Chapter 3

"That night, the room was completely dark—I was scared out of my mind.

"But the next morning, when I saw Mr. Booker lying next to me, I actually felt this brief wave of relief."

As she talked, Deanna broke into a smile.

She looked up at me, still with that sweet, innocent vibe.

"Ms. Buckley, our baby's due any day now—why not just step aside and let us be together?"

Without Willian around, the girl in front of me was like a whole different person.

Truth be told, it didn't shock me much.

Because the night I'd gone looking for him, Deanna had peeked at me from behind the door.

I knew she'd spotted me that day.

She got up slowly and pushed open the closed door nearby.

Inside was a warm, cozy nursery.

"Mr. Booker picked out everything in here himself—he even decorated the room.

"He's not just going through the motions with this kid; he's really looking forward to it."

I was desperate to keep my cool in front of Deanna, who was practically shoving Willian's doting dad side in my face.

But she got under my skin anyway.

So Willian did care about this child.

He wasn't indifferent after all.

It felt like every bit of strength had been sucked out of me. I leaned on the dining table with one hand, accidentally knocking over a water glass.

The sharp crack echoed right through me, splintering my heart into pieces.

Willian heard the noise and rushed in, only to see me teetering on my feet while Deanna lay on the floor, clutching herself in pain.

I'd never forget that day—Willian's gut reaction wasn't to pick me anymore.

Deanna shot me a smug grin, like she'd already won.

As he brushed past me, Willian hesitated for just a split second.

In the end, he kept going, scooped her up, and hurried her to the hospital.

As he walked away, Willian didn't even glance back at me.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, slowly accepting that he'd just left me behind.

I followed them to the hospital, and by the time I arrived, his parents were already there.

Turned out, they'd all known about this for a while—everyone but me.

The moment she spotted me, Polly slapped me hard across the face.

"If anything happens to my grandson, you'll pay for it!"

Willian immediately stepped in front of me, shielding me completely behind him.

That only fueled her anger more.

"Willian, it's fine if you always take her side, but now she's trying to harm your own son!"

He let out a bitter laugh, his voice thick with suppressed rebellion.

"So what? If it's gone, it's gone."

If they hadn't schemed behind his back to keep this child, how could Stella have ended up so devastated?

No one knew that when he saw Deanna fall, his first instinct was actually... relief.

But facing this sudden complication now, he couldn't help feeling a twinge of regret.

The doctor emerged from the room and announced that the baby was fine.

Willian's parents hurried inside, hovering over Deanna with worried questions and comfort.

But she kept her gaze locked on Willian in the doorway, putting on that pitiful, helpless act.

If she had the guts to frame me like that, no way was I going to let her win.

I angled my face so he could see the swollen red mark on my cheek—just enough to pull at his heartstrings—and told him, "I don't want to be here anymore."

And with that, I got him to leave with me.

On our way out, I looked back at Deanna on the hospital bed and returned her smug smile with one of my own.

At least for the time being, Willian was still choosing me.

Even though I no longer wanted that favoritism.

In the days when he assumed I'd finally accepted the child, I was quietly preparing to go.

I packed my belongings and got the divorce papers ready.

Now it was just a matter of waiting for the perfect moment.

That was right—I planned to leave on the day Deanna gave birth.

She wanted me to bow out and let them have their happy little family of three, didn't she?

Well, I'd be more than happy to make that wish come true.

Lately, my lower abdomen had been bothering me—a vague, nagging discomfort that just wouldn't quit.

I'd headed to the hospital that day for a checkup, but I never imagined I'd bump into them.

I registered again and went through with the tests.

The instant I got the results, I started laughing, even as tears streamed down my face.

Willian and I had been trying for a child for five years, without any success.

And now, one finally arrives at the absolute worst moment.

I roamed the hospital corridors in a daze, gripping the pregnancy report, completely lost on how to handle this little life inside me.

I knew I should probably terminate it, but I couldn't bear the thought.

That decision hit me harder than the idea of leaving Willian ever could.

Then I glanced up and there he was, escorting Deanna out after her prenatal check.

In the days since, neither of us had brought up her name.

He mistook my quietness for grudging acceptance of the situation.