Because of the injury to my hand, I stayed home for a few days to recover.
During that time, Robert sent over the best scar treatment available, along with a professional care team—terrified that even the faintest mark might be left on my palm.
I often found myself absentmindedly staring at the jar of ointment in my hand, replaying the memory of him tending to my wounds. For the first time in my life, a strange but comforting sense of fulfillment welled up inside me.
Noticing the small smile that occasionally tugged at my lips, Kate sighed helplessly.
She had just opened her mouth to say something when Jack—Mark’s assistant—swaggered into my study without knocking, acting as if he owned the place.
Standing there like a boss, he gave a casual nod. “Miss Anderson, Mr. West asked me to inform you that Miss Sofia is pregnant. He needs you to arrange two professional caregivers to look after her.”
My expression turned ice-cold in an instant. Kate didn’t even hesitate—she called for security. “We have a trespasser. Call the police.”
As the guards stormed in to seize him, Jack glared at me, wide-eyed in disbelief. “You dare touch me? I work for Mr. West! Aren’t you afraid of making him angry?”
I leveled a cold stare at him. Kate added sharply, “And charge him with verbal harassment while you’re at it.”
Dragged out by security, Jack’s voice echoed down the hallway—nothing but curses.
Kate was shaking with fury. “Miss, they’ve gone too far this time!”
Calmly, I sipped my coffee. “Don’t worry… their arrogance won’t last much longer.”
Before the police even arrived, Mark stormed in, dragging Sofia behind him, both of them brimming with fury.
“Via, you are insane! First, you hurt Sofia. Now that she’s carrying my child, not only do you refuse to apologize, but you dare lay hands on my assistant?”
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed me by the arm, yanked me up from the sofa, and carefully helped Sofia sit down as though she were made of glass.
I stumbled and hit the floor. From above, Sofia looked down at me, her voice sweetly venomous. “Miss Anderson, the child I’m carrying is Mark’s firstborn. Even if you’re jealous, you should show some grace. That’s the least a future Mrs. West should know how to do.”
She stroked her still-flat belly with pride. I stood, raised my hand, and slapped her across the face.
Sofia shrieked, collapsing onto the sofa, clutching her cheek in disbelief. “You… you actually hit me?!”
“Honestly, I feel dirty from touching you.” I shot Kate a look. “Get rid of this sofa. It disgusts me.”
Moments later, a group of workers came in and hauled it away.
Sofia’s eyes flashed with malice. She clutched her stomach and dove into Mark’s arms, wailing, “Mark… she hates me so much… maybe it’s better if I just die!”
She lunged toward the wall as if to bash her head against it, but Mark caught her mid-sprint.
Then he stormed over to me, raised his hand, and slapped me viciously across the face. “You shameless woman! You keep targeting Sofia… did you really think I wouldn’t hit you?”
I staggered back several steps. My cheek burned, a sharp sting radiating down to my jaw. Blood pooled at the corner of my mouth.
“Mark…” I wiped the blood away, staring him dead in the eye. “That slap ends everything between us.”
Mark frowned, a flicker of unease breaking through his arrogance. “Drop the games. You think this will make me fall in love with you? Spare me the drama.”
Without another word, I swept the entire tray of coffee cups off the table, sending porcelain shattering across the floor.
At that moment, my private security team stormed in, surrounding the study. “Mark West, you are under arrest for assault. Comply immediately.”
Mark scoffed, remaining still until the guards grabbed his arms and shoved him down. Only then did the reality hit him. “Via! You dare have me arrested?! If you harm me, I swear—you’ll never get married in this lifetime!”
Sofia stood frozen, her face pale as chalk.
The guards ignored his screaming and pinned him to the floor without hesitation.
Just as the baton was about to fall, a furious roar echoed from the entrance.
“Stop! I dare anyone to lay a hand on my son!”
