Chapter 217

Thea awoke to find herself bound tightly with rope. Instinctively, she shielded her lower abdomen. Her eyes, filled with vigilance, scanned her surroundings. Stephanie, clearly unhinged, posed a serious threat. Thea knew she had to survive, not only for herself but also for the child she carried.

"Awake?" Stephanie chuckled, approaching slowly. A cold blade pressed against Thea's face, forcing her chin upward. "I'm curious," Stephanie sneered. "What does Nicolas see in you? Besides your face, what do you have?"

The coldness in Stephanie's eyes filled Thea with panic. "Everyone thinks I kidnapped you to kill you," Stephanie continued, "but that's not it. I want to destroy your face, leaving you by Nicolas's side, watching his love for you wither with your ugliness. I want him to be disgusted by you."

Thea was stunned. Stephanie wasn't joking; she was capable of this depravity. Though immobilized, Thea refused to surrender. Weakened by the drug, even lifting her lips was an effort.

"Stephanie," she rasped, "if you were smart, you wouldn't do this. Destroying my face means losing any chance with Nicolas. Do you want to destroy even the last vestiges of his affection for you because of your brother?"

Stephanie's madness only intensified. She slapped Thea hard across the face. "Shut up! My relationship with Nicolas is none of your business!"

The blade flashed, swift and merciless, terrifying Thea. Bound as she was, she mustered her remaining strength, hitting her head against Stephanie's abdomen and rolling on the ground.

A searing pain ripped through Thea's stomach. A wave of dread washed over her. Stephanie merely smiled sarcastically at Thea's suffering.

Ignoring Thea's pain, Stephanie sneered, "You're useless, Thea. Do you think you can escape?" As she lunged again with the knife, she noticed the blood staining Thea's clothes. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"You...you're pregnant?" Stephanie, powerful and enraged, grasped Thea's slender neck. "This child...is it Nicolas's?"

It was no wonder Stephanie hadn't noticed sooner; Thea was tall and slender, only a month pregnant.

"Whose else could it be?" Thea knew Stephanie wouldn't let her go, so she bought time. Silently, she called out to Nicolas, knowing he would come, as he always had.

"Ms. Ralap," Thea said, a mocking smile playing on her lips, meeting Stephanie's furious gaze, "unlike you, my child with Nicolas is protected by law. He'll inherit Nicolas's assets and his attention... It's a pity you had a miscarriage. Otherwise, my baby could have a sibling. Though, perhaps not... Nicolas told me he never slept with you and won't acknowledge your child."

Each word struck Stephanie's raw nerves. Fire blazed in Stephanie's eyes. "Bitch, shut up! I'll kill you and that bastard in your belly!"

Stephanie's attack was swift and brutal, cutting off Thea's air supply. The suffocation was agonizing. Thea's vision blurred, but her eyes remained fixed on the warehouse door. Even after she fainted, no one came.

"Bury her alive!" Stephanie shrieked.

But instead of help, she heard steady, hurried footsteps. A wave of coldness washed over her.

"Thea!" Nicolas's eyes widened. Seeing Thea's broken form, he felt a searing pain. Stephanie's eyes widened in disbelief at his sudden arrival.

"Nicolas, listen! This woman deserves to die!" Her pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. His focus was entirely on Thea.

Lifting Thea, he said coldly, "Darwin, take her away. She will repay Thea tenfold for what she did." Stephanie was stunned.

Stephanie knew Nicolas kept his word. "Nicolas," she cried, "you want me to die? If my brother learns you killed his sister…he'll regret saving you!"

Nicolas remained unmoved. "If you behaved, your brother's debt to me could ensure your luxury. But you keep challenging me."

His gentle gaze on Thea was a knife twisting in Stephanie's heart. All these years with him…mean nothing compared to Thea? This can't be!

Controlled by Darwin, her fingernails digging into his flesh, Stephanie screamed, "Nicolas, you have a fetish for being cuckolded! Thea admitted she's carrying another man's child and will leave you. She betrayed you! Why protect her?"

His heart was pierced by her words. Then he saw the blood. He'd never known Thea was pregnant, but he wouldn't believe Stephanie. "Get the best doctor. Thea and the child must be safe."

Thea, in his arms, struggled to open her eyes. Nicolas's scent comforted her, but deep panic surged. "I can't protect the child," she whispered, clutching his suit. "Save him…"