Evelyn hadn't been too concerned.

But then Mr. Sherwood stepped forward and slapped Mina again.

"You disgrace! Mr. Vance is no ordinary man! If you have the guts, why didn't you sleep with Marcus Valentine? Make him take responsibility!"

Mina was speechless.

Mr. Sherwood continued yelling,

"Who will want you now? If you don't marry into a wealthy family, how can your mother and I stay here? Your grandmother will be thrown out! She won't be buried with your grandfather! Mina, don't you understand?!"

Mina suddenly laughed.

"So I'm just a commodity to you? Something to trade for your luxury?"

Mrs. Sherwood paused.

"How can you say that?"

Mr. Sherwood's face was grim.

"No matter what you say, that child must be terminated. Don't tell anyone."

Mrs. Sherwood pulled out an abortion pill.

"I bought the medication. Take it now. It'll be over in two hours. You'll still be a pure girl..."

Mina's eyes widened.

She looked at her parents, feeling chilled to the bone.

She never imagined they would do this to her...

Mina instinctively protected her abdomen.

"Mom, I won't take it... I want this baby!"

Mrs. Sherwood frowned.

"Why won't you listen?"

Mr. Sherwood grabbed Mina's arm.

The usually timid man was surprisingly strong.

"Mina, don't blame us. We have no choice... You must take the pill... You have to marry into a wealthy family..."

Terrified, Mina struggled, but couldn't break free from her father's grip.

He pried her mouth open.

Mrs. Sherwood prepared to force the pill in...

Evelyn shouted urgently,

"Uncle! Aunt! You can't terminate the baby!"

Mina struggled and cried, but couldn't escape her parents' hold...

Mrs. Sherwood said sternly,

"Grace, I know you're good friends, but you don't understand. You'll regret youthful impulsiveness! This bastard can't stay!"

Evelyn watched helplessly as the pill neared Mina's mouth, wishing she could reach through the phone.

She could only yell,

"The baby is Marcus Valentine's!!"

Evelyn’s words hung in the air.

The phone fell silent.

Mrs. Sherwood froze, staring at her phone in disbelief. "What did you say?"

Mina was pinned to the chair, her jaw clamped shut. Silent tears streamed down her face.

Evelyn’s voice was calm. "The baby is Marcus Valentine’s. If you harm this child, Marcus will destroy the Sherwood family."

It was the only way to protect Mina now.

Mrs. Sherwood’s hand trembled. The pill dropped to the floor.

Mr. Sherwood released Mina, staring at her stomach in shock. "Is it true?"

Mina slumped onto the bed, exhausted.

Mrs. Sherwood rushed to her side. "Mina, are you okay? Did your father hurt you? Does your stomach hurt?"

Mr. Sherwood nodded eagerly. "Is the baby alright?"

Mina covered her stomach and moved away from their touch. Their fake concern felt like a cruel joke.

Mr. Sherwood frowned. "Mina, don’t blame us. We only want what’s best for you. A girl like you should marry into wealth! Why didn’t you tell us sooner? If we knew it was Mr. Valentine’s child, I would never have treated you this way."

Mrs. Sherwood chimed in. "Exactly! When did this happen? Does Mr. Valentine know? What did he say?"

Mr. Sherwood rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Does he refuse to take responsibility? Don’t worry! I’ll speak to your uncle. We’ll go to the Valentine family and demand answers! We’ll make him marry you!"

Wealth and status seemed within their grasp.

Mrs. Sherwood beamed. "The dowry must be substantial too! Marcus Valentine is far superior to Alexander Vance! Mina, you have excellent taste!"

Mina looked up sharply. "Don’t you dare go to him!"

Her parents stared at her, stunned.

Mina trembled with shame. She could already imagine Marcus’s mocking smile and contemptuous gaze.

Her parents filled her with despair.

Her eyes red, she declared, "If you go to Marcus Valentine, I will terminate this pregnancy immediately."

