Chapter 3

I looked at Rosalie. My eyes were filled with unwillingness to accept it at all.

"Rosalie, don't you have anything to explain to me? Back then, you said you'd cut off all contact with Ralph, but now you even have a child with him."

Rosalie's face paled for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Since you already know, there's no point hiding it from you anymore. Ralph and I are indeed together."

As she spoke, she intimately linked her arm with Ralph's. She seemed utterly indifferent to the fact that I was standing right in front of them.

I felt as if my heart were being torn apart.

"Rosalie, do you have even a shred of a conscience?" I roared.

Rosalie glanced at her watch and said impatiently, "None of this matters now. I need to feed our baby, Harper Osborne, now."

Just then, someone brought Harper back.

The sight of the three of them looking like a happy family made my heart go cold.

As if suddenly remembering something, Rosalie turned back to ask me with concern, "You're not feeling well, right? You look so pale. I'll have Gretchen make you some chicken soup later to build up your immunity."

Her sudden concern made everything feel so surreal, as if everything that had just happened was a cruel prank she'd played on me. However, her next words instantly shattered all my unrealistic illusions.

"Ralph and I have thought it over. Since you served three years in prison on my behalf, you can keep living in this house. As long as you do a bit of housework here and there, we won't kick you out."

Ralph chimed in from the side with feigned sincerity, "We're only looking out for you. Given your criminal record, you won't be able to find a job. So, tell me, how would you support yourself?"

I stared fixedly at their hypocritical faces. My nails were digging deep into my palms. However, even that sting was nothing compared to a sliver of the dull, crushing pain inside me.

I'd once believed that serving that prison sentence would buy me a lifetime with Rosalie. Only now did I realize I was nothing more than a complete and utter joke.

The raging fury in my chest made my vision swim, and I nearly fainted.

Rosalie noticed something was wrong with me and had someone help me into the villa.

It was only upon entering the villa that I realized the warm home I once knew had long since changed. It was beyond recognition. There wasn't a single trace of my life left inside.

On the living room wall, where framed wedding photos of Rosalie and me had once hung, were now photos of Rosalie and Ralph.

Just as I was about to sit down, Gretchen rushed over at top speed and placed a cleaning rag on the couch cushion.

"This couch is made from top-grain leather. It'd be a shame if it got ruined."

As I watched Gretchen's cautious behavior, I suddenly found it incredibly ironic.

Once, every piece of furniture in this villa had been carefully selected by Rosalie and me. Back then, she always said this place had to be filled with the memories of our love.

Now, even sitting on the couch was considered a form of damage.

Suppressing the piercing pain in my heart, I stood up and laughed coldly, sweeping my gaze across this home that no longer belonged to me.

"You know what? It's fine. I won't be staying here."

My voice was so calm that it even surprised me.

Rosalie frowned. A flicker of displeasure flashed in her eyes.

"Vernon, don't be so ungrateful. Everyone knows you've been to prison, so where else can you even go? At least if you stay here, you won't go hungry."

With a smug smile, Ralph echoed from the side, "Yeah, Rosalie is just being kind. Don't be so stubborn."