Chapter 3

I stumbled back to the ward.

My heart, already numb, was pierced once again by pain.

Zane was sound asleep, and before I knew it, I reached out and plucked a strand of his hair.

After a while, Lucas rushed in, looking apologetic.

He said, "Millie, I'm sorry. I was working late at the office last night. I saw your message this morning and came straight over."

He stroked Zane's head with feigned tenderness, breathing a sigh of relief only after checking the medical record.

He said, "Thankfully, it's nothing serious. You must be tired. Take him home."

I nodded and proceeded with the discharge, handing over the two strands of Zane's hair to the doctor as well.

When I got back to the ward, I saw Eliza sitting by Zane's bedside, spoon-feeding him some seafood stew.

She tasted a little herself and ended up with some on her lips.

Lucas gave her a relaxed smile and casually wiped it off her lips with his hand.

As I walked in, both Zane and Lucas turned to glare at me, their faces identical in their cold, unmistakable contempt.

Lucas noticed and quickly put on a concerned expression.

He said, "Millie, you must be tired. Eliza stopped by to see Zane and brought some seafood stew. Do you want some?"

My throat tightened, and I managed a bitter smile. "I'm allergic to seafood."

He opened his mouth, clearly embarrassed, then tried to brush it off. "Oh, right, I forgot that."

I said nothing, silently gathering my things.

Zane glanced at me with a hint of resentment. Realizing I was interrupting their happy moments, I quietly slipped out.

Soon enough, Lucas brought us all back home.

Lucas shot me a guilty look. "You've got the wedding to deal with these days. Why don't you let Eliza stay and look after Zane?"

He threw a glance at Zane, and the boy instantly started whining, holding onto Eliza's sleeve.

I could see right through their little act.

However, I was just too tired to care, so I let them have their way.

While Eliza was staying at my place, I just kept quietly filling out the wedding invitations—methodically crossing out my own name on every single one, replacing it with hers.

A few days later, Lucas took us to Isabel's house for a meal.

Isabel swung open the door, beaming warmly at Eliza and Zane, but the second she laid eyes on me, her face fell, and she rolled her eyes.

Zane kept calling Eliza by her name during dinner. Isabel and Eliza were chatting away like besties, but the moment Zane blurted out that name, Isabel's whole mood shifted, and her face went dark.

She said, "Is that what you call her? Eliza? She's your mom."

Isabel snorted and flicked her eyes in my direction, clearly itching to see how I'd react to the whole ugly scene.

Isabel had never liked me, and I could tell she was just waiting for me to snap back so she could jump on me and give me a good scolding.

However, I just kept sipping my soup, pretending I hadn't heard a thing.

Isabel's face turned stormy, and she slammed her fork down on the table. Then she jabbed her finger at me and started yelling.

She said, "Is it because you're so jealous that you won't let Zane recognize Eliza as his mom?

"You're so ridiculous. Zane was so sick that he had to be sent abroad for treatment, and you just stayed here, busy with the wedding, huh? And now he's ill again. Is this how you take care of your own child?"

Zane immediately started sobbing, putting on an act, making himself seem all pitiful and wronged. He whimpered, "I want to call Eliza 'Mom'."

I looked at Lucas, silent as ever, then at Eliza, whose eyes shimmered with quiet triumph and pity, and I felt powerless and absurd all at once.

I said, "Fine, I'm sorry. I'll go ground myself for a few days and repent or something."

Without waiting for their reaction, I turned and headed straight for the bedroom.

Isabel used to find every possible excuse to pick on me.

Whenever something went wrong with Zane, she'd say I was letting Travis down, and she would ground me for my mistakes.

This time, I grounded myself, looking for some quiet.

To my surprise, Eliza showed up not long after.

She said, "Millie, don't take what Isabel said to heart. Zane's just a kid. He doesn't know what he's saying."

She couldn't quite hide the sarcasm in her eyes. Before she could finish, she caught sight of me lounging on the chair, scrolling through my phone, and her expression twisted.

She said, "You don't look sorry at all.

"It's the Reed family rules. When you're grounded, you should reflect on your mistakes and apologize. Otherwise, Isabel will think you're going against her."

Eliza was putting on a show of concern, not even giving me a chance to say no—she shoved the cup into my hand and tried to pour me a cup of coffee.

However, her hands were trembling so much that she poured the hot coffee straight onto my hand.

I clenched my teeth against the pain and instinctively flung my hand away.

Eliza shrieked as some splashed on her, losing her grip, and the kettle clattered to the floor.

"What's going on here?" Lucas and Isabel burst into the room.

Seeing the disaster before them, their faces went dark with anger.