Chapter 2

I was startled awake by an urgent knocking at the door.

Sunlight peeked through the gap in the curtains, filling the bedroom. I forced my eyes open and struggled to get dressed, every movement slow and heavy.

After more than ten minutes, I finally managed to drag myself, still feeling sick, to the door.

To my surprise, it was Chana standing there.

She was wearing a tight, light green dress, clearly showing off her five-month baby bump on purpose.

She definitely wasn't here to play nice, with that bossy look on her face.

"Hey, Angelina," she said. "Starting today, you're moving out. I'm moving in to take care of my pregnancy."

I frowned, about to say something, but Chana wrinkled her nose in disgust and stepped back like I smelled bad.

"Seriously, Angelina, can't you at least make yourself look decent? You make all women look bad.

"No wonder Richard says just seeing you like this kills his appetite," she sneered.

Chana's little taunt didn't bother me at all.

My expression stayed cold, and I replied flatly, "Chana, this house is under my name. Unless I agree, you're not allowed to move in."

Chana was still young and couldn't hide her irritation. Just a few words from me and she'd already be fuming.

"You barren old hag," she snapped. "Since I managed to steal your husband after all these years, snatching this house is a piece of cake,

"I got married to Richard this morning. That makes me the real Mrs. Thompson now, and you? You're just some old, past-her-prime woman he dumped.

"Who cares about a house? Richard just gave me a bracelet worth tens of millions today."

Her last sentence finally got my attention. I asked coldly, "What bracelet are you talking about?"

Chana snorted, tilted her chin up like she was queen of the world, and flaunted her left wrist right in front of me.

"Angelina, let me open your eyes today," she sneered.

Before she could finish, I lunged forward and seized her wrist, my whole body trembling. "That's mine. Give it back," I said.

But I was way too weak to fight back against Chana. She easily knocked me to the ground, leaving me helpless.

Chana rubbed her wrist, then kicked me twice in anger.

"Angelina, what makes you think you can take my stuff?" she snapped. "Richard gave this to me. He said only someone like me is worthy of a bracelet this rare."

Just as Chana finished her sentence, Richard burst in, his tall figure tense with worry.

Chana instantly switched to a tearful voice, pointing at me and complaining to Richard, "Richard, Angelina is bullying me.

"She tried to attack me and my baby just now, good thing I reacted fast, or she would've hurt us."

Richard gave me a disappointed glance, then anxiously checked Chana for any injuries.

Chana wrapped her arms around Richard's waist, her voice all sweet and clingy. "Richard, don't worry. I'm a brave little lamb. I'll protect myself and our baby."

Richard's furrowed brows finally relaxed.

He looked down at me, battered and miserable, his voice cold as ice, not a hint of emotion. "Angelina, you've really disappointed me. If I hadn't shown up when I did, were you actually going to go after Chana's life?"

I was too furious to even argue. Eyes burning red, I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Richard, what gives you the right to give my bracelet to Chana?"

That bracelet was a gift from Richard for our tenth anniversary.

Back then, the company we'd poured years into finally went public in Colelinton. To celebrate, he bought me a luxury cruise ship.

That night, we stood together on the deck, with the sea breeze swirling around us. He hugged me from behind, his chin gently resting on my shoulder, his voice soft and tender. "Angelina, we've finally made it through all the hard times."

I smiled warmly and turned to hold him close.

After all the hardships Richard and I had endured, finding happiness together was all we ever wanted.

After that embrace, we melted into a passionate kiss.

Under the dazzling stars and the restless sea, Richard's heartbeat and breath synced with mine. His eyes were so deep, like crashing waves. I felt like I could drown in them.

When that long kiss finally ended, a cool touch graced my wrist, a bracelet slipped on without me noticing.

Richard gently lifted my chin with his slender fingers, his eyes full of love and focus. "Angelina, this is the highlight of tonight's auction. The finest treasure, for my dearest."