Elizabeth looked at Anthony with a mixture of disbelief and growing disgust. They sat in a secluded corner of the cafe, but the air between them felt increasingly suffocating.

Anthony leaned in, his voice a low, urgent hiss. "Look, Elizabeth, we both have a reason to want Michael out of the picture. He’s controlled your life and made mine a nightmare. Why don't we team up? You have access to the Thomas Villa. If you can find the encryption keys to his private accounts or get hold of his latest investment strategies, we could drain him of his influence. Once he’s bankrupt, he’ll be nothing."

Elizabeth stared at him as if he were a stranger. Even though she resented Michael’s coldness, the idea of committing a crime—especially against the man she was legally bound to—was abhorrent to her.

"Murdering his career and his legacy is still a betrayal, Anthony," Elizabeth said firmly. "I’m not a thief. And unlike you, I don't think he deserves to lose everything just because you’re bitter."

Anthony grew desperate, reaching out to grab her sleeve. "Elizabeth, don't be naive! Once he's ruined, we can be together. No one will care about the Thomas name anymore. We'll be free!"

Elizabeth yanked her arm away, her eyes cold. "We were together for three years, and you never once had the courage to tell the world I was your girlfriend. Now you want me to commit corporate espionage for you? You’re not a man, Anthony. If you want to take him down, do it yourself. Don't use me as your pawn. I’m done wasting my time on someone who only thinks of himself."

Without looking back, Elizabeth walked out of the cafe and hailed a cab to the hospital. She needed clarity, and she needed to know that her secrets were still safe.

At the hospital, she found her doctor. Elizabeth’s expression was grim. "I need two things, Doctor. First, a routine check-up to ensure my health and the babies are fine. Second, I need to know how my private medical records were leaked."

The doctor looked flustered. "Mrs. Thomas, our security is top-tier. I can’t imagine—"

"I was approached with information only this hospital should have," Elizabeth interrupted, her voice icy. "If you can't tell me, perhaps the hospital board or the media would be interested in this lapse of patient confidentiality."

Under pressure, the doctor checked the surveillance logs. A few minutes later, she showed Elizabeth her phone screen. "Do you recognize this woman? She was seen accessing the restricted filing area while the nurses were occupied."

Elizabeth squinted at the screen. It was Margaret. The woman she had shared a friendly lunch with was the same one who had stolen her records and handed them to Michael, hoping to drive a wedge between them.

"I see," Elizabeth whispered, a cold resolve settling in her heart. Margaret wasn't just a rival for Michael's attention; she was a threat to Elizabeth's future.

After confirming that her pregnancy was progressing healthily, Elizabeth left the clinic. She realized that being weak was no longer an option. If Margaret and Anthony wanted to play dirty, she would have to learn how to defend herself.

Just as she was deciding her next move, her phone rang. it was Charles Wilson, the acting director of her father's company. "Miss Jones, you need to come to the office immediately. There’s been a major shift in the investment situation."

Elizabeth’s heart raced. The Jones Group was her father's legacy, her only hope for true independence. When she arrived at the CEO’s office, Charles looked pale.

"What's happened?" Elizabeth asked, sitting down.

Charles handed her a glass of water, his hand shaking slightly. "The investor, David... he’s changed his mind. He no longer wants to provide a loan to save the company. He’s moved for a hostile takeover. He wants to buy the Jones Group outright for pennies on the dollar."

Elizabeth set the glass down, her eyes narrowing. This was no longer just about a family feud or a difficult marriage. This was a war for her survival.