Chapter 3

Cassandra's POV

The next morning, I was woken up by noises coming from the entryway. Jenny was draped in a soft wool shawl, while my parents each carried a box of baby supplies.

Gavin held the swaddled baby in his arms, as though he were carrying some priceless treasure. Miley's bedroom door had somehow been opened, and the name tag stuck to the crib had fallen off.

"What are you doing?" I asked, hearing the tremor in my own voice.

Mom set the boxes down on the floor without even looking up. "The room is just sitting empty anyway. We might as well let Molly use it."

I walked over quickly and took a deep breath. "This belongs to Miley. She can't use it."

Gavin frowned. "It's just a room. Are you really going to fight over it with a child?"

Jenny took the baby from him and walked over, holding her out for me to see. "Cassandra, you haven't seen her yet, have you? Look, doesn't she look a little like you? Molly is here to be your daughter. With her by your side, you won't be so sad anymore."

I glanced down at the baby, Molly Grover. She had a tiny, adorable nose and delicate lips. She really did look like me. Miley had looked just like this in her ultrasound photos. But she was gone.

They held Jenny and Gavin's child in their arms, saying she was going to be my daughter. I said, "My only daughter is Miley."

I looked at Jenny, whose face was turning pale. I said, "Besides, if she's my daughter, what does that make you?"

Jenny's lips trembled, and she suddenly burst into tears. "I'm sorry, Cassandra. I know I've wronged you. I shouldn't be here. I'll leave right now."

She shoved the baby into Gavin's arms, turned, and ran.

"What are you doing? Jenny just gave birth. If something happens to her, will you be happy then?" Mom scolded me, then hurried after her.

Gavin frowned. "Hurry up and go find her! That's your sister!" he yelled, pushing me toward the door. "Don't come back if you can't find her."

I had no choice but to leave. The late-autumn wind swept over me, chilling me to the bone. With heavy steps, I searched outside until 2:00 am. It wasn't until a drunk man lunged at me that I finally turned back, my eyes red with tears.

Jenny was still weak, and I was worried something might happen to her. But when I returned home, I found her and Gavin lying together in the master bedroom. The baby was sleeping in the cradle I had bought for Miley.

He was half-asleep, nuzzling against her neck. He whispered, "Don't be angry. I've already punished her."

When he noticed me, his eyes snapped open. He immediately pressed a finger to his lips, signaling me to be quiet. "Molly just fell asleep. Don't disturb her."

He got up and pulled me into the living room, his tone very casual. "Since you won't let Jenny stay in Miley's room, the only room with sunlight is the master bedroom. I've moved your things into the storage room. Just sleep there for a few days."

My blood boiled. I asked, "Why should I? Tell them to get out."

Gavin frowned. Sounding tired, he questioned, "Cassandra, can you stop being so petty? Who do you think Jenny nearly died giving birth to Molly for? Can't you be a little more understanding?"

"Understanding?" I glared at him. "You want me to be understanding when she killed Miley while she was drunk driving? When she slept with you and had your child for me?"

He squeezed his eyes shut. As if he was holding back his rage, he uttered, "You're just jealous because you can't have children of your own, so you can't stand seeing someone else have one! It's just a room. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?"

I yelled, "This is the house I bought myself after graduation. I scraped together every penny of the down payment. It's my house."

Mom and Dad came out of the room, their expressions were dark with anger. "So what if you bought the house? We've raised you for over 20 years, and now that you've made something of yourself, you don't even care about your own parents.

"You cry every day and make the whole family miserable. What's wrong with us letting Jenny move in? She's staying in the master bedroom tonight. If you don't like it, get out."

They then turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the empty living room.

I dragged my feet to the door of the storage room. My suitcase lay wide open, with my clothes and documents scattered around it like trash. Our wedding photo lay on the floor, its glass shattered and the frame covered in dust.

My phone vibrated.

Gavin had sent me a message. "I'll explain everything once you've calmed down."

I leaned against the door and suddenly laughed until my body shook.

What did he want to explain? How every one of them had deceived me? How each one of them had shielded Jenny? Or how Jenny had given birth to his child and taken my place?