A dark figure suddenly darted out from the bushes.

Sophia instinctively stepped back.

Ethan immediately shielded her with his body.

The bodyguard swiftly pinned the intruder to the ground.

"Ouch!" the man yelped in pain.

Sophia squinted—it was Hammer Ulrich.

He clutched a telescope in his hand.

"What are you doing skulking around here?" Ethan demanded coldly.

Hammer's eyes darted nervously. "I-I was just taking a walk..."

Shane scoffed. "Taking a midnight stroll in the bushes?"

He bent down and drew a throwing knife from his belt.

The blade glinted ominously under the streetlight.

"Tell the truth." Shane pressed the knife tip against Hammer's earlobe.

Hammer trembled violently. "Okay, okay! Victoria Windsor told me there were antiques here—"

Sophia's expression darkened.

The mother-daughter duo was behind this again.

Security guards arrived at the commotion.

Hammer frantically dialed Isabella's number.

A shrill curse blasted from the phone: "Useless! Don't drag me into this!"

Police officers soon arrived.

Shane melted into the shadows unnoticed.

Only after the patrol car left did he reappear.

"Thank you," Ethan said solemnly.

Shane waved him off, casting a complicated glance at Sophia.

As he turned away, his silhouette radiated profound loneliness.

In the car ride home, Sophia suddenly clutched her abdomen.

The familiar cramping pain struck.

Her heart sank.

In the bathroom, staring at the bloodstains on her underwear, she clenched her fists.

"What's wrong?" Ethan pushed the door open.

Her voice was strained. "Not pregnant again."

He enveloped her cold hands in his. "No rush."

"But what if I never—"

"Then we won't have one." His tone brooked no argument. "You're what matters most."

Clinking sounds came from the kitchen.

Moments later, Ethan returned with a bowl of brown sugar water.

"Try this."

Sophia took a sip—sweet with a bitter edge.

He gently placed a hot water bottle on her abdomen.

"You cared for me for three years. Now it's my turn."

Her eyes grew moist.

"But your mother—"

Ethan pulled her close. "My wife, my rules."

He kissed the top of her head.

"Losing you terrifies me more than not having children ever could."