Chapter 2 THE WIFE WHO THEY LEFT BEHIND

​The room fell silent. Kendall Swan's eyes remained fixed on the tiny baby shoes in Javier's trembling hands. Then, his gaze shifted to the television, where Alex and Camille were still dancing. 

The headline at the bottom of the screen read: "Swan Group CEO Reunites with His First Love at Welcome Home Gala." Kendall's face darkened. He picked up the remote and switched off the television, letting an unbearable silence fill the room.

​"Javier..." His voice was gentle. "When did you find out?"

​Javier lowered her eyes to the shoes. "This morning."

​"You've... been pregnant since this morning?"

​She nodded. "I wanted today to be special. I wanted to surprise Alex." She forced a smile, but it crumbled almost instantly. "I guess... my surprise wasn't important enough."

​Kendall's jaw tightened. "Did Alex know?"

​She shook her head. "No. I couldn't tell him. I waited all day." She glanced at the untouched anniversary dinner. "And he never came."

​Kendall let out a long breath. His disappointment wasn't directed at Javier; it was directed entirely at his son. "I'll call him."

​"No," Javier stopped him immediately. "If he wanted to be here... he would already be here."

​Kendall looked at her with deep sympathy. "I've watched you for five years. You've never once complained. You stood by Alex when he worked day and night. You took care of this family, and you treated me like your own father." He paused. "You don't deserve this."

​The words broke the last of Javier's composure, and tears rolled freely down her face. "I don't understand. He promised. He promised he'd come home."

​Kendall placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes... a man doesn't realize what he's about to lose until it's almost gone."

​Javier didn't answer. She simply held the tiny baby shoes closer to her chest.

​Meanwhile, the celebration at the Crystal Crown Hotel had finally ended, and guests slowly made their way toward the exit. Camille walked beside Alex, looking up at him. "I'm sorry," she said.

​Alex looked at her. "For what?"

​"Your anniversary. I shouldn't have asked you to come."

​Alex smiled faintly. "You didn't force me. I made the choice."

​Camille sighed. "I still feel guilty."

​"It's fine," Alex replied, reaching into his pocket. Suddenly, his expression changed. His phone displayed twenty-three missed calls—all from Javier. His smile disappeared instantly. "I have to go."

​Camille nodded understandingly. "Your wife needs you."

​Alex hurried toward the parking lot. As he started his car, he noticed hundreds of notifications flooding his phone—news articles, videos, and photographs. 

One headline made him frown deeply: Alex Swan Chooses First Love Over Fifth Wedding Anniversary.

​"What?" He opened the article. Someone had recorded him dancing with Camille, and the comments section was brutal. 

"Poor Mrs. Swan." "His wife deserves better." "What kind of husband forgets his anniversary?"

​Alex immediately threw the phone onto the passenger seat. "They're exaggerating," he muttered to himself. But for the first time that night, a cold feeling of uneasiness settled in his stomach.

​Back at Swan Mansion, Kendall stood near the dining table. The candles had long since burned out, and the food had gone completely cold. He looked at the untouched cake, where the words Happy 5th Anniversary, Alex & Javier were written in elegant icing.

​Kendall closed his eyes, then quietly asked, "Where is your gift?"

​Javier looked toward the silver box. "It isn't for me anymore." She picked it up, opened it, and looked at the tiny shoes one last time before carefully placing them back inside. "I'll keep it... until the right time."

​Kendall wanted to say something to comfort her, but before he could, the front door clicked open. Alex had returned.

​"Javier?" Alex called out, smiling as he walked inside. "I'm home."

​No one answered. His smile slowly vanished as he took in the scene: the untouched dinner, the cold food, and the burnt-down candles. Then, his eyes landed on his father. "Dad?"

​Kendall stared back at him coldly. "What kind of husband leaves his wife alone on her anniversary?"

​Alex sighed, rubbing his neck. "I can explain."

​"Can you? You humiliated her."

​"It wasn't like that."

​"No?" Kendall picked up his phone, opened one of the videos circulating online, and handed it to Alex without another word.

​Alex watched the screen, seeing himself smiling, laughing, and dancing with Camille. He looked up defensively. "Dad... social media doesn't tell the whole story."

​Kendall's voice cut through the room like ice. "But your actions do."

​Alex looked around anxiously. "Where's Javier?" When no one answered, he called out louder, "Javier?" He started walking toward the stairs.

​Kendall spoke quietly without turning around. "She's been crying for hours."

​Alex froze, a heavy, strange feeling settling deep in his chest. He had imagined coming home to offer a quick apology; he hadn't imagined finding his entire household broken.

​Upstairs, Alex knocked gently on the bedroom door. "Javier." Silence met him. "I'm sorry." Nothing. "I know you're angry." Still, there was no reply. He rested his forehead against the heavy wood of the door. "I made a mistake. I should've been here."

​Inside the room, Javier sat on the floor beside the bed. Her tears had long since dried. She looked at the silver gift box, then stared toward the door. His voice sounded sincere, but tonight, she realized she no longer knew what to believe.

​Alex knocked again, his voice tight. "Please... talk to me."

​Javier slowly stood up, walked toward the door, and rested her hand on the handle. For several agonizing seconds, neither of them spoke. Finally, she turned the lock and pulled the door open.

​Alex looked visibly relieved. "I'm sorry."

​She looked back at him, her expression completely calm. "No. You aren't."

​Alex frowned. "What?"

​"If you were sorry," she said evenly, "you would've come home before the party ended."

​His lips parted, but no words came out.

​She stepped aside to let him through. "Come in."

​Alex entered the room quietly, his eyes sweeping across the space until they landed on the silver gift box sitting on the bed. "What's that?"

​Javier immediately snatched it up. "It's nothing." She placed it deep inside the wardrobe before he could catch a glimpse of its contents.

​Alex noticed her frantic reaction. "What were you hiding?"

​She looked away, her voice hollow. "It doesn't matter anymore."

​Before Alex could press her for an answer, his phone suddenly vibrated. Both of them looked down at the glowing screen.

​Camille Calling...

​The room fell deathly silent. Alex stared at the phone, and Javier stared blankly at him. Neither spoke a word. Then, Alex slowly reached his hand out toward the device.

​Javier's heart clenched in her chest. Would he answer Camille... even now?