Chapter 306

Chloe Valentine's fingers trembled as she listened to the dial tone on the other end of the line.

Again.

Always using this tactic to threaten her.

Margaret Evans let out a cold laugh and tossed her phone onto the couch. She knew Chloe's weakness all too well—that unborn child was her only bargaining chip.

This woman wouldn't dare make a real move.

With this realization, Margaret suddenly found her past days of swallowing her pride utterly ridiculous.

She'd deliberately sent all the household staff away, just to let Chloe taste the bitterness of isolation.

"Serves her right." Adjusting her face mask in the mirror, she hummed a tune.

At the nurses' station, two on-duty nurses exchanged glances.

"Rich family feuds are terrifying."

"That's why mistresses always get their comeuppance."

......

Chloe had been lying in the hospital bed for forty-eight straight hours.

Severe hemorrhaging had sent her back to the operating room.

When she was wheeled out, her entire body looked drained of color, her lips pale with a bluish tint. Though her eyes were open, she lacked even the strength to speak.

Infection compounded by massive blood loss.

This time, she'd truly suffered.

Only a temporary hired caregiver bustled around the VIP ward.

She'd called Nathan Evans countless times—all unanswered. The nurses' attempts to reach Margaret also yielded no response.

They'd abandoned her completely.

Physical agony and mental collapse drove her to hysteria.

The entire nursing staff avoided her yet had no choice but to deal with her.

What else could they do? She was a VIP patient.

......

Margaret was at the mahjong table when Isabella Evans called.

"What? The baby's gone?"

Her tile clattered onto the table.

How?

No matter how intense their fights had been before, the pregnancy had always been fine. Why couldn't it be saved this time?

"Mom, forget about that five hundred million. Let's just take our rightful share."

An emptiness filled Margaret's chest.

For the lost fortune, and for the grandchild she'd never met.

It was a life, after all. Blame that worthless mother of his!

If she'd just obediently carried the child to term, she could've lived in luxury. Instead, she had to make trouble.

Then again, what good genes could a woman like that produce? Maybe losing it was a blessing.

All that scheming, only to end up with nothing.

She even found herself missing Evelyn Langley.

Though from an ordinary background, at least she'd been sensible and attentive, taking perfect care of Nathan. Most importantly, she'd had dignity!

Never shameless like Chloe.

Margaret startled at her own thoughts.

Why did Evelyn keep coming to mind lately? Especially during those days waiting on Chloe.

Ah, comparisons are odious.

Not that she'd ever admit a single good thing about Evelyn.

......

Chloe lay in the hospital bed, her hollow gaze fixed on the ceiling.

A soulless husk.

She couldn't understand—why hadn't Nathan come? Where had Margaret gone?

Hadn't that old hag cared most about the baby in her womb?

Why had she disappeared now?

She waited and waited, until her tears ran dry. Yet the first person to push open her hospital room door turned out to be...