Chapter 3

My neck burned red in an instant.

Lucy stumbled backward and fell, the glass cup in her hand hitting the floor with a loud crash.

"Wh-why did you push me, Cynthia? Bailey, the baby… my baby!" she cried, tears streaming down her face.

"What have you done?!" Bailey's eyes blazed like they could burn me alive. He helped Lucy up and, in the next second, stormed toward me.

His hand came down hard across my face.

Smack!

The sound echoed down the hallway.

My cheek flared with heat, swelling right away. I could taste blood at the corner of my mouth, my ears ringing.

"You're so cruel! Lucy's pregnant! She came all this way to bring you water, and you pushed her? How could you be so evil?"

He didn't give me one second to explain. My guilt was already decided.

It felt like a knife had been driven straight through my heart. I lifted my head. "Can't you see she fell on her own?"

Maybe my hopeless expression made him hesitate, because I saw him gulp, and for a moment, a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes.

But then Lucy tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Forget it. Maybe she didn't mean it."

Just like that, his face hardened again. He frowned at me, disappointment dripping from every word.

"Once Lucy has the baby and has something to live for, I'll send her away. Just apologize to her. After she gives birth, she'll still let you raise the baby. We can go back to being happy like before."

I couldn't believe this was the man I'd loved for ten years.

My chest ached like it was being cut into pieces.

I didn't even have the strength to answer. I curled on the floor, breathing hard, every part of me hurting.

Bailey's irritation snapped, and he kicked the table beside us.

"What are you even pretending for? I can't believe the woman I've loved for ten years could be so cruel! If I'd known, I'd rather never have met you!

"Cut the act and take some time to calm down. I don't want the baby's adoptive mother to be some crazy woman.

"The wedding's still on. I'll send someone to pick you up. I'm staying with Lucy until she gives birth."

He scooped Lucy up and started walking away.

Tears blurred my vision.

He used to frown if I so much as cut my finger. Now, my arm was broken, and he didn't even care.

I didn't love this man anymore.

"Sure, the wedding will go on three days from now, but you won't be the one I marry!"

Bailey froze for a second, shocked. He had never seen me so sure of myself.

Lucy, though, smiled like she'd already won. "Even if you're jealous, you shouldn't joke like that. Three days isn't much time. Where are you gonna find a new groom? Unless you plan to pull some random guy off the street and marry him?"

Bailey gave a short, cold laugh, looking at me with even less warmth. "Spare me the drama. After the wedding, as long as you behave, the three of us will live just fine.

"During Lucy's pregnancy, you should help take care of her. She's weak, and she's carrying my baby. You should know your place. Lucy accepts having you around; can't you learn from her?"

I was shaking with anger, almost laughing at how ridiculous it was.

But before I could speak, a cold, sharp voice rang from the end of the hallway.

"Who do you think you are? You wanna have my fiancée cook and clean for free for you two, like some nanny?"