As Kaelen stared in horror, Cassia slowly emerged from the shadows, as if she had been waiting there for some time.

Her eyes, filled with a suffocating chill, were fixed on the two of them standing together.

She yanked Kaelen to her side.

Seraphina was visibly taken aback. She looked at Kaelen and asked, "You're Ms. Thorne's husband?"

She had no idea that Kaelen and Cassia were married.

All she knew was that his family had fallen on hard times after graduation and he had disappeared for a while…

Kaelen gave a stiff nod.

Seraphina's eyes filled with disbelief.

If Kaelen was Cassia Thorne's husband, why would he be working in a place like The Gilded Orchid?

A playful, dangerous smile touched Cassia’s lips. "Darling," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "aren't you going to introduce me?"

For years, the only time Cassia ever called him "darling" was when she was furious.

A shiver ran down Kaelen's spine. "We met in college. This is my senior, Seraphina Morrow."

Cassia draped herself over Kaelen’s arm. "So my husband and Ms. Morrow have such a history."

"When my baby is born, I hope Ms. Morrow will come and celebrate with us."

Her baby?

Seraphina nodded awkwardly.

"Congratulations to you both. I'll definitely be there. By the way, Ms. Thorne, someone just attacked Kaelen. You should check the security footage later and hand them over to the police."

With that, she excused herself, saying she had to go look after her mother, who was also a patient here.

The moment she was gone, Cassia’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint within them.

Her hand, which had been resting on Kaelen’s arm, tightened its grip.

"My husband is quite capable, isn't he? Luring clients all the way to the hospital? Can't you stay quiet even when I'm pregnant?"

Kaelen sucked in a sharp breath, the pain a needle in his soul.

Cassia continued, "You brought today's beating on yourself. Aidan is mentally unstable, and you provoked him first!"

Kaelen’s pupils contracted in shock.

So she had seen it all? Him hitting Aidan, and Aidan ordering the bodyguards to beat him?

His throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton. It took him a long moment to force out a hoarse sound.

"You really hate me. And you really love Aidan Vance."

His eyes reddened. "But I don't understand. If you loved him so much, why did you marry me three years ago?"

Meeting Kaelen’s grief-stricken gaze, Cassia felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest.

She couldn't answer.

Kaelen didn't ask again.

He went to the doctor's office to ask about his condition.

Why did Cassia say it was just low blood sugar, while Aidan claimed he had terminal stomach cancer?

But the doctor looked troubled. "I'm sorry, Mr. Rivers. Ms. Thorne has given strict orders. No one is to treat you without her permission."

At that moment, Kaelen felt as if he had forgotten how to cry.

He just confirmed, "The terminal stomach cancer… is it true?"

The doctor sighed and nodded.

Kaelen walked out of the office, his movements stiff. He saw Cassia standing a short distance away, watching him intently.

"I am going to have this baby. And don't you forget, the fate of the Rivers Corporation is in my hands now."

When Kaelen married into the Thorne family, he had brought the entire Rivers Corporation with him.

He never imagined it would become the tool Cassia used to threaten him.

The thought that he was dying while his wife carried another man's child in her womb made his emotions finally shatter.

"Cassia, you're disgusting!"

"Why are you doing this to me? You know this child…"

Kaelen couldn't finish the sentence.

A layer of ice formed on Cassia's beautiful face. "Do you have any idea that because of you, Aidan nearly lost the ability to be a father?!"

"I'm being merciful, letting you continue to live in this world!"

Aidan…

It was always Aidan…

Kaelen didn't know how he made it back to his room.

For the next few days, he didn't have to go to The Gilded Orchid. He just stayed in the hospital.

Martha would bring him meals, and doctors would come to check on him.

But they never gave him any treatment.

Day by day, Kaelen's condition worsened.

He couldn't eat much, and he grew frighteningly thin.

Cassia only came to see him occasionally.

During his stay, he would sometimes run into Seraphina.

Her mother was ill and required a long-term hospital stay, so she was there every day.

Six months later.

Kaelen was sitting on a chair on the balcony, his eyes vacant as he watched the people coming and going outside.

Cassia pushed the door open and saw his back, so thin it barely looked human.

She walked over and handed him a document.

"Sign it."

Kaelen's gaze fell on the paper. In bold letters, it read: DIVORCE AGREEMENT.