Chapter 3

I forced myself to stop trembling and asked hoarsely, "Wade, don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

Wade began frowning slightly on the couch. It looked like he was getting impatient.

"Don't make me out to be the bad guy. I'm only Harry's godfather."

Right then, Helen wiped her hands clean and walked over.

"Wendy, sit down. I'll explain everything to you."

She half-led, half-dragged me over to the dining table.

Curious, Harry Graham followed us. He wrapped his arms around Wade's leg.

Helen bit her lip.

"Harry is indeed related to Wade by blood, but he's actually his brother's son.

"I used to date Wade's brother. Then he died in the line of duty, leaving Harry behind. I've raised him by myself all these years. If Wade hadn't helped us, who knows where the two of us would have ended up."

As Helen spoke, her eyes welled up with tears.

Wade lifted Harry onto his lap and freed one hand to pat Helen on the shoulder.

His movements were so natural and familiar. It was as if he had done it countless times before.

Seeing that I remained silent and didn't shed a single tear, Wade's tone grew colder.

"Wendy, even throwing a tantrum has its limits. Harry is the only heir left in our family. Are you really going to stand by and watch him become homeless?"

His words suddenly reminded me of something else.

Two years ago, I was pregnant too.

When I was a little over two months along, the precinct had assigned me to a pursuit operation.

I ran three blocks before finally taking the suspect down, only to realize something was wrong with my stomach.

I had been experiencing a dull pain in my lower abdomen. I crouched down on the floor of the locker room and called Wade, asking him to pick me up and take me to the hospital.

There was a two-second silence on the other end before he replied coldly, "I'm at the station. The hospital is too close to your precinct. It wouldn't look good if someone saw us. Take a cab yourself."

"Wade–" I hadn't even finished speaking before he hung up.

I ended up making it to the hospital on my own.

By the time I arrived, I had already lost the baby.

The doctor said that if I'd arrived thirty minutes earlier, there might still have been a chance.

'I was only thirty minutes late. Only thirty minutes.'

I closed my eyes while forcing those memories out of my mind.

"Enough. Whatever you two have to say, just say it. I'm in a hurry."

Helen and Wade exchanged a glance.

She hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.

"Wendy, I know this house belongs to you, but Harry is starting elementary school now. Without an address tied to his family, he won't be able to enroll in the local school. I was wondering if you could temporarily transfer the house to my name. Once Harry finishes school, I'll transfer it straight back to you. I promise I won't delay it."

When she finished, she looked at me pleadingly.

I looked at the two of them. Instead of crying or making a scene, I smiled.

"You two went to all this trouble and made up so many lies just to deceive me. Aren't you tired?"

Seeing their stunned expressions, I retrieved the document I had printed at the office.

I spread the sheet of paper across the coffee table. My expression was numb and eerily calm.

The words on it were crystal clear.

[Wade Graham and Helen Jefferson are legally married.]

The date of marriage registration was seven years ago.

At that point, the entire living room fell silent.