2 Perhaps the medication had taken effect, as the pain of the contractions gradually lessened. But the blood still gushed from below. I lay weakly on the bed. In a haze, I suddenly heard Martha calling Mr. Miller's name. Hope instantly ignited in my heart. Had he finally softened and decided to send me to the hospital? He still cared about me and the baby. So I gathered all my strength and shouted into Martha's phone. "Liam Miller, quickly! Tell someone to send me to the hospital! The baby really might not make it!" Martha had put the phone on speaker, but what came through was Serena's soft yet arrogant voice. < "Sister, you really need to hold on. Liam is still here with me. He can't spare a thought for you right now." She paused, then instructed Martha. "Martha, make sure you take good care of Mrs. Miller, okay? Make sure she listens to Liam." "Serena, let Liam take the call..." Before I could finish, someone clamped their hand over my mouth, leaving me to only make muffled sounds. Martha smiled fawningly into the phone. "Don't worry, Miss Serena, we've already given her the delay medication. Mr. Miller's instructions will definitely be followed." "That's good." Serena's voice was filled with triumph. "If Sister is still in pain later, I know a method that can both stop the pain and help her last until Liam gets back." "What method?" Martha urgently asked. I held my breath, staring intently at the phone, wanting to hear what twisted idea she'd come up with next. The voice on the phone suddenly turned sinister. "First, hang her upside down, head first, feet up. After five minutes, the baby will slowly retract. Then, find a rope and tie it tightly below her abdomen. That will naturally help her last longer. If that still doesn't work, then..." She deliberately raised her voice: "Like, stitch her up. In short, no matter what method you use, you must wait until Liam returns." I desperately shook my head, but only muffled sounds came out. Martha stood frozen, her face ashen, only managing to force out a sentence after a long moment. "Miss Serena, isn't that... inappropriate? Something bad could happen..." "How could it?" Her voice was full of disdain. "Where I'm from, to make sure the baby is born at a 'good time, people often do this. Babies are resilient, you know." She paused for two seconds, then continued. "Liam is right here next to me, and this is his idea. He's the one who asked me to call and tell you. He said he needs to properly fix Chloe's jealous streak. And he said to protect my baby at all costs. If you go soft, and anything happens to me, Liam will never forgive you." Ignoring the gushing blood from below and the pain of the contractions, I violently broke free from the maids and screamed. "No! Liam wouldn't do this to me and the baby! You're lying! You evil woman! Martha, don't listen to her!" But the next second, two maids roughly pressed me back onto the bed. Tears streaming down my face, I looked at Martha, pleading desperately. "Martha, you're a mother too. Can you really be so heartless towards my baby?" Martha was trembling, sweating profusely, even the hand holding the phone was shaking violently. Serena was relentless. "Liam said he'll divorce her soon. You need to think carefully about who's more important, me or her." Then the phone was abruptly hung up. After a moment of silence, Martha suddenly spoke to the maids. "Let go of Mrs. Miller." A surge of joy filled me. I thought she had finally taken pity on me. I weakly reached out to her. "Martha, quickly, to the hospital. Any later and it will be too late." But she sharply turned her face away, avoiding my gaze, and instructed the maids. "Get some ropes." "Martha, what are you doing? You can't do this!" I stared at her, horrified. But she acted as if she hadn't heard me. Then two maids forcefully pinned me down on the bed. Ropes savagely bit into my hands and feet, instantly leaving raw, bloody marks. Every movement felt like my flesh was being ripped open. "Mrs. Miller, this is for your own good. Please, bear with it." Martha threw out this sentence, then shouted to the maids again. "Bring the metal frame!" "For my own good?" I looked at her, tears streaming uncontrollably. "Don't believe Serena's lies! No matter what, Liam wouldn't treat me like this! He swore he'd never hurt me!" But no one listened. Not a soul. Not until the metal frame was finally wheeled into the room. They grabbed my arms and forcibly dragged me towards the frame. A long trail of blood instantly marked the floor. The baby in my womb seemed to sense the danger, suddenly kicking wildly in my belly. The agonizing contractions returned, and I could barely breathe from the pain. Then, they hung me upside down on the metal frame, head first. My head pounded, the baby violently kicking my abdomen. Black spots danced before my eyes. Tears streamed down my forehead, mixing with my damp, sticky hair. "Liam Miller, please come back and see me! Are you really so heartless?" "Liam Miller, I really can't hold on any longer. The baby will really..." As my consciousness blurred, I thought I saw Liam walking towards me, smiling. Just like before, he kissed my forehead, his voice tender. "Chloe, I'll protect you and our child from now on. Don't cry." "Chloe, I'll give up everything for you, even my life." I reached out, my hand trembling, but I couldn't grasp him.