Late that night, a sharp pain twisted through my lower abdomen, wrenching me from sleep.
I couldn’t take any risks, not with this child. The housekeeper had taken leave, and with no one else around, I had no choice but to call Logan.
He declined the call. Moments later, a message lit up my screen: [You’re disturbing Leah’s rest.]
I tried calling again, desperate, but this time, I saw I’d been blocked.
Left with no other option, I booked a car and paid extra for the driver to come inside and help me out.
Even getting from my bed to the front door felt like crawling through glass. Every step sent fresh waves of pain shooting through my foot.
At the hospital, the doctor’s diagnosis was grim. My injury needed rest, and there were early signs of a threatened miscarriage. I had to be admitted for a few days.
For three days, I stayed there, quiet and still, trying not to move or think too much.
Then, on the morning of my discharge, my phone rang.
It was Logan calling for the first time since he’d blocked me. He said the family at the old residence wanted us to return for a visit.
“Hurry and pack up. I’m coming to pick you up.”
“I’m not at home.”
Logan sneered, “Out this early? Where did you sneak off to last night?”
“I’m at the hospital. Call me when you arrive.” I ended the call without waiting for a reply.
So, while I was lying in a hospital bed, those two had been out enjoying themselves.
I forced myself to swallow the ache in my chest. It didn’t matter anymore; it was almost time to leave.
I’d play the role of Logan’s wife just one last time.
Not long after, he called again, rushing me to come downstairs. I went down immediately, only to be left standing in the cold wind for half an hour.
Another twenty minutes crawled by before his car finally pulled up in front of me.
The window rolled down, and there she was, Leah, seated in what used to be my place.
A smug smile played on her lips. “So Sister really was in the hospital. We thought you were lying again, so we turned back to pick you up. What a waste of a trip. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Sister, I’m going to the old residence with you today. The child in my belly will be part of the Ellis family, too, so it’s a good time to meet everyone! But I get carsick sitting in the back, so I took your usual seat. You’re not mad, are you?”
I didn’t respond. My gaze fell on Logan. “You’re really taking her?”
He knew better. Although the Ellis and Gibson families had long-standing ties, Grandpa Ethan had always disliked my adoptive parents’ side. Logan was well aware of that.
Yet he avoided my eyes and didn’t answer.
“Get in.”
I said nothing more and quietly slid into the back seat.
As we passed the security booth near the old residence, the guard greeted the front seat as always, “Mr. Gibson, Madam Gibson!”
Logan’s face darkened immediately. “Watch your mouth. Are you blind?”
In the front seat, Leah, already imagining herself as the rightful Madam Gibson, stiffened.
The guard stammered, quickly bowing. “Sorry! I just… Madam Gibson always sat in the front. I thought it was still her…”
There was a heavy pause before Logan spoke again.
“Get out of the car.”
Leah’s eyes sparkled with smug delight as she glanced back at me.
There was still nearly a kilometer between us and the old residence. With my injured foot, walking that distance might leave me crippled. I had no choice. I’d get out first and figure things out later. I drew in a breath, closed my eyes, and reached for the door.
“What are you doing?” Logan nearly shouted. “Did I tell you to move? Sit still!”
Then he turned to Leah, his voice softening. “You get out first. Today isn’t the day for you to be here.”
No matter how much Leah pouted and acted sweet, she was still made to leave the car.
The engine started again. Silence blanketed the space.
Logan was the first to speak. “Why were you in the hospital? When did you go?”
I ignored his first question. “The night you blocked my number.”
He caught my gaze in the rearview mirror and suddenly laughed. “What, trying to win sympathy?”
I laughed, too. He always found new ways to let me down.
He stared through the mirror and added, “I know you’ve been in a mood lately, but stop playing games. As long as you behave, you’ll always be Madam Gibson.”
I turned away and said quietly, “Keep your eyes on the road.”
That night, we were to stay at the old residence.
The moment Logan stepped into the room, I nearly bolted. Just a week ago, we shared this bed, and now, it feels like a relic from another lifetime.
He seemed to be in good spirits, pulling me gently to sit at the edge of the bed, his fingers threading softly through my hair.
“Grandpa said that if we have a child, he’ll hand the company to me.”
Then he wrapped his arms around me. “Cecilia, only if Leah’s baby becomes ours can I give you the life you deserve. Trust me, I’ll give you the world.”
My stomach turned. I couldn’t hold it back any longer. I pushed him away and rushed to the bathroom to vomit.
When I came out, he was already gone.
On my phone, two messages blinked on the screen.
[Leah’s not feeling well. I need to check on her.]
[Tomorrow is her birthday. She invited you to the party, don’t be late.]
Early the next morning, I went home alone.
That afternoon, I would leave for good. This would be my final time stepping through these doors.
I wiped away every last trace of myself from the house, then walked down to the basement to glance at my paintings one final time.
When I had painted that portrait of Logan, I truly believed I was cherished.
But in the end, I had only been fooled.
Logan, you’ll never get the chance to lie to me again.
We’ll never cross paths again.
