Chapter 3

Shane reacted like a drunk cat whose tail had been stepped on—startled and guilty, he toppled backward onto the floor.

Fleur kept her face tight as she hauled him up and dragged him away. When she saw that I didn't stop them this time, her smile finally bloomed, as if she had claimed total victory.

"I told you long ago—without my permission, no one gets to marry Shane."

"Oh, but I should still thank you for playing along in today's little act. Mom already said that once I'm officially promoted, she'll kick you out of the house!"

My mother-in-law had always favored Fleur, suppressing me at every turn. She even put the family heirloom bracelet on Fleur's wrist.

Only in work matters had she ever been dissatisfied—because Fleur had never managed to become a permanent employee.

"Ugh—"

The cloying scent of perfume made me gag uncontrollably.

Alarm bells rang in my head.

Fleur seemed to realize something too. Her body swayed for a moment, then she quickly forced out a smile.

"Stop pretending. You'll never give birth to Shane's child. Don't believe me? Go look at the medicine on his bedside table. See what it really is."

I tore open the vitamin wrapper. Sure enough, inside was the label for male contraceptives.

I clenched the bottle, my thoughts in turmoil.

After the miscarriage, I hadn't conceived again for a long time. I had always believed the problem was mine and endured countless injections because of it.

If I had discovered the truth earlier, I would have been in unbearable pain.

But now, there was only relief left in my heart.

That night, I slept deeply.

When I woke in the morning, I still had a slight fever. I didn't want to wait anymore. I packed only the essentials and prepared to leave.

Shane pushed the door open just as I tossed the fertility charm into the trash.

My heart jumped.

Fortunately, he was in a hurry and didn't think much of it. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me outside.

In the rush, my lower abdomen slammed into the doorframe. A sharp, knife-like pain tore through me.

Shane didn't notice at all. He kept pulling me forward at a run, speaking rapidly as we went.

"Fleur has been exposing a lot of couples' private information lately to win that 'righteous whistleblower' commendation. The people involved are making a scene…

"She's just a young girl. She's thin-skinned. I'm a man—I don't know how to apologize and coax people into forgiving her. Lily, you're always the most careful and steady. Before this reaches higher authorities, go help her apologize!"

My steps faltered. I couldn't keep up with his pace and stumbled to the ground.

Only then did Shane seem to notice how pale I was. He hurried to lift me up. "A-Are you okay?"

The pain in my abdomen grew more savage. I thought of my period, which still hadn't come.

Weakly, I said, "Take me… to the hospital…"

Just as Shane bent to pick me up, Fleur suddenly wrapped herself tightly around his arm, her face twisted with jealousy.

"I told you she was just pretending to be kind! Look—something happens to me, and she fakes being sick!"

"Enough! Do you even want your job anymore?"

For the first time, Shane snapped at her. Then he turned back to me, his eyes full of pleading.

"Fleur is outspoken. This time, she's angered all her coworkers. Take the blame for her. Say it was your idea, that she didn't mean it. You don't even work at that unit anymore—this won't affect you at all, right?

"I'm begging you, okay? Just help her this one more time. I promise she'll remember your kindness and won't—"

I couldn't listen anymore.

I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.