Chapter 3
I left Lucky at the hospital so he could rest.
Then I went home alone.
Edward had sent me a message with four cake photos, telling me to pick one.
And he added a threat: [If you don't make it, I'll tank the Shaw family's stock tomorrow.]
That was one of the many ways he controlled me.
My silence must've irritated him.
He went even further—he moved Bella into our house.
I watched them walk in with armfuls of luggage.
My lips trembled. "You two..."
Edward didn't even look at me.
He ordered the staff to clear out the master bedroom and dump all my belongings into the guest room.
With no choice, I went into the kitchen to start prepping the cake.
They left the bedroom door wide open on purpose.
They lay on the very bed I had decorated myself, flirting loudly, making sure I heard every word.
As their laughter and moans grew louder, something snapped inside me.
My vision darkened again, and everything after that vanished.
*****
The next morning, the butler shook me awake.
He looked worried—today was Bella's birthday party, and guests were already arriving.
And I had slept on the kitchen floor the whole night. Edward hadn't bothered to check on me.
The cake wasn't even close to done.
I rubbed my temples and told the butler to bring in the custom cake I'd ordered earlier.
I headed upstairs to change, but when I reached the master bedroom, a huge crowd had formed around the door.
I pushed through.
Edward had his arm around Bella, staring coldly at the reporters who had barged inside.
"Mr. Hudson, what exactly is your relationship with Ms. Wright?"
"Mr. Hudson, are you really having an affair during your marriage?"
"Ms. Wright, can you respond to the rumors?"
The reporters kept asking questions.
Edward's eyes cut through the crowd and landed on me, full of embarrassment and anger.
I knew exactly what he was thinking. I also knew he was wrong.
My stomach throbbed, but the whole scene was so absurd I almost laughed.
Who was the mastermind behind this mess?
Edward, did you really not know?
Or did you know and just not care?
"Lily, you'd better clean this up," he snapped.
Once I got the reporters out of the room, Edward stormed over and slapped me without warning.
My head jerked to the side. Through the sting, I caught the triumphant sparkle in Bella's eyes.
Right there in front of him, I transferred the hush money.
Only then did he look away with a cold, satisfied snort.
I opened my mouth to speak, but a metallic taste rose up my throat.
Before I could react, I doubled over coughing.
Blood seeped between my fingers, dripping onto the floor.
Edward was gently helping Bella fix her clothes. He froze when he saw the blood, his pupils tightening as if he was about to rush toward me.
I lifted my head painfully.
For a split second, he looked worried. Then his expression twisted into contempt.
"Are you done making a scene?" He scoffed. "You're pathetic."
He shoved me aside and walked Bella downstairs.
I collapsed onto the floor. Blood smeared across my white dress, turning it into a miserable mess.
I stared at their backs until they disappeared, feeling something inside me crack wide open.
My phone chimed.
It was a notification from the hospital.
I read the line of text, and my eyes slowly widened.
It wrote: [Late-stage gastric cancer.]
The moment I saw the diagnosis, it felt as if my whole life collapsed in on itself.
I changed into clean clothes and went downstairs.
With a glaring handprint still on my cheek, every guest turned to stare.
Edward sneered, "This cake isn't the one you made. Lily, are you seriously this lazy? Are you trying to—"
He walked over, ready to scold me, but the moment he saw my face, his expression darkened.
He stepped forward. "You couldn't fix your face before coming down? Do you want people laughing at me?"
His words used to hurt.
Now, I didn't feel a thing.
Maybe facing death did that to a person.
I said nothing.
I just stood there, waiting for the pain in my stomach to ease.
Screw the precious Shaw family stock. Screw Bella and her fake innocence.
I wasn't staying in this house anymore.