Chapter 2

Ethan froze, seemingly recalling something.

He pursed his lips, remained silent for a moment, and handed me a velvet box.

"Happy birthday. I spent a long time picking this out. This blue diamond bracelet suits you best."

I opened the box. Inside lay a blue diamond bracelet.

A bitter taste filled my mouth.

If he had paid any attention, he would have known I already had two identical ones in my jewelry box.

"Spared no effort," yet he had gifted me the exact same thing three years in a row.

I suddenly wanted to ask him if he thought I was too stupid to see through such lazy effort.

But the system's warning flared in my head:

[Warning: Behavior deviating from the Perfect Partner settings.]

So, I forced a look of pleasant surprise and slipped the bracelet onto my wrist.

"It's beautiful. Thank you for remembering my birthday."

Ethan paused, his expression complex.

After a long silence, he finally spoke. "Hailey is pregnant."

Seeing no reaction from me, he irritably tugged at his tie.

"I’ve decided we're keeping the baby."

"Congratulations."

We spoke at the same time.

I genuinely meant it, but he stared at me, wide-eyed.

"Good, very good, Chloe. You’re getting more and more sensible."

He paced the living room in anger, then said in a patronizing tone:

"Since Hailey is pregnant, my mother is hosting a family dinner. You're coming with me."

Ethan rarely took me to the Vance estate because his family looked down on me.

They felt a penniless orphan like me was unworthy of marrying a Vance.

If Ethan hadn't threatened to ruin his own life to marry me back then, they would have never agreed.

Though Hailey was from an ordinary background, she was still better off than an orphan.

If it were before, I would have flatly refused.

But looking at the rising "Perfection Score" on my system panel, I answered softly:

"It's wonderful news that Hailey is pregnant. What gift should I prepare?"

Ethan's brow furrowed deeper, and he sneered, "Do whatever you want!"

With that, he slammed the study door behind him.

On the day of the dinner, Ethan texted saying he had to pick up Hailey.

I had to take an Uber to the Vance estate alone.

When I arrived, Ethan was helping Hailey sit next to his mother, Eleanor.

Eleanor was holding Hailey's hand warmly, slipping a vintage emerald bracelet onto her wrist.

"This bracelet is passed down to the Vance family’s daughter-in-law. It fits you perfectly."

Seeing me, Eleanor’s face hardened instantly. She scoffed:

"Usually, we can't even get you to visit. Today you show up uninvited?"

Hailey toyed with the emerald bracelet, giving me a smug, mocking look.

Ethan also looked at me, a playful glint in his eyes, as if expecting a scene.

I set down the carefully prepared gift and gave a warm, gentle smile.

"I came to congratulate Hailey."

"Eleanor has been hoping for a grandchild for a long time. It's a shame I wasn't blessed enough to keep my baby."

"Now that Hailey is pregnant, I wanted to share the joy."

The moment I finished, Ethan’s face darkened completely. Eleanor and Hailey stared at each other in shock.

Everyone had expected me to make a scene and get kicked out in disgrace.

After all, no wife would be happy about her husband's mistress having his baby.

But seeing my Perfection Score skyrocket in the system, my smile grew even warmer.

Ethan let out a cold snort, his voice laced with venom. "You sure are generous..."

I took it as a compliment.

A perfect spouse must always align with her husband’s wishes.

I touched the draft divorce agreement in my bag, feeling a sense of relief.

Once I gave up the title of Mrs. Vance to Hailey, Ethan would surely be even more satisfied.