Chapter 4
I slept like the dead and didn't wake up until the afternoon of the next day.
When I checked my phone, Ryan had already texted me his findings.
Nothing in the report surprised me.
Just then, Vivian's giggles drifted into the room.
I stepped out and found Edward and his parents fussing over her.
His mother, Olivia Stone, slid a bracelet off her own wrist and fastened it onto Vivian's.
"Vivian, this bracelet was passed down from Edward's grandmother. Now that you're carrying the Stone family's heir, it's time this bracelet went to you."
Vivian shot me a smug look, then put on a show of reluctance. "Mrs. Stone, are you really sure about this? After all, Lily is still your daughter-in-law."
I snorted sarcastically at her words.
She pretended to be on my side, but not a single thing she did felt sincere.
Mrs. Stone shot me a sharp glare.
"She can't even give us a child. What kind of daughter-in-law is that?" she sneered.
Vivian clung to Olivia's arm, cooing and acting cute until she finally let go.
I couldn't stomach their little performance, so I turned and headed back to my room.
Vivian followed close behind.
She shut the door and flashed a smug grin.
Vivian sneered, "I stole your husband of seven years without even trying. Guess your so-called love wasn't that strong after all.
"All those promises he made? He ditched them ages ago. Be smart and get out on your own, otherwise—"
She didn't finish, just shot me a cryptic smile.
The next second, she spun around and hurled herself straight into the vanity.
In an instant, blood snaked down her leg.
"It hurts... Lily, I really wanted us to get along, but why did you push me?" Vivian whimpered.
Vivian clutched her belly, trembling in pain on the floor.
Her cries of pain drew everyone's attention.
Edward was the first to push open the door.
The moment he saw the scene, he charged forward and shoved me out of the way.
"Lily, are you insane? What did Vivian ever do to deserve this?" he shouted.
He gently helped Vivian up, then turned on his parents, shouting hoarsely at them in panic and rage.
"Call 911!" he roared.
I stood frozen, numb with shock, unable to wrap my head around how things ended up like this.
Blood poured from Vivian as Edward seethed with rage.
He stormed into the study, snatched up the divorce papers, scrawled his name across them, and slammed them hard against my face.
"Didn't you want a divorce? Fine, I'll give it to you! Now get out—stay as far away from me as you can!" he shouted.
I picked up the papers and forced myself upright, pain stabbing through my side.
"Edward, if I'm already demanding a divorce, why would I bother going out of my way to hurt her baby?" I shot back.
I sneered, "You'd better find out whether that child is even yours."
Edward's face twisted.
"What the hell are you talking about?" he snapped.
Edward paused for a split second, a mocking look flashing across his face. "Lily, you'd really do anything to drag Vivian down, huh? She's been pregnant for five months, and I've watched her belly grow little by little. Do you think I wouldn't know if the child was mine?"
I looked at him and felt a bitter sense of irony. After all these years, he still hadn't learned a thing.
Vivian was carrying the Stone family's golden ticket. As long as she kept this child, she would have all the wealth and glory she could ever want.
But why would she be so ruthless as to use her own baby to frame me?
No matter how I turned it over in my mind, there was only one answer.
This child wasn't Edward's.
Once she'd gotten rid of the child—and pushed me out of the way—she could have it all served on a silver platter.
Two birds with one stone.
What was the point? I was going to leave anyway.
But now, I no longer cared to defend myself.