A Love with No Way Back

The fourth time it happened, my mom floored the gas and exploded the car. My dad and my childhood sweetheart's mom were locked in a passionate embrace inside. When the rescue team pulled their bodies out, they were charred, but still fused together.

After that day, Finn and I, once inseparable lovers, became bitter enemies. He brought people to trash my dad's wake and desecrate his grave. Not to be outdone, I dumped his mom's ashes down the toilet. He shattered my head with a liquor bottle; I nearly blinded him with a knife.

Just when I thought we were destined to be lifelong foes, he threatened my mothers life and forced me to marry him.

He said, Scarlett, the debt your parents owe, I want you to pay it.

The Nicholas family is ruined because of me. Your moms pathetic life is in my hands now.

If you don't want her to die, youll quietly endure my revenge for them.

Three years into our marriage, he used every means to torment me, including in bed. Yet, he despised those who kept mistresses and shamed their wives. He always said he hated infidelity more than anything.

Until his adopted sister showed up, claiming she was pregnant with his child.

Serena, that night was really an accident. Both Finn and I were drunk, thats why

Hopes eyes were teary, one hand gently cradling her slightly protruding belly. Even at five months pregnant, she exuded an innocent, pitiful aura. If this were before, I might have mercilessly exposed her pretense. But now, I no longer cared. The people he sent had already arrived at the sanatorium, ready to take Mom and me away.

You dont need to explain to me. What Finn does is none of my business, and I have no interest in making it so.

I have things to do. Please leave.

I picked up my bag, slipped on my shoes, and tried to walk around her to open the door. The next second, she grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my flesh, making me wince.

No, it is your business.

Her gaze suddenly turned obsessive and wild. She whispered in my ear:

Because only you can make him keep this baby.

What? I turned to look at her.

The next second, the door opened from the outside. Hope suddenly let go of me and dramatically fell backward.

Ah!

Her head hit the wooden edge of the sunken entryway with a thud, and blood immediately gushed out. I froze, instinctively reaching out to help her. A figure suddenly burst in, slamming into me. I was thrown uncontrollably into the sharp corner of the shoe cabinet behind me, a searing pain shooting through my lower back. It made my knees buckle, and I involuntarily collapsed to the floor.

Finn, however, didnt even glance at me, only cradling Hope tenderly. Hope, curled in his arms, sobbed, struggling to breathe, blood dripping from her pale neck onto his arm.

Brother, please dont blame Scarlett. She was just angry, thats why she treated me this way.

My stomach hurts so much. Please save our baby, please

Finn hooked his foot under my chin, his eyes blazing with fury, yet containing a hint of undetectable scrutiny.

Scarlett, why are you so wicked? How dare you touch my child?

I suppressed the pain, repeatedly slamming my head against the floor.

Im sorry, I didnt mean to.

Again and again, until warm blood seeped from my forehead.

I couldnt be bothered to explain. I only remembered that six months ago, Hope jumped into the heated pool and accused me of pushing her. My explanation resulted in him ordering his men to strip me and throw me into a winter lake.

Looking at my blood-streaked face, he spoke coldly:

Alright, you better pray this child is fine. Otherwise, Ill make sure both you and your mom are buried with it.

With that, he carried Hope away, striding quickly. I struggled to my feet, grabbing my bag, intending to rush to the sanatorium. However, as soon as I stepped out of the villas main gate, two bodyguards suddenly appeared, forcibly pushing me into a car.

At the hospital, I lay on a gurney, held down. A nurse plunged a needle into my arm. Blood was drawn, bag after bag. It didnt hurt, but I felt cold. Outside the door, a doctors voice drifted in.

Mr. Hayes, Mrs. Nicholass body is already severely depleted from her two previous miscarriages. Drawing too much blood will be dangerous. Perhaps we could use blood from the blood bank

No. How can we be sure a strangers blood is clean? Just draw it. Shes stubborn; she wont die.

After 500cc of blood was drawn, my vision blurred, and my lips had turned purple. The nurse urgently stopped, running out to say that should be enough. Finn pushed the door open and came in, instinctively reaching out to touch my forehead. I turned my head away, speaking hoarsely.

