Chapter 2

Elina

I tried to keep myself from collapsing in this condition. Honestly, this was truly shocking—so much that a bitter taste filled my throat, making it hard for me to speak.

So… was it really the same necklace?

Wasn’t that necklace meant for me?

My heart felt like it was being torn apart over and over again, the pain making me suffocate.

This was my meeting with her again, yet I felt no sense of calm at all.

Even afterward, during dinner, I tried hard to act as if nothing had happened. I kept eating quietly in the dining room, without bringing up the diamond necklace around Lora’s neck.

But inside, I was truly wounded. I didn’t even have the appetite to eat my dinner.

“Lora, Mom has missed you so much. Thank goodness you’ve finally come back.”

Rose spoke so gently and happily, something I had never once received from her.

She had always treated Lora very well. Lora, her daughter, entered this family when Rose remarried and lived abroad before Jonathan and I got married.

“Mom is so happy. You look even more beautiful, Lora.”

Her voice was so loud it couldn’t be ignored. That was what made our eyes meet unintentionally, but Rose shot me a dismissive look.

“Thank you, Mom.”

I tried to ignore it and focused on my food, even though I knew Rose’s words were true. Lora really was a beautiful woman, she had a charm that was hard to ignore.

Her full lips also made her look sexy. Of course, in my opinion, I had my own kind of beauty.

Just as I let out a breath, I heard something shocking.

“You’ve just returned to Westford. You must be very tired, Lora,” Rose continued enthusiastically. “You’d better stay in this house so you can rest and enjoy your time.”

My heart seemed to stop suddenly when I heard her offer. Jonathan, beside me, gave no response, but I felt extremely uneasy. Something felt like it wouldn’t be okay if Lora stayed here.

I acted first.

“I think Lora would be better off staying somewhere else.” I tried to smile so it wouldn’t sound too tense.

They looked at me as if I had just done something wrong.

Lora stopped eating, her gentle eyes turning to me. “I’m sorry, Elina, if I’m troubling you. But I’ve just returned to this city, and I’m exhausted. It’s hard to find another place.”

Her voice softened as she glanced at Rose, who immediately pulled her into a hug.

“The only family I know is here. When I was abroad, I was truly lonely without family.” Lora lowered her head, touching her eyes as if she had just cried.

Suddenly, Jonathan reacted. The gentleness filling his expression shook the calm in my heart even more than before.

“Lora, you can stay here.”

“Jonathan—” I tried to hold his hand, but he immediately shook mine off.

“Think of this house as your home, Lora. You’re always welcome.” He smiled sweetly.

What I wanted most was for my husband to support me. But he chose to side with another woman. Now, with the gentle smile appearing on Lora’s face, I was certain she was delighted to have gained all their sympathy.

“Thank you, Jonathan.” A bright smile spread across her face.

“This reminds me of the times we spent together. Do you remember how we often worked and fell asleep on the sofa together?”

“Ah, and you said I was very good at making coffee back then.”

I didn’t expect Jonathan’s expression to change completely. He responded to Lora’s words with enthusiasm.

“You really were great at making coffee. I’ve missed it.”

The sound of their lively laughter as they reminisced about the past pushed me further away. At this moment, I truly seemed like a stranger—like an outsider who had no place here…

Even after dinner ended, Lora sat beside Jonathan without sparing me a glance.

They continued talking enthusiastically about their past together. As I tried to join the conversation and quickly followed after them, my steps came to a halt.

Rose looked at me with a sharp gaze. I had lived in this family long enough, yet not once had I ever received the gentle look and treatment from Rose that she gave to Lora.

It was painfully obvious.

“Are you trying to make this house unpleasant?” her voice sharpened. “You keep hovering around me just to stress me out.”

“Mom, I’m not doing that,” I replied.

Rose ignored my words and touched her head. “See? You just keep giving me a headache.”

“A woman with such an unclear background like you should understand her place.”

Hearing her words, I lost the ability to speak. Rose would never accept me into this family.

Filled with sadness, I turned around and went to the room to calm myself.

I know we don’t share blood, but I have become Jonathan’s wife and done so much for this family. Am I still worthy of being treated like a stranger?

I tried hard to steady my breathing, to ease the tightness in my chest. I didn’t expect that when the door opened, I would see Jonathan.

He followed me.

“Elina, don’t think too much about what Mother said. You know what she’s like.”

I was in no mood to say much. I only nodded, accepting his explanation as usual.

Jonathan has never truly gone against his stepmother.

But this was my chance to ask him. “Jonathan, the necklace on Lora’s neck—you were the one who gave it to her, right?”

I kept staring into his eyes. “Why did you give it to her? You gave it to her, didn’t you?”

I was truly bothered by the necklace and their interaction. That uneasy feeling completely took over me.

“Ah, that necklace… was given by my assistant when I told them to prepare something,” Jonathan let out a breath.

“I didn’t expect that was what he gave. He might have made a mistake by not doing it properly.”

Jonathan held my hand. Focusing on his grip, I slowly began to feel calmer.

“Do you want one? I’ll tell him to prepare one for you too.”

Little by little, the tightness in my chest eased as I saw his smile. Warmth returned because Jonathan was being gentle.

At this moment, maybe I should talk about my pregnancy.

Yes, I should tell him soon, and Jonathan will surely be very happy.

“Jonathan, I want to say something about the results—”

“LORA!”

The loud shout made us rush out of the room in a hurry.

“Lora! Lora!”

Seeing Rose shouting and calling for Lora, who had fallen to the floor, I glanced at Jonathan’s expression as it changed.

I couldn’t believe that Jonathan immediately rushed over and worried about her so intensely.

My heart sank at the sight.

Throughout our marriage, I have constantly felt lonely. Now, seeing Jonathan so full of concern for another woman—something he has never shown to me.

Now I look at myself and feel pathetic and foolish.