Chapter 2

Ryan Mercer...

I remembered now. In my previous life, he really had worked in the project department for a period of time.

No wonder he'd looked so familiar at Claire's funeral.

Mockery filled my eyes. So he'd already been appearing right before my eyes that early on.

I returned home.

Not long afterward, Claire came back as well. After climbing back into bed, she curled up in my arms. Before long, her breathing grew slow and even.

The next morning, she got up as usual to prepare breakfast for me.

"I made your favorite eggs Benedict today."

Watching her act as though she'd never left the house the night before made me sick.

I couldn't help wondering.

Across both my previous life and this one, how many mornings I'd mistaken for happiness had actually come after she'd returned from seeing another man.

I ignored the hand she reached toward me and didn't touch the breakfast either.

"I told you we're over. Did you not hear me?"

Her expression froze. Panic flashed through her lowered gaze. "Nathan, I'm not breaking up with you."

I let out a cold laugh.

"You can't bear to part with this villa, is that it? Fine. I'll move out. I'll leave immediately."

"No!" She denied it at once. Seeing the expression on my face, even her posture seemed to slump. "I'll go. You don't have to leave. But we're not breaking up. Take some time to calm down."

With that, she untied her apron and left the villa looking utterly dejected.

That afternoon, while preparing my paperwork for studying abroad in Ardenia, I noticed that Claire's phone location was once again at that little villa.

I decided I might as well show up in person, expose her lies, and end everything once and for all.

But by the time I arrived, her black Maybach had already sped away.

I followed behind her. Eventually, I found myself standing outside the obstetrics department of a hospital.

My heart sank.

Ryan had an arm around her as he pushed open the door to an examination room.

I watched silently through the crack in the doorway.

"Congratulations. You're pregnant," the doctor said, showing them the ultrasound. "Five weeks along. The baby is developing very well."

Joy flooded Ryan's face.

Claire pressed her red lips together, her expression unreadable.

"Claire, we're having a baby! You're going to be a mother!" Ryan pulled her tightly into his arms, his face full of anticipation.

She lowered her eyes and gave a quiet laugh. "Mm."

After leaving the hospital, the two of them got into the car.

I followed at an unhurried pace. Then the argument reached my ears through my earbuds.

"What do you mean? You want me to let Nathan raise our child?" Ryan's voice trembled. "Have you lost your mind? That's my child!"

Claire sounded calm. "Nathan was injured when he was younger. He can't have children.

"Over the next year, I'll use business trips as an excuse to stay away. Once the baby is born, I'll come back and give the child to Nathan to raise as an adopted child."

My eyes narrowed, and I slammed on the brakes.

The screech of the tires couldn't drown out the sound of my heartbeat.

That child...

Everything connected and suddenly made sense.

In my previous life, exactly one year after we got married, Claire had used my infertility to convince me to adopt a child. At the same time, she'd spent an entire year away on so-called business trips.

Back then, I'd felt guilty that I couldn't give her children. I also believed our family needed a child.

So I'd agreed.

I laughed until tears streamed down my face.

So that child, the child I'd raised for my entire life and poured my heart and soul into... was hers and Ryan's.

I gripped the steering wheel tightly. The absurdity and grief were so overwhelming that my entire body shook uncontrollably.

A wave of nausea rose in my throat.

My eyes burned red.

Then Claire's voice came through my earbuds once more, leaving no room for argument.

"This isn't up for discussion. I promise you this—if we have a second child, you can raise that one yourself."

Ryan finally gave in through his tears.

I sat alone in the car and burst into laughter.

I laughed at the fact that everything I'd once believed was happiness had been nothing but layer upon layer of deception and betrayal.

The two of them returned to the villa. I arrived thirty minutes later.

I stepped out of the car, walked to the front door, and pressed the doorbell.