Chapter 2

The fluorescent lights in the hospital hallway made everyone's skin look sickly green.

I carried my cloth bag, the hollowed-out manual and the brand-new marriage certificate inside, like a burning coal pressed against my chest.

The cold in my heart warred with the heat of that coal.

I told myself not to panic. One wrong move and I would lose everything. Edward wouldn't have dared do this without a backup plan. I had to be colder and more ruthless than them.

I didn't go straight home.

That house, filled with every trace of my life with Edward, would suffocate me right now.

Instead, I headed for the factory's residential compound.

It was just past lunch break. The courtyard was quiet, just a few retired workers playing chess in the shade of the trees. I walked quickly with my head down, avoiding any small talk.

"Helen, you're back. How's Edward?" One of them still spotted me, calling out loudly.

I forced a tired smile. "He woke up for a bit, then fell back asleep. The doctor says he needs complete rest." I emphasized the words "complete rest."

"Oh, what a tragedy. Don't wear yourself out too much." She sighed, but her eyes lingered on my face with barely concealed curiosity.

I mumbled something vague and hurried upstairs. Shutting the door behind me, I leaned against the cold metal and finally let out a long breath.

Such fake concern, and underneath it was a hunger for gossip. This compound had never kept secrets. And right now, I needed to use that to my advantage.

I set down the bag and poured myself a glass of cold water, downing it in one gulp. The cool liquid slid down my throat, briefly dulling the fire in my chest.

Now wasn't the time for grief.

I needed to know how long those two had been hiding this from me, and how far it had gone.

I needed to know Julia's address, Michael's records, and the marriage certificate. Edward had a relative at the county clerk's office, didn't he?

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. Like analyzing a technical blueprint, I started piecing together the clues.

First, Julia. She used to live in the factory's single dormitory. Later, supposedly her family bought her a place, and she moved out. I vaguely remembered Edward mentioning it once. Something about "Spring Breeze" district? He'd even praised the neighborhood's environment and convenient transportation.

Spring Breeze was a new development, and expensive. With Julia's salary and her family's means, could she have afforded that?

I laughed coldly inside. Pulling out my contact list, I started making calls.

I made up an excuse about the factory union updating employee housing records and checking on single employees' living situations. I called the factory office and a few colleagues I knew in logistics. My tone was casual, unconcerned.

A few calls later, the pieces came together. Julia was registered at Spring Breeze, Building 3, Unit 301. And she wasn't living alone. The file listed "living with family."

Family? Besides her eighteen-year-old son, who else could it be?

My heart sank even deeper.

Next, Michael.

I didn't like his name. He was two years younger than Alex, so I guess he'd just finished the SAT. Or was he already in university?

Edward had once "casually" mentioned that Michael was a hard-working student, aiming for the best engineering school in the capital.

I called an old classmate who worked in admissions at the engineering school. I said I was checking past admission stats for a cousin's child, then "curiously" asked if there was a new student named Michael Grant this year, a factory kid who'd supposedly done well.

My classmate flipped through the list and got back to me quickly. "Yes, Michael Grant, Mechanical Engineering, freshman. Interesting. His file has 'Edward Grant' listed under father. Is that your factory's engineer?"

My grip on the phone went white-knuckled.

"Oh, probably a mistake. Or maybe he's staying with a relative," I said, keeping my voice normal. "Thanks for checking. I owe you lunch sometime."

I hung up, freezing cold.

Not only was he listed on the marriage certificate, but even his college enrollment file had Michael as "son of Edward Grant."

Edward, you really covered every angle, didn't you?

All those years, he'd brought "Michael" to informal factory events, introducing him as a "talented intern." And I'd stupidly praised his mentorship, even put in good words for the kid.

He was paving his crown prince's path, building connections right under my nose.

Rage and disgust surged up again. I rushed to the bathroom and splashed ice-cold water on my face.

The person in the mirror had a pale face but a strangely fierce look in her eyes.

