The Man of Shade Manor

Davina pov

     Sitting in the restaurant with my family and my husband's family, I couldn't help but notice one person who had made it her life's mission to make my existence miserable—Courtney, my sister.

Courtney had finished her education and had now returned.

My husband, Sebastian, and my sister were eating and laughing, discussing things as if it were their first date, while I sat there, feeling like a third wheel—even though it was supposed to be a family dinner. 

   I sat across the table, watching the scene unfold as I gently rubbed my small belly, which held the unborn child I had recently discovered I was carrying.

    This was supposed to be a family gathering, but as usual, I felt like an outsider. None of them even noticed that I wasn't eating, as they were all too busy listening to whatever it was Courtney was saying to my husband.

     I watched Sebastian gaze at Courtney with so much longing as she passed him the salad bowl. His first love had returned, and I was left on the sidelines. I guess I would be ruining their perfect little reunion by telling them about the baby.

     I knew Sebastian didn’t care much for me, but I didn’t expect him to be so casual with another woman, no matter who she was.

     She was the love of his life, but I was still his wife—his legally married wife, even if it had been by accident. Sebastian had always been in love with her, but after our wedding, things had changed. He began to see me, and for a while, he loved me—but only as long as our son was still with us.

      Once the one person who had brought us together was gone, Sebastian became like an ice king, never sparing a glance in my direction again.

    “Courtney!” Lily, Sebastian's mother, called out, and we all turned our heads to hear what she had to say. She flashed Courtney a big smile. “Seb told us you graduated at the top of your class in business and accounting? That’s wonderful! Why don’t you tell us about it?” Lily said, her voice filled with excitement and eagerness.

     Truly, Lily had always adored Courtney and had always hoped she would be the one to marry her son.

    Courtney flipped her long brunette hair and leaned forward. “Mrs. Campbell…”

   “Oh… please, call me Lily,” Lily interrupted with a warm smile.

     Courtney returned the smile brightly. “Lily, I’ve heard so much about your achievements, and you’ve always been my biggest inspiration to strive harder. Of course, being at the top was a challenging journey, but every time I remembered that you attended the same university and topped your class, I pushed myself even more. And, of course, I owe it all to my mother, my biggest supporter.” She turned to my mum, who beamed with pride and nodded in agreement.

     Courtney then turned to look at Sebastian, whose eyes were filled with admiration and love—feelings I had always longed for.

“Courtney has a sharp mind and a very high IQ, which makes her incredibly smart. So, I’m not surprised,” Sebastian said confidently, brushing a stray strand of hair from Courtney’s face.

I clenched my fork in frustration as I glanced at him. Sebastian had never spoken about my accomplishments in such a way, and it irritated me. After all, I’m his wife.

No matter what I did, it always seemed like I wasn’t trying hard enough. He always had an excuse for everything I did—too forward, too much of a waste of time. Yet here he was, praising Courtney’s achievements.

I observed Sebastian, watching the way his gaze lingered on Courtney—his perfect girl. His sharp, dark eyes softened when he looked at her. It made me feel both jealous and enraged, wondering why I had even bothered to come to this dinner in the first place. It felt like this dinner was all about the two of them.

A waiter interrupted my thoughts. “Ma’am, would you care for anything else—wine, whiskey?” he asked.

I gently rubbed my small belly under the table. “I’ll just have a fruit juice—apple juice, to be precise. Thank you.” The waiter nodded and moved off to place my order.

  I couldn’t help but wonder if my family would guess why I hadn’t ordered wine, but they were too absorbed in their conversation with Courtney to notice.

“Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.” I stood up, but no one acknowledged me. It was as if they hadn’t heard me at all.  

   Who dares to pay attention to anyone else when the star of the show is around? I thought bitterly as I made my way toward the bathroom, tripping over my ankle in the process. I limped the rest of the way, cursing under my breath.  

In the bathroom, I stood before the mirror, staring at my reflection. Memories came flooding back—how I’d discovered I was pregnant just days ago. The joy, the shock, and the fear all came rushing back at once.  

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the tears that had started to fall. Should I tell him? Would he even care? Would he be happy to know he was having a child with the wife he seemed to have forgotten?  

Four years had passed since we lost our first child, and I hadn’t been able to conceive since. My marriage had deteriorated into something hollow and loveless. Sebastian buried himself in his work, leaving me behind to suffer alone.  

But it wasn’t just Sebastian. My parents and in-laws also turned against me, blaming me for my inability to provide an heir for the family business. I worked tirelessly for the company, securing deals and driving growth, but none of that mattered to them. All they cared about was the heir I couldn’t give them.  

And now, when it seemed I might finally give them what they wanted, I was terrified to share the news.  

“I should tell him,” I whispered to myself, but the faces I had just left behind at the table flashed through my mind—cold, distant, devoid of warmth. Even my parents had turned against me, still blaming me for Courtney’s supposed misery.  

I looked back at the mirror, and the woman staring at me wasn’t someone I recognized. The face was mine, but the spirit was a stranger’s. My old self had withered away, replaced by someone who worked day and night to please Sebastian and keep the company at the top.  

“No,” I said firmly. “I will tell him.” I took a deep breath and steeled myself. Maybe this would finally make him see me again.  

When I returned to the dining room, nothing had changed. Everyone’s attention was still on Courtney, as if she were the only person who mattered.  

I cleared my throat once, twice, before anyone even noticed me. Slowly, their gazes turned toward me, a mix of irritation and disinterest on their faces.  

“Sorry for the interruption,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.  

Lily rolled her eyes dramatically, while Natalia—who had once been a second mother to me—gave me a nasty glare.  

“Actually, I have something to share with you all,” I continued. At this, their eyes turned sharper, as if my mere presence was a waste of their time.  

“Go ahead, then,” my mother said curtly, sitting up properly for the first time since the dinner had started.  

My heart pounded as I glanced at Sebastian, silently pleading for some sign of support. The room fell silent. All eyes were on me, though none of them held warmth.  

I couldn’t help but notice the mixed reactions around the table—impatience, irritation, and barely concealed disdain. My mother-in-law sat stiffly, her usual air of superiority more stifling than ever. She had never treated me kindly, but tonight, I resolved to break free of the shackles of her contempt.  

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Courtney rose from her seat. Her eyes locked on mine, and she smiled—a smile that held no kindness.  

“I also have an announcement to make,” she said quickly, cutting me off. “And I’d

like to go first.”  

“Sure, please go ahead,” I murmured, sinking back into my seat.