Chapter 2
Someone with the username "Serene Skies" commented: [Claire, just focus on your pregnancy at the Stone family estate. Don't worry about anything else.]
That was Charles's mom, Margaret, the one who'd never liked me.
Her comment set off a storm in the comments section.
[Claire, are you pregnant with Mr. Stone's baby?]
[Congratulations! You two finally made it official! A guy like him is perfect for you!]
[I knew it! Evelyn could never compare to Claire. Mr. Stone's heart is definitely with Claire.]
Every comment was like a needle, stabbing straight into my heart.
"Evelyn, you've loved him for five years. You kept your distance from me for his sake, never saw me again, even cut ties with your parents for him. But what about him?" Henry's message popped up on my screen.
Then another message from Henry came through.
He didn't say anything else, just one line.
[Evelyn, I'll always wait for you.]
It was the middle of the night when Charles finally came home.
Seeing me still awake in bed, he sighed. "Why aren't you asleep? Staying up late isn't good for you."
He took off his coat, and the strong smell of barbecue hit me. My stomach churned, and I quickly covered my nose.
"Did you go out for barbecue with Claire?" I asked.
Charles, worried I'd get upset, hurried to explain.
"Claire couldn't handle home-cooked meals lately, kept whining for barbecue, so I just took her out that one time. Evelyn, please don't be mad."
Before I got pregnant, I was obsessed with barbecue. I always asked Charles to join me, but he never did.
Not once did he say yes.
He always said he hated the smell and couldn't understand why I liked that greasy junk.
Turns out, it wasn't barbecue he couldn't stand, it was me.
"I'm not mad. You don't have to explain," I said coolly.
Charles was stung by my icy tone. He took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead.
"Evelyn, I'm worn out every day. Can you stop making a fuss?" he said, sounding tired.
"I'm not making a fuss," I shot back.
His gaze fell on my phone, the screen still glowing in the dark.
It was a screenshot from Claire's latest post.
Charles chuckled. "Seriously? You're not jealous because of Claire's post, are you?"
His smile was like a slap in the face. How could he act like he didn't care at all?
I sat up, glaring at him, my voice laced with accusation.
"So you knew she posted something so flirty, didn't you?" I demanded.
"Your mom was stirring things up in the comments, making everyone jump to the wrong conclusion, and you just let it happen."
"Charles, what am I to you?"
Charles's face darkened, his voice icy.
"Evelyn, as Mrs. Stone, you should understand my situation instead of constantly causing drama," he said coldly.
"You know Claire's husband died saving my mother. It's only right that I take care of her."
Yeah, I knew.
So before, I was always by his side, helping him repay that debt of gratitude.
I checked in on Claire, took her out shopping just to lift her spirits.
If I bought something for my baby, I'd always get the same for hers.
In the end, what was left for me?
They grew closer and closer, while I just faded into the background, invisible to both of them.
I was exhausted. I didn't want to argue with him anymore.
I muttered, "Yeah, it's only natural, isn't it?" Then I turned my back to him and lay down.
Charles sighed and went to take a shower.
After his shower, he slipped into bed, his warm hands wrapped around my waist as he pulled me close.
"Hey, I'm sorry. I know I haven't been there for you lately. I promise, next time I'll be there with you for your checkup," he said softly.
My heart tightened with a bittersweet ache, and in that moment of tenderness, I couldn't help but remember when I first found out I was pregnant.
Back then, he held our very first prenatal report, so excited he was practically in tears.
"Evelyn, we're going to have a baby! I can't believe how happy I am," he'd said, his voice trembling with joy.
"Don't worry, I promise I won't miss a single checkup," he told me back then.
"Whatever you want to eat, I'll cook it for you. Wherever you want to go, I'll be right there with you," he promised.
All those sweet memories came flooding back, and my eyes started to tear up.
"You promised..." I started to say.
I wanted to say it out loud.
But before I could finish, Charles interrupted me.