###Chapter 5
“Zachary, anyone who makes a mistake must bear the consequences. Even if it’s the son of a king, it’s the same.” I raised my hand to stop him.
After sending him back to his seat, I plugged in the USB drive. I wanted to see just how Oliver planned to make me apologize to his precious darling.
As the video played, the gloom on my face slowly curved into a smile.
The day slipped by. On my way home from work, my phone buzzed with another trending alert.
#Mr. Garrison’s Proposal Successful? Model Girlfriend a Perfect Match!
#President Garrison’s Pregnant Wife-to-Be
So, Vespera was already pregnant?
My breath faltered and after a brief pause, I clicked on one of the trending links.
The screen opened to a billion-dollar villa by the bay, lit up for a private proposal party. By the pool stood a tall, broad-shouldered man, an old scar running from beneath his vest down to his waist, giving him a sharp, masculine edge.
The petite girl nestled against his chest, deliberately flaunting the ring on her finger as it sparkled on his shoulder, a ten-carat diamond shining with blinding brilliance. I closed the phone at once.
For the next two days, Oliver never returned home.
When our tenth wedding anniversary finally arrived, I came back from work to find a luxurious evening gown lying neatly on the bed. Only then did I notice Oliver’s message on my phone. [Wear this to the banquet. My mom had it custom-made for you.]
I hadn’t prepared an outfit anyway, so I slipped into the gown, applied some makeup and hurried to the family estate.
“Our Leah is truly beautiful. In the blink of an eye, you and Oliver have already been married ten years!”
Kayla’s eyes shone with affection for me, but no matter how warm her gaze was, it could never compare to the bond of blood she shared with her son.
The family had long known about Vespera, yet every one of them chose to turn a blind eye.
As long as they could keep it from me, one more day hidden was one more day gained.
“Thank you, Mrs. Garrison, for taking care of me all these years.” I smiled.
“Why suddenly call me Mrs. Garrison, so distant?” She didn’t hear the farewell in my words and asked someone to call Oliver into the living room.
He entered and saw me adorned with jewels. It was the version of me he hadn’t seen in a long time, the Leah who had set aside the uniform and returned to being one of the Four Young Ladies of the Capital.
He froze for a moment, then seemed to sense something different. Though I smiled, the smile never reached my eyes.
Kayla pretended to scold him. “You must treat Leah well, or your father and I won’t forgive you.”
Oliver glanced at me impatiently. “I know, Mom, I will.”
Inside, I watched them finish their act with complete indifference. “All right, your father isn’t feeling well. I’ll go upstairs to take care of him. You two enjoy yourselves.”
Perhaps thinking I had complained, Oliver grabbed my arm the moment his mother left and dragged me in front of Vespera. Through clenched teeth, he hissed, “Leah, I had originally intended to let you go. But since that’s how it is, today you must apologize to Vespera!”
I straightened my back and met his eyes with cold defiance. “And if I don’t? Will you make my head bleed again, just for her?”
