Chapter 3

The next day, Olivia practically glued herself to Edward's side as we arrived at the Sterling Manor.

Amanda's brow furrowed the moment she spotted Olivia. "Why is an outsider at our family dinner?"

Olivia's eyes brimmed with tears as she looked helplessly at Edward, biting her lip and hesitating before she muttered in a soft voice, "If you don't want me here, I'll just leave."

Just as Olivia turned to leave, her stiletto heel snapped, and she lost her footing, about to collapse.

Edward dashed over immediately, wrapping his arm around Olivia's waist and catching her before she could hit the ground.

His attention was so fixated on Olivia that he barreled right into me—knocking me off balance and sending me sprawling onto the sofa.

It was only then that they both snapped back to reality and spoke at the same time, their voices tense, "Is the baby alright?"

I clung to the edge of the sofa, struggling to steady my breathing as icy resentment flooded through me, making my chest tighten painfully.

Seeing all that, Amanda was so enraged that she snatched up her cane and smacked Edward with it. "All you ever care about is the baby. Have you even bothered to ask how Charlotte is feeling?"

My nose started to sting. Edward finally snapped out of it and hurried over, pulling me into his embrace and gently rubbing my back. "Charlotte, are you alright? Did you get hurt? You nearly scared me to death."

I stiffened and then wrenched myself free from his arms, saying nothing. I just fixed him with an icy stare.

For a moment, disappointment flickered in his eyes. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he stayed silent.

At the dinner table, Edward finally revealed the real reason for the family gathering. He glanced around and cleared his throat.

Then, he said, "I called everyone here tonight to make an announcement. I want Liv to be my child's godmother."

He glanced at me, set down his fork, and chose his words carefully.

"Liv's been Charlotte's closest friend forever. Now that Charlotte's expecting, Liv's really been looking after her. One more mom in the picture, one more person to love the kid."

Amanda shot me a look and stayed quiet. It was clear she wanted me to make my own call.

Taking a deep breath, I met Edward's gaze. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Olivia's little self-satisfied smirk.

I couldn't stand her smug face one second longer. I scoffed.

"So once she's the godmother, what's next? Real mom?" I snapped, my tone icy.

Edward stiffened for a moment, lowering his head like I'd hit a nerve. But he quickly snapped back at me in a half-complaining tone.

"Charlotte, how could you even say that? No one could ever take the place of the baby's real mom. I just want Liv to be around to help take care of the baby, that's all."

I shot back, "So she can't help look after the baby unless she's given the godmother title?"

I'd known Edward for over a decade, and it was the first time I'd ever seen him lose his temper with me.

"Charlotte, what's gotten into you? Why have you been so hostile toward Liv lately? She's put her career on hold to take care of you, and she's done it all without a single complaint. Can't you at least return the favor?" he yelled.

I looked at the man who'd shared my bed for five years. Suddenly, he seemed like a total stranger.

I was carrying their child. All the misery I'd endured in the first trimester—all that acid reflux, the endless nausea, the constant vomiting—it was like living in a personal hell.

And my swollen body was so unrecognizable that I couldn't even bring myself to look in the mirror.

Olivia, however, lived the glamorous life of a superstar while my husband poured the entire company's resources into making her shine.

I kept swallowing hard, the veins bulging on my pale knuckles—my stomach churning like I was about to puke.

Noticing the tension, Amanda's voice rang out sharp and commanding. "Edward, is this how you talk to Charlotte now? Can't you see just how much she's suffering through this pregnancy? Instead of standing by your own wife, you take the outsider's side? You've really crossed the line."

Amanda's cane came crashing down on Edward once more, and Olivia, face full of worry, rushed in front of him to shield him.

When the cane struck Olivia, she let out a muffled cry, and Edward's eyes went red with emotion. He pulled her close, using his own body to protect her from Amanda's fury.

They looked just like those over-the-top couples ready to take a hit for each other—if I wasn't actually his wife.

With tears in my eyes, I squeezed my eyes shut and called out to Amanda, my voice breaking with sobs. "Amanda, please stop. Don't make yourself sick over this."

I paused for a moment, swallowing back my tears before turning to Edward. My voice wavered with hurt and frustration.

"Just look at Amanda. She's this upset because of you. I'm not coming home tonight. I'll be staying here with her for a few days. You can leave on your own."

Edward and Olivia both opened their mouths to say something, but Amanda cut them off before they could get a word out.

"Edward, are you deaf or just pretending? Didn't you hear Charlotte? I could use someone to keep me company for a few days. Now take this homewrecker and get out of my sight," Amanda snapped.

Edward's face turned bright red, and instead of arguing, he just kept fussing over me—reminding me again and again to take care of myself. He didn't leave with Olivia until he was sure I was really asleep.

Even the housekeeper couldn't help whispering, "Edward's always so good to Charlotte, isn't he?"

I just sneered in my mind. He was just such a good guy—so good that he made me, his wife, pregnant with his lover's child. That was so hilarious.

After the house went dark, I lay there with my eyes open, staring at my phone. That was when I saw Christopher Wade's message quietly waiting for me.

Christopher: [Charlotte, the procedure's been scheduled.]