Mr. Sherwood scowled. "What nonsense are you saying?"

Mrs. Sherwood panicked. "You can’t terminate the pregnancy! How will you marry into the Valentine family then? Mina, have you lost your mind?"

Mina felt utterly drained.

She sank back onto the bed, her voice resolute. "If anyone goes to Marcus Valentine, I will get an abortion."

Mrs. Sherwood and Mr. Sherwood exchanged suspicious glances. "Is the child really not Mr. Valentine’s?"

Mina saw her mother glance at the abortion pill again. She clenched her fists.

How pathetic.

She only wanted to preserve her last shred of dignity in front of Marcus. Yet her parents kept dragging her deeper into disgrace.

She remained silent, staring at them defiantly.

Evelyn spoke up quickly. "It is Marcus Valentine’s. The pregnancy is still early. He refuses to acknowledge it. We need to wait three months for an amniocentesis."

Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood frowned. "Mr. Valentine denies it? What did you do to anger him?"

Why would he deny it?

Why did Marcus think she was promiscuous? It was all for her parents’ benefit. She had attended countless business dinners to secure projects for them.

And now they had the nerve to ask what she did wrong.

Tears finally streamed down Mina’s face. She closed her eyes in despair. "Get out! Both of you, get out!"

Mr. Sherwood was startled. "Don’t get upset! Stress is bad for the baby! We’re leaving, we’re going now…"

Mrs. Sherwood added hurriedly, "Mina, don’t worry. If the child is Mr. Valentine’s, he won’t get away. Just stay calm… We’ll go."

Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood left the room, closing the door gently behind them.

Mina lowered her head into her hands.

Evelyn called out to her through the video. "Mina, are you okay?"

Mina buried her face in her knees, her voice muffled. "Grace, I want to leave this place… I want to go to your home."

"Okay, I’ll come get you right away."

Evelyn stood up and handed Chloe to the nanny.

The well-behaved little girl didn’t cling to her.

Evelyn put on her jacket and headed downstairs.

Alexander followed her. "I’ll drive you."

He worried about Evelyn driving, especially since he’d never seen her behind the wheel.

Evelyn paused. "Can you… go there?"

Alexander’s jaw tightened.

It was the Sherwood residence, his mother’s family home. Although Mina had moved out, she lived close to the main estate. The Sherwoods were always around…

Evelyn feared Alexander would be upset seeing them. She opened the driver’s door. "I’ll go alone."

Before she could get in, Alexander stopped her.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and guided her to the passenger seat. Then he slid into the driver’s seat.

Evelyn started to protest, but Alexander spoke in a low voice. "I don’t trust your driving."

Evelyn understood. He was worried those people might confront her again. He had become her constant shadow, even neglecting his work.

She didn’t argue further.

The car started and soon arrived at the Sherwood residence.

A graceful figure stood at the entrance.

Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood saw the visitor and rose quickly, bowing respectfully. "Miss Yvonne, what brings you here?"

Yvonne Sherwood was the eldest daughter of the main branch, same generation as Mr. Sherwood. She had married into the Vance family in San Francisco for an alliance. Upon discovering Robert Vance had a love child, she underwent a C-section at seven months, left the baby at the Vances, and returned alone to the Sherwoods in New York.

She was Alexander’s mother.

Her status in the main family was exceptional. Even Kevin Sherwood respected his elder sister.

Yvonne spoke calmly. "I heard Mina wasn’t feeling well. I came to see her."

Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood nodded, watching her ascend the stairs.

Before she reached the top step, a car pulled up outside. Evelyn and Alexander got out.

Yvonne’s gaze swept over them, then froze on Alexander.

Evelyn had intended to leave Alexander in the car. But after witnessing the Sherwoods’ behavior, Alexander insisted on accompanying her to ensure Mina’s safe departure.

As they entered, they encountered Yvonne.

Her cool elegance was impossible to ignore.

Alexander’s eyes met hers unexpectedly.