Chapter 2

Julian didn't pick me up when I left the hospital.

Chloe said she couldn't stand the smell of disinfectant, so he stayed with her at another hospital for her checkup.

I went home alone.

Nothing had changed. The cream sofa was still there. So was the crystal chandelier and our wedding portrait on the wall.

Julian had chosen it all himself.

He'd only been 22 then. Restless. Reckless. Quick to lose his temper.

Everyone in the family thought he was too immature to settle down. Julian didn't care. He wanted to marry me.

So he changed. He stopped partying with his friends. He started showing up to work on time. He quit smoking and drinking. He worked hard to prove he was ready to take over the family business.

Every night, he came home, wrapped his arms around me, and told me about everything he'd accomplished.

"Elena, I closed another contract today."

"Elena, Dad says I'm finally acting like a grown-up."

Even after we married, he still liked to bury his face in the curve of my neck.

"You have to keep me in line for the rest of my life."

He was the one who asked me to do that. So I did.

I helped him grow up. I helped him get Whitmore Group back on track. And once he no longer needed me, I became too old and too serious. Chloe was younger, sweeter, and far more exciting.

I pushed the memories aside.

I called our housekeeper, Rosa Garcia, and asked her to help me pack.

I packed my clothes, documents, and everything my parents had left me.

I kept none of the jewelry or gifts Julian had given me. I had my attorney, Daniel Price, make a list and appraise everything.

I was about to take the wedding portrait down when Chloe's cheerful voice came from the doorway.

"Are you tidying up, Elena? Good timing. Julian says once the baby comes, he wants to turn the room with the best light into a nursery."

She walked in with her arm hooked through Julian's. Several staff members followed, carrying shopping bags.

The moment Julian saw the boxes all over the floor, he frowned.

"What is it this time?"

"Nothing. I'm just clearing out things I don't need."

I took the wedding portrait off the wall and handed it to Rosa.

Julian stared at the empty space it left behind. His face darkened.

Chloe burst into tears.

"Julian, if she can't even stand having our things here, how could she ever accept my baby?

"As long as you're married to her, my baby will never truly belong in this family. I don't care about having a title. I just don't want my child born out of wedlock."

Still crying, she pulled a set of divorce papers from her bag and shoved them at Julian.

Julian was clearly sick of her crying. He grabbed a pen, signed the papers, and tossed them to me.

"You're always threatening me with divorce. Sign it. And once you've signed, stop taking it out on Chloe."

This time, I didn't cry. I didn't argue. I turned to the last page and signed my name.

Julian stared at my signature, and his face grew even darker.

"It's just a piece of paper. Signing this doesn't mean I'll actually let you go. Chloe is insecure because she's pregnant. Just humor her."

Chloe ignored him and came skipping over to me.

"Let me help you, Elena."

She reached out and touched the clothes in my hands.

Seconds later, she grabbed her throat. A red rash spread across her face.

"Julian, I can't breathe! It itches so bad!"

Julian immediately pulled her into his arms.

The doctor who had come with them examined her, then pinched a trace of fine yellow powder from the fabric.

"Orchid pollen. Ms. Marsh is allergic to it."

Julian turned on me.

"Elena, you knew Chloe was pregnant. You knew she was allergic to this. And you still put it on her clothes?"

"It wasn't me."

The blouse had been sitting in my closet the whole time. I hadn't even been near the flowers outside.

Julian didn't care.

"If it wasn't you, then who? Who else in this house can't stand Chloe and the baby? Apologize to her."

I didn't move.

"I didn't do it. Why would I apologize?"

Chloe leaned against Julian's chest, her eyes filling with tears.

"Forget it, Julian. Maybe she wants a baby so badly that she wasn't thinking straight. I'm young. I'll be fine. But my baby's still so tiny. I was terrified something might happen to him."

As if something had just occurred to her, her eyes landed on a bowl of egg custard nearby.

"I hear you have allergies too, Elena."

She gave Julian's shirt a gentle tug.

"Maybe Elena should see how it feels. Then she might think twice next time. But never mind. I shouldn't have said that."

Her voice was sweet and innocent. But when she looked at me, I caught the smug smile on her lips.

Julian said nothing, but he picked up the bowl of egg custard.

I stepped back.

"Julian, my egg allergy isn't mild."

"The doctor is downstairs. One bite won't kill you."

He looked at me coldly.

"You put Chloe through it. Now you can see how it feels.

"Eat it, apologize to her, and we'll put this behind us."

Two bodyguards stepped forward and pinned my shoulders.

I immediately wrapped both arms around my stomach. I couldn't let them hurt my baby.

"Julian, let go of me! I can't eat it, I—"

They forced my jaw open.

Then they poured the egg custard down my throat. My throat started closing almost instantly. I couldn't make a sound.

Through my blurred vision, I watched Julian scoop Chloe into his arms.

"Happy now?"

Chloe buried her face in his chest and murmured yes.

My vision started to fade. But I kept both hands pressed over my stomach.

Then I saw it again. The cold headstone from my dream.

I couldn't let it come true.