Chapter 3

I thought Natalie might chill after that. Nope. She acted like queen of the house and even invited me in—like I was just some guest.

As we passed, she leaned in, voice all fake sweet. "Heard you and Jasper were married three years? Cute. A stand-in's still a stand-in. I'm the real one. You stepped aside the second I came back—just like I knew you would."

That was it. I snapped.

All the months of holding it in, missing Jasper, lying to myself—it all came out in one slap across her smug face.

A neighbor heard the drama and called the cops.

They dragged us both in, but since it was a domestic mess, all they did was send us home.

The second we stepped inside, Raymond and Josephine lit into me.

Said I embarrassed the whole neighborhood, wrecked my reputation, wasted my fancy degrees just to throw hands.

Warned me if I pulled something like that again, they wouldn't cover for me.

Turns out, they'd known about Jasper and Natalie the whole time. Supported it, even.

In one year, she'd become their perfect daughter-in-law.

I was just the clueless outsider.

My mouth went dry.

Jasper, eyes rimmed red, came over and reached for my hand.

"Emily, I never meant to hurt you. It's just... Natalie only has six months left. Her one wish was to be a mom. She saved my life once—I couldn't let her die with regrets.

"I wanted to tell you, but you were overseas. I didn't want to throw you off. I thought I'd explain everything when you got back.

"If you're willing... we can raise the baby together."

***

Something that huge, and he said it like he was ordering takeout.

I zipped up my suitcase right as Josephine pushed the door open.

Her eyes landed on the luggage, and she smirked.

"You weren't here, so I let Natalie have your room. The study's a nursery now. Couch is all yours. If that's a problem, find a hotel."

I didn't bother fighting. Just nodded and got ready to crash on the couch.

But all night long, the baby's cries echoed through the house.

I rolled over, about to pop in earplugs, when I heard Natalie's voice.

"Jasper, can you handle the baby? He won't stop crying."

Then Jasper, laughing softly. "Aren't you my big baby? As long as I've got you, we're good. Let him cry—it's good for his lungs."

I yanked the blanket over my head, trying to drown out their laughter.

But every time I shut my eyes, I saw Jasper from back when he first told me he loved me—bright-eyed, all sunshine, like I was his whole world.

That guy was long gone.

I must've dozed off at some point, because by sunrise, I was already out the door with my suitcase.

Went straight to handle the relevant procedures.

Everything moved fast—clean paperwork, no questions.

Right as I was leaving, one of the staff stopped me and handed over a few candies. "Hope you get everything you wish for."

I gave her a small smile, checked into a nearby hotel, dropped my stuff, and headed out for food.

And that's when I saw them—Jasper, Natalie, and both his parents.

Natalie was flashing a Patek Philippe watch, glowing like she just won the jackpot.

Didn't exactly scream terminal illness.