Chapter 3

Yasmin suddenly recalled something a friend of Blake's had once said. He'd told her, "There's a woman who lives in Blake's heart. They met in Merania, and he's pined after her for years. You and her look pretty similar, actually."

At the time, Yasmin had been indignant. She felt that the woman was no match for her since she was already a thing of the past.

Now, her dream had been shattered. As she watched how tender Blake was toward the woman, she felt like a sharp blade had been driven right into her heart. It hurt so much that all her organs felt like they were cramping.

Blake shielded the woman from the crowd as they turned to leave. Suddenly, he caught sight of Yasmin standing not too far away. Mary was with her. He frowned.

The woman asked gently, "Do you know her, Blake?"

"Yeah. She's my wife, Yasmin Starr," he said plainly. "Why don't you head to the car first, Giselle? I'll be right behind you."

"Okay." Giselle O'Shea nodded obediently. Before she left, she turned to look at Yasmin. Their gazes met in mid-air.

Giselle appraised her and smiled faintly. Yasmin's heart constricted as bitterness seeped through it.

Blake walked over to her. He was tall enough to block out the light above her head. "What are you doing here?"

Mary was about to answer when Yasmin asked, "Who is she?"

Why was Blake at the hospital with her for a prenatal check? Was she pregnant with his child? She stopped her thoughts there, not daring to think any further.

"Don't ask about things that have nothing to do with you." Blake avoided her question.

Yasmin's eyes turned red. "Can't I even ask a question when you've had an affair?"

"An affair? Do you even have the right to say that?" Blake's gaze was menacing. "Have you forgotten how we got married? Also, I made it clear to you when we married that I would never love you."

The blood drained from Yasmin's face. She clenched her fists tightly, barely able to calm down. "So I'm nothing but a fuck buddy to you?"

"Something like that."

Yasmin smiled self-deprecatingly. "I see. You were mad at my dad for tricking you, so you thought you wouldn't waste the opportunity and just fuck me, huh?"

"Stop talking." Blake's gaze was laser-sharp.

So, she couldn't even talk now? Yasmin's heart sank to the depths of hell. She refused to listen and continued, "Now that the woman you love is back, what are you going to do to me?"

He pursed his lips. His silence disappointed her.

Yasmin's stomach started hurting again; even the painkiller wasn't doing anything to stop it. As the pain intensified, she finally passed out.

…

It was already daytime when Yasmin woke up. She opened her eyes with a frown to see Blake leaving the room. She had an IV drip.

"Mr. B!" she called. She almost fell out of the bed.

Mary caught her. "Be careful, Mrs. Ford."

"Where has Mr. B gone?"

"That woman called him, so he went to see her."

Yasmin jolted.

"Don't let this upset you too much, Mrs. Ford. Your health should be your priority," Mary said, looking sad. "After doing the ultrasound, you were diagnosed with acute gastritis arising from food poisoning. You've already gone through three IV drips, so you're really weak now."

Yasmin couldn't suppress the bitterness in her heart. She had acute gastritis, but Blake had abandoned her after one phone call from the woman called Giselle. It looked like she was no match for Giselle at all.

"Have something to eat, Mrs. Ford." Mary brought her a bowl of oatmeal.

Yasmin shook her head. "Set it aside for now, Mary. I don't want to eat anything yet."

Just then, her phone, which had been placed on the bedside table, rang. She answered it wanly. "Hello?"