After that near-showdown warning, Emma fell completely silent.
She stopped all provocations. Like a beast stripped of its claws and fangs, she tucked away her sharp edges and obediently played the role Gu Liang demanded of her— The polished, hollow "President Ai." The legal spouse of Mr. Gu.
She came home on time. Attended every joint appearance. At charity galas, she pulled out his chair with care. At ribbon-cuttings, she stood beside him, smiling flawlessly for the cameras. Even at family gatherings, she greeted his skeptical relatives with perfect manners and poise.
She was seamless. Flawless. Like a mannequin.
But only she knew— The fire inside hadn't gone out. It burned hotter in the dark. Twisted. Fueled by resentment, humiliation, helplessness— And the restless ache of a marked instinct that never found release.
She began watching Gu Liang more often. Not with love. Not with guilt. But with a venomous hunger— Searching for weakness.
She watched him command the vast empire of First Heart Capital. Watched him corner rivals at negotiation tables. Watched him accumulate power and wealth at a staggering pace— Even beginning to eclipse Ai Group.
He was dazzling. And colder than ever. A weapon honed to perfection—sharp, precise, emotionless.
Emma realized she could barely find a crack. He was untouchable.
Except… For his unwavering Wednesday visits to the nursing home.
That was the only time he lowered his mask. Emma had once seen him from afar— Pushing his grandmother's wheelchair through the garden, speaking softly, his profile softened in the sunlight.
Her heart had twitched. A mix of bitterness and envy surged. He wasn't emotionless. He just no longer offered those emotions to her.
Then a darker thought emerged— What if she touched that one forbidden scale?
The idea startled her. But it also thrilled her. If he could use family and legacy to threaten her— Why couldn't she?
She began quietly gathering information. About the nursing home. His grandmother's condition. Even the facility's ownership and potential vulnerabilities.
She didn't know what she'd do. Only that she needed leverage. Something to strike back with.
Meanwhile, their life in the apartment remained coldly balanced.
Until one weekend afternoon.
Emma, sleepless the night before, took a nap in the guest room. In her dreams, she smelled something faint—sweet and metallic. Not the usual Omega heat scent. Something subtler. Alive.
She woke groggy. The scent was gone. She dismissed it as a dream.
Later, she stepped into the living room. Gu Liang sat on the sofa, a glass of water before him, a pill bottle in hand. He looked paler than usual. A trace of fatigue between his brows.
"Not feeling well?" Emma asked flatly.
He paused. Lifted his eyes. Still cold. "I'm fine."
He tucked the bottle away quickly. Emma didn't catch the label.
"Low blood sugar," he added, noticing her glance.
Low blood sugar? Emma frowned. Gu Liang was always healthy—disciplined, balanced. Why now?
And that strange scent…
A wild, impossible thought flashed through her mind. She shut it down immediately.
No. Absolutely not.
That night during rut—yes, it was chaotic. But she remembered clearly—he took strong suppressants. They were nearly foolproof.
And with how much he hated her— There was no way…
She shook her head. Ridiculous.
But in the days that followed, she began noticing things.
He seemed more tired. Reacted subtly to strong smells—like fried fish. Drank more water. And she caught him taking those "low blood sugar" pills more than once—always hiding the bottle when she entered.
The scattered details began to connect.
That faint sweet scent. The fatigue. The sensitivity. The pills.
A possibility she had never considered— And refused to believe— Exploded in her mind like thunder.
No… It couldn't be…
She stared at his closed bedroom door. Heart pounding. A voice screamed in her head—
What if it's true?
What if Gu Liang is pregnant?
Pregnant with their child.
The shock hit harder than any business blow or marital torment. She couldn't breathe.
She had always thought this war was just between her and Gu Liang.
She never imagined— That an innocent life, carrying both their blood, Might be caught in this twisted play born of hatred.
If it was true…
Then the nightmare she thought had bottomed out— Had only just begun.
The storm she'd felt brewing for so long Had finally found its breach.
And it was coming— In the most devastating way imaginable.