Chapter 3

Hailey was already sitting right beside my husband, chatting animatedly. On the face of the man who rarely ever smiled, there was an unfamiliar softness.

When she saw me, Hailey didn't make the slightest move to budge.

"Mrs. Vance, Julian noticed how late it was and offered to give me a lift. You don't mind, do you?"

She smiled, flashing two delicate dimples.

It was an open provocation.

No matter how mild-tempered I was, I couldn't stomach this deliberate intrusion.

"Actually, I do," I said evenly. "Would you mind moving to the passenger seat, Miss Bennett? I'm pregnant. I’d prefer to sit in the back with the father of my child."

As I spoke, I looked directly at Julian, waiting for him to react—praying for some sign of warmth or surprise.

He didn't flinch. His expression remained a mask of ice.

My heart sank straight into an abyss.

"Hailey, take the front seat," Julian muttered after a few agonizing seconds of silence, his voice low and hoarse.

Knowing when to fold, Hailey slipped into the passenger seat without another word.

I closed my eyes, fighting back the wave of sorrow. The pure joy I had felt upon learning I was pregnant was completely gone, crushed beneath the weight of his indifference.

Julian didn't speak a single word to me during the entire drive home.

Once inside, he took off his jacket and went straight to the shower, just like any other day.

The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.

In my fragile, early stage of pregnancy, every second felt like torture.

The water shut off. Julian emerged with a towel slung loosely around his waist. Seeing me sitting on the edge of the bed, he walked over and pulled me into his arms, his tone cautious and placating.

"I truly only stepped in tonight because I happened to be there. Hailey and I will be working together closely on business matters moving forward. Don't overthink this."

His hand gently settled over my stomach, which didn't show yet.

"This is the most precious gift I've ever received," he whispered. "How far along? Is our little one giving you a hard time?"

His sudden tenderness caught me off guard.

Seeing that he truly cared about the baby, I let my defenses crumble. I smiled faintly and placed my hand over his.

"Two months. A very good baby. No morning sickness at all."

Back then, I was naive enough to believe he still loved me. Looking back now, that sudden show of affection was nothing more than guilt clawing at his conscience.