Chapter 3

Before we got married, I asked Edward straight up what he thought about his first love.

Edward said directly, "I'm done chasing after her. It's time to move on. I'm serious about you. You're the one I want by my side for the rest of my life."

Women just knew when a man really meant it. It was instinct.

He loved me with all his heart, and he once pulled me out of hell when I was young. How could I possibly say no?

I got pregnant a year after we got married.

But I wasn't about to quit my job and play the stay-at-home mom just because I was pregnant.

I liked calling the shots, so I kept hustling at work until I was seven months pregnant.

For my prenatal checkup this month, Edward didn't come with me for the first time. He said he had to personally pick up an important client.

What kind of client was so important that he had to pick them up himself?

After I finished the VIP checkup process, I found out the answer.

Edward was gently helping a pregnant woman. I'd recognize that figure anywhere.

I called up a private investigator right away.

When I got home, I collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. When I woke up, I was covered with a thin blanket, and there was a cup of water on the nightstand.

"Doris, why didn't you call me to pick you up? You shouldn't be out there alone, especially with your belly this big," Edward said.

I grinned. "I've just gotten a bit spoiled these past couple of years. I've been through worse before."

Edward carefully massaged my swollen calves. "You're my wife now. You shouldn't have to go through this."

"Will I always be your wife?" I asked.

Edward froze for a second and then replied, "Of course."

The pricey private investigator worked fast. The next day, a voice recorder was delivered right to my door.

In the recording, Edward said, "Olivia, this is all on me. I never thought one night would be enough for you to end up pregnant. You've had to tough it out all by yourself, and I only found out today."

Olivia said, "It was just a drunken mistake, and honestly, I don't want to be tied down by marriage. If you really love me, just make sure the baby's taken care of once it's born."

Edward said, "I can't give you marriage, but I swear our kid won't have to suffer. You can come see it anytime you want."

Olivia said, "But Doris is about to have her baby, too. How are you even supposed to juggle both of us?"

Edward said, "Just leave that to me."

So that week Edward was supposedly abroad for business eight months ago? Turned out, things got way out of hand.

She toughed it out all alone? With all those bank transfers, I bet she was living an extravagant life. She wouldn't suffer at all.

Edward must've been eaten up with guilt, because after that, he started treating me like I was made of glass.

I'd been kept in the dark this whole time, and honestly, it sounded like Edward had been, too. The irony almost made me want to laugh.

The detective across from me asked nervously, "Mrs. Thompson, are you alright?"

I forced myself to stay composed. "Call me Ms. Evans. You can leave now. Let me know if you find anything else."

When the door closed and I was left alone in the private room, all the emotions I'd been bottling up finally crashed over me. I just sat there, silent tears streaming down my face.

The room was perfectly warm, but inside, I was shivering from a chill that wouldn't go away.

This was the first time I'd ever given my heart so completely, and life had hit me with a harsh lesson. Guess we could never let our guard down, no matter how good things seemed.

Wasn't love supposed to be pure? Even if it only happened once, it was still a betrayal.

All those times we hugged, celebrated the arrival of new life, and eagerly awaited our child's future... Was all of that just for show?

No, we couldn't fake love. Back then, the feelings were genuine, but feelings could change in an instant.

I was gonna keep this baby.

My child was the one who carried on my family, my bloodline. I brought it into this world, so it was mine, through and through.

Seven months in, every time I touched my belly, it'd kick right back.

I loved this little one, my own flesh and blood, more than anything else in the world.

I pulled myself together, wiped away my tears, and made sure I looked presentable before heading home.

From that day on, I kept showing up at work like nothing had happened, and kept eating those healthy lunches Edward always brought over himself.

Edward made sure I was pampered the whole pregnancy, but when I hit eight months, my legs suddenly buckled. I took a nasty fall. They rushed me to the hospital for an emergency C-section.

The baby came out weighing about 7.9 pounds. It was a healthy baby boy.

When the caregiver came into the room, I wasn't really asleep. I just kept my eyes half-closed, taking a rest.

So the moment she picked up the baby, I sensed something was off. "Who are you?" I asked.

She looked startled, but quickly tried to compose herself. "Mrs. Thompson, it's time for the baby's vaccination."

"Just do it here in the room. No need to take him out," I said.

"Wouldn't that disturb you? Is it really okay?" she asked.

"Not at all. I'm fine," I said firmly.

She set the baby down gently and quietly left.

My phone buzzed with a message. Turned out, the pregnant woman Edward had been taking care of gave birth to a baby boy this morning. He was about 7.5 pounds, and he was in a ward on the same floor.

Unbelievable.

Were they trying to pull a cuckoo move, sneaking their baby into my nest?

But was this Edward's idea, or did Olivia come up with it?

Did it even matter who came up with it?

So even that fall could've been planned from the start. Humph.