Chapter 3

It felt like everyone around me was staring at me.

Some looked at me with pity.

Others were clearly enjoying my embarrassment.

I ignored them all and walked straight inside. Then I handed Alex's grandfather, Felix Jensen, his birthday gift.

"Happy birthday, Felix."

He looked at me with a warm smile.

"Thank you, my dear."

Alex and Lydia stood together behind me. They looked more like a loving married couple than we ever did.

Felix paused for a moment. Then he took my hand and Alex's, placing them together. "So, when are you two going to give me a great-grandbaby?"

Alex and I both froze.

I pulled my hand away first. Alex looked surprised, but I continued, "Felix, Alex and I..."

Before I could finish, Alex interrupted me. He turned to Felix and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa. We'll make it happen as soon as we can."

Felix laughed happily.

Alex, however, looked gloomy and irritated as he grabbed my wrist and led me into the backyard.

"What were you trying to say?"

"I was going to tell Felix the truth—that we're getting divorced. And we're never going to have children." I answered without emotion.

He frowned but stayed silent.

After a moment, he finally spoke. "Why are you bringing up divorce again? Didn't we agree to leave the past behind? Charlotte, can't you stop making a scene?"

I couldn't understand him.

"If we can't stand each other anymore, then just marry Lydia, the woman you actually love."

His breathing grew heavier. "Can't stand each other? I never..."

"Alex!"

Lydia's voice interrupted him from across the yard, making the tension between us even worse.

She looked at me with pitiful eyes before biting her lip. "Charlotte, could you please stop using Felix to threaten me?"

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Lydia looked deeply wronged.

"Weren't you about to tell Felix that I ruined your marriage with Alex? You know his health isn't good. I couldn't let you upset him, so I'd have no choice but to leave Alex. Wasn't that your plan?"

I stared at her in disbelief. Then the whole thing felt so ridiculous that I let out a cold laugh.

"You're overthinking it."

No one with any sense would fall for such an obvious attempt to drive us apart.

Then Alex asked in a low voice, "Charlotte, is that really what you were planning? You're threatening me again."

He believed her...

I wanted to explain, but when I saw the doubt in his eyes, the words wouldn't come out.

In the end, I simply said, "Believe whatever you want."

The moment I finished speaking, I turned around and left. I didn't want to see him anymore.

Charlotte's voice came through my earbuds, trying to comfort me.

"Don't be sad."

For the first time, I suddenly wanted to cry.

"I'm not sad. Charlotte, after your surgery succeeds, Alex will propose to you. Whatever you do, don't say yes."

This time, she answered without any hesitation. "I understand. Don't worry. I won't."

Hearing that, I finally let out a breath of relief.

Not long afterward, Felix cut the birthday cake and went upstairs to rest.

The moment he left, the people at the dinner table stopped holding back and openly mocked me.

"That woman showed up at her own house to challenge her, and she's still too scared to do anything," Andrew Jensen's wife, Jessica Jensen, said with a sneer.

Someone beside her laughed. "Jessica, everyone knows Lydia is the woman Alex truly loves."

I heard every single word.

My fingers tightened around my silverware as I looked up with a cold smile.

"Jessica, since you're so brave, why are you still helping Andrew raise his illegitimate son?" Andrew was Alex's older brother.

Her face turned ugly in an instant.

"Charlotte, that's none of your business!"

I looked at her without expression. "Then how is my marriage any of yours?"

She couldn't answer.

An awkward silence fell over the table.

Alex cut in with a deep voice. "Charlotte, that's enough."

I turned toward him blankly and suddenly noticed that his tie matched Lydia's outfit.

Because he had made his feelings so obvious, everyone else felt free to laugh at me.

I set down my silverware and murmured, "Alex, you're the last person who has the right to judge me."

His breathing faltered.

I stood up and walked away. After leaving the Jensen Mansion, I finally broke down in tears.

The Jensen Mansion was far from the city.

I kept walking alone. For the first time, the road felt so cold and lonely.

I looked up at the sky. The sun was shining brightly, yet I couldn't feel even the slightest bit of warmth.

Then I heard a choked voice through my earbuds.

"Charlotte, Alex came back with the doctor."