Chapter 28

The medical certificate clearly stated Viola was over three months pregnant. Ken sneered, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. "Viola, I didn't even know you three months ago. Are you seriously claiming this baby is mine?"

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Whispers followed: "Wait, is she pregnant and looking for someone to pin it on?" "No wonder Ken refuses to marry her. This is outrageous!" "If I were him, I wouldn't either!"

Viola's face turned ashen. Humiliated and cornered, she glared at Ken with hatred, her hands trembling, her breathing quickened. In a fit of desperation, she grabbed scissors from the dowry table and lunged at Ken.

"Ken!"

The crowd froze as the blade sank into his chest. Blood blossomed across his shirt. Screams erupted. People rushed forward, some pulling Viola away, others attempting to staunch the bleeding. "Call an ambulance!" "Ken, stay with us!"

Viola, chest heaving, stared at the crumpled figure. Then, a hysterical laugh escaped her. "Ken, you'll die here. You'll die, and I'll finally be free of you!"

But as the chaos continued, Viola collapsed. A dark pool of blood spread beneath her. Her manic laughter morphed into screams of terror. "Help me! My baby—my stomach hurts! Please, someone help!"

Panic consumed the gathering. Paramedics arrived, rushing both Ken and Viola to the hospital. Uncle Johnson stood apart, his face etched with despair. "It was supposed to be a joyful day," he muttered, shaking his head. "How did it all come to this?"

The incident shamed the Brown family, who quietly retreated, too embarrassed to confront the Johnsons further. At the hospital, doctors stabilized Ken. The blade had narrowly missed his heart—only three centimeters away. Viola, unable to cope, leaped from the hospital rooftop that night. Her death sent shockwaves through both families.

Even in tragedy, Ken's thoughts remained fixated on Calista. He convinced himself Henry had manipulated her into marriage. "If I prove myself, if I join the satellite research base, Calista will see my worth again. She'll come back to me," he thought, clinging to this delusion.

That night, Ken approached Uncle Johnson in his study, brimming with determination. "Dad, I've made up my mind. I want to apply for a position at the satellite research base. With your connections, I'm sure—"

His words died in his throat at his father's grave expression. "Ken," Uncle Johnson began, gesturing him to sit, "there's something you need to know."

Ken sat, unease growing. "Pack your things," Uncle Johnson sighed wearily. "We're moving out in a few days."

Ken blinked, confused. "Moving? Why? What's going on?"

Uncle Johnson leaned back, shoulders slumped. "Because I've decided to retire early."

Ken stared, baffled. "Retire? Why now? I was hoping you could help me with my application to the research base."

His father's gaze hardened. He shook his head slowly. "Ken, you've left me no choice. Breaking into the experimental base cost you more than you realize. You were punished, and even after that, you neglected your responsibilities at the hospital. Then came this disaster with Viola. You've been reported to the authorities, and the hospital is letting you go."

The words hit Ken like a punch. His chest tightened with dread. "I'm being fired?" he whispered.

Uncle Johnson nodded, his tone heavy with disappointment. "You brought this upon yourself, Ken. There's nothing more I can do for you."

Ken's mind reeled. For days, he'd numbed himself, but now, faced with the loss of everything, panic set in. "Dad, please," he pleaded, his voice cracking. "There has to be another way. I can fix this. Just—give me another chance."

But Uncle Johnson only shook his head, the weight of his son's failures etched deeply on his weary face.