“Isabella is throwing a party here tonight to celebrate her pregnancy.”

Before I could refuse, Leo cut me off.

“She’s been thinking about you and wanted you to come share in the good news. Don’t be so ungrateful.”

I laughed coldly and said fine.

My heart was already dead anyway. I had already contacted a divorce lawyer—a top attorney specializing in this kind of family business.

Isabella’s petty games couldn’t hurt me anymore.

We entered the lavishly decorated private room. A dolled-up Isabella made her grand entrance.

I had just been discharged, looking haggard and exhausted.

In comparison, she was a blooming rose, beautiful and thorny.

The room was filled with art-world socialites and hangers-on from smaller families loyal to the Morettis. They all showered her with praise.

“Our great artist Isabella is so progressive! She turned down so many suitors just to be an independent single mother.”

“Well, she’s talented and beautiful, she can afford to raise a child on her own. Unlike some women who have to rely on their marriage and beg their husbands for money!”

Subtle and not-so-subtle glances were thrown my way, dripping with mockery.

Isabella smiled, ordered several bottles of expensive champagne, and announced that tonight was on her.

Someone suggested a game of “Truth or Dare” to liven things up.

The empty bottle spun and pointed first at Isabella. She pouted playfully. “I’ll choose truth.”

Her best friend asked with a wink, “Isabella, since you had the baby via a ‘donor,’ will you let the child acknowledge Leo as his father?”

Isabella stroked her belly and smiled at me.

“Nora, I know you’re upset about this and have been fighting with Leo. But please, rest assured, I would never destroy your marriage. After all, you know if I wanted to marry into the Moretti family, you never would have had the chance.”

“But… if you continue to be unable to produce an heir, when you’re old, I’ll have my son take care of you and Leo. It would be too sad for you otherwise.”

The crowd praised her for being so kind and magnanimous.

I felt nothing. I didn’t even raise an eyebrow.

In the past two years, especially after Leo consolidated his power, Isabella had suddenly reappeared, constantly by his side.

At first, I was shocked, angry, and jealous.

But Leo chose her time and time again, calling me childish, petty, and accusing me of slandering their “pure relationship.” My heart had long grown cold.

“I don’t mind. In fact, if you want me to go file the divorce papers right now, I have no objections.”

Leo’s face instantly darkened. He leaned in and whispered a warning not to say things I didn’t mean.

I gave him a cool smile. “And I’d advise you not to be so full of yourself. Do you really think you’re still that important to me?”

A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

“Alright, stop being so petty. Look at how generous and considerate Isabella is, always thinking of you. So I haven’t spent time with you lately. I’ll be home for the next few days. Are you satisfied now?”

Sensing the tension, someone quickly called for the next round.

This time, the bottle pointed at me.

I was about to choose truth when Isabella cut in.

“I chose truth last time, so how about a dare for this one?”

I watched her antics with cold indifference. I didn't care anymore.

The dare I drew was: Kiss the first man you see when you walk out of this room.

Without a word, Leo pushed three bottles of champagne in front of me.

“She can’t do that. She’ll take the penalty. Drink these three.”

The crowd laughed, agreeing.

Her husband was sitting right there. Kissing another man would be a grave insult to the Moretti family.

But I stood up. “Why should I back down? Isabella wanted me to do this game, didn’t she? I’m not a sore loser.”

Leo shot up from his seat, his expression turning monstrous.

“Eleonora, you’re deliberately trying to piss me off tonight, aren’t you?”

I truly couldn’t understand him. He saw nothing wrong with fathering a child for another woman and told me not to make a big deal of it.

But now I was just playing a game, and he was losing his mind.

Isabella quickly stepped between us, trying to play peacemaker, but her eyes kept darting toward my stomach. “The alcohol content is really low. It won’t do any harm.”

Her words only fueled Leo’s rage. He popped a cork and tried to force the bottle to my lips.

“Everyone is giving you an out, why do you have to be the one to ruin the mood?”

I choked on the champagne. In his aggressive movement, wine sprayed everywhere, splashing all over my face.

A thought of the baby in my womb sent a jolt of panic through me. I stumbled backward, trying to push him away.

Suddenly, my heel caught on something. I lost my balance and fell backward, landing hard on the room’s marble floor.

A searing pain shot from my lower abdomen. I clutched my stomach, crying out.

Leo’s face paled. He reached out to help me, but his words were still laced with bravado. “You just fell on your ass, you’re not going to die.”

Just then, a woman near me screamed.

“Blood! There’s blood all over the floor!”