Chapter 3

Although I had already accepted that James didn't love me and even wanted to hurt me, it still tore me apart to see him use a business trip as an excuse to go on a date with Natasha.

I didn't want to go tonight, but I knew Natasha too well. If she wanted me to show up, she would make it happen one way or another.

Sure enough, not long after, Mom called. "Jenna, you're already six months pregnant, and I haven't seen you since.

"Since it's your birthday today, you should come over and keep me company. Do you know how I almost died while giving birth to you…"

I cut her off, my face expressionless. "That's enough. I'll be there."

By dusk, I was standing outside their residence. The door opened to reveal James.

The instant he saw me, panic flashed across his face. He looked rattled, stumbling over his words. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at home resting?"

I just stared at him in silence.

The man who was supposed to be away on business was standing right in front of me.

When James finally gathered himself, his expression hardened, and his voice was edged with anger. "Jenna, who told you to come here? Were you following me?"

A bitter ache surged through me. Before I could explain, he grabbed my arm hard, as if forgetting I was pregnant.

James raised his voice and exclaimed, "Whatever it is, we'll talk about it at home! I need you to leave right now!"

"James, what are you doing? I invited Jenna. It's been so long since we've seen her, and Mom misses her too." Natasha's voice drifted from behind him.

His tensed expression eased up instantly, and he let go of me slowly. "Oh, so that's it. Jenna, you should've said so earlier. I just got back from my trip. I could have gone to pick you up before coming here."

I gave a hollow smile. What a pathetic excuse.

At dinner, Natasha quickly claimed the seat beside him. I hesitated but didn't say a word, sitting across from them instead.

I remembered she had done the same thing during one of our previous dinners. I had made a fuss back then, and James had slammed a wineglass in front of me, calling me ill-mannered.

This time, I saw a flicker of unease in his eyes when he saw that I stayed quiet.

I barely touched my food.

Mom piled food into Natasha's plate, and James busied himself doing the same.

After a few bites, I set my cutlery down and excused myself.

Natasha feigned reluctance to see me off, but once we were at the door, she leaned in and whispered tauntingly, "Jenna, you really are pathetic. After all these years, you still can't hold onto a man.

"So what if you're pregnant? One word from me, and your child will have to call me 'Mom.' And you'll just stand there and watch as the baby is taken from you, like you never even existed."

Natasha suddenly screamed, "Jenna, I only wanted to see you off. How could you hurt me like this?"

Her arm was red with a hand-shaped mark when she looked up at me with watery eyes.

The moment James rushed over and saw her, his face twisted with fury. He yanked me by the hair and shoved me toward her.

"Jenna, all these years, and you still haven't learned a shred of decency. What has Natasha ever done to you that you'd treat her like this?"

His words landed like knives. He knew exactly how to wound me deeply.

Dad had died when I was little, and Mom had driven me out of the house. An orphan like me had no such thing as decency.

Mom remained silent and sighed theatrically.

Finally, Natasha dabbed at her tears and said weakly, "I know you never liked me, Jenna. But it doesn't matter. You're my sister. Even if you hit me, I'll never hold it against you."

The next second, James pulled her into his arms and comforted her tenderly, as if I no longer existed.