Chapter 2

"Looks like Simon took his wife out again. He really forgot all about me once he got married!"

The comment was from Simon's younger sister, the same woman who had once brought a group of friends to beat Zoe up so badly that she'd spent three days in the ICU.

"Zoe's lost weight again. If Simon ever gives you a hard time, we'll have your back!"

That was from Simon's parents, the same people who had once held my hands in tears and told me I was the only daughter-in-law their family would ever accept.

"Our little girl is all grown up. Seeing you two so happy together puts my mind at ease!"

My own parents, who used to curse Zoe every time they mentioned her, had even added crying emojis.

Relatives and friends had filled the comments with congratulations. I could barely find the end of the comments section.

My breathing turned shallow, and my entire body began to shake.

Everyone knew Caroline was Zoe.

Everyone except me.

They'd all stood by and watched as I walked straight into the trap.

After a long while, Simon noticed how pale I was and asked worriedly, "Kyla, what's wrong? You didn't hear anything today, did you?"

He looked so nervous, but only because he was afraid I'd discovered the truth.

I logged out of the old account and said quietly, "I was just thinking about Zoe. I wonder how she's doing."

Simon visibly relaxed, and disgust immediately filled his eyes. "People like her get what's coming to them. This is exactly what she deserves!"

Mom and Dad joined in, cursing her just as they always had.

I said nothing.

My hand drifted unconsciously to my stomach.

It wasn't until Simon and I got together that I learned Zoe liked him too. I'd tried to explain things to her, but she'd convinced herself that I'd deliberately stolen the man she loved.

I got pregnant three times, and all three times, she found a way to make me miscarry.

Every time, Simon retaliated against her even more brutally. I'd thought he hated Zoe more than anyone.

After my third miscarriage, he'd even cried as he swore, "That witch Zoe Reed. I'll never let her off the hook for this. Not as long as I live."

I was still lost in thought when the car jolted violently.

Zoe clutched her stomach with a cry. "It hurts—"

I froze.

Suddenly, I remembered that Zoe had found out she was pregnant a week ago. At the time, I'd assumed the father was her boyfriend.

Now I held my breath and frantically searched through our messages.

When I found the photo of Zoe's positive pregnancy test, I went completely still. Beside it was a man's hand, his fingers long and distinct. It was Simon's.

Tears gradually blurred my vision. A tight pain seized my lower abdomen.

I drew a deep breath and opened my conversation with the head of OB-GYN.

"Dr. Lewis, I'll come in tomorrow for an abortion under anesthesia."

'Simon, if you don't care about having a child with the woman who killed ours, then I don't care about you anymore.'

They dropped me off at home. Zoe kept complaining that her stomach hurt, so Mom and Dad took her back to the hospital.

Before I'd even unlocked the door, an urgent call came through. "Kyla, are you still going to your best friend's engagement party with Simon today?"

"What?" I froze.

"You don't know? They're getting engaged today!"

I stared at the car disappearing in the distance, trembling with cold. "I'll be there."

I hung up, hailed a cab, and followed Simon's car.

The engagement party was being held at Bellmere's largest wedding venue.

I followed them inside, and the emotions I'd barely managed to suppress came rushing back the moment I stepped through the doors.

The wedding concept I'd painstakingly designed for myself had been copied down to the last detail for Zoe's engagement party. Even the wedding dress I'd personally designed and the photography team I'd spent six months working with had been given to her.

I stood frozen.

Cheers from friends and family rang around me.

"Wow! Zoe, Simon really spoils you. A wedding setup like this has to start at half a million!"

"That's nothing. Her parents put together a million-dollar dowry too. They've got money to burn!"

Zoe couldn't stop smiling. "What can I say? I told him I wanted something small and simple, but he refused to let me settle for less."

Simon responded just as tenderly, agreeing with her.

I stared coldly at them as they exchanged sweet words.

Then someone suddenly noticed me. "Kyla Reed?"

Simon whipped around. The moment he saw me, he froze.