Chapter 3

The group immediately fell silent.

No one spoke again.

I stared at the dead quiet chat box, suddenly finding it laughable.

I put down my phone and, carrying my suitcase, prepared to go to the wedding house my rival had prepared for me early, when Brandon rushed in, looking disheveled.

He must have seen the prenatal report, but he didn't explain anything to me.

"Annie, say something in the group."

His tone was unusually soft.

"Just say that report isn't Audrey's, it's yours, and the name was just entered incorrectly."

"Audrey is still a young woman, how can she face people if this gets out?"

He crouched down and took my hand.

"I don't blame you for sending the report to the group, really. And we're getting married soon, you don't need to care about reputations…"

Before he could finish, I slapped him across the face.

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself not to cry: "Is the child yours?"

Brandon's face was turned away, he didn't move. After a moment, he turned back, bypassing the topic.

"Annie, I know your eyes aren't good, you can't see clearly. Give me your phone, I'll send it for you."

I refused, but he forcefully snatched it and began editing a message.

I turned my head, wiped away my tears. It didn't matter. Whether it was mine or not wasn't important.

Anyway, I wasn't going to marry him.

After he sent the message, he looked at the suitcase in my hand, then at my tear-reddened eyes. He hesitated for a moment, wanting to hug me.

"Annie, be good. I'll help you carry the travel bags down. Don't cry, your husband will love you well."

Just then, his phone rang. He stopped what he was doing and answered.

Audrey's broken sobs came through the phone, and Brandon, without a word, turned to leave.

I grabbed him: "Don't forget to check your email."

He paused, frowning as he looked at me, thinking I didn't want him to leave.

"Don't be difficult. You've really upset Audrey, I need to be with her."

He leaned in to kiss my forehead: "You prepared a surprise for me, I'll look at it when I get back, okay?"

I turned my head away, his lips met empty air. Brandon's brow furrowed deeper, but he didn't fuss about it.

"Wait for me to come back. I'll pick you up tomorrow."

The door closed.

The room fell silent again.

Less than a minute later, I received a message from Brandon.

"I won't be picking you up tomorrow. Audrey is very distressed, I need to take her to a therapist."

"The destination wedding is postponed until I inform you."

I sighed, carried my suitcase downstairs myself, and just finished dropping off my luggage.

As I was about to call a taxi to my new wedding house, Brandon's call came in.

"Annie! You've really gone too far. You know Audrey just had eye surgery, why would you have someone lock her in the sauna!"