Chapter 4

"Serena, what's wrong?"

Julian immediately pulled Serena into his arms, his eyes filled with intense concern.

Serena shook her head, putting on a brave, suffering face.

"It's nothing... it's my fault. Don't blame Chloe."

The more she played the victim, the more Julian was convinced I had bullied her.

"Chloe!"

He barked at me, his face turning incredibly cold. "Apologize to her right now!"

He spoke to me like a master commanding a servant.

A cold smile touched my lips.

He frowned, looking at me with frustration.

"Serena grew up with me. She's like a sister to me!"

"She is my family. Can you stop being so incredibly hostile to her every single time?"

"Even if it's just for my sake, can you try to be nice to her?"

I remained silent. I had seen this exact show countless times three years ago.

I was completely sick of it.

Just as I was about to kick them out of my shop, my phone on the counter began to ring with a FaceTime call.

The caller ID read: *My Baby Boy*.

Julian's eyes lit up the second he saw the screen.

Before I could stop him, his hand shot out and swiped the green button to accept the call.

I quickly snatched the phone back. My two-year-old son's adorable, chubby face appeared on the screen.

"Mommy, I miss you!"

Hearing that sweet little "Mommy," Julian practically vibrated with excitement.

He was absolutely certain that I had given birth to his son.

I quickly mumbled a few words to my son and hung up just as Julian lunged to grab the phone to talk to him.

"Let me see my son!"

He was grinning from ear to ear, his anger from a moment ago vanishing as if it had never existed.

Beside him, Serena's face turned incredibly dark.

"He is not your son," I said, my voice ice-cold.

"Don't ever come near me again, you pathetic psychopaths."

He didn't even get mad, still trying to play the understanding partner.

"Alright, stop fighting. I know you're mad."

"But I really miss you and our boy."

At that moment, I realized that a self-absorbed narc like him would never believe I had moved on until he saw my husband with his own eyes.

Suddenly, Julian spoke up again.

"My mom's birthday is in a few days."

"You're a great cook. Prepare a few of her favorite dishes."

"Use this opportunity to fix your relationship with her."

"Now that you've given her a grandson, she won't be hard on you anymore."

Ah. So he did know. He knew that during our three years of marriage, his mother had treated me like dirt.

Victoria had always looked down on my middle-class background.

Even though I was Julian's legal wife, Victoria never allowed me to attend any family dinners.

If she was present at an event, I wasn't even allowed to sit at the same table as her.

And during all of his mother's psychological abuse, Julian had always remained completely silent.

A mocking sneer played on my lips. "Julian, tell me. Why didn't I even have the right to have dinner with your mother back then?"

He hesitated for a second before mumbling, "Well... that's just because you didn't know how to please her."

Serena chimed in helpfully, "Chloe, begging your elders isn't embarrassing. Mrs. Gray actually loves it when people crawl back and beg on their knees."

She was openly mocking me.

I let out a dry laugh, locking my eyes onto Julian's.

"Julian, it's been three years. The world has moved on."

"I am married. And the child is not yours."

Then, I turned to Serena.

"Maybe you should try begging on your knees more often. Who knows? Maybe Victoria will finally let you through the front door."