Im fine. I wont die.

He scoffed, withdrawing his hand curtly.

This is what you owe Hope. Dont pretend.

Didnt you say you didnt care? What, knowing shes pregnant with my child, you cant keep up the act?

So, he thought I was jealous, which was why I attacked Hope. I forced a pale smile, looking at him mockingly.

Youre overthinking it. Even if you have a litter of children with her, I have no right to object, do I?

His gaze was furious. He gripped my wrist tightly.

Then why are you laughing?

Im just laughing at how worthless all those vows you made truly are.

Three years ago, my dad and his moms affair became a public scandal. His dad, seeing the news in the hospital, suffered a heart attack and passed away. On the day of the burial, Finn threatened my moms life, dragging me to kneel before his dads tombstone. He swore he would bind himself to me forever, to torment me, this wicked woman, relentlessly. He also bowed to his dad, saying, Dad, forgive me, I cant bury Moms ashes with yours No, she doesnt deserve to be my mother! All who are unfaithful to their marriage and partner deserve to die!

But three years later, he became the one unfaithful to his marriage.

Hope and I that day was an accident.

He released my hand, his gaze unusually remorseful.

It was the third anniversary of our dads death. Hope and I both drank too much, thats why it wasnt my intention. You know, Ive only ever seen her as a sister since we were kids.

In three years, it was the first time he had explained himself so patiently.

I originally wanted her to get rid of the baby and go abroad, but the doctor said she has a unique constitution; if she miscarries, she might be infertile for life. Scarlett, youve miscarried twice already and it will be difficult for you to get pregnant again. Hope said shes willing to give birth to this child for us to raise.

He held my cold hand, his tone uncharacteristically soft.

When the child is born, you will be its mother, the only one.

Scarlett, weve hated each other long enough. Im tired. After this child is born, can we live a good life, please?

His eyes were hopeful yet cautious, instantly reminding me of the past. When he first saw me at six years old, he had mumbled to the adults that he would marry me. For the next eighteen years, he would do anything for me, saying I was his whole world.

Until three years ago, he found out that before my mom drove off to catch my dad, I was the only one who had spoken to her. He hated me fiercely, saying:

Even if your dad and my mom did something wrong, they didnt deserve to die, did they? Why were you so cruel as to instigate your mom to kill them!

I endured the pain and tried to explain, it wasnt me. He was about to believe me, when another piece of bad news arrived. His dad, recuperating in the hospital, suddenly suffered a heart attack from shock and died. Before he died, he had also only seen me.

Finn completely lost his mind. He grabbed my throat and roared:

What did my dad ever do to you that you would hurt him like this!

In that moment, all love turned into hatred and venom. Just like the look in my eyes when I stared at him now.

No need. I dont make a habit of being cuckolded and raising other peoples children.

Finn, if you feel your hatred for me is satisfied, please set me free.

His expression suddenly changed, and he was about to speak when Hopes crying voice came from outside the door.

Brother, does Scarlett really not accept our baby?

If thats the case, Ill just get rid of it!

She cried and ran outside. Finn quickly got up and chased after her. My phone rang again. When I answered, the person on the other end spoke anxiously:

Scarlett, why havent you gone to the sanatorium yet? Dont you want to come see me?

No, there have been some unexpected issues. Give me a few more days.

After hanging up, I could no longer support myself. My eyes rolled back, and I completely fainted.

I had a very long dream. In the dream, I found myself back five years ago, to the first time I was pregnant with Finns child. The baby was also five months old then. Both families were overjoyed, discussing our engagement. But on the way to a prenatal check-up, we had a severe car accident. Finn, his head bleeding, desperately shielded me. The deformed car door trapped his leg. Rescue workers said the car was at risk of exploding at any moment and wanted to saw off the door to pull him out, but he roared:

Dont worry about me, save my wife first!

I was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery for three days, but the baby didnt make it. When I woke up, I learned that when the rescuers sawed open the car door, his leg had been crushed and mangled by the twisted metal. The doctor said he would have needed an amputation if theyd been half an hour later. Learning I was awake, he ignored everyones advice, dragging his injured leg to hold me, sobbing uncontrollably.

