Chapter 1

Cassandra's POV

The air in the private room suddenly turned cold.

The smile disappeared from my husband, Nathan Sidney's face in an instant. "What are you talking about, Cassandra?" he asked.

I took a deep breath. "I said that I won't be understanding toward you anymore."

A long moment passed before my stepsister, Jessica Jepson, broke the silence. "Why are you mad, Cassie? Nate's a doctor. It's perfectly normal for him to treat a patient."

"We're having a family get-together today," Dad chimed in. "Why are you saying such nasty things? It's not easy for Nathan to get time off to spend time with us. Why are you throwing a tantrum right now?"

My stepmother, Janice Ferguson, pulled Jessica into her arms. She smiled and said, "Pregnant women usually have short tempers. I hope you weren't startled by her, Jessie. But she's really something else. She thinks that she's the boss just because she's pregnant."

Nathan kept his head down and peeled an orange for Jessica, pretending that he couldn't hear their words.

I rose to my feet and prepared to leave, but my waist was stinging painfully due to the pressure from my heavy stomach.

Noticing how I was frowning in pain, Nathan pulled me to his side. He shot a gentle smile at me and asked, "Are you feeling uncomfortable again? I'll ask the waiter to bring a cushion for you."

"No need," I said stubbornly. "I want to go home."

Jessica approached me and locked arms with me. "It's not easy for us to have a get-together, Cassie. Don't be so stubborn. Besides, no driver will dare to pick up a pregnant woman. How are you going to get home if Nate doesn't drive you? Don't tell me that you're planning to waddle home like a penguin?"

Everyone in the room burst into boisterous laughter upon hearing her words.

I felt as if I had been doused with a bucket of freezing water as I stood rooted to the spot. My voice was shaking when I said, "They're ridiculing me, Nathan. Didn't you hear them?"

Nathan's gaze immediately turned cold. We had been together for years, so I could tell that he had reached the end of his patience.

"You've crossed the line, Cassandra!" Dad snapped, raising his voice. "How dare you speak to your husband like that? Don't think that you can do whatever you want just because you're pregnant."

Dad proudly boasted to anyone who would listen to him that Nathan was his perfect son-in-law.

"My son-in-law's handsome and has a respectable job. In fact, my daughter's a full-time housewife now. She's having the time of her life!"

Ever since I got married, Dad never once took my side whenever Nathan and I had an argument.

Jessica blinked and threw her phone in front of me. "Nate's a doctor, Cassie. Treating patients is his job! He's been treating me ever since I was diagnosed with chronic pneumonia three years ago. Why would you get angry over something like this?"

There was a special folder in her phone's photo album that was titled, "My Cold and Aloof Doctor". There were countless photos of medical records in the folder, spanning across three years.

My eyes stung as I stared at the screen. Tears welled up in my eyes.

Jessica was briefly stunned. She pursed her lips before she turned to Nathan and asked, "Don't tell me that Cassie's actually mad, Nate?"

Nathan frowned and flicked her forehead. "The only thing that you're good at is adding oil to the flame."

Although he was supposed to be berating her, he was smiling and didn't look angry at all. "Don't worry. Cassie's a very kind and understanding person. She won't take your words to heart."

My stomach started throbbing slightly upon hearing his words. My back was completely drenched in sweat.

Noticing how pale I was, Nathan escorted me to the car. After helping me into the backseat, he stood next to the window and shot a befuddled look at me.

"Why are you mad?" he asked. "We were having such a good time at the get-together. Did you have to spoil the mood for everyone?"

I stared into his eyes and said, "You swore to never treat Jessica and Janice. I didn't know that you were so untrustworthy, Dr. Sidney."

Nathan was briefly stunned by my words. A small smile stretched across his lips when he said, "That was years ago. I already forgot about it. Besides, it's just a vow. Didn't I once say we'd have to get around on my beat-up scooter for the rest of our lives? Isn't this Audi much more comfortable?"

His flippant words were like heavy rocks that crushed my heart.

"Did you really forget?" I asked, not willing to give up just yet.

Nathan seemed reluctant to meet my eyes. A long time passed before he finally hummed in response.

"So what if I treated Jessica? The two of you have been family for a long time. It's time for you to let go of the past."