Lahat ng Kabanata ng He Shielded His Pregnant Secretary at Our Wedding, So I Took Back My Billion-Dollar Dowry: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

"Vivian, don't make a scene. She's carrying the first grandchild of the Locke family."Adrian planted himself in front of me, his crisp suit unwrinkled, the groom's boutonniere still pinned to his lapel.Behind him stood Chloe in a white dress, one hand braced under her swollen belly, tears falling right on cue.The officiant stood there holding the mic, frozen.The guests' whispering rose like a pot coming to a boil.I looked at Adrian.Three years ago, he'd stood in the rain outside my house all night, swearing he'd never marry anyone but me.Fast forward to today, our wedding day, and he'd brought his seven-months-pregnant secretary to stand in front of me at our wedding.And he dared to tell me not to make a scene."Making a scene how?"I handed my bouquet to my maid of honor and asked him, smiling coldly.Adrian's frown deepened."The attitude you're giving right now, it's a bad look.""Chloe isn't here to take your spot. She just wants the baby to have an identity."Chloe lowered

When those words landed, the hall went so quiet you could hear champagne dripping.Adrian looked at me like he was meeting me for the first time."That's not possible."He shook his head."Vivian, drop the act.""You think I don't know what your family's worth?""Your dad runs a run-down equipment factory. Your mom used to work behind a department-store counter."I nodded."That's right.""So you figured I ought to be clinging to you Lockes to get by."Mrs. Locke cut in sharply."You're lying!""There's no way Meridian is yours.""If you really had that kind of power, why would you marry Adrian at all?"Good question.I'd asked myself the same thing once.Why, knowing full well how arrogant Adrian was, knowing full well the Lockes treated marriage like a business deal, I'd stepped in anyway.Probably because I was so stupid.Stupid enough to mistake a little warmth from my teenage years for a whole life.Years ago, when I was kidnapped, Adrian supposedly took a knife for me.Later I le

When Mara walked up onto the stage, Adrian instinctively took half a step back.I knew her.More accurately, I'd only seen her in files.Adrian's former secretary.She'd resigned abruptly two years ago and vanished afterward without a trace.Adrian had told me she took money from a rival firm and leaked the Lockes' floor prices.Back then I believed him.Looking at it now, I'd believed in him too much.Mara stopped in front of Chloe and looked down at her."Ms. Sutton, how does it feel to climb up by stepping on me?"Chloe's lips trembled."I don't know what you're talking about."Mara let out a laugh.She took a flash drive from her bag and handed it to Attorney Reed."This has the proof that Adrian had me cook the books.""And the surveillance footage of Chloe planting the project files on my computer back then."Adrian's face went iron-gray."Mara, think it through before you talk."Mara turned to look at him."I've thought it through.""I've been clear since the day my father died.

When the police took Adrian away, he was still shouting my name.Anger at first.Then pleading.Finally it turned into a hoarse confession."Vivian, I was wrong.""I was really wrong.""For the sake of all our years, give me one more chance."I stood on the stage and didn't turn around.Chloe was taken away too.At the door she suddenly broke free of the officers and threw herself at my feet."Ms. Ross, I'm begging you—please spare me.""The baby's innocent."I looked down at her."The baby's innocent.""So when you were using him as a bargaining chip, why didn't that occur to you?"She cried until her makeup ran off."I just wanted a good life.""I didn't mean to hurt you.""Whether you hurt me, the court will decide."I took a step back."Don't get anything on my gown."The pleading on Chloe's face flipped in an instant to spite.She gritted her teeth."Vivian, you're just lucky.""Born with money, with Julian to shield you.""What do I have?""If I don't grab, I'll never claw my way

I didn't turn around.Before the door closed, I left Adrian just one line."You being filthy doesn't mean everyone else is like you."Julian was waiting at the end of the corridor.He'd probably heard.Because the way he looked at me was heavier than usual."He wasn't wrong."He spoke."I have liked you for a long time. He's right about that.""Since I was fifteen?""Earlier."I paused.Julian dropped his gaze."I was twelve. At a charity bake sale, you gave me the last slice of cake.""My blood sugar had crashed that day. I nearly passed out.""You don't remember."I really didn't.Twelve was too far back.I only remembered the crowd, how sweet the cake was, and that I never got a slice in the end.Julian said, "Later, the kidnapping. I found out Adrian had claimed the rescue.""And found out you believed in him.""I tried to tell you.""You never read my email."It came back to me.That year, fresh out of the hospital, my inbox was buried under sympathy notes and interview requests.