Chapter 3
"I'm in the neighboring city right now, meeting with a very important client. I really can't leave for a while. How about this?
"I'll have the nanny take you to the best private hospital right away, and a doctor will give you a full check-up. Just be good, okay? I'll come back to see you as soon as I'm done," he said.
I lowered my gaze and said nothing.
In the end, the nanny was the one who stayed with me, getting all sorts of tests done at the hospital late at night.
The doctor said it was just a fever from a viral cold and gave me meds that were safe for someone expecting.
He also pointed out that the ongoing fever and my mood swings were both red flags.
None of that was good for the baby.
But feeling sick and the gnawing doubts in my head were like two poisonous snakes, wrapping around me so tight I could barely breathe.
The next afternoon, I was lying in bed, scrolling through my phone.
And then I stumbled onto Tara's post.
Maybe she just forgot to block me.
Or maybe she wanted me to see it.
The latest post was from last night, and the location tag was the same city Alexzander said he was in.
It was a night view photo.
A fancy restaurant terrace, with the city lights twinkling in the distance.
The caption was dripping with nostalgia and a hint of pride: [It's been ages. Thanks for remembering my favorite vintage. Time flies, but some people, some feelings, never change.]
I kept going back to that photo, looking at it again and again, unable to tear my eyes away.
In one corner, the camera had accidentally caught a hand slicing into a steak.
On that well-defined wrist was a limited-edition Patek Philippe.
It was identical to the one Alexzander wore.
The post was made at the exact moment I called him for help last night.
Suddenly, I just felt so done with it all.
I hadn't even told Alexzander about the pregnancy or my ear getting better.
Guess I never would.
I got up and scheduled a procedure to end the pregnancy, not hesitating for a second.
Right on cue, Alexzander texted me.
He said: [Be good, Vanessa. Take your meds. In two weeks, I'll have a surprise for you]
I counted the days.
Turns out, that would be our anniversary.
But after learning about what happened between him and Tara, there was no saving this marriage anymore.
I knew Alexzander would never agree to a divorce that easily.
So, once again, I quietly joined the work group chat.
I asked my assistant to help with the handover for my overseas posting.
I reminded her again and again to keep it quiet, especially from Alexzander.
I planned to head to the Pritzerland branch in two weeks.
I was going to put in for a long-term assignment abroad.
Either way, Alexzander was already sick of me.
He didn't need to know about any of this.
After the procedure, the Carroll family held a dinner party at their old mansion.
Everyone in Haprith City knew I didn't get along with my family.
Honestly, I shouldn't have been there at all.
But Alexzander insisted on bringing me.
The party was buzzing with laughter and clinking glasses, but I did my best to keep a low profile, fading into the crowd.
Still, Tara ended up right in my line of sight.
She was there as a special guest, invited by one of my aunts.
Rumor had it she was about to get married.
Word was spreading like wildfire.
Joyce Cortez had finally given her blessing.
Xzavier had been fighting his family for Tara, five years of fighting tooth and nail.
And after all those years, Xzavier finally made it official for her.
Tara walked over, her steps graceful and poised.
Her smile was soft, but her sharp eyes flicked over my right ear so quick I almost missed it.
"Hey Vanessa, it's been a while. Just the other day, I went with Xzavier to visit your family, and guess what? We stumbled on an old photo," she said.
Tara didn't raise her voice, but it was just loud enough for the elders nearby to hear her clearly.
She said, "Turns out, it was a photo of your mom singing at the Nocturne Club back in the day.
"She was gorgeous, but luck wasn't on her side. I heard she got really sick later on. Bet it was awfully lonely for her at the end, wasn't it?"
The moment Tara said "Nocturne Club," my whole body started shaking before I could stop it.
Back then, the Carroll family never saw my mom as one of their own, just because she was a singer at that club.
She already had me growing inside her.
But all she could do was stand by and watch as my father married another woman.
So I ended up being the family's dirty little secret.
Things were hell for us.
Then people started whispering that my mom was sleeping around.
They said I was just some bastard she had with another man.
The Carroll family saw me as nothing but a disgrace.
That was the part of my past I was most sensitive about.
But Tara just tossed it out there like it was no big deal.
Her words, all sweet and innocent on the surface, were like a poisoned dagger, stabbing straight into my deepest wound.
She's always been like that.
Everyone around me was suddenly staring, judging, curious, and clearly enjoying the drama.
Those ugly rumors about my past and my mom started swirling again, echoing in my ears.
"No wonder she always looks so out of place..."
"Seriously, how did Alexzander end up marrying someone like her?"
It felt like my whole body froze, my blood turning to ice as my nails dug deep into my palms, pain shooting through my hands.
Tara kept that sweet, innocent smile plastered on her face, acting like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.
But she didn't stop; she kept taunting me, poking at my wounds just to see me flinch.
This time, she leaned in close, her voice low enough that only I could hear her venom.
"But with how wild her personal life was, it's no wonder she was never allowed a spot in the Carroll family grave, right?"
She could mess with me all she wanted, but of all things, Tara should never have disrespected my late mother.
I wasn't going to be a doormat anymore.