Mark let out a cold laugh.
“Chloe is the gentlest person alive. Why would she ever hurt herself?”
Chloe leaned against his chest, crying and pleading on my behalf at the same time：“Mark, don't scold Constance. Maybe she really didn't mean it. I don't blame her.”
But her eyes never left mine, sharp with provocation, and the faintest smirk played at the corner of her mouth.
My mother heard the commotion and came upstairs. One look at Chloe and she didn't even ask what happened. She just pointed at me and started screaming.
“I can't believe I gave birth to an animal!”
“Get out, Constance!”
“From now on, don't you dare set foot in this house again! You are no daughter of mine!”
Mark looked at me, his tone ice-cold, more command than speech：“Apologize to Chloe, Constance. Then get the hell out.”
So that was it. Everyone wanted me gone.
Fine. I didn't want to stay in this house anyway.
I walked aimlessly through the freezing wind in nothing but a thin jacket, shivering so hard my teeth rattled.
After a long time, Mark's car pulled up beside me.
The window slid down. His voice was casual, as if nothing had happened.
“Get in. It's freezing out here. Are you trying to kill yourself?”
I didn't move. I just stared at him：“It's over between us, Mark. Stop following me.”
He scoffed, his voice dripping with contempt.
“Over? It's over when I say it's over.”
“Where do you think you'll go? You have no money, no place to live, no family backing you up. You can't survive out there.”
He pushed the door open and dragged me into the car.
Then his voice softened, slipping back into that familiar tenderness as his hand stroked my hair：“Baby, don't throw a tantrum, okay?”
“I know you feel wronged. But there's nothing I can do.”
“Chloe's raising a child on her own. It's not easy. I have to help her.”
“Once I've sorted everything out, I'll come back to you. I won't leave again. Okay?”
I shoved his hand away. “Could you stop making me sick?”
The softness dropped from his face in an instant. “Constance, I'm being nice. Don't make me stop.”
“Be good. Stop making me angry. And don't try fighting me again.”
“Because trust me, I have plenty of ways to make you regret it.”
The car pulled up at an apartment I'd never seen before.
Chloe's presence was everywhere inside. Her skincare, her clothes, even framed photos of her and the baby.
“This is where Chloe and I have been staying. You'll live here from now on. Take care of her and the baby, and stop causing problems.”
His tone was flat and final. “Consider it your chance to make up for what you did to Chloe.”
“Remember what you are. You're the mistress. Don't ask what isn't your business, don't meddle in what isn't your concern. Do as you're told, and maybe I'll still have some patience left for you.”
The words had barely left his mouth when Chloe walked in, the baby in her arms.
She saw me and her lips curved into a taunting smile：“Constance, you're here? How nice. We'll be living together from now on.”
“Mark says you'll be handling all the housework. My health isn't great, and I have the baby to look after, so I'll be counting on you.”
She held the baby out toward me：“Here, Constance, hold the baby for me. I need to rest for a bit.”
“After all, someone just threw soup all over me. I should probably go take a shower.”
Before I could reach out, she let go. The baby dropped straight toward the floor.