Scarlett, Im so sorry! Its all my fault for not protecting you and our baby! Thank God youre okay, otherwise I wouldnt want to live either!

I cried, calling him silly, secretly vowing in my heart that he was the one for me, always.

The next second, the dream shifted. I was submerged in the icy lake water of winter, my lower body wracked with pain, as if being slowly tortured by countless sharp knives. On the shore, Finn held Hopes shoulder, his eyes cold and full of resentment.

You like pushing people into the water so much, why dont you get a good feel for it yourself!

With that, he ignored my pleas and cries of pain, turning and leaving. By the time I was dragged ashore, the water beneath me was stained red. My second child was lost that way.

No!

I woke with a start from the dream, finding myself still lying in the hospital bed, hooked up to an IV. The nurse said I had been unconscious for three full days.

Mr. Hayes came every day, holding your hand for a long time. Youre truly blessed, Mrs. Nicholas.

I gave a self-deprecating laugh. Am I? Hes hurt me like this; am I supposed to be grateful?

Finn arrived quickly after learning I was awake. His collar was half-open, and he still carried the scent of magnolia, which Hope loved.

Awake? Hope is threatening to abort the baby because of your words. Come back with me and apologize to her.

He roughly pulled out my IV, dragging me from the bed.

I told her youd personally take care of her until the baby is born, so she shouldnt overthink it.

When we get home, remember to do as I say.

I shook off his hand and sneered, Why should I?

He didnt get angry. He simply pulled out his phone and showed me a video of my moms monitoring at the sanatorium.

Scarlett, do you have no idea how much your moms medical and nursing care has cost me these past three years?

If you refuse, then Ill have no choice but to have her medical equipment and care withdrawn.

I stared at his phone screen, my nails digging into my palms. After a moment, I lowered my eyes in compromise. Fine, I promise.

Thats better. I told you, as soon as the child is born, Ill send Hope away. Youll still be the only Mrs. Hayes, the childs mother.

I said nothing more, my head bowed, following him out. Yesterday, the sanatorium doctor had called to say Moms condition was improving, and she could wake up at any time. If she could just wake up, the truth of what happened that year would finally come to light.

When that person called again, I pleaded:

Can you wait a little longer?

After hearing the reason, he firmly said:

Alright, Ill finish things up here as quickly as possible and come back to the States to be with you!

Over the next few days, I became Hopes personal caretaker. She used every method to torment me, deliberately making me prepare complex seafood porridge without gloves. When my hands swelled red from the seafood allergy, she then ordered me to handwash her underwear, scrubbing them with scalding hot water. Until my hands were swollen and throbbing, she then made me kneel and scrub the entire villas floor. My back injury flared up repeatedly, and my knees were bruised from kneeling.

Every day, from five in the morning until ten at night, I would stew soups, cook meals, clean, and massage her swollen legs and feet. One night, she said she couldn't sleep and ordered me to pick a hundred roses from the garden for her bath. I refused. She then slapped herself and cried, falsely accusing me:

Sister Scarlett, its all my fault. You can hit me all you want, I just beg you not to hurt me and Brothers baby

Finn, who had just returned, put his arm around her and coldly said to me:

Is this how you take care of Hope?

He punished me by making me kneel in the rose bushes all night. I wanted to explain, wanted him to check the security cameras. But I discovered that Hope had had all the villas surveillance systems removed the very first day she moved in.

She sneered triumphantly: Scarlett, I didnt think you could endure this much.

Youve been humiliated in your own home for so long, yet you still cling on, refusing to leave.

And why not? Your wretched mother needs to leech off Brother to survive. The Nicholas family is ruined. Without him, youre nothing. You cant bear to give up this life of luxury, can you?

I ignored her. Because I knew that if I retorted, only Mom and I would suffer. Seeing my submission, Finn ultimately didnt have the heart to make me kneel all night. After Hope fell asleep, he told me to get up and run his bath. I mechanically returned to the room. He suddenly forcefully pressed me onto the sofa, breathing heavily, and kissed me.