Chapter 2

By the time Lucas got home, I'd already taken care of everything.

He came in holding Zane's hand, naturally leading Eliza inside. When he saw me sitting on the couch, he froze for a moment.

He asked, "What are you doing here? Didn't you go pick out your wedding dress?"

I noticed him subconsciously shielding Eliza, and my chest tightened.

So, he did remember we had an appointment to pick out the wedding dress today.

However, all he had sent me was a text. [I might not make it back today. Go ahead and check out the dresses yourself.]

He avoided my gaze, looking guilty as he explained, "My flight got changed. I wanted to surprise you, and I just happened to bump into Eliza at the door."

Eliza gave an awkward smile, then looped her arm through mine with an easy familiarity.

She said, "Hey, weren't you heading to pick out dresses? I'll come with you."

I just went along with it.

When we arrived at the bridal boutique, the saleswoman immediately saw us. Seeing Eliza walking alongside Lucas while I trailed behind with Zane, she naturally turned to Eliza.

She asked, "Miss, what kind of style are you looking for? We've got plenty more inside."

Eliza's eyes lit up as she saw a wedding dress in the window, and she instinctively glanced over at Lucas.

I recognized it instantly—it was the same design she had worn abroad.

Seeing her reaction, the saleswoman quickly added, "If you like it, you can try it on right now."

Zane ran over excitedly. "Eliza, this one is so pretty."

"Go on, try it," Lucas said with a tender smile.

However, no sooner had he spoken than he seemed to realize I was right there, and a brief look of awkwardness flashed across his face.

He said, "Eliza is about to get remarried, too, so she can try things out. Millie, pick whichever one you like and try it on."

Lucas gave me this devoted look, yet all I could do was smile wryly.

He knew that Eliza had a successful blind date and was getting ready to get married.

Eliza called out, "Lucas, look."

With a swish, the door curtain was drawn aside. Eliza, all excited, lifted her dress and ran over to Lucas.

Lucas was instantly captivated. His normally calm eyes were filled with surprise.

"This wedding dress is absolutely made for you. Look, the groom looks totally dazzled," the saleswoman gushed, clearly under the impression that Eliza was the bride.

However, Lucas was so caught up in Eliza that he didn't even spare a glance at me—the real bride.

"Eliza, you look so pretty. Let me take some pictures of you," Zane exclaimed.

Zane snatched Lucas's phone and started snapping away, circling Eliza with a grin.

Lucas just gave a helpless smile, his whole face glowing with happiness.

I watched the drama play out, gave a wry smile, then turned and went to settle up with the saleswoman.

I said, "We'll take the one she's wearing, and you can do her styling, too. Just have your makeup artist come by her place for the final look on the wedding day."

"Perfect. So, just to confirm—the bride is Ms. Eliza Reed, right?" the saleswoman asked.

I nodded with a smile. "Yeah, that's right."

Then I walked over to Lucas. "All set. Let's go."

He finally snapped back to reality, his smile fading as his eyes darted, trying to hide his guilt. "Are you sure? You haven't tried anything yet."

"No need. Let's go," I cut him off, my tone flat.

Once we got home, Zane suddenly tugged on my sleeve. "Mom, my head really hurts."

He was frowning with tears gathering in his eyes, and for a second, I felt my heart soften.

Zane was the child I raised all on my own.

His first words had been a garbled cry as he wrapped his tiny arms around my neck and called me "Mom".

Later, after he found out the truth about where he came from, he became a bit colder toward me,

However, I never once held back my love for him—not even for a moment.

Even though I saw him and Lucas show up on the street abroad with Eliza a few days ago, seeing him in pain still made me rush for the keys.

I said, "Alright, let's go, honey. I will take you to the hospital."

When I stepped out of the bedroom, Lucas was nowhere in sight. I didn't spare him a second thought—just grabbed Zane and got him to the hospital as fast as I could.

The tests didn't show anything wrong, but Zane insisted on staying there, so I had no choice but to let him.

Early the next morning, I slipped out of the hospital, planning to buy some breakfast for Zane. I rounded a corner and saw a couple locked in a lingering kiss.

Eliza hissed, urgent and nervous, "You should go. If you don't leave now, she's going to find out."

Lucas said, "Don't worry, Zane's got her occupied. Eliza, I mean it—I really want to marry you.

"If she hadn't forced me to marry her when she got pregnant back then, you would have been mine long ago."

I froze in place. Seeing Lucas' face twisted with resentment made my heart tighten.

It turned out that Zane had just been pretending to be sick to trick me.

So, Lucas had long regretted marrying me.