Chapter 3

Seven years and still no bun in the oven, huh? Fine, I'll let them see what this so-called "barren woman" can really do.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, an icy voice suddenly sounded from behind me.

"Stop! What are you all doing?"

Hearing Edward's voice, I clenched my handkerchief tightly.

But I didn't turn around. Instead, I said with icy indifference to the maid and Lucas in front of me. "Hit them as hard as you want. If someone dies, I'll take the fall."

Edward finally realized it was me.

He walked over, eyes wide with disbelief, and grabbed my wrist.

"Charlotte Evans, what are you doing here?" he blurted out.

His grip was so tight that a sharp pain shot through my wrist.

I backhanded him across the face without hesitation.

Then I quickly stepped back, fury blazing in my eyes, and snapped at him. "Edward, mind you manners. What the hell are you grabbing me for?"

Edward was left dazed by my slap, staring at me in utter disbelief.

But in the blink of an eye, Oliver's wailing voice broke through the chaos. "Uncle Edward, Uncle Edward, help me!"

Edward shot me a furious glare, then marched over to his nephew.

He grabbed Lucas by the collar and yanked him up.

Lucas was quick—as soon as his feet hit the floor, he bolted straight to me and hid behind my back.

The maid hurried over to my side as well.

Edward looked at Oliver, whose face was bruised and swollen, and shot me a furious glare.

"Charlotte, you know Oliver's not strong; how could you let him get roughed up like this?

"What happened to you? When did you become like this?

"Where's that classy lady I used to know?" he snapped.

When I heard him say I wasn't the proper lady he always expected me to be, all those memories came flooding back.

It reminded me of those seven years I spent married to him.

I'd complained to him that his sister had come home again, stirring up trouble with his mom, saying I couldn't have kids, and his mom made me reflect on myself as a punishment.

Back then, Edward looked at me with the same kind of contempt.

"Charlotte, what happened to you? You're always nagging now—where's that refined lady I used to know?" he'd say.

With that, he'd slam his book down on the bookstand and storm off to his study, clearly fed up with me.

Every time I watched him walk away, I'd just sit there, silently crying to myself.

But now, I just smirked and turned to him.

"Whether Oliver's weak or not, that's not my problem. Listen up, Edward, if your nephew ever tries to mess with my son again, I'll have my son teach him a lesson he won't forget.

"And you'd better keep your nephew's mouth in check. If he keeps spreading rumors about me, I won't hesitate to have my brother drop by the Sinclair family and ask if your whole family is just a bunch of gossipy loudmouths."

I thought Edward would blow up.

For seven years of marriage, I never dared to talk back to him—never—because I couldn't give him a child.

But to my surprise, pain flashed across Edward's face when he heard what I said.

"You... you got married? You actually got married?" he stammered.

I paused, surprised.

I never thought Edward didn't even know I'd gotten married.

But after a moment's thought, it suddenly clicked.

When we divorced, he must've been sick of me. Once I walked out of the Sinclair family, he definitely didn't want to hear anything about me ever again.

I just smirked and turned to Edward. "What, you can get married, but I can't?"

With that, I pulled Lucas out, cool as ice.

"Go get your sister. We're out of here; this academy isn't worth your time," I said.

Then I turned to Smith, holding his mouth, his face covered in blood.

"Congrats, you just ruined your career. From now on, no academy but this one will ever take you on as a teacher. My brother will make sure every academy knows to blacklist you," I said coldly.

Smith was so stunned he forgot all about the pain in his mouth.

"I... I... I..." he stammered.

I just shot him a mocking look.

"Let this be a lesson. Sinclair kids aren't the only ones who matter. The Carter children are just as precious," I said, my tone sharp.

Then I turned to Edward, who looked pale and totally out of it.

"Edward, from now on, if you see me, you'd better walk the other way. Otherwise, every time I see you, I'll beat you up.

"And if you ever dare touch me again, I'll break your hand," I warned.

With that, I didn't spare Edward another glance and turned to walk out of the academy.

After seven years of marriage, Edward and I ended up as total strangers.

*****

When we got home that day, I pulled Lucas into my room, cleaned him up, and dabbed some ointment on his wounds.

Lucas's little fists were balled up so tight his face was flushed, but he didn't make a peep.

His sister, Sophie, leaned on her elbow, eyeing me curiously.

I've never really liked kids—it's just how I am.

But oddly enough, I didn't find these two munchkins annoying at all.

Once I finished tending to Lucas, I told the maid to take him and Sophie back to their room for dinner.

But Lucas suddenly threw his arms around me, hugging me tight.

"Mommy, can we eat in your room?" he asked.

Before I could even respond, Sophie followed suit, wrapping her little arms around my other hand.

"Can we please eat in your room, Mommy?" she begged.

I stiffened a little, and the maid, seeing this, quickly spoke up.

"That's right, ma'am. Please let Lucas and Sophie have dinner in your room. They've wanted to share a meal with you ever since your wedding day.

"When Lucas and Sophie were born, their mother passed away during childbirth. All these years, their father had to play both mom and dad, but he's always busy with military duties—he doesn't really know how to take care of kids.

"Lucas and Sophie had to put up with a lot at school. Whenever something happened, their father would just drag Lucas over and give him a beating, and that was it.

"But this time, thanks to you, Lucas didn't have to go through that again," the maid explained.

As she spoke, her eyes were starting to tear up.

Her fingers tightened around her handkerchief.

"Alright, if you two want to eat here, then stay," I said.

But once I let them in, there was no turning back.

For the next few days, the two kids didn't just eat with me—they ended up sleeping in my room too.

Since they weren't going to school, every day they'd either beg me to take them out to fly kites or drag me along for some random adventures.

Time flew by, and before I knew it, a week had passed.

That night, I had just drifted off to sleep with both kids snuggled up beside me.

Suddenly, someone shouted angrily right next to me, "What the fuck is this?"

My whole body tensed up. I suddenly remembered today was the day my husband was coming home.

Which also reminded me, whenever he came back in the middle of the night, he'd always sneak into my bed with nothing on.

Realizing the kids were still in bed, I bolted upright, heart pounding in panic.

"What the hell are you doing? Put your clothes on, now!" I hissed.