And this apartment is only the beginning."