Chapter 1

When I was fourteen, I jumped into an icy lake to save Henry Goodman.

The combination of my period, an infection, and the cold left my uterus badly damaged. After that, I couldn't have children anymore.

Henry felt incredibly guilty and swore he would only marry me, promising to stay childfree with me for the rest of our lives.

When I turned twenty-three, everything changed.

The night before my wedding, thanks to an old doctor, I could finally be a mom again.

I was just about to share the big news with Henry when I accidentally caught him chatting with his buddies.

"So, Henry, you really gonna stick with Emily forever and never have kids?" one of his friends asked.

To my surprise, Henry let out a cold laugh. "She's useless. She should've just died in that lake. As for my kid, Wendy's already pregnant. You guys are welcome to the baby's party after Wendy gives birth."

I didn't expose him. Without making a fuss, I just called off the wedding.

That same day, when my brother, Edward Sinclair, found out I was cured, he looked totally freaked out.

"I'm sorry, Emily. I had no idea you still had a chance to get pregnant," he said, his voice trembling.

"I was afraid Henry would get back on his word. So when he turned eighteen, I secretly set up an accident. He never even knew," he confessed. "I... I had him sterilized."

I couldn't even find the words. My mind just went blank.

*****

Inside the private room, Henry had just finished talking, and the whole place suddenly came alive, everyone buzzing with excitement.

One of the men said, "Henry, you're a legend. Seriously, Wendy's so young and hot, way better than Emily, who's just a pretty face with nothing going on."

Another man echoed, "For real. Henry, you've put up with Emily, that infertile woman, for years. You've done more than anyone else would. If it were me, I'd have snapped ages ago."

"Now I get why Henry's been so generous with a poor scholarship girl. Turns out you just want Wendy to give you a kid and keep your family going, huh?"

Henry smirked, looking totally pleased with himself. "Don't even bring up that good-for-nothing Emily. If my company weren't in such a mess and I still needed the Sinclair family, I would've kicked her out."

He took a swig of his drink, his voice growing cold and cruel. "Honestly, when she jumped into the lake to save me, she should've just drowned. At least then I'd actually remember her fondly.

"Now? She's just a burden I can't shake off, always there to remind me I owe her. Once the company pulls through and the kid's born, I'll make sure she gets out of my life for good."

Suddenly, his tone softened, a gentle smile playing at his lips. "Wendy's young, pure, healthy, and she listens to me. I pay for her school, help out her family, and she will give me a son. It's a win-win, totally fair."

Everyone agreed right away.

"Congrats, man."

"You are wise."

"Even if Emily finds out Henry's got a kid, she'll just have to suck it up and accept it. With how useless she is, nobody would ever want her except for Henry, who is way too soft-hearted."

The whole room cracked up, laughter echoing everywhere.

Their laughter was harsh and icy, making the air feel even colder.

I stood there, frozen, chilled to the bone.

Instinctively, I placed a hand on my belly.

I once imagined bringing a new life into this world with him.

But now, it all felt like a cruel joke.

Turned out Henry had always resented me.

And all his promises were just empty words.

Back then, when he promised we'd never have kids and just grow old together, I felt nothing but guilt and unease.

So, even when the hospital basically gave me a life sentence of infertility, I just couldn't give up.

I went everywhere, tried every possible remedy and doctor I could find.

Finally, I tracked down a legendary old doctor, already in his nineties.

He said he could cure me.

I was so happy that I could've floated away.

But I didn't tell a soul about it, not Henry, or my family.

I couldn't bear the thought of them being hurt if it didn't work out.

When I finally got cured, I ran straight to Henry, eager to share the good news, only to find out all he ever felt for me was resentment and disgust.

And not only that, he'd already made sure he had a way out.

Wendy Evans, one of the scholarship girls he'd been helping out, was already carrying his baby.

And marrying me was just to use my family to bail out his family's business when things got rough.

A million thoughts raced through my mind.

Tears had already blurred my vision.

From now on, Henry, you went your way and I would go mine. I hoped you found your own happiness, and far away from me.

I didn't storm in and tear off his mask, exposing his true colors for everyone to see.

Instead, I chose to walk away quietly, leaving it all behind without saying a word.

Henry and his buddies really thought they had it all figured out.

Even if I never got cured and could never have kids, the moment I learned what Henry truly thought of me, I would've left him anyway.

My life didn't revolve around Henry. I was perfectly capable of living without him.

I still had my parents and Edward, who really loved me and always had my back.

To them, I mattered just as much as they mattered to me.

I stumbled back to the wedding house, feeling completely out of it.

The room was filled with festive decorations, but to me, they were painfully bright and almost unbearable.

I took a deep breath, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill again. I was about to pack my things and leave when I saw a woman walking out of the bathroom.

It was Wendy.

How did she get a key to our home?

Wendy looked startled when she saw me.

But she quickly pulled herself together and forced a smile. "Emily, I didn't know you were back. I just came to help tidy up for you and Henry."

She acted totally unfazed, like she was telling the truth, not a hint of embarrassment or fear of being caught here uninvited.

But I still caught a fleeting look of mockery and contempt in her eyes.

Her gaze seemed to say, "Just scoping out my future place."

A surge of anger shot through me.

Yeah, I was planning to leave Henry, but this was still my wedding house now.

And Wendy was really in such a rush to play the lady of the house.

I stared her down, my tone full of accusation. "This is my home. Who said you could just walk in? And how did you get a key to my place? Tell me now, or I'm calling the cops to get you arrested."