Chapter 183

Nicolas pulled his hand away. "Go back first."

Stephanie refused to relent, tears in her eyes. "But I was pregnant with your child. Now that the child is gone, are you angry with me? Are you angry that I didn't protect the child well? I really love you. Please don't leave me; I'll go crazy if I can't see you." She rolled up her sleeves, revealing numerous, horrifying wounds.

She smiled bitterly. "Perhaps you think I'm being pitiful, but I can't control my actions. I can't control my love for you. Nicolas, if you leave me, I'll kill myself."

Her deep-set eyes, though seemingly gentle, held a chilling light. She appeared genuinely serious.

"You're crazy," Nicolas said, shocked and speechless.

Thea overheard everything from the doorway. Stephanie had claimed the child was Nicolas', and he hadn't denied it. Previously, when Stephanie had used this to provoke Thea, Thea had been angry but mostly suspicious. She couldn't believe Nicolas would do such a thing. His subsequent pursuit of her only solidified her suspicions. She'd been mentally preparing to confront him, but hearing this conversation shattered her courage.

Standing at the door, Thea felt suffocated and nauseous. When had it started? Had Nicolas been with Stephanie while he was supposedly busy at the company? In his office?

Overwhelmed by disgust and pain, she almost lost her balance. The door slammed against the wall, instantly attracting their attention.

Embarrassed, Thea pursed her lips and turned to leave. A chair scraped behind her; Stephanie had followed.

"Excuse me, who are you?" Stephanie asked curiously, her clear eyes doubtful, as if she truly didn't recognize Thea.

Thea was shocked. "You don't recognize me?"

Stephanie frowned. "Should I?"

Thea wasn't sure if Stephanie's amnesia was genuine or feigned. She narrowed her eyes. "I'm sorry, I must have gone to the wrong room. I'll leave immediately."

Stephanie grabbed her arm. "You're lying. You don't look lost. And you seemed upset just now. You must know us—why won't you admit it? Are you guilty?"

Thea laughed angrily. Stephanie might have amnesia, but she was still infuriating. Who should be feeling guilty? Thea was Nicolas's actual wife, and Stephanie had been pursuing him before and after her memory loss. Thea considered herself magnanimous for not causing trouble.

She glanced at the ward and said coldly, "If you want to know who I am, ask Nicolas. He'll explain it. I have to go."

Suddenly, Stephanie shouted, "I remember!"

Thea's eyelids twitched. Stephanie blocked her path, arms crossed, chin raised, looking at Thea with disdain and sarcasm. "You're the mistress, aren't you? The one trying to steal Nicolas."

"What did you say?" Thea thought she'd misheard.

Stephanie emphasized, "Is that unclear? Nicolas is my boyfriend. We've had problems, but you have no right to interfere. Didn't your parents teach you decency? You shamelessly became his mistress. Laughable."

Thea laughed again, this time out of fury. "Who's the mistress? Didn't Nicolas clarify things with you?" She wasn't angry at Stephanie's ravings, but at Nicolas for not clearing things up. He'd let her become the other woman. What had she done wrong?

The more Thea thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Her eyes reddened, the sympathy and guilt she'd felt for Nicolas's injury vanishing. She shouldn't feel sorry for him.

However, to Stephanie, Thea's expression looked like guilt. Stephanie raised her voice. "Everyone, look at this shameless mistress! I was hit by a car, and she seduced my boyfriend. Now she denies it and calls me the mistress! Unbelievable!"

A crowd gathered, pointing at Thea. Insults flew.

Thea retorted, "I'm not a mistress! I'm his wife! She's the one who forgot!"

Stephanie's face paled; enraged, she lunged at Thea, grabbing her neck. "You're lying!"

Thea struggled, a surge of anger burning within. "If you don't believe me, check Nicolas's marital status! I'm his wife! You came to provoke me after hearing about the accident..."

"Go to hell!" Stephanie shrieked, tightening her grip, her eyes wild.

Someone intervened, pulling Stephanie away, but she was berserk, a fury intent on dragging Thea down with her. Though not strangled, Thea was injured, protecting her stomach. She fought back tears, feeling utterly wronged. This shouldn't be happening.

[The text cuts off abruptly here, leaving the story incomplete.]