But Aaron didn’t flinch. He simply stared at her—eyes cold, dead, unfamiliar. How had he ever been fooled by her pathetic lies? Her acting was laughable. And yet, somehow, he’d let himself believe it all. With a sudden movement, he grabbed her outstretched hand.

Nancy’s eyes lit up for a brief second, a spark of hope flashing in their tear-filled depths—until he began bending her fingers back, one by one.

Her scream tore through the room like a siren, raw and piercing. Finally, her tears were real.

“You used that baby to hurt Cassidy,” Aaron said, voice icy. “Clearly, it never meant anything to you.” He leaned closer, voice now a venomous whisper. “Luckily for both of us, I don’t want it either.”

He turned to the guards, voice like ice. “Take her to the clinic. Get rid of it. No anesthesia. Bring her back when you’re done.”

Nancy’s head snapped up in shock. Her tears hadn’t even dried.

“No—Aaron, please! You can’t do this to me…to our baby…” Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper, like a dying bird’s last cry.

Aaron didn’t even flinch. “The moment you laid a hand on my wife,” he said, “you gave up any right to that child.”

Nancy crumbled. She just stared at him, broken, numb. And then the horror dawned: he knew. He knew everything.

“Aaron, please,” she sobbed, desperation choking her. “I know I messed up, I admit it! But you said this was your first baby, that you’d give it everything, that you’d take care of us. You said you’d take responsibility!”

Aaron looked down at her like she was a stranger. “My baby would be the one in Cassidy’s womb. The one inside you?” His voice dropped to a whisper. “It stopped being mine the second you hurt her.”

Then he turned his back. “Well?” he snapped. “What are you waiting for? Drag her out!”

The guards didn’t hesitate. They seized her limbs as she screamed and kicked, but it was useless. Aaron didn’t even glance back.

Nancy didn’t understand how things had turned so fast. Just days ago, she’d been this close to becoming Mrs. Mackey. Now she was sprawled on the floor like some rabid stray, about to be butchered like an animal. And even her father wasn’t safe.

The sharp stab of a needle entered her without warning—no sedative, no mercy. The pain was like wildfire tearing through her insides. Her screams echoed through the entire estate, so loud they made the walls tremble. Only now did she begin to understand—just a sliver—of the agony she’d put me through.

Aaron sat silently in his study, cold and unmoving.

When they finally brought Nancy back, she was nearly unrecognizable. Her belly, once swollen, had collapsed. Blood stained her thighs. She was barely conscious, her breathing ragged.

Aaron didn’t even blink. “Now you feel pain?” he said softly. “Good. But it’s nothing compared to what Cassidy went through.” He leaned down, his eyes full of hate. “I’m not letting you die just yet. You’ll pay for everything you’ve done. And your father?”

Aaron sneered. “He’s been crying about wanting to die for years. Maybe it’s time someone gave him what he asked for.” His assistant gave a silent nod and left to carry out the order.

Nancy stared at Aaron in utter despair, unable to wrap her head around how everything had spiraled so fast. Just a moment ago, she’d been one step away from becoming the next Mrs. Mackey. Now, she was sprawled on the cold floor like a stray dog, waiting for the punishment she knew was coming. Even her father was going to suffer the consequences of Aaron’s wrath.