Chapter 3

The moment Joel saw me, his expression changed. He instinctively took a step toward me, his lips parting, but he didn't say anything.

I gave a bitter smile and turned to Daphne.

"Or do you think this is somehow my fault, too?"

Daphne went pale, her fingers tightening around the skirt of her wedding dress.

I stared at the gown I helped design myself, the one I had imagined wearing down the aisle countless times.

I always pictured myself marrying Joel in it, with Daphne standing beside me and giving us her blessing.

But now, she was the one wearing it, and she was the one marrying Joel.

"Valerie, I'm sorry. I just..."

Daphne's eyes reddened as she struggled to explain.

"You just what? Couldn't help yourself from going after my fiancé? You're unbelievable!"

All the hurt and anger I had been holding back finally exploded. Before I even realized what I was doing, I slapped her across the face.

Daphne recoiled, the last bit of color draining from her face.

Joel immediately stepped in front of her and snapped at me. "Valerie! What the hell is wrong with you?"

But Daphne pushed him aside. "Don't yell at her!"

Still trembling, she reached for my hand, her voice choked with tears.

"This is my fault. If you want to hit me, go ahead. I won't fight back."

The second her fingers touched me, nausea hit me again, and I yanked my hand away on instinct.

"Don't touch me!"

The sudden movement sent Daphne stumbling back several steps before she fell to the floor.

She immediately grabbed her stomach, her face twisting in pain.

Before I could react, someone shoved me hard.

"Valerie! Are you out of your mind? Just because you can't have children, you want Daphne to lose hers, too? She scarred her own face and spent three years keeping everything from you because we were all worried you'd fall apart. How can you blame her for that?"

Joel completely lost it, shouting at me with nothing but disgust on his face. Then he bent down, lifted Daphne into his arms, and carried her away without looking back.

Edward glared at me. "Do you even know Daphne's pregnant? If anything happens to that baby, Joel will never forgive you!"

Even Alyssa looked at me with disappointment. "You went too far."

I sank to the floor and watched numbly as they hurried after Joel. It felt like all the strength had drained out of me.

They seemed to have forgotten that Joel and I had lost a baby, too.

It happened five years ago.

Daphne had just opened her own studio, and I wanted to help her get established, so I agreed to be her demonstration model and went with her from one medical equipment company to another.

I pushed myself too hard, barely ate, and spent days running from one company to another without realizing I was pregnant.

By the time I found out, I had already lost the baby.

Joel was devastated. He completely lost control, cornered Daphne against the wall, and demanded to know if she had done it on purpose.

I was still weak from the miscarriage, but I pulled him away and begged him not to blame her.

In the end, he held me tightly and kept repeating through his tears, "We would have another baby someday."

His tears felt hot against my neck.

Now, as I watched him walk away without even looking back, a chill ran through my entire body. I couldn't hold myself up anymore and collapsed.

When I woke up, Joel was sitting beside my bed. His expression shifted when he met my blank stare.

"The doctor said you need to rest."

He held out a glass of water and medicine, trying to help me take them. I looked at him, then raised my hand slightly. The water spilled across his clothes.

His brows drew together, but he didn't say a word.

When I tried to get out of bed, he suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"Take it out on me however you want, but you can't go downstairs right now."

His grip tightened, and the look on his face made it seem like he was terrified I might see something.

Just then, something shattered in the living room downstairs. A familiar angry voice followed.

My heart clenched. I yanked my wrist free and rushed downstairs, but the second I saw what was happening in the living room, my whole body went cold.