Her face was pale, a strange smile twisting her lips.
When our eyes met, she casually stroked her belly with one hand, flashing me a look full of challenge and provocation.
I lowered my gaze, the noise around me suddenly feeling too overwhelming.
"I want to go home," I whispered, my heart aching. Back to my world, back to my own space, away from all of this.
Marcus was basking in the crowd's praise, a satisfied smile on his face. "Are you tired, darling? Can I go home with you?"
"No need." I pushed him away, the words coming out colder than I intended.
"Lila, why are you always angry lately?"
He softened his gaze, a helpless look in his eyes, as though he didn’t understand what was happening.
Before I could respond, his assistant appeared with an urgent report.
"Mr. Rivers, the company called again. There’s an urgent matter that needs your attention."
"I handle everything. What use are you?" Marcus snapped at the assistant, his voice rising with frustration.
"Go, do your job. Don’t worry about me," I said, my tone calm, detached.
Marcus frowned, that familiar crease appearing between his brows whenever he was uneasy.
"Lila, please, don’t be angry, okay? The company is just so busy right now..."
"No." I smiled faintly, trying to hide the sting in my chest.
"I really want to go home, Marcus."
His expression shifted, panic flickering in his eyes. He rushed toward me, pulling me into a tight hug. "Lila, I’ve also prepared a surprise for you on our wedding day. You said you wanted to grow old with me..."
I stood there in his arms, my hand patting his back almost mechanically, like I was comforting him. "Well, I have a surprise for you too, Marc."
He eventually let me go, but I could feel the tension in the air.
As I turned to leave, I saw Vivian collapse to the ground.
Marcus immediately ran toward her, crouching to pick her up. But as he did, his gaze flickered in my direction, and for a moment, I thought he might come to me.
Instead, he turned his attention back to Vivian and only moved toward the hospital when I had disappeared from his view.
I saw everything clearly from the corner, the pain in my chest like a needle piercing through my heart.
Breathing was hard. Every inhale felt like I was suffocating.
I sat down on a bench by the flower bed in the square, my phone vibrating in my pocket.
It was an ultrasound image.
"I already have Uncle Marcus' child. How could your 600 million deep red ruby necklace compare to the baby growing in my belly? He’ll be the heir of the Rivers Family, the fruit of my love with Uncle Marcus."
Vivian was pregnant?
Yes, how could she not be pregnant after all the times they’ve been together?
Marcus must be thrilled, living out his games, his desires, without any restraint.
Would he abort their child for me?
No, I won’t forgive him.
No matter how deep the love may have seemed, it couldn’t withstand the temptation of the flesh.
What am I still holding on for?
It has nothing to do with me anymore.
Let them do whatever they want.
Yet, despite the coldness in my thoughts, a wave of loss and despair washed over me.
Hot tears slipped down my face, falling onto the back of my hand. I quickly wiped them away, but the emotion refused to stop.
Why am I crying so foolishly? Wasn’t I supposed to let go?
Before I could even finish wiping my face, Vivian’s voice messages came flooding in, each one like a bombshell shattering my composure.
"Well… don’t worry, you’re happy with Vivian, aren’t you?"
"Vivian loves you so much. You love Vivian too, don’t you?"
"You’re fascinated by Vivian’s body, aren’t you?"
"Come on, Vivian has a surprise for you."
I could hear Marcus' labored breathing in the background, the desperate sound of a man lost in his own indulgence.
"Otherwise, Vivian’s surprise will be gone..."
"Yes, I like you. I just want to be with you!" His voice was impatient, filled with a mix of lust and frustration.
And then, Vivian’s voice came again.
"Lila, did you hear everything? Do you still want to marry him?"
"Every time he worked overtime, he was with me. Every time we were together, he said he loved me. Even God seemed to be on my side, letting me get pregnant with his child before you two got married. Why don’t you just quit?"
Vivian’s voice was sharp, relentless, pushing me with every word. "If you quit, he’ll marry me."
I could feel my blood boil, but I stayed calm. "You’re really sick, aren’t you? Aren’t you afraid of giving birth to a deformed child?"
Vivian’s voice dropped, low and dangerous. "I’m not even his biological daughter. I have no blood relation to him."
Her words were venomous, but I didn’t flinch.
"I’ve admired him since I was a child. If it weren’t for you, I’d already be married to him. You’re nothing compared to me. You were just there when he was struggling! You don’t deserve him at all!"
I could hear the excitement in her voice, her smugness practically suffocating the line.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps in the background.
"Uncle Marcus, the baby kicked me. Come, listen."
Marcus' voice roared back, furious. "Are you insane? I promised you to keep the baby and not to show up in front of Lila again! You know the consequences!"
"Uncle Marcus, the baby just misses you... I didn’t see you when I woke up."
I could hear her teasing him, the sound of fabric tearing as she spoke in an almost seductive tone.
"The little white rabbit can't wait for you..."
The air thickened with their lustful exchange.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I sneered bitterly.
Without a second thought, I hung up the phone and dialed 110.
"Hello, is this 110? I need to report someone looking for a lady in the hospital."
