Chapter 2
She watched as James leisurely put a cigarette between his lips, his eyes showing a lazy, carefree charm she'd never seen before.
"She brought it on herself," he said.
"Besides, isn't it even more convenient if she can't have kids?"
James took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling around him as he seemed to drift into some distant memory.
James smirked, "I'm only turned on by Vivian. Whenever I see Charlotte's face, nothing happens for me."
The room erupted in laughter.
Charlotte's heart crashed to the floor, shattering into a million pieces.
For three years, every time they were intimate, she wore that mask, the one with Vivian's face.
James never liked using protection. He always kept the lights on, just so he could watch her when she was aroused.
Afterward, he'd gaze at her with those deep, affectionate eyes, kissing her face over and over with restrained passion, as if he was holding something back.
She used to think that was just his way of being tender after they were intimate.
But now, she saw it for what it was, just her own delusions, her pride crushed over and over until there was nothing left.
Charlotte stumbled out of the hotel like a ghost, numb and hollow inside.
She handed the cleaning lady a fat stack of cash, telling her to find a way to keep the mask there and not to breathe a word about her visit.
The sun was blazing overhead, but all she felt was a cold that cut straight to her bones.
She got an urgent call summoning her back to the old Foster residence.
As soon as she arrived, the servants pinned her down on the cobblestone path. Her mother-in-law, Jane Foster, placed an expensive vase on her head and started beating her legs with a family heirloom stick, forcing her to kneel like a maid and take the punishment.
Jane kept poking her sharp nails into Charlotte's forehead.
"Three years of marriage, and still nothing," Jane spat.
"Do you even know what people are saying about you? Do you even care about the Foster Family or my son?"
Charlotte gritted her teeth and stayed silent.
Jane, seeing her keep quiet, her anger flared even hotter. She ordered the servants to make sure Charlotte stayed kneeling for three hours before she could get up.
Her mind was a mess, memories shattering and piecing themselves back together. Cold sweat broke out all over her, and the pain in her knees was so sharp it felt like it pierced her soul.
She didn't know how much time had passed before everything went black and she collapsed to the ground.
Half-conscious, she heard the screech of brakes and saw James rushing toward her, panic written all over his face.
When she came to, she was lying in the master bedroom of the old Foster residence, the door left slightly ajar.
From the hallway, she could hear James and Jane talking. Their voices came through loud and clear.
James's voice was cold, but hearing it made Charlotte feel a sudden warmth inside.
"I hope this is the last time you punish her like this," he said.
Before she could say a word, she heard the truth that hit her like a bolt of lightning.
"Charlotte's infertility started back when I was with Vivian," James said.
James paused, his tone dropping to a low, somber note.
"She's been blamed for not being able to have kids for three years. On our third anniversary, I'll give her the biggest wedding ever, to make up for everything."
Jane let out a cold snort, her face twisted with mockery.
"You know deep down whether you're trying to make things right or just out for revenge," she sneered.
"As the head of the Foster Family, you went and rounded up a bunch of sleazy guys at some club, planning to humiliate your own wife at the wedding. Are you really trying to drag the Foster Family through another scandal?"
James frowned, not expecting her to have figured it out.
He glanced toward the room, clearly annoyed as he cut her off.
"I've got my own plans. I'd appreciate it if you didn't meddle," he said.
Charlotte lay on the bed, feeling frozen to the core, as if all warmth had been drained from her.
Her belly and the backs of her hands were covered in needle marks from countless injections, and she'd swallowed so much bitter herbal medicine that she ended up vomiting bile.
Three years of what felt like punishment disguised as intimacy had become nothing but a cruel joke.
When the voices outside finally faded, Charlotte quickly lay down and pretended to be asleep.
As the footsteps drew closer, James leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, trying to comfort her.
A few minutes later, the sound of a car engine echoed through the courtyard.
Charlotte bit her lip and cried for what felt like ages, until her phone suddenly chimed.