Chapter 3

Eve's eyes went ice-cold. The look caught Julianne Covington off guard. Stunned by the sudden defiance, she sputtered, "You...!"

But before Julianne could get another word out, Xigi Covington, Silas's younger sister, rushed over and shoved Eve hard.

"Eve, what do you think you're doing?" Xigi screamed. "This is our house! Are you trying to start a riot? Were you actually going to hit your mother-in-law?"

Eve stumbled, nearly losing her footing, when a firm pair of hands caught her from behind and steadied her. She looked up to see Silas, who had just walked through the front door. He was frowning deeply.

"Why aren't you being more careful?"

To anyone else, he sounded concerned. But to Eve, who finally knew the truth about him, it felt like a reprimand. Ever since she had discovered his secret, the mere sight of him made her skin crawl. She coldly pushed his hands away.

Silas was still processing her reaction when Xigi let out a sharp, nasty snort. "Look at how spoiled she's gotten because of you, Silas! She was just incredibly disrespectful to Mom, and now she's giving you an attitude, too! Who does she think she is?"

Xigi stepped closer, her voice dripping with venom. "She's just the St. Claires' fake heiress! She spent years living the high life using that family's name, and now that the truth is out, they kicked her out like a stray dog! She's lucky she even married into our family, isn't she? Instead of being grateful, she's talking back to her superiors. You really need to put her in her place!"

Silas's frown deepened as he turned to Eve. "How could you be disrespectful to Mom? Even if she says a few things you don't like, you're a Covington now. Can't you just suck it up for my sake?"

Eve clenched her fists, fighting back a wave of fury. She should have seen through his hypocrisy a long time ago. She used to think he was a good man, caught in a hard spot between his wife and his mother. But now he just looked pathetic. She looked him dead in the eye.

"Suck it up? I've endured a year of your mother's insults and Xigi's constant bullying. Isn't that enough?" She gestured to the apples scattered across the floor. "Your mother started throwing things the second I walked in, and Xigi immediately called me trash. You call that 'saying a few things'?"

Xigi opened her mouth to argue, but Eve cut her off sharply. "Xigi, I am your brother's legal wife. You're the one who lost her manners the second you started calling me names, don't you agree?"

Xigi's face turned bright red, and Silas found himself completely speechless. Without another word, Eve turned and walked away, leaving her former submissiveness behind.

Behind her, Xigi let out a frustrated shriek. Julianne started screaming at her son's back, "This is out of control! How are you just going to stand there and let her bully us? What is wrong with you? If you don't divorce this impostor, you're going to be the death of me!"

Silas, still smarting from being ignored by his wife, rubbed his temples in frustration. "Enough, Mom! She's pregnant. Her hormones are all over the place. Just be patient and give her some space, okay?"

With that, he turned and went after Eve. Julianne and Xigi stood there, paralyzed.

Pregnant? That girl was actually pregnant?

Silas found Eve in the kitchen. He threw a cold look at the cook, who scrambled out of the room. He grabbed Eve by the wrist and yanked her toward him, looking genuinely angry.

"That's enough, Eve! What kind of temper tantrum is this? So I haven't been home much lately—does that give you the right to disrespect my family? I told them you're pregnant, so from now on, they'll cut you some slack. Are you satisfied?"

Eve wanted to laugh in his face. "You really do care about this baby, don't you, Silas?"

Ever since her identity as a fake heiress was exposed, her status in this house had fallen below that of the hired help. Every time she came to the estate, she had to swallow her pride. And now, he was actually willing to make his mother back down? It was only because he was convinced the children she was carrying were the ones he'd planned with Melody.

The reality of his betrayal was so nauseating that Eve actually turned away and gagged. Silas's expression soured as the smell hit him, and a flicker of disgust crossed his face. Just as he was about to lecture her again, the housekeeper, Mrs. Hadley, appeared hurriedly at the door.

"Mrs. Covington, why are you still in here? The head of the family has been waiting for you for a long time. Please come with me."

Eve rinsed her mouth with water, her face pale. "Wait... I made some lily bulb soup for Grandmother."

She had called the cook on her way over to have it prepared specifically for the old woman.