Chapter 3

The next day, I was drafting the divorce papers.

Then I got two photos from an anonymous number.

One was the Affidavit of Shared Residence for Edward, Olivia, and their child, and the other was a family photo that looked meant to flaunt their happiness.

I glanced at the divorce papers in my hand and texted back: [Do you realize if Edward cheats on me, he'll be kicked out with nothing but the clothes on his back?]

She replied almost instantly: [What do you mean?]

I didn't bother to explain.

Less than half an hour later, the doorbell rang.

Olivia walked in, holding the kid, her face stormy. "What did you mean by that?"

I flipped the agreement to the signature page. "It's exactly what it says. Don't you get it?"

"And what makes you think you have the right to take everything he busted his ass for?"

"Because I'm his legal wife, and because he signed this contract with his own hand."

Olivia let out a mocking laugh. "Charlotte, you seriously think moving in here makes you the lady of the house?"

I heard footsteps outside the door.

Edward rushed in, with my mother-in-law, Ryan, and Grace following close behind.

Olivia's eyes went red with emotion as she hugged the child and moved closer to Edward. "Edward, I wanted to see where you live.

"I didn't expect your wife to pull out the prenup and try to kick me out as soon as I walked in."

Edward frowned. "If you've got a problem, take it out on me. Why scare her?"

I let out a bitter laugh. "So you're going to stand there and not explain why you lied to me?"

My mother‑in‑law said coldly, "Olivia doesn't care about formal marital titles. She only wants the child added to a Affidavit of Shared Residence. You're already Mrs. Bennett. Isn't that enough for you?"

Olivia's eyes were rimmed red as she stepped up and grabbed my hand. "Charlotte, I'm not the marrying kind. I never wanted your spot. Once the kid starts school, I'll hand Edward back to you."

I gave a cold, mocking laugh. "So Edward's something you can borrow for a while and return when you're done?"

Ryan's face darkened. "Charlotte, don't say it like that."

I yanked my wrist free from Olivia's grip. "Am I the one being harsh, or is what you all are doing plain shameful?"

But Olivia suddenly let herself fall backward, dragging the child down with her as they both crashed to the floor.

The kid immediately burst into tears.

Edward was the first to rush over.

My mother-in-law shoved me aside. "She's holding a baby. How could you be so heartless?"

My lower back slammed into the corner of the glass cabinet.

Ryan stepped in front of Olivia. "Charlotte, no matter how much you hate her, you can't drag the kid into this."

"I didn't push her. She fell on her own—" I protested.

But Edward cut me off, his voice icy. "Enough."

He picked up the child, giving me a look like he didn't even recognize me.

Olivia curled up in his arms, sobbing. "Don't blame her, Edward. She loves you so much she can't stand having us around."

My mother-in-law got even angrier and gave me another hard shove, telling Edward to get Olivia and the kid to the hospital.

My head slammed into the corner of the cabinet, and blood started running down the side of my face.

They all looked tense as they hovered protectively around Olivia and the kid, hurrying them out.

Edward paused for a moment as he walked past me.

I thought he saw the blood on my face.

But he said coldly, "If anything happens to the kid, I'll never forgive you."

Grace paused at the door, her eyes filled with disappointment. "You shouldn't have treated Olivia like that. She wanted to see the place. There's nothing wrong with that.

"To be real with you, when this house was renovated, Edward made sure every detail matched Olivia's taste.

"You took what should have belonged to her from the very beginning."

The door slammed shut behind them.

I leaned against the wall, staring at the place I'd called home for four years.

The kitchen counter was ridiculously high. I'd been tiptoeing to chop veggies for four years.

The study had a whole wall dedicated to gaming, but I never played a single game.

The master bedroom had those mustard-yellow curtains I'd complained about a million times, but Edward wouldn't change them.

It wasn't that he couldn't change them, but everything here was meant for Olivia.