Chapter 2

I reached for the old folder in the nightstand.

It was still there, and so was the certificate inside.

The cover was intact, with a photo of Ian and me.

I opened it and stared at the seal for a long time.

I had never questioned it before, but now that mark looked less like proof and more like dried blood.

Right then, the door lock clicked.

Ian was back sooner than I expected.

As soon as he walked in, he glanced at the dining table, then at the folder in my hand. "Why did you take this out?"

I folded it shut. "Just felt like looking at it."

He reached for it. "I'll keep these things safe. You don't need to worry about them."

I didn't let go. "Ian, is this certificate real?"

The tenderness in his eyes vanished. "Eleanor, why are you doing this? Are you trying to start a fight?"

*****

That afternoon, Ian stayed home instead of going to work. He sat with me in the living room and watched parenting videos for two hours, pretending nothing had happened.

However, the calmer he was, the more disgusted I felt.

SweetTooth updated her post later that afternoon.

The caption read: [His wife threw a fit today and refused to eat, so he rushed home to calm her down. Funny thing that someone who's only carrying his child for now actually thinks she's the real wife.]

The post was accompanied by a photo of a ring, with two names engraved on it: Asher and Joy.

Ian and I came up with those names together.

Back then, I was nestled in his arms, pointing at the book and telling him, "I hope our children have a peaceful life and endless happiness."

He kissed my forehead gently and said, "Alright, then we'll name them Asher and Joy."

SweetTooth's comment section erupted again. People flooded the replies, calling her shameless.

SweetTooth shot back instantly. [He told me those names last night, right in my bed.]

I handed my phone to Ian. "Care to explain?"

Ian glanced at it, his face darkening. "Do you believe this kind of nonsense?"

"How does she know the baby's names?"

"Maybe someone let it slip."

"Who?"

He rubbed his forehead, frustration written all over his face. "Eleanor, can you stop pressuring me? I'm already exhausted."

I shot back, "Of course. It must be exhausting trying to fool two women at the same time."

Ian shot to his feet.

Marilyn peeked out from the kitchen, then quickly ducked back in.

He lowered his voice. "SweetTooth is my ex-colleague's sister. She's not in good health, and she hasn't been in the best state of mind. She says these things because she was upset."

I shot back, "Was the marriage certificate also something she made up because she was upset?"

He paused. "It's fake."

"Then call the police."

"She's only a young girl. I can't do that to her."

I stared him down. "She's trying to steal my child, and you still want to go easy on her, huh?"

Ian finally snapped. "Eleanor, the babies are ours. Nobody is going to take them from you. What good will it do you to turn this into a big deal?"

"I want a legal marriage."

"I said no. Not now."

"Why not?"

He avoided my gaze. "It's against company policy."

I laughed. "And your company policy allows you to marry your colleague's sister."

Ian's face turned ashen. "Enough."

He grabbed my phone.

I reached for it. "Give it back."

"You're too emotional right now. Stop looking at all this nonsense online."

"Ian, what gives you the right to take my phone?"

He slipped it into his pocket. "I'm your husband and your children's father."

I stood up, bracing myself on the table. "You're not. Not legally."

That hit a nerve. He stared at me for a few seconds, then softened his tone. "Eleanor, yeah, I've been hiding something from you lately, but it's not what you think."

"What do you mean?"

"Once the baby's born, I'll tell you everything."

"Again?" I placed a hand over my belly. "Is that when I'll stop mattering to you?"

Ian didn't say a word.

The doorbell rang, and Marilyn went to open it.

A young woman stood at the door, dressed in a white coat with perfectly styled curls. She held a gift box in her hand.

She flashed me a sweet smile. "Eleanor, how are you doing?"

Ian rushed over. "Megan, what are you doing here?"

Megan blinked innocently. "Didn't you say she was in a bad mood? I was worried it might affect the babies, so I came to talk to her."

She set the box down on the table, her eyes lingering on my belly. "Eleanor, don't get me wrong. I'm not here to steal anything from you."

She paused, her smile growing sweeter. "I simply wanted to check on my babies, see if they're doing well."

I grabbed the box from the table and flung it at Megan's feet.

The bottle inside the box shattered, and the sticky liquid splashed onto her dress.

Megan let out a shriek and threw herself into Ian's arms. "Ian, she's lost her mind."

Ian steadied her, then looked up at me. "Eleanor, what the hell are you doing?"

I shot back, "She came into my house and claimed my babies were hers. Was throwing a box really crossing the line?"

Megan's cheeks flushed red, and she sounded aggrieved. "Eleanor, don't be so mean. I know being pregnant is hard, but Ian said you'd get something in return once the baby is born."

I shot Ian a look. "Something in return?"

Ian's hand finally slipped away from Megan's shoulder. "She's talking nonsense."

Megan covered her mouth, feigning innocence. "Am I? Didn't you say you'd give her a house and a lump sum of money, so she'd never have to worry about anything?"

The babies inside me kicked.

I gripped the edge of the table, trying to steady myself. "Ian, is that true?"

Ian gritted his teeth. "Megan, get out."

Megan stood her ground.

She pulled a red marriage certificate from her bag and slapped it onto the table. "Eleanor, face the truth. You've spent six years holding onto a worthless piece of paper. I'm the one who's legally married to him."

I reached for the certificate, but Ian slammed his hand down, blocking me. "Don't."

I looked up at him. "Why?"

Megan arched an eyebrow. "What? You think she can't take it? You can't hide the truth forever."

She turned to me. "Eleanor, do you know why he never gave you a wedding? He already had one with me. It wasn't extravagant, but all of the Lawrence family came."

I heard Marilyn gasp from the kitchen doorway.

It seemed that she didn't know about this either.

I turned to Ian. "Your parents know this, too, right?"

He stayed silent, which already said it all.

Megan looked smug. "Mrs. Kayla Lawrence adores me. She says I'm young, healthy, and from a respectable family. You? You come from a questionable background and never know your place."

I snatched the glass from the table and splashed it right in her face.

Megan's mascara streaked down her face. She stood there, stunned for a moment, then started bawling. "Ian!"

Ian seized my wrist. "Eleanor, that's enough."

I glared at his hand. "Let go of me."