Chapter 3

Esther stood in the doorway. Her hair was curled into large waves that cascaded over her shoulders, making her face look even paler and smaller.

When she looked at me, her eyes were filled with provocation and smug satisfaction.

"Naomi, it's been a long time."

I ignored her and continued organizing the books on the counter.

She wasn't bothered. Instead, she wandered around the store.

"Naomi, have you really fallen this far? Running a little bookstore like this? How much can you possibly make in a month?"

She turned around, looked at me, and smiled.

"I heard Timothy came to see you today. He even asked you to go back and have a baby for him, didn't he?"

I paused and looked at her in confusion.

My gaze made her falter for a second, but she quickly recovered and continued smiling.

"Don't get the wrong idea. He just needs a womb. You know better than anyone who he actually loves."

She stopped in front of me. She didn't even try to hide how proud she was.

"Naomi, you're nothing but a baby-making tool. I'm the only person he's ever loved."

I tightened my grip on the book in my hands.

"Esther, what exactly are you trying to say?"

She laughed and slowly circled the counter.

"Naomi, what are you even holding on for? Without the Gibson family, you're nothing.

"You're running this pathetic little bookstore. You probably can't even support yourself. And you're dragging around a burden on top of that–"

"Who are you calling a burden?"

"Oh? Did I hit a nerve?" She covered her mouth and laughed.

"Was I wrong? That kid you had with some random guy. What else would he be if not a burden?

"Timothy doesn't know, does he? Were you already pregnant with another man's child when you married that nobody?"

I heard a buzzing sound in my head.

"Esther, shut up."

"I'd rather not." She stepped closer. Smugness was written all over her face.

"Naomi, you got rid of Timothy's baby for that man, and now you're pregnant again.

"How do you have the nerve to act innocent in front of Timothy? Don't you find yourself disgusting?"

My hands were trembling.

No one knew better than Esther how I had lost my first baby.

She was sitting in that car. She watched me fall down the stairs through the window. She saw my blood flow across the ground. She watched me lying there and begging for help.

Back then, she had done nothing. She only watched.

Now she was twisting the story around.

"Esther, if you keep spewing nonsense, I'm not going to be nice about it."

She laughed so hard she nearly doubled over.

"Naomi, you're such a wretch. Timothy must have been desperate to settle for you."

I raised my hand and slapped her.

Esther covered her face with one hand. She was stunned.

Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"Naomi, how could you hit me?

"I came here out of kindness. I was trying to convince you to come back to the Jackson family. I'd understand if you didn't appreciate the gesture, but to hit me–"

Her gaze suddenly shifted to the entrance.

The familiar sound of leather shoes clacking rapidly against the wooden floor echoed through the shop.