Chapter 2

Just like that, Mandy moved in. At last, the family of four was reunited. When the two children saw Mandy, their faces immediately filled with shock and joy.

The younger one could not hold back her excitement and blurted out, “Mom!”

Fortunately, Sean reacted quickly. He pulled Eve into his arms and kissed her on the cheek, then laughed casually.

“Our daughter is calling you.”

However, in reality, the adopted twins—one boy and one girl—had been living in the Baker residence for a full three months. During that entire time, they had never once addressed Eve as Mom, and that was even though, before learning the truth, Eve had loved and cared for them as if they were her own flesh and blood.

Now, in order not to give anything away, the so-called daughter, Annie Baker, shot Eve a vicious glare. Then, with obvious reluctance, she said, “Mom, I want some pistachios. De-shell them for me.”

The pistachio shells were hard, and de-shelling them always made her fingers ache. Hence, she thought she would make Eve suffer for having the nerve to compete for her dad’s affection with her mom.

Before this, Annie had often asked Eve to de-shell pistachios for her. Eve had simply assumed the child liked them and never thought too deeply about it, so she opened them every time without complaint. Yet now, seeing the undisguised malice in the child’s eyes, Eve’s heart instantly went cold.

“If you want them, get the nanny to de-shell them for you.”

Sean stepped forward protectively, blocking Eve. He gently took her hand and said with a smile, “My wife’s hands are so soft. I don't even have the heart for her to de-shell them for me.”

Mandy’s expression darkened instantly. Hatred flashed across her face as she silently glared at Eve.

Then, out of nowhere, she suddenly asked, “Sean, where’s your rosary?”

Sean had always worn a rosary on his wrist. It was something Eve had personally prayed for him to receive. She had traveled far, kneeling step by step in sincere devotion and climbing at high altitude just to ask for them on his behalf. The rosary had been blessed by a senior priest. Sean had been so deeply moved that he had worn them on his left wrist ever since, never once taking them off.

Now, his wrist was empty.

“Where is my rosary?” Sean froze in shock. “I was wearing it this morning…”

Just as anxiety rose in his chest and he was about to look for them, he looked up and met Mandy’s gaze, filled with unmistakable desire. Her face was flushed red. She licked her lips slowly, then, under Sean’s stare, discreetly slid her hand between her thighs. As she did, she deliberately swayed her body slightly and let out a soft, breathy moan.

“Ah… Sean… My stomach hurts. Can you help me upstairs to lie down for a while?”

The hint could not have been clearer.

Sean’s breathing instantly grew heavier. His voice dropped as he said, “Eve, I’ll help Mandy upstairs to rest first. Take care of the kids.”

Without waiting for a response, he eagerly supported Mandy and headed upstairs with her.

Eve’s heart turned cold. She instructed the nanny to take the two children away before she silently went upstairs.

The bedroom door was left slightly open. Sean was in such a hurry that he had even forgotten to lock it.

“Are you crazy? You actually put my rosary in a place like that!”

Sean was scolding her, but there was no real anger in his voice—only a faint trace of excitement.

“Ah… Sean…It’s too deep. I can’t get it out. Help me, please…”

Mandy grabbed his hand and guided it downward. Soon after, Eve heard the sound of beads hitting the floor. One rosary bead, smeared with an unknown liquid, slowly rolled to her feet before coming to a stop.

Eve closed her eyes in despair. The rosary she had once knelt step by step to pray for—beads that carried her devotion and faith—had now become tools for their affair.

Right in front of her, without even bothering to hide it, they trampled on her love and desecrated her faith. She did not want a marriage or a man like that anymore.