Chapter 2

Seth's POV

After hearing that, Regina snorted. "Did you hear that? Lucas is so much more understanding than you. Forget it. I'll let it slide since you didn't do it on purpose. As long as you make me a postpartum recovery meal right now, I'll forgive you."

Of course, he could afford to be magnanimous. He wasn't the victim. I rolled my eyes and remained silent.

Lucas sighed enviously. "Kids from poor families grow up fast. They're good at looking after others, too. Unlike me, who can't do anything right and even needs a pregnant woman like you to cater to me."

He made it sound as though he was praising me, but he was really just finding another way to show off how good Regina was to him.

Regina didn't pick up on his hidden jab. In fact, she giggled. "I think you're wonderful. You're just not good at cooking. However, that's okay.

"Seth can cook for us. He's really good at it. You should taste his food later."

I rolled my eyes and spat out, "I'm busy."

The cheerful laughter on the other end of the phone ground to a halt, and she demanded, "Are you still upset about what happened with your mother? I've already agreed to give you a child to make it up to you, so why are you and your mom still not satisfied?

"Look, I'll send you another card. So, name your price."

Regina had borne Lucas a child unconditionally. Yet, when it came to me, her lawful husband, it was treated like some kind of favor, and even that came with conditions.

To be honest, this was how we had always been. If I wanted her to do even the smallest thing for me, I had to be of value to her first. Or else, the only time she'd give me anything was when she'd made a mistake and wanted to make it up to me.

I used to think that she was simply born that way, that she was a cold, transactional person who always prioritized self-interest above all else. That was until Lucas came along, and I got to see a completely different side of her.

Regina didn't need a reason to be good to him. She simply wanted to offer him every beautiful thing in the world on a silver platter.

It hit me then that love couldn't be forced. Unfortunately, I'd come to this realization far too late, and it cost Mom her life.

"Seth, if you don't speak up, I'll call your mother and ask her myself!"

Regina's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I responded apathetically, "Mom's dead, so you can save your breath."

Regina was taken aback for a moment. "Didn't you tell me my mother-in-law was fine, Lucas? What's going on?" she fretted.

Lucas sighed. "Mrs. Marsh is perfectly fine. When she left, she was so angry that she scratched my neck. Don't blame him for lying; he's just jealous of how close you and I are.

"It's normal for a man to be possessive. As his wife, you should be more understanding of him."

Regina didn't even bother to check whether it was true. "I can't believe you'd curse your own mother just because you're jealous, Seth!"

Then, she turned around and comforted Lucas. "Why didn't you tell me that you were injured?"

"Mrs. Marsh is your mother-in-law. I was afraid I'd put you in a difficult spot, so I kept it from you."

"Lucas, you're so considerate it breaks my heart..."

I didn't stick around for more and hung up on her.

Once everything was taken care of, I returned home with Mom's urn, intending to pack a few things and leave.

The moment I stepped inside, I found Regina's mother, Sharon Maren, on the couch with a hardened expression.

As soon as she saw me, she snarled, "Seth, you're dirt poor, and now you can't even keep my daughter on a tight leash! How could you let her get back with that scumbag? You're a complete waste of space!"

Sharon tossed her phone at me. I caught it and played the video on the screen.

"Ms. Morgan, we've never heard any news of you tying the knot, yet you've suddenly welcomed a baby boy. Did you get pregnant out of wedlock, or are you following the latest trend of having a baby without keeping the father around?"

In the face of the reporter's questions, Regina, who was lying in her hospital bed, linked arms with Lucas. "Actually, I've been married for seven years, and this is the baby's father, Lucas Jenson."