Chapter 3

A month later, the private investigator photographed Vanessa going to the hospital in a face mask.

When she sent me the video, she seemed hesitant to speak.

"Ms. Sanchez, that woman really does seem to be pregnant."

"She threw a two-line pregnancy test into the trash, and I went and confirmed it."

"And the prenatal report does show she's two months along."

My whole body went rigid.

At that same moment, my phone rang.

Les's messages popped up one after another.

"Cynthia, I've got good news for you."

"Your embryo transfer was a success."

I remembered years ago, how Les had once sworn up and down.

"Cynthia Sanchez is my wife, and the only love of my life."

"Back then I was flat broke. She gave up her government job and borrowed 15 million dollars to help me build everything from scratch. That's how I got to where I am today."

"I will never let her down as long as I live."

But in just seven years, he'd forgotten the promise he'd made with his own mouth.

He was even lying to me with a completely clear conscience.

Seeing that I still hadn't replied, another message from Les popped up.

"Cynthia, why aren't you answering me? Have you gone dumb with happiness?"

He was pushing so hard that I typed out a few words: We'll talk when you get home.

I sat on the sofa waiting until evening.

Les came home. "Here, easy now."

Vanessa trailed in behind him, and he was carefully supporting her.

He had her change into my slippers and sit in my seat.

"What is this supposed to mean?"

I looked at Les.

He sighed and explained to me with a frown.

"Vanessa nearly took a fall. She lives alone in an apartment, and it won't do to have no one looking after her."

"Since the embryo transfer has already succeeded and she's carrying our baby, from now on she'll live here in this house with us."

I was about to speak, but Les didn't give me a chance to refuse.

He simply walked Vanessa off to her room.

From the day Vanessa moved in, she started showing her true colors.

When Les was around, she always looked cautious and meek, on edge.

When Les wasn't home, she'd come right up to me, brazen, and provoke me.

"Cynthia, do you really think you're such a success as Mrs. Stephens?"

"The child in your belly is mine, plain and simple."

"Frozen embryo transfer? Your husband never took me anywhere for that. That embryo of yours is still sitting in cold storage."

"Cynthia, you'll never be a mother in this life."

"Someone with a congenital heart condition like you should just stand by and watch other people be happy, and help me and Les raise our child."

"If you're smart, my advice is to hurry up, get divorced, and clear out."

I watched her, expressionless, and spat out a grape skin.

"Vanessa, you've got quite the ambition."

Les said she'd taken the money and left, that she was just a poor student he was sponsoring.

I gave a cold laugh.

"So you were never satisfied with just a sum of money. You've been eyeing the position of Mrs. Stephens all along."

Vanessa dropped the act.

"I can tell the difference between a one-time sum of money and money I could never spend in a lifetime."

"You've seen it yourself, how much Les cares about this baby in my belly. So the one who ends up cleared out will definitely be you."

If I still had my old temper, I would have grabbed Vanessa by the hair right then.

Landed a few hard kicks and made her miscarry on the spot.

But now I felt nothing.

After all, Les is already filthy, and I don't want him anymore.

Why dirty my own hands too?

"Vanessa, do you have the guts to say any of this in front of Les?"

I stood up. "You don't dare. So as long as I'm still here, you will never be Mrs. Stephens."

Vanessa could only glare at me, then turn on her heel in a fury and slam the door on her way out.

Les still didn't stint on performing his deep devotion to me in front of Vanessa.

That day, I'd just finished a shower and was drying my hair.

Les took the hair dryer from me and started drying it for me, the gesture perfectly natural.

"Cynthia, the doctor contacted me today. He said Vanessa's baby is completely fine. You're finally going to be a mother."

"Are you happy?"

"Happy."

He turned his head to look at me, then suddenly leaned in close.

"Why do you seem so distracted today? Is your heart bothering you again? I'll get your medicine."

He set down the hair dryer, got up and went to the living room, and came back with water and the pills.

I took the medicine and put it in my mouth.

He watched me swallow before he was reassured.

"Cynthia, you need to get your health back. We still have most of our lives ahead of us."

"Once we have the child, we'll have to study up on childcare even more, so we can raise the baby healthy."

Looking into Les's sincere, worried eyes, I quietly interrupted him.

"If I died one day, would you remarry?"

Les froze on the spot, then frowned.

"Don't say such unlucky things."

"You won't die. I won't allow it."

"And with me here to take care of you, you'll live to be a hundred for sure."

I only smiled, indifferent.

It's true I won't die anytime soon.

But I will leave.