Chapter 3

"Just come right out and say it," I said before pausing to take a deep breath. "What does Samuel want this time?"

It'd become a pattern by now. Whenever Roxanne showed me the slightest hint of warmth or care, it always had something to do with Samuel.

"It's nothing, really," Roxanne said as she schooled her tone back into a patient one. "Sam wants to have a baby with me. His psychiatrist said it would help with his recovery."

I froze. Could any words sound more absurd than that?

Roxanne was telling her own boyfriend she wanted to have another man's baby!

I never imagined she would go to such lengths for Samuel. She would rather have a child with him than marry me.

After laughing in self-deprecation, I nodded. "Let's break up. That way, nothing will get in the way of you having his baby."

Roxanne's eyes flashed with disbelief. She shot to her feet, screaming, "Austin Shaw! This is not a discussion. I'm telling you my decision! Don't even think about threatening me with a breakup. I'm having Sam's baby no matter what!"

Her tone made it sound like I was the most heinous and deplorable man to ever exist.

At that moment, I just felt exhausted.

At my silence, Roxanne chose to push me even further, declaring, "Sam will be moving in with us. Remember to move your things out of the master bedroom. But don't worry. Once I've delivered the baby, I'll marry you."

Not only was she going to have someone else's child, but she wanted to make a baby right here, in my house?

It was nothing short of humiliation.

But right now, I wasn't in the mood to argue with her. I didn't have the strength to either.

Just then, Roxanne got a call from Samuel.

"I miss you so much, Roxy," Samuel whined, his tone coy and cutesy.

Roxanne used to say she found that kind of mannerism disgusting, but now, she responded to him with a sweet smile, her tone affectionate. "Patience, Sam. I'll come over to see you right away."

Once she finished speaking, she rushed out the door without even sparing a glance at me.

Not long after, Roxanne changed her WhatsApp profile picture from a photo of us to one of her and Samuel on the Ferris wheel, their hands forming a heart sign together.

Samuel did the same.

They both updated their WhatsApp status to say, "I heard that the wish you make at the highest point of the Ferris wheel will always come true."

By comparison, I looked like the clown who was trying to get between them.

As the humiliation surged within me, I moved to pack my things, only to get a call from Maureen Hill, Roxanne's mother.

"Austin, you need to come to the office right away. There's a business deal that only you can handle."

I told her I'd be there.

Firstly, Maureen had been pretty nice to me all this time, so I wanted to say a proper goodbye to her. And secondly, I had to take back the family heirloom Grandma had left to me.

Once I arrived at the company, Maureen immediately gave me a cup of coffee, saying, "Have some coffee to warm yourself up."

A warmth stirred in my chest.

She continued, "By the way, Roxy tells me that you two are planning to have a baby? You should arrange a meeting with your parents, so that both families can get to know each other better. You and Roxy should set a date for the wedding ceremony."

I blanked for a moment before realizing that Roxanne had hidden the truth from Maureen. I was just about to tell her when she added, "But even after you two get married, don't forget about Sam, okay? You need to look out for him. He and Roxy are childhood friends. He's like a son to me."

Instantly, the words caught in my throat. I simply busied myself with work before heading to Roxanne's office.

Grandma had previously given me an emerald bracelet. It was a family heirloom meant to be passed down to the daughters-in-law of the family.

Since Roxanne and I weren't going to end up together, it was time for me to take back the bracelet. But when I opened the safe, it wasn't there.

Amid my confusion, the office door opened.

Samuel came in while twirling an emerald bracelet around his fingers—the very same one Grandma left to me.

I couldn't believe that Roxanne would give away a family heirloom from my grandma to someone else.

Suppressing my rage, I growled, "That bracelet is mine. Give it back."