Chapter 2

"Ms. Meyer, it's a miracle that you could get pregnant at all, especially after factoring in your abdominal injuries as a result of the car accident in the past. I'm afraid you might have trouble conceiving again if you were to terminate the pregnancy," the doctor informed Ameera in a conflicted tone. "You should reconsider and discuss this with your husband."

Ameera clenched her hands involuntarily and felt a throb in her heart. Marlow never told her about this.

Whenever their parents asked when they were having children, Marlow would always tell them they wanted to wait a little longer before starting a family.

She teared up at the thought of how Marlow had been looking out for her feelings this entire time. Still, regardless of how kind he had been, it did not change the fact that he had lied to her.

"Thank you, doctor. I'll think about it."

She walked out of the hospital in a daze, only to run into Marlow and Josette in the corridor. It looked like they had just returned home.

Marlow was carefully helping Josette out of the ultrasound room, and his brows were tense with what seemed like agitation. Still, he fixed a gentle look on Josette and did not avert his gaze the entire time.

"Don't worry. It's not like I'm sick. I'm pregnant!" Josette remarked with a hint of a smile in her eyes.

Marlow smiled and looked like he could no longer contain his joy. "Of course, I'd be nervous. This is our first child! We have to take good care of the baby."

Ameera clenched her fingers tightly around the appointment card. She felt as if the temperature of her body had plummeted, and she could vividly hear the sound of her heart shattering. Her eyes were red-hot, but the tears simply would not come out.

The pain was so acute, yet she could not cry.

She watched as Marlow helped Josette into the elevator. After that, she slowly unfolded the appointment card and returned to the counter to schedule a procedure for the day after tomorrow.

Neither did she want her child to be born into a web of lies nor did she want her child to be born without a father.

As if God was playing a joke on her, she just had to bump into Marlow and Josette again in the basement parking lot.

Without a second thought, she tailed their car.

Marlow took Josette to the Carousel Restaurant.

Ameera felt her heart drop. This was a restaurant Marlow had specifically designed and built for her as a birthday present last year.

She remembered him telling her she was the only person with the honor of dining there, and yet, here he was with another woman.

He had seated Josette in what was Ameera's favorite seat. There was already some dessert set on the table while Marlow wheeled in a cart of delicacies for her.

He suavely produced a flower from his jacket and handed it to Josette to reveal a diamond necklace dangling right below the flower. "Congratulations, my little princess. You’re officially a mom-to-be."

"Marlow, thank you. I'm thrilled!" Josette looked like she was about to cry. "You even cooked for me!"

"Why don't you go after I finish eating? I've been taking up enough of your time the last few days. You should head back to Ameera." She looked like she was fighting back tears as she said this.

Marlow was heartbroken at the sight of her tears and held her tightly. "Silly girl, I'm not going anywhere today. I'll stay right here with you."

"What about Ameera? Isn't it your anniversary tomorrow? She'll be sad if you don't go home."

"I've already made arrangements. There's nothing to worry about." Marlow gently patted her head before putting the necklace on for her. "You're my wife. From now on, I'll make time for you and our child."

Ameera retreated around the corner and pressed her back against the icy wall. She shivered from the cold.

That was right. Josette was Marlow's lawful wife.

Meanwhile, she was nothing but a fool with no title to speak of.

She still remembered the first time Marlow brought her to the restaurant. He had gifted her a diamond necklace and revealed that to cook for her, he had secretly trained with a Michelin chef for a whole month.

"Honey, try my cooking. From now on, I will make all of your meals for you. I will love you and only you wholeheartedly for the rest of my life." He pressed his lips into Josette's ears and vowed as he put on the necklace for her.

It seemed as if he had duplicated the love and affection he once had for Ameera.

Ameera felt a heavy weight pressing against her chest. She was in tears by the time she left the restaurant.

By the time she scrambled out of the restaurant, tears were already flowing down her face.

She went straight to the law firm and had her lawyer, Hubert Klein, liquidate all of her assets. She made sure everything belonging to Marlow was returned to him.

The inheritance her parents left behind for her was enough for several lifetimes. Money was no issue; all she wanted was to cut things off with Marlow for good.

It was dark by the time everything was taken care of, and she drove home.

The house was dark and empty, save for a lonesome light which the housemaids had turned on. She lay wearily on the couch and stared at the pictures of her and Marlow that decorated every part of the room. Her heart had never felt heavier, and she felt a throb of pain every time it beat.

After she rubbed her fingers over her brows, she got up and removed the frames one after another.

She looked at the first picture they had taken together as children. She was in a pink dress. He had called her a beautiful princess.

Then, the picture of their first dance. His hand was gently placed on his waist, and he had asked for her to be his only partner for the rest of their lives.

Then, the picture of their first date. He spun her around in circles and declared that he was the happiest man in the world.

…

She tore through the pictures one after another and shoved them into the shredder to decimate their memories for good.

She went at it all night, eradicating every last bit of the romance they once had.

By the next day, when her hands had gone numb, Marlow was still nowhere to be seen.

It was supposed to be their anniversary.