Chapter 3

Chloe's POV

The Sterling Countryside Estate, London.

The autumn wind was freezing, making the dry leaves rustle in the dark garden.

I sat by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, staring at the night. Sebastian had forced me back here to wait for labor. Meanwhile, he, Vanessa, and my son Ethan lived in a luxury penthouse in downtown London.

This place was nothing but a gilded cage, keeping me, the forgotten Mrs. Sterling, locked away.

The next afternoon, the roar of a car engine echoed outside.

Sebastian's Maybach pulled into the courtyard. The door opened, and Vanessa stepped out, holding Ethan's hand. Sebastian followed closely behind.

Seeing that tiny figure, my eyes immediately welled with tears. I hadn't seen Ethan in three months.

Supporting my lower back, I hurried out into the garden.

"Ethan," my voice trembled. I pulled a small, hand-painted wooden transformer toy from my pocket, one I had spent days building for him. "Look, what is this?"

Ethan stopped. He looked at me, then looked back at Vanessa.

Vanessa smiled gently. "Ethan, go say hi to Miss Vance."

Miss Vance.

The name felt like a dagger piercing my chest.

Ethan walked up to me, but he didn't take the toy. Instead, he shoved me with all his might.

Being heavily pregnant, my center of gravity was already off. The sudden push sent me stumbling back, and I fell hard onto the grass.

"Bad woman!" Ethan pointed at me, screaming. "Mommy said you want to steal me away! You're a bad woman! I don't want your stupid toy!"

The wooden toy fell to the ground, snapping in half.

I clutched my stomach, my face turning pale. I looked at the son I had carried for ten months. Seeing the raw hatred and fear in his eyes tore my heart into bloody pieces.

"Ethan!" Sebastian strode over, pulling Ethan behind his back. He glared down at me, his brow furrowed. "What are you doing?"

I couldn't speak. I just stared blankly at the broken toy on the ground.

Vanessa rushed over, hugging Ethan tightly, looking utterly heartbroken. "Ethan, don't be scared. Mommy's here. Chloe, if you have a problem, take it out on me! Don't scare the child!"

As she spoke, she suddenly slipped, falling toward a nearby rosebush.

"Ah!" Vanessa screamed.

Sebastian reacted instantly, catching her by the waist and pulling her into his arms. But a stray rose thorn still managed to scratch her arm, drawing a bead of blood.

"Vanessa!" Sebastian's face turned pale, his eyes instantly turning icy.

He turned his head and glared at me, having just scrambled up from the grass. His eyes were filled with pure disgust and rage.

"Chloe, haven't you had enough?" Sebastian's voice was freezing. "Not only did you scare Ethan, but you also pushed Vanessa? What the hell is wrong with you?"

I stood in the biting wind, shivering.

"I didn't push her," my voice was quiet but firm.

"I saw it with my own eyes. You still dare to lie?" Sebastian wouldn't listen to a single word of my explanation.

He pointed to the open lawn and said coldly, "Since you love being outside so much, stand right there. You can come back inside when you realize what you did wrong."

The autumn wind whipped against my face like knives.

Dressed in a thin maternity dress, I stood alone in the empty garden.

"Sebastian, forget it. Chloe is still pregnant..." Vanessa murmured hypocritically, leaning against his chest.

"She brought this on herself," Sebastian said without an ounce of pity. "If I don't teach her a lesson, she will never learn."

With that, he picked up Vanessa, took Ethan's hand, and walked back into the villa.

The heavy front door slammed shut, locking all the warmth inside.

I was left alone in the dark. The wind grew stronger, cutting through my thin clothes. I wrapped my arms around my swollen belly, my body shaking uncontrollably.

I stood straight. I didn't cry, and I didn't beg. I was like a soulless statue.

I knew Sebastian was watching me from the window.

I also knew he wanted to see me break. He wanted me to cry and beg him like I used to. But I didn't.