During my divorce hearing, the judge ruled that I would leave the courtroom with nothing. My husband stood beside his mistress wearing a smug expression that made it obvious he thought he had already won. “We’ll see how you and that baby survive without me,” he sneered. I lowered my head and swallowed the humiliation, until the courtroom doors suddenly exploded open. A billionaire walked inside, his eyes locked directly on me. “Without you, my daughter and grandchild will live like royalty.” The smile vanished from my husband’s face instantly.

The trap was executed perfectly.

Vanguard’s subsidiary companies funneled the required fifty million dollars through hidden trust funds, providing Patrick with the financial lifeline he so desperately sought.

Late on Thursday night, I sat in the library carefully reviewing the specific legal clauses of the contract he was scheduled to execute the following morning. Every sentence had been carefully crafted to act as a trap.

Suddenly, an intense pain shot across my lower abdomen.

I gasped loudly, dropping the digital stylus onto the floor.

Another severe contraction hit my body immediately after, tightening around my spine like a band of hot iron.

I was not supposed to give birth for another three weeks.

Then I looked down at the floor and saw fluid soaking into the rug beneath my chair.

My baby was coming right now.

And Patrick was about to sign the loan documents downtown.

“You must move to the medical wing immediately,” Dr. Mercer said urgently in the main hallway while checking my rapid pulse. “Your contractions are coming every four minutes.”

“I have less than an hour,” I gasped out, gripping the edge of a marble table as another wave of pain hit me.

“Serena,” Gavin commanded, his face tight as he paced with his cane. “This is complete madness. I will send our legal team to handle the signing. You need to focus on giving birth.”

“No,” I snapped back, my voice strong despite the pain.

Everyone in the hallway froze in surprise.

I forced myself to stand completely upright.

“He took my dignity away in front of a courtroom full of people. I am going to destroy his career in person. Get the car ready right now.”

Forty-five minutes later, I stood outside the main glass conference room at Patrick’s corporate headquarters in the city center.

I was wearing a striking crimson maternity suit with my hair pulled back into a sleek knot. Severe pain was radiating through my entire body, but deep anger kept my posture straight.

Through the clear glass wall, I could see Patrick clearly.

He had just uncorked a bottle of fine champagne. His board members were standing around the table, laughing, clapping, and celebrating their apparent victory.

“To the successful acquisition of Aether Tech,” Patrick announced, raising his glass high. “And to our next billion dollars!”

CHAPTER 9
09/10/2026

I did not bother to knock on the door.

I pushed open the heavy glass doors and walked straight inside, flanked by Vanguard’s top attorneys and security personnel.