Chapter 3

The next morning, Declan showed up at our door carrying expensive supplements.

When he saw the moving boxes in the living room, his brow furrowed.

"Eleanor, are you moving?"

I answered before my mother could.

"No, just clearing out some old junk."

Declan glanced at me, then walked straight to the fridge like he owned the place and stored the supplements inside.

"Eleanor, Ivy asked me to bring these tonics for you. She's been dealing with morning sickness and couldn't come."

The words hit me like a physical blow.

I knew Declan had been cheating for years, but my heart still twisted painfully in my chest.

Just last month, I'd casually mentioned wanting to see the Northern Lights in Norway, and he'd cancelled a ten-million-dollar deal without hesitation.

Last week when someone at work gave me a hard time, he had bought into the company just to threaten the executives.

Declan's love was apparently infinite enough for two women.

After tucking me into bed each night, he still had energy left over to go see Ivy.

My mother shot me a quick glance before responding.

"Tell Ivy to rest and not worry about me."

Declan nodded, then pulled out a thick stack of files from his briefcase.

"By the way, Eleanor, these are profiles of quality single men from my company."

"Take a look and see if any of them might be good for Olivia. "

My eyes landed on the first profile.

Trent Lawson.

Nausea surged through me and I bolted for the bathroom.

My mother rushed after me, panicked, patting my back.

"Is your stomach acting up again? You've been throwing up for days now."

Declan's gaze burned into me, his eyes narrowing slightly.

While my mother went to get stomach medicine, he walked over and grabbed my wrist hard.

"You're pregnant."

I jerked my hand away in disgust.

"No, I'm not."

But he stared at my stomach with cold certainty.

"You haven't had your period in two months."

My heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

I screamed at him and shoved him hard.

"That's none of your business! You're Ivy's husband now. She's the one you should be worried about!"

Before Ivy showed up, Declan used to follow me around everywhere.

He knew I loved spicy food but hated sweets, knew I never wanted cream on bagels.

He even tracked my irregular periods better than I did.

Every time I got cramps so bad I couldn't get out of bed, Declan would skip hanging out with his friends after school.

Instead, he'd go home and take care of me.

His mother used to tease me about it, saying she'd never seen Declan care so much about any other girl.

She'd even jokingly asked my mother if we should arrange an engagement.

But then my mother adopted Ivy from the orphanage.

She was so tiny and fragile that a strong wind could knock her over.

During morning track practice one day, Ivy collapsed and fell into me.

We both got hurt, but Declan didn't hesitate for a second before picking her up and running to the nurse's office.

After that, I stopped being the one Declan protected.

I cried about it. I even told him we weren't friends anymore.

He just patted my head and said Ivy was an orphan and needed more help.

Strong people should take care of weak people.

So Declan forced me to take care of Ivy too.

When my mother sent new clothes to school, Declan made Ivy pick first.

When my mother packed identical lunches for both of us, Declan would take all the meat from mine and give it to Ivy.

He could protect Ivy all he wanted, but why did he have to use me as a stepping stone for their love?

Footsteps approached and I frantically wiped away my tears.

For just a split second, I thought I saw something like pain flash in Declan's eyes.

But it vanished instantly.

Right before my mother walked back in, he leaned close to my ear.

"Get an abortion."

"Ivy has always been sensitive. If she knows about this, she'll think there's still something between us."

I'd said those exact same words to him once.

When we were camping and setting up tents, I'd told Declan I felt insecure and wanted to sleep near him.

He'd refused, saying he needed to stay with Ivy.

After my miscarriage, I'd begged him to stay with me at the hospital.

He said it was Ivy's birthday and she'd be hurt if he missed it.

When I got jealous and demanded to know what his relationship with Ivy really was, he'd looked at me like I was insane.

"Olivia, you're being ridiculous. I only see Ivy as a sister."

I wasn't being ridiculous. He was just covering his cheating tracks.

He has no right to demand that I abort my child.

I laughed coldly and pushed him away.

"This is my business. It has nothing to do with you."