Chapter 10 After wrapping up a company meeting, Tristan's phone rang. On the other end, Hillary's trembling voice carried a sob. "Tristan... I just had my prenatal checkup. The doctor says the baby is anemic and malnourished. They need an emergency transfusion... Those blood bags from last time aren't enough anymore..." A chill gripped Tristan's chest. This was his only child-he couldn't let anything happen. He rushed to the hospital to confirm her condition, then immediately pulled every string he had o track down rare panda blood. Every lead came back with the same answer: either no stock or a long wait for a match. Back into a corner, he forced himself to dial Meredith's number. This is for Hillary and the baby, he told himself. 'Not because I want to bow my head.' But the cold automated voice that answered made his blood run cold. "The number you have lialed is no longer in service. Please check the number and try again..." His heart lurched. Refusing to believe it, he dialed again. Once, twice, a dozen times-until he ad to admit the truth. He'd been blocked. He tried WhatsApp, only to be met with the sharp sting of a red exclamation mark. Meredith! You've got guts-blocking me?!" His voice was a low snarl, knuckles turned bone-white as he gripped the phone. From the bed, Hillary pushed herself up, eyes glistening with tears. "Tristan, I'm sorry... It's all my ault. I made you suffer this humiliation because of me. My useless body..." ristan swallowed his fury and took her hand. "Don't say that. This isn't your fault. I won't le nything happen to you or the baby." A flash of venom glinted in Hillary's tearful eyes. "It must be Meredith! First she ruined my rother. Now she wants to kill our child. She won't rest until I'm broken!" ristan stayed silent. She grew more agitated, voice cracking. The baby is my bottom line! Tristan, will you really stand by while she keeps tormenting us? You could make her wish she were dead!" She's already suffered enough. What more do you want from her?!" The words slipped out before he could stop them. Hillary froze. Her lips trembled. "You... You raised your voice at me because of her? What have I done wrong? All I wanted was to protect our baby! Why are you so defensive unless... unless you still care about that woman?" "I..." Tristan's breath caught. She had struck at the very doubt gnawing at his soul. Once, he and Hillary had been deeply in love, but the Palmer family had torn them apart. Then came the accident that convinced him she had died. In his grief, he had nearly followed her to death-until Meredith appeared, healing his wounds, giving him a reason to live again. By the time he learned Hillary had survived, he was already married to Meredith. He chose silence. Partly to protect Hillary. Partly out of hatred-hatred toward Meredith for daring to step into the place Hillary once held in his heart. So he crafted a plan: keep Hillary hidden as his forbidden lover, promise her his child, and make Meredith pay for every slight Hillary had endured. But only now did he realize... that so-called hatred had twisted into something he couldn't name. Hillary's eyes widened as his silence stretched. Panic seized her. With trembling fingers, she ripped out her IV line. Scarlet drops spattered across the pristine sheets. "Tristan!" she cried, her voice breaking. "Have you fallen in love with Meredith?"