Chapter 3

When Kayla woke, Luke was sitting by the bed.

He looked exhausted, probably from a sleepless night. His handsome face was shadowed with stubble, and he looked utterly worn out.

The moment he saw her open her eyes, he grabbed her hand, his voice trembling.

"Kayla, you're awake. Do you know what the doctor said? Your mood swings have already seriously affected the baby. If anything happened to you or the baby, what would I do? You'll be the death of me!"

Kayla felt dazed. She couldn't understand how the man before her could love her and their child so fiercely, and stab her heart over and over at the same time.

"The doctor says you need more vitamins. You love apples the most. I'll peel one for you, okay?"

As he spoke, Luke rolled up his sleeves.

He picked up the knife with practiced ease, handling it even more carefully than the multi-billion-dollar contracts he signed every day.

As he carefully peeled the apple, exposing the glistening white flesh inside, Kayla remembered that he hadn't known how to peel apples at first.

But ever since she had accidentally nicked her finger with a small knife, Luke had forbidden her from touching anything sharp. The pampered, wealthy young man who had grown up pampered and protected had clumsily taught himself how to care for someone else.

Even something as trivial as peeling an apple, he did with painstaking care.

Halfway through, Luke's phone rang abruptly.

The moment he answered, Stephanie's sobs filled the room.

Luke's expression changed instantly. He grabbed his coat from the sofa and rushed out.

"Stephanie's in trouble. I have to go see her."

In his haste, the door slammed behind him. The half-peeled apple fell to the floor, and Kayla felt her heart shatter along with it.

Luke kept saying he was doing everything to repay a debt on her behalf. But which of his choices had not placed Stephanie above her? And this time, what else was he planning to do for Stephanie in the name of gratitude?

It didn't take long for Kayla to find out.

Someone had filmed Luke carrying Stephanie down the hospital stairs yesterday and posted it online. Others had captured her own pale, fainting form at the entrance to the maternity ward.

Netizens were quick to condemn Stephanie, accusing her of shamelessly seducing her sister's husband.

Some people also noticed the slight swell of Stephanie's belly and began hurling accusations. They said she was pregnant out of wedlock, carrying a bastard no one even knew the father of. They called her shameless, loose, a woman anyone could have.

Gossip reporters and furious netizens crowded outside her home, shouting insults and shooting her furious glares. Luke hurriedly pushed through the crowd and shielded her.

He stood firm, a solid wall between Stephanie and the chaos.

In panic, Stephanie blurted out, "The baby I'm carrying is Luke's!"

A stunned hush fell over the crowd. Cameras whirred, microphones shoved in Luke's face.

"Is what Ms. Stephanie just said true? Is the baby really yours?"

Stephanie clung to Luke's sleeve, silent tears streaming down her face. Luke's resolve softened slightly, but he spoke firmly.

"Yes, I am the father of Stephanie's child."

The reporters erupted.

"Your wife Kayla has been photographed pregnant too. Are you saying Ms. Stephanie's baby is your illegitimate child?"

"Ms. Stephanie seduced her sister's husband while Ms. Kayla is pregnant. How is this any different from having an illegitimate child?"

"No!"

Just as someone lunged forward toward Stephanie, Luke couldn't hold back. His voice cut through the chaos.

"The baby in Stephanie's womb is not illegitimate. Kayla's child is!"

In an instant, everything was clear to everyone.

It had been Kayla who had cheated first, shamelessly carrying another man's child. That left Luke no choice but to have an heir with Stephanie.

In an instant, all the anger and insults that had once been aimed at Stephanie now exploded onto Kayla a hundredfold.

"Kayla is a wretch."

"Kayla's child is illegitimate."

"How many men has Kayla slept with?"

"Kayla's been used and discarded."

The cruel words came in endless waves.

When Luke returned, he saw Kayla being pulled at. Her clothes were torn as vicious insults rained down on her. Someone even shoved her roughly.

Luke surged forward instinctively, but Stephanie grabbed his arm.

"Luke, I'm scared," she whimpered.

Those few seconds of hesitation were all it took. Kayla's collar was ripped open, and she was thrown hard to the ground.

Luke didn't care about anything else. He shoved Stephanie aside and scooped Kayla into his arms.

"Kayla, are you okay?"

Then his hand felt something wet.

Blood. Kayla was bleeding!

"Kayla!"

Luke let out a raw, shattered roar, but Kayla had already gone limp. Her eyes were closed as if all strength had drained from her body.