Chapter 3
He suddenly lunged forward and wrapped me in a crushing hug, his voice trembling with heartache.
He said, "Hazel, what have you been through? I'm taking you home to see a doctor, right now! I promise I'll get to the bottom of this. I'll make it up to you, no matter what."
Claire couldn't hide her guilty expression for a second. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stammered anxiously.
She said, "But I heard Hazel's family and the Lancaster family go way back. Who knows, maybe Hazel already knew Lucas. Besides, it's not like the Lancaster family doesn't know you two are married. Why would they choose her to be Lucas' nominal wife?
"Hazel, drop the act. If word gets out, do you even realize what it'll do to Edward's reputation?"
Edward suddenly realized what was going on. His expression turned as cold as ice when he looked at me.
He let go of me and whipped out our marriage certificates.
He said, "I almost fell for your act, Hazel. This is your last warning. Cut it out and admit what you did. Just get home with me now, or I'll tear these up and divorce you right here! Don't forget, you begged me over and over to marry you."
Those marriage certificates used to mean everything to me.
There was a time when our place went up in flames, and I was willing to risk being burned alive just to save them from the flames.
Now, with a ripping sound, they were torn to pieces.
But I didn't even look their way. All my attention was on Lucas. I lowered my head, murmuring "I'm sorry" under my breath, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.
Edward didn't get the reaction he expected. His face twisted with fury, practically trembling with anger.
He roared, "Hazel, you said you loved only me. I won't let you kiss him!"
He grabbed me without warning and rubbed his fingers hard against my lips, then forced a kiss on me before I could even think to push him away.
I felt a surge of disgust deep in my chest, and before I knew it, I was dry heaving. I couldn't help myself.
Edward caught me holding my stomach, and for a split second, he was stunned.
Then, suddenly, his whole face lit up. "You're pregnant?"
He called for a doctor right away, and the moment he learned I was about three months pregnant, he scooped me up into his arms.
He said, "Hon, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were pregnant. Come on, be good for me, and quit with the act, please? I was wrong. Let's just go home together, okay?"
Claire stiffened for a moment, then shoved her way forward, fake tears streaming down as she went all out congratulating me.
She said, "Hazel, now that you've got a baby on the way, you really shouldn't be acting out like this. If you agree to go home with Edward, I'll do anything you ask. I'll beg on my knees if you say so, and I'd even let you beat me to death if that's what it takes."
With those words, she started slapping her own face, hard, over and over.
But this time, Edward didn't give her a single look. He only had eyes for my bump.
Claire was stuck there, burning with embarrassment as she glared at me, like she wanted to murder me, her teeth clenched so hard that she could've shattered them.
With everyone watching, I pulled myself out of Edward's embrace without hesitation.
I lifted Lucas' cold, rigid hand and laid it softly on my belly.
I said, "Be good, baby. Let Daddy feel you, okay? Don't make things tough for Mommy, alright?" I could feel every eye burning into me, but at that moment, I just wanted Lucas to be there with me and our baby.