Chapter 3

The next morning, I put on full-glam makeup to hide the exhaustion from my previous sleepless night.

Xavier was seated at the dining table, in the middle of flipping through the morning paper. The sun cast a radiant glow on him, accentuating his unbelievable good looks.

I approached him and gravely set a stack of documents next to him.

“What’s this?” He gave me a look.

“Some project grants that need your signature. There are also several authorization letters for the family fund.” I avoided his gaze before continuing, “This last one here is a request for some extra expenses on my end.”

“You’re still throwing a tantrum.” He frowned, “When are you going to see reason?”

“I’m not throwing a tantrum. I’ve thought it through, and I’ve decided I want the new custom ring as compensation. It’s the one in the last document.”

Upon hearing this, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.

I sneered at his reaction. It seemed to me that he still believed I would still be under his control as long as I continued to obsess over such frivolous things.

“Buy whatever you want,” he said as he signed the documents swiftly.

When the tip of the pen glided across the dotted line on the divorce papers, I held my breath.

After he signed his name next to mine, I took the signed papers and left satisfied.

Then, I drove straight to Saint Mary Hospital to visit Annie, who took a stab at the abdomen to protect me. I had to make sure she was in good condition.

Upon finding out that the surgery was successful and that she was recovering, I heaved a sigh of relief.

When I walked down the hospital corridor, I heard two nurses whispering excitedly between themselves.

“Did you see that patient’s husband? He’s so handsome!”

“Yes! When she came in yesterday and found out she was pregnant, her husband anxiously arranged for her to get the best services!”

I did a double-take and felt a nauseating, ominous feeling wash over me. I couldn’t help myself and snuck a peek.

Through the crack in the door, I spotted Alice.

She was looking down at her phone. I could already make out the maternal affection in her expression.

“Hey Mom, the doctor said I’m six weeks pregnant. The baby is very healthy.”

The person on the other end of the line was both surprised and curious.

“No, I can't marry him anymore,” Alice said while patting her stomach.

The voice on the other end grew louder. Alice paused for a moment before chirping jubilantly, “Who else could it be but Xavier?”

I slumped weakly against the wall and felt my stomach turning.

Xavier kept insisting that he was “allergic to women,” yet he slept with his sister-in-law.

He told me I was “the only woman in his life,” but this whole time, there was someone else in his heart.

I couldn't bear to listen anymore and walked out of the hospital, all drained.

When I reached the entrance of the hospital, I bumped into Xavier of all people.

“What are you doing here?” He reached out to stop me, but suddenly pulled his hand back before I nearly bumped into him.

“I came to see Annie.” I said with a forced smile, “She nearly died protecting me. As Donna, I have a responsibility to visit her.”

Xavier frowned, “I’ll have someone make the arrangements to have her transferred to a private facility on the outskirts of the city in half an hour.”

“Transfer?!” I snapped as I turned toward him.

I glared at him and said, “She just had surgery, and the wound is barely healed! Why are you transferring her now, of all times?”

The answer came to me before I even finished uttering the question.

Because this was the hospital where Alice was conducting her prenatal checkups.

“I’m doing this for her safety.”

Xavier lied without flinching, “Be good and listen to me. Will you head back home to sort out the credentials of that overseas shipment we received?”

I rebutted, “Is it truly for her safety, or are you just worried I’d find out Alice is hospitalized here too?”

Though my tone was calm, I understood that from this point on, the veneer of peace between us was going to be torn down for good.