Chapter 6

When I came to, I was lying in a hospital room. My lawyer handed me a glass of warm water.

I cleared my throat, my voice still hoarse. "Did I faint because of long-term malnutrition?"

My lawyer was quiet for a moment and then handed me a pregnancy test report. "Ms. Carter, you're two months pregnant."

The glass slipped from my hand and crashed to the floor, shattering with a sharp, clear sound.

"What did you just say?" I blurted out, my mind going completely blank.

After seven years with Edward, I'd always been careful, taking medication to prevent pregnancy. I never imagined I'd end up expecting a child, especially now, with my heart in pieces and feeling completely trapped.

"What about the gallery? What did the investigation say?" I pressed, my voice tight with worry.

"The tax authorities finished their full audit. There's no tax evasion at Starlight Gallery. They concluded it was a malicious anonymous tip from a competitor trying to sabotage us," my lawyer replied.

I nodded, a little dazed, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. Without thinking, I reached down and gently rested my hand on my still-flat belly.

Once the IV drip was finished, I made my way back alone to the villa Edward and I shared.

My heart raced wildly, completely out of my control. Victoria had once made a solemn promise that if I ever carried the Sterling family's heir, she'd host a lavish wedding. Edward himself had sworn it, too.

For seven years, I devoted myself to the gallery, always bending to Edward's every need, never even considering having a child. Now, with this unexpected pregnancy, the Sterling family owed me the fulfillment of their promise.

I found Edward in the villa's garden. He was leaning in to smell a cluster of blooming roses, his face soft and relaxed, a rare moment of peace.

I couldn't help but imagine that soon, it would be the three of us—me, Edward, and the baby—walking together in this garden, sharing our own little slice of happiness.

My mom passed away when I was young. Maybe, just maybe, I could finally have a real family.

"Edward," I called softly as I walked toward him.

As soon as he saw me, the warmth in his eyes vanished. But the next moment, he reached out and pulled me close, holding me tight in his arms.

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I clutched the pregnancy test report in my pocket. In my heart, I whispered to my baby, "Maybe your arrival will finally clear up all the misunderstandings between Edward and me."

I had planned to invite Victoria to the Sterling family's dinner party and share the news of my pregnancy, so I hadn't told Edward yet. I just told him that I'd be giving him a huge surprise soon.

Edward lowered his head and whispered in my ear, "Baby, I miss you. It's been so long since we've really spent time together."

My cheeks flushed. But now that I was pregnant, I couldn't just let him have his way with me anymore.

I was in the bathroom, drying my hair with the hairdryer, when Edward stepped out onto the balcony to take a private call. I tiptoed closer, hoping to surprise him, but his gentle words floated to me through the night air.

"Evelyn, don't cry," Edward said softly. "I can't stand seeing you cry. Trust me. The only woman I'll ever marry, the one who'll officially join the Sterling family, will be you."

The one would be Evelyn?

My heart twisted in agony, and a suffocating pain washed over me. I stumbled back to the master bedroom, dazed, and sat there staring blankly for what felt like forever.

When Edward finally came back into the room, he scooped me up in his arms.

I was feeling miserable and tried to push him away, but he leaned in, pinning me down.

"Edward, have you ever..." My voice was shaky and barely audible. "Have you ever slept with another woman?"

His intense gaze held me captive as he leaned down and kissed me. "From the very beginning, it's always been you, Elena. There's never been anyone else."

I gently bit my lower lip. "Then go easy on me."

"Okay," he replied.

The bedroom lights dimmed, and what happened next faded into the shadows.

We woke up together the next morning, both of us exhausted, but thankfully, my stomach felt fine. No discomfort at all. Remembering what he said last night, I couldn't help but try to reassure myself.

Maybe, deep down, he really did care about me. If we could just make it to the wedding, maybe I could finally let go of all the heartbreak and grudges from before.

But trying to comfort myself only made me feel more guilty. I went into the kitchen to make breakfast and then brought it up to his study.

Edward was on the phone with his right-hand man.

"I'm putting you in charge of Evelyn's heart surgery," Edward said. "We finally found a matching donor, so there can't be a single mistake in the process."

I froze in the doorway.

"Edward, when are you going to break things off with Elena and marry Evelyn?" the man asked.

Hearing that, I went cold all over, my whole body stiffening.

"Once Elena gets pregnant and gives birth to the family heir, that's all I need," Edward replied, his voice flat and emotionless.

"I need someone to keep me company, but having a baby takes a huge toll on a woman's body. Evelyn's too frail to handle childbirth.

"This way, the family gets a legitimate heir, and I get to be with the girl I've loved since I was young. It's the best of both worlds. I'll give Elena a hefty sum of money, as long as she stays out of trouble."

I couldn't listen to another word.

I quietly turned around and walked back to the kitchen, eating my breakfast bite by bite, even though it was already stone cold.

So the wedding he promised me, the role of his wife—none of it was real. It was all just a lie he'd woven from the very beginning. Seven years of giving him everything I had, and it was all just me fooling myself.

Evelyn wasn't just someone he grew up with. She was the one he'd loved for years. Being with me day in and day out was just so he could use me to have his heir, and then hand the baby over to Evelyn to raise.

Edward had completely crushed my heart. Every bit of love I had for him was worn away by all the pain he put me through.

I gently touched my flat belly, my throat aching with grief. A child who wasn't truly wanted by their parents didn't deserve to be born into a world full of scheming and lies.

Once I made up my mind, I called Philip.

"Do you still have the contact info for that amazing painter I met at the International Art Summit? He offered to take me on as his apprentice. Do you still have his contact info?" I asked.

Philip's voice brimmed with excitement. "Elena, you finally made up your mind!"

"Let him know I'm accepting his invitation. I'm heading to Occidentia immediately," I said.