At Ethan Brooks’s family dinner, his half-sister suddenly stood up with a toast.
“I’m pregnant. It’s my brother’s child. Thank you, Lily, for being so generous, giving me, someone who never believed in marriage, the chance to be a mother.”
Robert Brooks and Margaret Brooks both lit up with joy.
Before they could speak, I shot to my feet and splashed a glass of wine over Chloe Miller’s head.
“Say that again?”
Seeing my expression, Ethan hurriedly tried to smooth things over and pull me back.
“Lily, don’t be mad. Chloe’s just fooling around, joking.”
“Right, Chloe? Aren’t you going to apologize to your sister-in-law?”
Chloe’s eyes brimmed with tears, her body trembling.
“Yes, I was just joking. Don’t be mad, Lily…”
But I could see clearly—she wasn’t joking.
Robert and Margaret hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from me, and quickly tried to explain.
“Don’t be upset, Lily. Chloe’s been spoiled since she was little. It’s all my fault. Back when we’d bring her home, I’d always tease her that she was Ethan’s child bride. She heard it so often she started taking it as a joke.”
Robert lit a cigarette, glanced at Chloe, then quickly stubbed it out and forced a smile.
“Yeah, when they were kids, they even shared a bed, grew up like that. They’ve been making these jokes for over ten years. Ethan got married suddenly, so Chloe hasn’t adjusted yet.”
“She just likes livening up the dinner table. Don’t take it to heart!”
Ethan didn’t take it seriously, chuckling lightly.
“When we were kids, Chloe used to play house and insisted I be the groom. She even called my parents ‘Mom and Dad.’ I told her back then to knock it off, but she never listened. Now look—Lily’s misunderstanding you because of it.”
“Chloe, no more of these jokes. Talking about not believing in marriage—what do you know about that at your age?”
He rested his hand casually on the table, but still slid a tissue toward Chloe.
“I know I was wrong, Lily. I’ll never say it again. It’s just hard for me to adjust to my brother being married. I promise it won’t happen again.”
My nails dug deep into my palm as my gaze dropped.
Through the gap of her purse, I saw the edge of a document stamped with the hospital’s red seal.
She was definitely not joking.
“Is that so? Well, I also have a surprise for everyone.”
“I’m pregnant too.”
I smiled faintly, but the smile never reached my eyes.
Ethan froze, disbelief written all over his face.
“What? That’s impossible.”
“When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I blinked innocently.
“Why should I tell you? The child isn’t yours.”
“I met a kind man. He knew I’d been married two years without a child, so he helped me out. Young men are strong—one try and it worked.”
“Ethan, next time come with me to thank him. We can’t let his effort go to waste.”
Ethan snapped, furious, standing up and splashing wine across my face.
“Lily Carter, do you even know what you’re saying?”
“You’re telling me you cheated on me?”
Robert and Margaret looked on anxiously, waiting for my answer.
Wine dripped down my hair, seeping into my collar, but my laugh only grew sharper.
“What? Chloe can joke to liven up the dinner, but I can’t?”
“She got help from someone she calls family, I got help from a stranger. Isn’t that even more deserving of gratitude?”
Ethan gripped my wrist hard.
“You’re sure this is a joke? Let’s go to the hospital right now and find out.”
He pulled me toward the door in a rush, but I stopped cold, my face like ice.
See? When the fire touches him, suddenly it’s no laughing matter.
Turns out, even he can’t tolerate betrayal.
