Chapter 3

I stared at the crimson liquid, my hands and feet freezing cold.

I had a congenital heart condition. Although it had stabilized after treatment, the doctor had strictly warned me against alcohol.

Only Eduardo knew about this.

Years ago, to celebrate the success of his first project, I took a drink for him and ended up having an attack, rushed to the ER.

Eduardo waited outside, so terrified he almost knelt down.

Since then, he had never let me touch a drop of alcohol.

But now, he was handing me a drink himself.

I looked at him, searching for even a hint of hesitation on his face.

Nothing. Only impatience.

As if my refusal would be an insult.

I slowly raised my hand and took the wine glass.

Eduardo sighed in relief, put his arm around Susan’s shoulders, and said dotingly, “See? I told you Ellis is the most understanding.”

But Susan wasn’t satisfied. She gave him a playful shove, pouting.

“What’s the point of just drinking? That’s not sincere enough.”

She looked at me, her smile innocent yet malicious.

“Miss Ellis, weren’t you the lead scientist for Eduardo’s company? I heard that cardiac repair technology, you were the one who spearheaded it?”

“Why don’t you kneel down and wish Ronald a long life? Then I’ll believe you’re truly here to celebrate.”

“After all, to have snagged such an amazing guy like Eduardo, you must be quite skilled at groveling, wouldn’t you say?”

The entire room fell silent. Then, stifled laughter broke out.

My fingers, gripping the wine glass, turned white from the force, and a sharp pain spread from my chest.

“Eduardo!” I almost bit out his name.

He finally frowned, seeming to think Susan’s words were a bit much.

“Susan, stop messing around.”

Susan immediately teared up, looking wronged. “Me, messing around? Eduardo, get this straight, she’s the shameless other woman!”

“The moment she showed up, she stole all the attention from Ronald’s first birthday party! Everyone was pointing at me. What’s wrong with asking her to kneel for a second?”

As she spoke, she actually started to cry, tears streaming down her face.

“I knew it, you still have feelings for her! You never intended to give Ronald and me a complete family!”

“What am I to you? Just a free surrogate? Used and then discarded?”

Eduardo instantly panicked, clumsily wiping away her tears.

“What nonsense are you talking about? You and Ronald are the only ones in my heart.”

He turned to me, his face grim.

“Ellis, apologize, then kneel.”

“Susan’s still delicate; she can’t handle stress. If you upset her, what if it causes lasting damage to her health?”

“Aren’t you a doctor? Don’t you understand something so basic?”

It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me; I was chilled to the bone.

Turns out, he hadn’t forgotten that I couldn’t drink; he simply didn’t care anymore.

I futilely opened my mouth, but not a single word came out.

The disappointment in his eyes grew deeper.

“Ellis, you’re the one making this so ugly.”

“I’m giving you one last chance.” He paused, his voice like ice.

“Kneel, or get out and never show your face to me again.”