Clayton looked at my back and lightly shook his head.
He only assumed I was unusually angry this time.
As he followed, he was already thinking about what presents to buy later.
After all, I had loved him deeply; if he comforted me a little, I would give in again.
At the mall, the mood between us at first could still be called peaceful.
Clayton pushed the shopping cart, lowered his head, and carefully checked the fabric of the baby clothes on the shelves. His fingers touched each piece as he asked whether this material might irritate the skin or whether that color was too dark.
He selected everything with great care, not even glancing at the price tags. Toys, feeding bottles, tiny socks, he placed them into the cart one by one, choosing only the best.
Along the way, he barely noticed Verity, fully showing an attitude of trying to make things up to me.
This was a picture I had once dreamed of many times, yet now it felt like ginger mixed into a meatball, hard to swallow.
Yet I still could not help believing that even if Clayton had wronged me and neglected this marriage, he at least sincerely expected this child and would be a responsible father.
After all, in these ten years, I had also seen that Clayton was very capable of caring for others.
Just then, the familiar and embarrassing need to use the restroom during pregnancy came again.
I told Clayton I was heading to the restroom and asked him to go to the jewelry shop to pick up the custom safety lock prepared for the baby.
Clayton agreed with a smile.
But when I left the restroom and walked toward the gold shop, I saw a scene that hurt my eyes.
Standing before the gold shop counter, just below Verity’s collarbone, hung a familiar item.
It was the safety lock I had personally selected the design for, adjusted the size for, and waited half a month to have crafted for the baby.
Blood rushed to my head, and my stomach rolled violently.
I nearly ran forward to snatch the safety lock back.
Before I could reach the lock, someone grabbed my wrist hard. I lost my balance and stumbled back a step.
Clayton stood in front of me, his brows drawn tight. “Wife, what are you doing?”
I stared at him, my voice shaking. “Clayton, I should be asking you that. Why did you give the safety lock I prepared for the baby to Verity?”
Verity seemed shocked and leaned closer into Clayton’s arms, but her fingers clutched the lock tightly, her eyes reddening instantly.
She spoke in a soft and gentle tone. “Sister-in-law, please don’t be angry. I’ve never had a safety lock before. Earlier, my chest felt a little uncomfortable. After wearing it, I suddenly felt better. Maybe… this lock and I are meant to be.”
“If you mind, I can pay for it. Please let me keep this lock, alright?”
I looked at the lock on her chest and coldly laughed. “This was prepared for my child, not something for you to use to treat illness!”
Clayton softened his voice and told me, “Wife, alright, don’t cause a scene. I’ll buy you an even better one, okay? Let Verity have this one. It’s rare to have such a fate.”
I looked up at him and suddenly felt that the man before me was like a stranger.
“Fate? Does it have fate just because you say it does?”
I questioned him, word by word. “This belongs to my child. She isn’t qualified to take it!”
I shook off Clayton’s hand and reached toward the red cord to untie it.
Before my fingers could touch it, Verity suddenly clutched her chest. Her face grew white, and her body seemed unable to support itself as she slid down.
“Brother…” she said weakly, tears dropping immediately, “my heart feels very uncomfortable.”
Clayton almost instinctively caught her in his arms, his face changing sharply, his voice anxious. “Don’t speak. I’ll take you to the hospital!”
I remained where I was, watching him carry her away, my heart feeling tightly squeezed by something invisible.
“Stop.”
I said it, but my voice trembled beyond control.
Clayton turned around, impatience and anger written across his face.
“What more do you want? Verity is already having an episode, and you’re still standing here arguing out of jealousy for what? Do you realize you look like a mad, jealous woman right now? Celestine, when did you become like this?”
“You used to be thoughtful and fair!”
Jealous woman?
I stared at the man before me with deep disappointment, but inside I was strangely calm, no longer controlled by him.
I inhaled deeply, my nails digging into my skin. “If you want to leave, then go. Give back the safety lock.”
His expression went completely cold. “Celestine, you’ve gone too far. Can’t you even let go of such a small item? She’s having a heart attack, and you’re still arguing over this. How can you be so heartless?”
“You’re being completely unreasonable!”
The baby had not even been born, yet Clayton was already able to hand over the baby’s belongings to Verity just because she felt unwell.
Then, after the child was born?
If Verity felt upset, would the child be beaten and scolded as she pleased?
That thought made my entire body go cold.
I did not move forward to stop him again and slowly released my grip.
At that moment, I completely made my decision.
Clayton was no longer qualified to have any connection with my child.
After I left, I would cut all ties with Clayton and find a new father for the baby, so she could receive full fatherly love, but it would not be Clayton.
Clayton’s steps slowed, and for no clear reason, unease crossed his heart. His grip on Verity tightened, and he hesitated slightly.
As he was about to speak, Verity softly called out to him, her tone weak and relying on him.
He immediately regained his focus and walked away faster.
