After returning from the maternity store, I sat alone in the shadows of the empty living room, silently staring out the window.
Sam approached with a thin cashmere blanket and gently draped it over my shoulders. “It’s chilly tonight. Wear more. Your health comes first. You can’t take any risks.”
He sat down on the sofa across from me. “Tania, can we talk? Raline’s child is also my flesh and blood. I can’t treat them unfairly. I plan to officially announce everything at my birthday banquet, so they’ll have rightful inheritance.”
I lifted my eyes, coldly piercing through him. “How exactly will you introduce her? As the substitute you obsessively hunted down, locked away in a secret room, identical to Celine?”
Sam’s expression shifted constantly, but he quickly suppressed it. “Tania, I’ll give Raline a perfect identity. A pianist returned from overseas. Our meeting was fate. This way, it won’t damage the reputations of either your or my families.”
I lowered my eyes, formulating a plan. “Fine, I’ll cooperate at the birthday banquet.”
Since he had gone this far, he couldn’t blame me for making this his most unforgettable birthday.
His face lit up with joy at my agreement. “Tania, thank you for understanding me. Things can still be like they were before. I’ll take care of you and the baby.”
I paid no mind to him rushing toward the master bedroom. Silently, I slipped into the servant’s room at the end of the second floor and sent Kendrick a message.
[Kendrick, help me gather evidence. I’m going to reveal the whole truth at his birthday banquet.]
The next morning, when I opened the door, I was shocked to find the villa’s living room transformed into a wedding scene.
Fresh lilies and roses filled the air, a towering champagne display gleamed, countless pink helium balloons floated from the ceiling and in the center of the room sat a fondant cake topped with a tiny bride-and-groom figurine.
But what made my stomach turn the most was the figure standing at the center of it all—Raline, dressed in a pristine wedding gown.
I would never mistake that gown for anything else. It was the one Sam had custom-made for me when we got married.
Beside her, Sam wore a sharply tailored black tailcoat. When he saw me frozen at the doorway, he strode over, saying, “Tania, you’re just in time,” his voice carrying a strange, almost manic excitement. “Today is a special day. Raline and I need you to witness it.”
He forcefully dragged me to the center of the living room, straight in front of the officiant.
Sam’s gaze lingered obsessively on Raline in her wedding gown. “This is the romantic wedding I owe her. As the lady of this house, you should stand here and personally witness our happiness. Please bless us.”
I stared at the absurd scene before me, my stomach churning violently, nearly vomiting on the spot.
Sam’s face was gentle as he slipped the ring onto Raline’s finger. Just as the officiant read aloud, “For better or for worse…”
The helium balloons exploded overhead without any warning.
But the disaster didn’t stop there.
The chain reaction from the exploding balloons sent shockwaves that violently shook the towering champagne display beside us. The entire tower lost its balance and toppled toward where Raline and I were standing.
“Raline, watch out!”
Sam’s terrified shout echoed through the living room. Without hesitation, he lunged at Raline in her wedding gown, holding her tightly in his arms and rolling toward a safer spot.
Glass shards from the champagne tower rained down on me, cutting into my arms, cheeks and legs.
“Ah!” I curled up in pain, letting out a piercing scream.
But none of that physical pain compared to the rhythmic, searing pain radiating from my abdomen.
I struggled to lower my gaze. Bright red blood was slowly flowing between my legs, mixing with the champagne that had spilled all over the floor.
My child… my baby.
