Chapter 2
"If you say one more word, I'll send a photo of our marriage certificate to everyone in the company right now," I warned.
Michael's face turned red, then pale. He opened his mouth, but not a sound came out.
Bella stayed perfectly still.
Her eyes flicked from my face to Charles, trembling and crying on the table, then back to me.
There was so much going on in her eyes, but she didn't say a single word.
The room fell silent.
At last, Bella spoke.
"Everyone, get out," she commanded.
This wasn't a suggestion—it was a command.
The executives scrambled to their feet, giving me a wide berth as they rushed out, heads down, not daring to look at me.
Mr. Shaw paused for a moment as he passed by me, but didn't say a word and hurried out without looking back.
Michael tried to slip out with the rest.
"You," Bella said, her eyes fixed on him. "Stay."
The office door clicked shut from the outside.
Charles's crying quieted down, turning into weak, shaky sobs.
Only three adults and one kid were left in the room.
Bella stood up, walked around the long table, and came up to me.
She was half a head taller than me, and when she closed in, her presence was overwhelming.
I didn't back down.
Bella glanced down at Charles.
Charles's tiny hand gripped my shirt, his face resting on the cold table, lips dry and peeling.
Bella extended her hand and touched Charles's forehead.
As soon as her fingers brushed his skin, her brows furrowed instantly.
"How long has he had the fever?" Bella asked.
"He started burning up last night. It hit 104.8 degrees in the middle of the night," I replied. "I gave him medicine twice. The fever went down for a bit, but then came back again."
She didn't ask me anything else, and then picked up the office phone.
"Tell Dr. Norris to bring the first aid kit to my office. Right now," Bella commanded.
After hanging up, she turned back to me.
This time, she didn't avoid my gaze.
"You claim to be Ethan's wife," Bella said.
"Yes," I replied.
"Proof?"
I pulled a piece of paper out of my bag, unfolded it, and laid it flat in front of her.
It was a copy of our marriage certificate.
All the details were crystal clear—Ethan Miller and Sophia Lane, officially registered three years ago.
Bella kept her eyes glued to the paper for what felt like ages.
She never reached for it, and never laid a finger on it.
Michael was pressed against the wall, looking like he wished the floor would swallow him whole.
I gave him a look.
"Michael, what did you just call my son?" I said.
"Burden, wasn't it?
"Now you know what his last name is, don't you?"
Michael's mouth quivered, but he didn't dare answer.
Bella raised her hand, putting a stop to the whole interrogation.
"Jane," Bella said.
"Sophia," I corrected her. "My name is Sophia."
She paused, then spoke again.
"Sophia, besides the two of you, who knows you're married?" Bella asked.
"No one," I replied.
"You've been married for three years, and nobody ever found out?" Bella pressed.
"He was the one who insisted on keeping it a secret." I stared right at her. "You should really be asking your son about that, Ms. Miller."
There was a knock at the door. Dr. Norris showed up.
He looked to be in his early fifties. As soon as he saw the kid lying on the table, he didn't waste time asking questions. He dropped his first aid kit and started checking Charles right away.
Thermometer, stethoscope, flashlight—he grabbed each one in turn, moving through the examination with practiced efficiency.
I stood nearby, watching anxiously. My fists clenched so hard I could barely feel my fingers.
Three years and counting.
I always had to tough it out alone whenever Charles got sick.
Middle of the night, I'd carry him to the ER, wait three hours in line, then come home and sponge him down to cool his fever. Next morning, I'd drag myself to work, running on barely any sleep.
No one ever helped me. Not once.
After finishing his check-up, Dr. Norris turned to Bella.
"He's got acute bronchitis and a high fever. He needs an IV right away, and it's best if he stays in the hospital for a couple of days. He needs treatment immediately," Dr. Norris said.
Bella nodded. "Make it happen."
Dr. Norris started sponging Charles's palms and soles with warm water to help bring his fever down.
Charles was uncomfortable and kept whimpering and squirming, his little hands fumbling around. He grabbed at the old red string on his wrist and managed to loosen it.
The red string slipped off.
Along with it, the tiny gold lock came off too.
The gold lock wasn't big, about the size of a piece of candy, and it was warm from Charles's body heat.
There was a single letter engraved on it.
"Miller."
The gold lock hit the table with a soft clink.
I was just about to pick it up.
Bella was faster.
She grabbed the gold lock, flipped it over, and stared at the word on the back.
Her fingers were trembling.
Not out of anger, it was like something struck her deep inside.
"This..." Bella breathed, her voice unsteady.
Her tone had completely changed.
"This is the Miller family's eldest grandson's lock."
I didn't say a word.
Bella snapped her head up and locked eyes with me.