Chapter 3

I put the pregnancy photo in my bag and drove to my parents' house.

My mom was in the kitchen preparing dinner. When she saw me walk in, she froze for a second, then quickly walked over.

"Chloe! Why are you running around right after being discharged? Do you not care about your health?"

I looked at her, suddenly wanting to laugh.

Yesterday, when I was lying outside the operating room waiting for someone to sign my papers, her phone was dead.

Now she suddenly cared about my health.

I didn't answer her. I just threw the photo onto the dining table.

"Mom, explain this."

Her face went completely pale.

My dad, who was reading the tablet on the couch, looked up. The moment his eyes hit the photo, his eyebrows knitted tightly.

The living room went dead silent.

My mom reached out to grab the photo, trying to hide it.

"Where did you find this?"

"That doesn't matter," I stared at her. "I asked you, what is this?"

Her lips trembled, but she couldn't find her words.

My dad spoke up with a cold, stern face. "You just had a miscarriage. Your emotions are unstable. Don't start imagining things over an old photo."

An old photo.

So it was true.

I looked at him, my voice tight. "When was this taken?"

No one answered.

I asked again, louder, "When was this taken?!"

This time, my mom whispered, "Three years ago."

My fingers shook, my nails digging deep into my palms.

Three years ago.

Which meant that back when I knew absolutely nothing, they were already standing together, taking a happy family portrait.

My throat felt tight. "You guys knew all along?"

My mom avoided my gaze.

But my dad didn't even bother to deny it anymore.

"Yes, we knew."

"Serena was pregnant back then, and it wasn't easy for her to handle it alone. Ethan was worried, and we couldn't just turn our backs on her."

It felt like a physical blow to my face. My ears were ringing.

"So you went to her prenatal checkups, took family photos with her, and played happy family?"

My mom lost her patience.

"Chloe, don't make it sound so ugly. You know what kind of person Serena is. She has always been sweet and helpful. She has taken care of us more than you have these past few years!"

"She is your best friend. What's wrong with us looking out for her a little?"

I let out a bitter laugh.

"My best friend?"

"She sounds more like your real daughter."

My mom’s face darkened. "Watch your attitude, Chloe!"

I looked at them, my chest aching.

"Then what about me? Who am I to you guys?"

At that, my mom’s eyes flickered with a hint of guilt.

But her next words completely froze my heart.

"Chloe, we did this for your own good."

"You and Ethan have been married for years. You got pregnant once before, but you couldn't keep it. The doctor said back then that it would be extremely difficult for you to conceive again."

I froze.

That first miscarriage was my deepest wound.

In our fifth year of marriage, I had gotten pregnant.

I was so happy I couldn't sleep all night. Ethan had held me close, promising he would take care of us forever.

But at three months, the heartbeat stopped.

"Ethan needs an heir," my mom whispered. "A man like him can't go without a child forever."

"Since Serena gave birth to a boy, and he's Ethan's blood, we couldn't just pretend he doesn't exist."

I stared at her, my vision blurring.

"So in your eyes, my miscarriage was just my own failure, but her giving birth is a triumph?"

"That's not what I meant," my mom frowned. "Why are you being so dramatic?"

My dad put his tablet down, his voice cold and commanding.

"Enough. You weren't supposed to find out about this anyway. Ethan was right—you've been emotionally unstable lately."

"Ethan is a great provider. Men make mistakes, but as long as he keeps coming home to you, you should learn to keep one eye shut."

I looked at him, my heart turning to ice.

"Coming home? To which home?"

Silence filled the room.

My mom softened her tone after a moment.

"Chloe, you are his legal wife. No one can take that away from you."

"No matter what Serena did, she only gave him a child."

"If you're smart, you'll drop this. Don't make a scene and make everyone look bad."

I stood there, looking at the two people who had raised me, feeling like they were complete strangers.

Serena was my best friend, but she was also their adopted darling.

All these years, she had the keys to my house, went shopping with my mom, took my dad to his doctor appointments, and spent every holiday with us.

I thought it was because she loved me.

Now I realized she was slowly pushing me out of my own life, inch by inch, until my own parents didn't even have a place for me anymore.

I bent down, snatched the photo back, and shoved it into my bag.

My mom instinctively reached out. "Where are you going?"

I looked up at her.

"To find Ethan."

My mom's face changed, and she quickly grabbed my arm.

"Don't do this, Chloe. Serena is still recovering with the baby—"

I shook her hand off violently.

"She has a baby, so I deserve to lose mine? Is that it?"

My mom froze.

I didn't look back as I walked out the door.

My dad’s booming voice echoed from behind me.

"Chloe Bennett! If you ruin this marriage today, you are the only one who will regret it!"

I didn't stop.

When I stepped outside, the afternoon sun was blindingly bright.

But I felt absolutely no warmth.

The place I thought would always protect me had never belonged to me in the first place.