Chapter 3

My lips curled up in an icy smile—Dylan would be welcoming a few brothers soon, it seemed.

-

Meanwhile, John headed abroad on a business trip soon after he woke up, only sending me a text before he left: [Wait for my return. Don't worry—I will take responsibility.]

I didn't put much thought into it—even if taking responsibility meant giving me money, he would definitely marry me once my pregnancy test came back.

However, I just didn't expect the wait would be such torture.

Every servant seemed to have seen the moment I left John's study with my clothes unkempt.

They all presumed I would get together with Dylan, only for him to announce Lily as his fiancee the next day, even telling the servants to give her special treatment.

As such, they were left gossiping among each other.

"Then who did Dr. Jones hook up with?"

"Who else could it be? Must be some man she just met. She really messed up big time now, since the family forbids the servants hooking up without approval."

"You think? She always looked so prim and proper, but turns out to be so thirsty."

Levi had seen me enter the study, but kept quiet without John's instructions.

And as the gossip spread, Dylan was visibly in a bad mood.

Still, the servants were keen to get on Lily's good graces by harassing me endlessly.

My laundry would end up in the dirt for no reason, caked with muddy footprints.

Even my usual drinks were filled with filth that would leave anyone retching.

"Oh, Dr. Jones. Your laundry was dropped again," Lily said with feigned sympathy, twirling her thermos cup. "Those servants are really unruly."

I glared coolly as she smiled smugly at me, picking up my laundry and left silent.

Meanwhile, the rumors continued to spread, with people now claiming that I had been unruly since I was first brought into the Sullivan household.

There were also those who called me a maneater, even spicing up the color of my underwear that I put on at work with vivid details.

"I heard Dr. Jones was having a tryst with the gardener yesterday…"

"You don't say! I saw with my own eyes—she appeared from some corner of the garden, and her clothes were all wrinkled!"

I gritted my teeth as I endured the humiliation—the rumors were merely meant to make me leave.

Still, as I was going to look for Levi and ask him to defend me, I turned into a hallway and ran headlong into Dylan.

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the nearby study, leering at me in cool disdain as he demanded, "You really love to seduce men, don't you?"

I struggled, trying to free myself from his grip, but he was frighteningly strong.

As such, I simply smiled coolly as I shot back, "Mr. Dylan, forget believing the rumors—you're trying to force yourself on me now?"

His grip tightened. "You're a tramp! How dare you talk to me like that?!"

However, I simply held his gaze in silence.

After a while, he finally got to the point, "I know you love me. So as long as you behave, I'll let you be my mistress."

"I refuse," I replied right then.

Smack!

He slapped me across the face, bellowing at the same time, "How is he better than me?! You're really testing my patience here! Just stop seeing him already!"

I was caught off guard, and my lips bled.

Dylan's gaze lingered on my face, and he appeared pained for once.

Even his tone softened, "Quit throwing a tantrum. Other than becoming my official wife, you will get everything Lily gets."

I laughed coolly. "Like I said, I refuse."