Adrian Sullivan kicked over the coffee table, sending glass shattering across the floor.

"Useless! Can't even handle a pregnant woman!"

The bodyguard shrank back half a step. "Miss Ulrich was holding a kitchen knife to her stomach. We didn't dare act recklessly."

Adrian narrowed his eyes. Isabella had grown increasingly adept at exploiting his weaknesses.

"Get the car ready." He grabbed his coat and strode out.

Leonard Laurent continued practicing calligraphy in the study without looking up. "You believe this act of feigned madness?"

Adrian paused mid-step. "I'll just check on her and return."

"Sentimental fool." Leonard slammed down his brush. "Those who achieve greatness cannot afford hesitation."

Beneath the ginkgo tree at the suburban villa, Isabella's slender frame swayed in the cold wind. Her red-rimmed eyes pleaded, "Adrian, the doctor said my uterine lining is too thin. If I lose this baby, I'll never conceive again!"

Adrian stared at her swollen abdomen, his expression unreadable.

"Take her to the private hospital." His voice turned icy as he turned away. "Make it clean."

As the bodyguard moved forward, Isabella suddenly shrieked, "Touch my child and I'll kill myself right now!" The kitchen knife glinted menacingly in the sunlight.

Leonard ambled over leisurely. "A double homicide would make tomorrow's headlines."

Adrian's temple throbbed. He pulled out his phone and dialed Victor Sullivan. "Father, I've decided to keep the child."

A long silence followed before Victor replied, "Consider the consequences carefully."

After hanging up, Leonard sneered, "Victor would rejoice if your bloodline ended with you."

During the return drive, Adrian watched the blurring scenery. The rearview mirror reflected Isabella being dragged inside by bodyguards. He suddenly remembered her deer-like innocent eyes when they first met.

In his study, Adrian traced the frame of Nicole's photograph. His phone vibrated—a panicked voice crackled through: "Miss Ulrich escaped from the operating room!"

Adrian smashed the frame against the wall. Amid the shattered glass, Nicole's gentle smile fractured into fragments.

The first snow fell the next morning. Outside the civil registry office, Alexander Valentine carefully adjusted Natalie's scarf. "Cold?"

She shook her head, eyes sparkling like stars. When the official seal stamped their marriage certificate, tears welled up unexpectedly.

Her social media post triggered an immediate flood of notifications. Kyle Grant's transfer stood out: $199,999.99.

"Big brother..." Natalie choked out as she called him.

Kyle's voice carried through the receiver: "Be happy."

The snowfall intensified. Natalie suddenly asked Alexander to pull over. She buried herself in his embrace, tears soaking his coat.

"What's wrong?" He gently patted her back.

"I just... really wanted to hug big brother," she murmured.

Alexander chuckled and held her tighter. Snowflakes melted against the car windows, leaving watery trails behind.