Chapter 3

The day I was discharged, Vivian was also brought home.

They maintained a superficial politeness, a distant facade, but in private, they were anything but.

When Vivian stood on tiptoes to reach a book, Julian reached from behind to precisely retrieve it for her.

When Vivian took off her hair towel, Julian would gently blow-dry her hair.

At dinner, Vivian's gaze lingered on the shrimp.

Julian had already peeled them and placed them on her plate.

"Eat more."

His eyes were soft. Then he glanced at me and set a piece of fish on my plate.

"Maya, you eat too. It's good for you."

The fish was full of tiny bones-the part I hated most.

Julian used to pick every bone out for me, reminding me to eat slowly.

But now, looking at that piece of fish, a wave of nausea hit me.

They talked about everything and nothing, their conversation effortlessly weaving between three or four languages.

I dropped my fork and bent to pick it up.

Then I saw what was happening beneath the table, and I froze-rooted to the spot.

Vivian had already slipped off her heels. Her long legs, sheathed in black stockings, were wrapped tightly around Julian's like a serpent.

"Julian, the kisses in the car were amazing. We should do that again later, ja?"

"And I'm wearing your favorite little bunny outfit tonight... specially to arrest you!"

Hearing the familiar Danish, I stiffened upright, my eyes darting instinctively toward Julian.

His expression was as usual, yet he replied in the same language.

"Naughty girl, be careful. Don't let Maya find out."

They were intimate without a care in the world, completely disregarding my presence.

But Julian probably never imagined that I had been fascinated by foreign languages since childhood, possessing an extraordinary talent for them.

I understood every single word they said.

Overwhelmed by anger and distress, my face suddenly paled, and I coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Maya!"

Julian was alarmed, immediately reaching out to steady me.

"Maya, it was a miscarriage, not some terminal illness. Why would you suddenly throw up blood?"

Vivian feigned confusion, then pretended to realize something.

"Could it be... you're putting on a show for Julian?"

Julian stiffened, his hand slowly retracting, his eyes filled with disappointment.

"Maya, are you trying to manipulate me?"

"You're poorly educated, from a humble background, yet you foolishly deluded yourself into thinking you could bear a child worthy of the Davies family name. This is the consequence of your greed."

"Vivian is at a crucial stage of her pregnancy planning. If you cause her even the slightest fright, I'll make you pay a hundred times over!"

Vivian gave me a triumphant look, then gently pulled Julian away, comforting him.

"Maya's so sensitive and prone to overthinking, why bother getting upset with her...?"

Their voices faded into the distance.

Strings of blood dripped onto the floor.

I managed a pained, hollow laugh, feeling utterly suffocated by the pain.

Julian had probably forgotten that I, too, had a promising future ahead of me.

Back then, to be with him, I gave up the chance to study abroad.

The Davies family was one of the wealthiest and most influential in the city, and the conditions for marrying Julian were ridiculously harsh and outlandish.

Giving up my academic pursuits, learning the strict socialite etiquette, even agreeing to have my parents' graves moved to their private cemetery...

Whenever I felt my boundaries were pushed, seeing his pleading expression, I would bite down hard and force myself to accept.

The love I had fought so hard to protect, no matter the cost, now lay shattered at my feet.

Julian, if this is what you want, then I will grant it to you.

I silently wiped away the bloodstains, took out the prepared divorce agreement, and went straight to the upstairs study to find him.

As I reached the corner, I suddenly heard hurried gasps and moans.

I froze.

Through a gap in the curtains, I saw Vivian, wearing a bunny headband, pinning Julian beneath her.

"You don't even like Maya, so why don't you just divorce her and marry me instead!"