Chapter 3

The day I pretended I'd just flown back from an overseas business trip was also Reed Corp's anniversary celebration.

I hadn't asked Michael to pick me up from the airport, but he made sure I couldn't miss his present at the office—exactly 999 red roses, every single one picked out just for this scene.

I stared at that mountain of flowers, barely holding back a scoff.

He was already checked out. Why the big show? Who was he even trying to impress?

People nearby started gossiping.

"Ms. Reed has it all—wealth, beauty, and now the perfect husband. Some people are just blessed," one said.

"Still, you have to admit Mr. Evans played his cards right. Marrying the Reed Corp heiress? Let's be honest, it won't be long before the company's flying the Evans flag instead," another said.

Michael just happened to walk by at that moment. When he heard those compliments, a faint smirk of pride flashed across his face, gone in a second.

The anniversary celebration went off without a hitch, every detail nailed down by him.

As things were wrapping up, Michael suddenly pulled out a little velvet box in front of everyone.

"Babe, I spent nearly a whole month picking the perfect gift just for you. Go on, open it up. I'm sure you'll love it," Mike said.

Michael's gaze was full of excitement. He was clearly waiting for my reaction.

I shot the box a quick look, feeling nothing but hollow, bitter irony inside.

I didn't even have to check. I already knew it had to be that diamond bracelet. I'd seen the purchase in his financial records.

Two bracelets, both worth three million dollars.

One was here, and I bet the other was already on Hazel's wrist.

"Don't bother," I cut in, my tone icy.

My words made the guests shoot uneasy looks at each other, unsure what to say.

Michael stared at me for a long moment, then flashed a half-smile and went back to cutting the cake like nothing was wrong.

I just waved him off.

After being rejected twice, Michael was starting to lose his cool.

"You must be worn out from traveling, babe. Let me take care of it," he said, forcing a smile, but the tension in his voice was impossible to miss.

But just as he was about to cut the cake, the hall doors suddenly slammed open, startling everyone.

A woman—her hair disheveled and eyes wild—came running in from outside and collapsed in front of me.

It was Hazel!

"Ms. Reed, I know I've done wrong. I'll take Jamie and leave, I promise. Just please, let him go. Give my son back to me. He's just a little boy. Please don't take him away!" Hazel pleaded, her voice choked with tears.

Michael looked dazed, glancing from Hazel to me, totally thrown off.

His voice was sharp, all anger as he barked at her, "What nonsense are you talking about? Leave now!"

Hazel, tears streaming down her face, lunged forward and clung to my leg.

White-hot pain shot through my leg.

As she sobbed, she tore the bracelet right off my wrist. The glass beads crashed to the floor, bursting apart in a thousand shreds.

Suddenly, it felt like the whole world just stopped.

Those beads were made from the ashes of my baby—my little one who never even got to see the world.

Five years ago, I found out I was pregnant. Before I could even soak in the joy, the doctor told me the baby had stopped developing.

I'd prayed a thousand times, begging God to bring my child back to me.

At that moment, I ignored the agony in my leg as I scrambled to pick up each shattered bead from the floor, frantic and desperate.

But to the guests, all they saw was Hazel—a tear-streaked mess, clutching at me for dear life.

"Jeez, Ms. Reed has gone too far. How could she hurt a child?" whispered one of the guests, shock in their voice.

"Poor thing, being a mom is so tough," murmured another, sympathy in their tone.

Michael was frantic, reaching out to pull me to my feet.

"Babe, just leave it. I'll buy you 10,000 more bracelets—exactly the same," he rambled, desperation and confusion seeping through every word.

But no other bracelet could ever replace this one.

He'd never get it.

Suddenly, Hazel's phone blew up with Jamie's agonized screams. "Mommy, help! They're hitting me. It hurts. Please!"

Hazel continued to beg me bitterly.

"Ms. Reed, please. Jamie's only six!" she cried, her voice raw with desperation.

Michael's expression kept shifting as he struggled inside until at last he threw away everything we'd built over 16 years and sided with Hazel.

He dropped his voice, trembling as he begged me, "Charlotte, where's Jamie?"

I was so furious at Hazel that my chest felt tight and I just couldn't get a word out.

He didn't even look at me. He just yanked Hazel by the arm and rushed out.

The guests hurried to leave, tossing out their accusations for everyone to hear.

"She's vicious. She even hurt a kid?" one of them muttered scornfully.

But none of that mattered to me.

I didn't care about their gossip or Michael's disappointment.

All I cared about were those beads—the only thing my baby ever left me.

Finally, I scooped up the last fragment and slipped it carefully into my pocket.

Unsteadily, I pushed myself back to my feet.

But just as I made it to the doorway, a sudden, heavy blow struck the back of my head.

Right as the darkness closed in, I caught a man's triumphant voice. "That's it... 30 million dollars, easy as pie."