Chapter 3

He flicked his cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his heel. Then he suddenly clamped his hand around Rachel's throat. Her breathing grew ragged as she started coughing, tears streaming down her face.

"Kylan, I didn't mean to. I had a nightmare last night about something happening to the baby, and I got so scared that I just had to see you," Rachel choked out, her voice trembling.

Kylan's face softened. He slowly let go of her, and for a moment, there was even a hint of tenderness in his eyes as his tone turned gentle.

"Just because of a dream? Was it really worth getting this worked up over?" he asked.

Seeing his attitude change, Rachel immediately snuggled up to him, acting all sweet and clingy.

"But I really am scared, Mr. Lane. Can't you just stay with me for the whole day?" she whined.

Kylan pulled her away from his embrace and shot her down without hesitation.

"I told you, I'm spending today with Sherry at the church. She needs someone by her side more than ever right now. I have to be there for her," he said firmly.

Rachel stood her ground. She tossed her coat aside, revealing a slinky nightgown. "Mr. Lane," she whispered, "I'm all alone... and frightened. Perhaps you could... come in?"

Before she finished, Kylan scooped her into his arms, practically kicking the door down on his way in. I stared, hand flying to my mouth. Was this the same man whose touch used to be so tender?

Lurking in the darkness, I forced myself to listen to the sounds of their intimacy coming from inside. With every whisper, my heart crumbled a little more.

After about ten minutes, Kylan and Rachel stepped outside again. I emerged from the shadows and hailed a cab to follow them.

Their car pulled up at a huge shopping mall. Hand in hand, they wandered around like a pair of newlyweds, loading up on baby gear.

Eventually, they ended up at a boutique. After chatting with the sales assistant, Kylan picked up a beautiful pendant.

Once they left, I asked the sales assistant about it and found out it was a custom-made pendant for their unborn child.

I'd seen that receipt tucked in his pocket before, and I always thought it was for our child.

But only today did I realize that the pendant was actually custom-made for the kid he had with someone else.

I stumbled home, unable to get that pendant out of my head.

Whenever I got pregnant, Kylan never looked happy about it.

When I was all excited, embroidering a hat for our baby, he just watched from afar, never saying a word.

But after seeing that boutique receipt, I kept convincing myself he loved our baby.

I used to fool myself, but what happened today shattered all my illusions.

He never wanted a child with me. He gave every bit of love and tenderness he had to Rachel. He did everything he could to make sure I never got pregnant, just so he could save all his money for Rachel's baby.

I looked around at all the paintings filling the house. He'd bought them from artists all over the world, just to win my favor.

Right now, I just felt stifled, with nowhere to let out these feelings.

I was ready to rip every painting from the walls and shatter them on the floor when the maid entered, holding an earring. "Mrs. Lane, someone at the door said you dropped this."

My rage froze as I looked closer. It was the same earring Kylan had been clutching so tightly. It was Rachel who wanted to see me.

At the coffee shop, Rachel walked over, one hand resting protectively on her belly and a smug smile on her face. She slowly made her way over and sat down next to me. "You saw us in the alley by the neighborhood, didn't you?"

I took a sip of my coffee, not wanting to say a word. But she just kept smirking as she spoke to herself. "Our first night together was on Valentine's Day, three years ago. After all this time, he still can't stay away from me."

My body trembled, and I crashed my cup onto the table. Three years ago, on Valentine's Day, I lost my first child. While I was lying awake, devastated and unable to sleep, he was out there messing around with another woman.