Chapter 3

The moment I agreed, Joshua froze instead. He probably expected me to cry, to throw a fit, or to swallow all the humiliation just to keep this family together—like I'd done for the past seven years.

Instead, I simply had the waiter gather all the takeout boxes.

The manager asked me, "Ma'am, would you like to take the onion soup as well?"

"Yes," I replied. "It'll come in handy for throwing in someone's face tomorrow."

Joshua's face turned as dark as thunder.

Matilda pointed a finger at me, screaming, "If you dare walk out that door, don't you ever come back!"

I didn't even turn around. "I've already thrown the keys in the trash. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, feel free to dig them out."

Once outside the hotel, my phone buzzed endlessly. Every single call was from Joshua.

I ignored them all.

Just then, my best friend, Abbie Holland, called. "Shannon, did you really just wreck the birthday party?"

"Yeah."

"Did it feel good?"

I thought about it for a second. "Not good enough."

Abbie swore under her breath. "Then keep going. I'll meet you at the hospital tomorrow morning."

After hanging up, I stepped into my car. My hands were still shaking, not out of fear, but out of pure disgust.

I knew about that downtown condo.

Two months ago, Joshua said the company was short on cash and asked me to mortgage the small apartment I owned before marriage.

He had said, "Shannon, just give me three months. Once the company picks up, I'll redeem it for you right away."

I had believed him. Because back then, I thought we were a team.

Looking back now, the money from my mortgaged apartment became Lila's new home.

The next day at 9:00 am, when I arrived at the hospital, Joshua was already there. Dark circles shadowed his eyes.

Lila was sitting in a wheelchair, draped in a thin blanket.

Matilda guarded her side, holding a thermal flask. The moment she saw me, her face turned sour. "You actually dared to show up."

I handed the soup container over to Abbie. "Hold this for me."

Abbie raised an eyebrow. "Are we actually throwing it?"

"Depends."

Joshua walked over to me. "Shannon, I thought about it all night. I can explain everything about Lila."

I raised my hand to cut him off. "DNA test first."

His expression darkened. "The baby is too small. It can't be done."

The doctor beside us adjusted his glasses. "We can perform a non-invasive test."

Matilda panicked. "What test? What if it hurts my grandbaby?"

Abbie burst out laughing. "Mrs. Allen Senior, do you not understand the word non-invasive? Do you need me to draw you a diagram?"

Matilda glared at her. "Who the hell are you?"

Abbie pulled out her business card. "Shannon's lawyer. From now on, I'm taking notes for every insult you throw at her."

Matilda shut her mouth immediately.

Tears streamed down Lila's cheeks. "Mrs. Allen, why are you forcing me to do this? I have nothing left. I only have this baby."

I stared at her for a long moment. "Oh, but you do."

Lila's eyes flickered.

I continued, "You have my watch, my condo, and my money. Plus the soup my mother-in-law brewed for you."

Abbie couldn't hold it in and let out a cough.

Joshua pinched the bridge of his nose. "Shannon, stop making a scene. We'll deal with the baby later. Let me take you home first."

I locked eyes with him. "What are you afraid of?"

He stayed silent.

Lila suddenly grabbed Matilda's hand. "Mrs. Allen Senior, I don't want to do it. I'm scared of pain. Hospitals have always terrified me since I was little."

Matilda felt for her. "Alright, alright, we won't do it."

She spun around and barked at me, "Shannon, are you satisfied now? Do you really have to drive a pregnant woman to her death?"

Unbothered, I nodded slowly. "Fine, we don't have to do it."

I pulled out a set of legal filing documents. "Then I'm calling the police right now. Lila is suspected of fraud, and Joshua is suspected of transferring marital assets."