Chapter 2

Before I could even finish packing up my things, Serena walked into my room.

"Chloe... I really don't feel comfortable with the current decor of the house..."

Without a word, I pulled out the black credit card Liam had given me and handed it over.

"Change it to whatever style you like," I said smoothly. "Once I clear out my stuff, you can take the master bedroom."

Serena blinked, startled by my response. Then, a sweet smile spread across her face.

"Oh, there's no need for that! I'm completely fine staying in my old room."

I knew better.

In the past, no matter how many properties were under our names, Liam always kept a permanent, dedicated suite reserved exclusively for her.

Back then, I was overwhelmed with hurt and bitterness. I had lost my temper more than once.

"Liam, this is my house!"

He always brushed me off with the exact same line.

"Serena and I grew up together. I don't want her to feel abandoned just because you showed up."

My biological parents said the same thing to me.

Yet I was the real daughter of this family. I was Liam's lawful wife.

Why was I always the one expected to step back and swallow the pain?

I looked at her and smiled lightly.

"The master bedroom gets the best sunlight. You're pregnant. You need the sun."

My mother stepped forward and took my hands, a rare smile breaking across her face.

"My Chloe... you've finally grown up. You're so understanding now."

Ten years since returning to this family, and this was the very first compliment I had ever received from her.

To her, I was always crude, tacky, and unsophisticated. I was never capable of matching her precious, refined Serena.

Once, I accidentally took a sip from a glass of juice Serena hadn't finished. My mother yelled at me on the spot.

"Serena has nothing left! Are you really going to steal her juice too?!"

It was absurd. And heartbreaking.

---

Two days later, my best friend, Lydia, came over to check on me after hearing I had moved back.

The moment she stepped through the front door and saw the crew remodeling the living room, rage flared in her eyes.

"Chloe, this is YOUR home!" she hissed under her breath. "Why the hell is Serena acting like she owns the place?!"

I shook my head calmly, my heart completely still.

"It's just furniture and paint. If she wants it, she can have it."

There were only five days left. Five days until I would leave this place forever with Madam Rachel.

Right at that moment, Liam walked through the front door.

Serena immediately scurried over, linking her arm tightly with his.

"Liam... look! I renovated the house to match the dream home we always talked about when we were kids. Do you like it?"

She beamed, leaning into him.

"Chloe even gave us the master bedroom! She's having the workers convert the study into a nursery for the baby."

She paused, pointing toward a framed painting resting against the wall. "I just... don't know what to do with this piece."

The artwork was a portrait Liam had spent an entire month hand-painting for me.

Before Liam could speak, I chimed in nonchalantly, "Check if there's space in the basement storage. If not, just throw it in the incinerator."

The color instantly drained from Liam's face.

"Liam?" Serena asked softly.

Liam threw off her hand and marched straight toward me.

His eyes were bloodshot.

"I painted this for you. Stroke by stroke," he choked out, his voice trembling with anger. "And you... you want to burn it?"

He stepped closer, staring into my eyes. "Chloe, why do you keep crushing everything I give you? What do I have to do for you to forgive me?!"

I wanted to laugh.

Every single year since they were teenagers, Serena received a custom, hand-painted portrait from him on her birthday.

Whenever I begged him for one, he always gave me the same dismissive excuse.

"Chloe, let me finish this busy streak first. I'll paint you one later, I promise."

"Why do you always have time for Serena's portraits, but never mine?!"

He had stroked my hair back then, replying with absolute sincerity.

"When we were kids, I promised her I'd paint her every year until we were eighty."

The picture I had cherished for years wasn't even made for me.

He had simply reworked a discarded draft originally intended for Serena into a portrait of me.

I pushed down the lingering bitterness in my throat and spoke in a flat voice.

"Serena is pregnant. Everything should revolve around her and the baby's comfort."

I looked up at him. "As her pregnancy progresses, she'll feel uncomfortable at night. You should move into the master bedroom to take care of her."

Liam stared at me, laughing bitterly out of sheer frustration.

"Fine! Fantastic!"

His eyes burned with resentment. "I told you I'd obey your every word from now on. I'll go!"

Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked straight back into the guest room, shutting the door behind me.