Chapter 3

Mya guided me into the villa with utmost care, yet her free hand remained tightly laced with Alfred's.

The nanny rushed over from a distance, addressing Alfred. "Sir, you're finally back! The baby woke up earlier and wouldn't stop crying when he didn't see you—"

Mya cut her off with a slight frown. "Who are you calling 'sir'?"

Realizing I was there, the nanny slapped her forehead and quickly corrected herself. "I'm so sorry, sir! Look at me getting all confused. I had an urgent matter for Mr. Potter, and seeing you walk in made me slip up."

Mya threw her a sharp glare. "Get back to work. Make a stupid mistake like that again, and you can kiss your yearly bonus goodbye."

She then helped me down onto the couch. "Zander, rest here for a bit. I'll go check if your room is ready."

Instead of heading upstairs, she exchanged a knowing smile with Alfred. She gently took his hand as they walked into the nursery together.

I looked around the house I hadn't set foot in for years. The photos of our childhood trips, the postcards, gifts, and ornaments we had exchanged were all gone. In their place hung wedding photos of her and Alfred, along with pictures of their baby.

In the most prominent spot hung a family portrait of Mya, Alfred, and the child. They smiled so radiantly in the frame, looking every bit like a normal, happy family.

Suppressing the bitterness in my chest, I used a pinhole camera hidden in my button to capture all the evidence.

After some time, fireworks began crackling outside, and Mya and Alfred finally emerged from the nursery.

"Oh, the fireworks for Ethan's birthday!" Alfred wrapped his arm around Mya's waist, excitement clear in his voice.

As he passed me, he offered an invitation. "Mr. Byrne, why don't you come watch the fireworks with us—"

But he suddenly realized what he had said and covered his mouth in guilt.

"I'm so sorry. I completely forgot you can't see anything…"

Amused by his guilty act, Mya gave his hand an affectionate squeeze, silently mouthing, "It's fine."

Only then did she bother to ask me, "Zander, should I help you upstairs to rest?"

I shook my head, using my cane to push myself up. "You two go ahead. I can find my way upstairs."

Wrapped up in Alfred's arms, Mya didn't insist on helping me. She called out behind me instead, "I left a glass of milk in your room. Don't forget to drink it."

Standing before the massive floor-to-ceiling window in my room, I watched the fireworks burst across the sky, tracing out a glowing stick-figure diagram of a family of three.

The pattern shifted into lines of text. "Happy first birthday, Ethan. May your life be filled with joy."

It was brilliant, dazzling, and deafeningly loud.

Just like the night Mya confessed her love to me.

Under a sky full of fireworks, her eyes had sparkled as she looked at me, her hands trembling with nervousness.

Once we made things official, she buried her face in my chest. Her voice trembled with excitement and warmth as she said, "I've made up my mind, Zander. If we have a baby, let's name him Ethan."

"Why Ethan?"

"Because it means enduring strength. I want to spend forever with you and our baby."

Yet our baby had been secretly aborted after my accident.

And the child she had with Alfred was also named Ethan.

The fireworks display went on for an entire hour. The milk Mya had laced sat cold beside me.

I got up and poured the liquid down the bathroom drain.

Stepping toward the bedroom door, I overheard hushed voices in the hallway. "Honey, be careful. Mr. Byrne is right in the next room. What if he hears us?"

Mya's breath was heavy, her voice raspy. "Don't worry, honey. He can't see a thing, and I slipped him a sleeping pill. I have all night to make it up to you."

The rustle of clothes filled the quiet space, but Alfred paused her again. "I didn't say I wanted this kind of compensation. Honey, my sister wants to start a business recently. Could you help invest in it?"

Mya scoffed faintly. "Your sister? Why are you still in touch with her? She did those despicable things to Zander three years ago. I spared her only for your sake. Isn't that enough? Now she's asking for money through you?"

My heart slammed against my chest.

Alfred's sister… the driver that night…

The buried memories of that night flooded back. She was the one who drove me into a corner and ruined my life.

Mya had repeatedly promised me she would bring her to justice.

She lied to me…

How could she lie to me about that?

My hands trembled uncontrollably.

The glass in my grip slipped and hit the plush carpet with a soft thud.

The conversation outside snapped to a halt. Mya's cold voice cut through the silence. "Zander?"