Chapter 3

"Sweetheart, why are you shaking?"

Weston opened the door. By then, I had already managed to sit back on the bed.

He draped his jacket over my shoulders.

"It's chilly. Where's your blanket? You'll catch a cold if you stay like this."

Then he announced, "Whitley used to be my intern, and I practically guided her. Mom really likes her and wants to take her in as her goddaughter tomorrow night officially. She's inviting some family members and friends. I want you to help with the preparations."

The moment he mentioned Whitley, I started trembling again and threw off his jacket.

"My stomach hurts. I'm not going."

Weston's face darkened, and his fingers tightened around my shoulder.

"It's been days. Your incision should be healed by now. Whitley just gave birth, too. Do you really think she had it any easier than you? Don't be so ungrateful."

Somehow, I was the one being unreasonable.

Blood had already seeped through my wound and stained his jacket, yet Weston didn't even seem to notice. He simply kept defending his precious former intern, as though my pain meant nothing.

In the end, Weston still invited his family members and friends to our house for the party.

The moment I appeared before everyone, countless hostile eyes turned toward me.

People stared and whispered, their faces filled with disgust.

"Scarlett, I heard everyone's been talking about those indecent photos you supposedly posted online to attract men. I guess women in their 30s really do think differently. I just had a baby, and all I care about is my child. I have no interest in men at all."

Whitley approached with William in her arms, pretending to sound innocent while barely hiding her smugness.

"Don't bother with her, Whitley. This daughter-in-law of mine has no shame. She probably ruined her health by fooling around with men. She could never compare to you."

My mother-in-law, Deborah Hayes, glared at me with open disgust.

Weston listened as everyone criticised and accused me, but he said nothing.

Instead, he turned his attention to William, who was crying from hunger in Whitley's arms.

William's face was turning red from crying, and panic surged through me.

My body reacted instinctively, and I realized I was producing milk.

Deborah stared at me as though I were disgusting.

Before I could say anything, Daniel stepped forward and made an inappropriate grab at me.

"Scarlett, your clothes got wet. Let me help."

I recoiled in horror, but he grabbed onto my clothes and wouldn't let go.

Desperate, I tried to hide behind Weston.

Instead, he pulled me back out.

"Why are you hiding? With a neckline that low, you were obviously asking for attention. Besides, my friend was only trying to help. No one's even interested in you, so stop being so sensitive."

My nails dug into my palms.

"Weston, you're defending him instead of me?" I demanded.

Reluctantly, he finally stepped between us.

Then William suddenly burst into desperate cries.

"Scarlett, you scared my baby!"

Whitley frantically rocked him, but he only cried harder.

Unable to calm him, she became frustrated and covered his mouth.

His cries quickly faded into weak muffles.

Deborah was busy chatting with the relatives, while Weston had gone back to talking with Daniel.

No one seemed to notice that William was in danger.

A chill ran through me. I didn't know where I found the strength, but I lunged forward and pulled William from Whitley's arms.

His tiny face was turning bluish, and he was desperately hungry. The moment I held him, he instinctively turned toward me.

Tears streamed down my face.

I didn't care who was watching. I just wanted to feed my baby.

I had barely turned away and started to uncover myself when Weston snatched the baby from my arms and shoved him back into Whitley's.

"We all understand that you're upset because you just lost your baby. But you can't just take Whitley's child and try to feed him in front of everyone."

He glared at me as though I were the one who had done something wrong.

"Have you no shame? You need to think about your behavior."

With that, he escorted Whitley and the baby out.

The party descended into chaos.

The attendees surrounded me with insults and contempt, but I couldn't hear any of it.

All I could hear was William's desperate crying as he was carried away.

Without thinking, I ran after them.