Chapter 2

As expected, Vanessa never came back that night. Even so, when my hand brushed against the cold, untouched half of the bed, my chest still tightened painfully.

The knocking at the door grew louder and louder.

When I opened it, one of the McBride household staff stood there with barely concealed disdain.

"Madam McBride wants you and the child at the estate."

The old matriarch of the McBrides, Edith McBride, had never liked me. No matter how many times I tried to explain our relationship status, she saw me as nothing more than an immoral fraud who had tricked his way into the family.

Her contempt extended to my daughter, Sadie, as well. When the family head behaved that way, the staff naturally followed suit.

By the time Sadie and I arrived at the estate's main hall, all the McBrides' elders had already gathered.

Vanessa, who had disappeared all night, stood off to one side, supported by Derek. The tenderness in her eyes was impossible to miss.

Edith looked at Vanessa's stomach, smiling so broadly that the wrinkles around her eyes deepened.

"Vanessa is finally pregnant. Since the whole family is here today, it's time to honor the agreement we made six months ago."

The family's most respected elder stepped forward and publicly announced Vanessa's appointment as the new head of the McBrides.

"Now that the family line will continue, you should choose a date for the wedding."

I looked up.

Every single person in the room was looking at Derek, even Vanessa.

Without the slightest concern for who was watching, she guided Derek's hand onto her stomach. Her expression was impossibly gentle.

"I'm going to be a mother."

Not "a mother again".

Simply "I'm going to be a mother".

A dull ache spread through my chest as my fingers tightened unconsciously.

"Daddy, that hurts." Sadie's small voice echoed through the hall.

I immediately released my grip. Her tiny hand had already turned red in my palm.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to. Let me kiss it better."

That single sentence drew everyone's attention toward us.

The elder frowned. "If word gets out that the head of the McBride family had a child out of wedlock, the family's reputation will be ruined. She's nothing more than the daughter of a con artist, and a girl at that."

Eleanor McBride, Vanessa's mother, let out a dismissive snort. "From now on, we'll tell people she's a distant relative's child that the family took in."

She had never liked me, and by extension, she had never cared much for Sadie either.

It was her idea to use Vanessa to inherit the family leadership in exchange for carrying on both family lines.

Now that Derek's child was on the way, Sadie had become even more dispensable.

"Mom, that's going too far." Vanessa released Derek's arm.

She had barely taken a step toward us before Derek quietly caught her wrist and pulled her back.

I saw it clearly.

Taking Sadie's hand, I walked over to Eleanor.

"As you wish. From this day forward, Sadie is no longer Vanessa's daughter."

Then I crouched in front of her, my eyes burning as I forced myself to explain to Sadie, "Sweetheart, from now on, you can't call her Mommy anymore. You have to call her Aunt Vanessa instead, okay?"

Vanessa froze. She knew better than anyone that one of the biggest reasons I had stayed these past six months was Sadie.

Her eyes searched mine, as if looking for anger, resentment, or desperation, but she found none of it.

Children don't understand the complexities of adults. Sadie's little face turned bright red as tears streamed down her cheeks.

I hurriedly led her toward the door.

Then Derek's voice stopped us.

"Grant, I heard amethyst is said to protect both mother and child during pregnancy. Vanessa has been looking everywhere for a piece suitable enough. Who would've thought you'd have one?

"I wonder if you'd be willing to part with it?"