No, I still didn't have enough evidence. With only the marriage certificate and school records, Edward could claim it was for the kid's education. I needed something more solid, like proof they'd lived together as man and wife or that emergency phone call.

That afternoon, I composed myself and went back to the hospital.

When I pushed open the door, Julia was still there, sitting by the bed, spoon-feeding Edward water. Edward was actually awake. He was still weak, but his eyes were open.

Seeing me, Julia hesitated briefly, then gave a docile smile. "Mrs. Grant, you're here. He woke up a while ago and had some water."

Edward's gaze shifted to me, cloudy, with a hint of some complicated emotion I couldn't quite place. He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse. "Helen, thank you for everything."

I walked to the foot of the bed, keeping my tone flat. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

He took a breath, his eyes seeming unable to meet mine for long, shifting instead to Julia with something close to dependence. "Julia, you've worked hard too."

Julia immediately lowered her head, her voice soft. "Mr. Grant, please don't say that. It's the least I can do."

What a touching scene, master and apprentice, so devoted. I, his actual wife, was the outsider.

Edward caught his breath, then seemed to remember something important. He struggled to look at me, speaking haltingly. "Helen, while I'm sick, the factory projects can't stop. That kid Michael, keep an eye on him at work. He's honest, hardworking. He just lacks experience. You... guide him."

Michael again.

Even in this state, his precious son was all he cared about.

A surge of fury shot through me. I almost lost control and blew up on the spot. But my rational mind held me back.

I took a deep breath and forced a stiff smile. "Don't worry, Edward. Michael's a pretty 'honest' kid. I know what to do at the factory."

My tone must have sounded off. Julia shot me a quick glance.

Edward seemed relieved, as if he'd exhausted his strength. He closed his eyes.

I turned away, pretending to tidy things on the windowsill, but my ears were sharp.

Sure enough, Julia leaned close to Edward and whispered so softly I could barely hear. "Don't worry. I've got everything arranged for Michael. That thing we talked about on the phone..."

Edward's eyelids twitched. He didn't open them but gave the slightest nod.

The phone. It was that phone call.

I held back the urge to turn around, but my mind was churning. They still had secrets between them, things I didn't know.

By evening, I used making dinner as an excuse and left the room.

At the nurses' station, I stopped and smiled at the nurse on duty, a cheerful girl named Amy who knew me well. "Amy, thanks for all your hard work today."

Amy was a cheerful girl, and we knew each other pretty well. "You're the one working hard, Mrs. Grant. Mr. Grant is much more stable today."

"Yeah, he woke up for a bit, said a few words." I sighed casually. "This illness came out of nowhere. No warning at all. He was on the phone working right before he collapsed."

Amy chimed in without thinking. "Tell me about it. The ER doctor said Mr. Grant got an urgent call before he passed out. He answered it and then..."

She caught herself, realizing she'd said too much, and stopped short.

My heart tightened, but I kept my face neutral. "Yeah, there's always so much going on at the factory. I wonder who called so urgently."

Amy lowered her voice. "I heard from the front desk. It was a woman, young-sounding, asking for 'Edward'."

A woman, young voice, calling him by his first name.

That could only be Julia.

I could barely keep my smile in place. I thanked her and hurried off.

At the hospital entrance, the evening breeze was cool on my face, but I felt burning hot all over.

Every clue pointed to the worst possible truth.

Julia's place, Michael Grant's identity, that urgent phone call, and Edward's frantic scheming for his illegitimate son even as he lay unconscious.

That pair had not only committed bigamy and had a child, but they'd been plotting right under my nose to take everything from Alex and me.

The anger, grief, and betrayal gnawed at my heart like venomous snakes. But I couldn't break down.

I took out that hollowed-out manual and ran my fingers over its cold cover.

Edward thought he'd hidden this perfectly.

Just wait.

This hidden fire, I'd let it burn, and burn everything he had kept in the shadows to ashes.

Next up was that relative of Edward's at the county clerk's office.

I needed solid, undeniable proof of his bigamy.