Chapter 4

I woke slowly on the soft bed of the VIP hospital room.

They told me the surgery had run so long that Nathan and Hildegarde couldn't wait around, and had left ages ago.

The whole time I was in the hospital, Nathan never once showed his face.

He'd sent me a single message, saying an urgent matter had blown up at the company and forced him to leave on a last-minute business trip, that he was stretched too thin to be at my side and care for me.

He kept repeating that losing the baby hurt him more than anyone, and that once he was back from the trip, he would give everything he had to make it up to me.

I stared at the words on the screen and felt only sick.

Meanwhile, Hildegarde's social media feed was one update after another of the two of them on vacation.

Blue sea, blue sky, sand and evening wind. In the frame Hildegarde beamed, and Nathan leaned in to shelter her, all tenderness.

The caption under the photo read: Together year after year, happy year after year.

After a few days of recovery, I handled the discharge paperwork.

I went home first to pack my own things, left the divorce agreement behind, and went downstairs.

Down at the curb, the familiar black luxury car was already waiting for me.

The window slid down, and my brother looked out at me with aching eyes.

"Silvie, I've come to take you home."

I got into the car, and he reached over to ruffle the top of my hair. "Mom and Dad were so happy you're willing to come back, they haven't slept properly for nights." "The birthday party's all arranged. We're just waiting for our Silvie to come home in style and celebrate."

The car headed for the banquet hotel.

The grand ballroom blazed with light, packed with the city's elite. Every heavyweight and power broker in the business world had turned out, all to await the return of the Simmons family's true heiress.

At that same moment, Nathan and Hildegarde, just back from their vacation, were getting dressed to rush to the party.

At the ballroom entrance, Hildegarde held Nathan's arm, her makeup flawless, her whole face bright with smugness and anticipation. "Honey, my family arranged a birthday party especially for me. Today's the perfect chance to introduce you to everyone officially."

She was full of joy.

She and I happened to share the same birthday.

Back when I kept my identity hidden, everyone assumed she was the Simmons family's true heiress, so she wore my glory without a shred of guilt, enjoying everything that was never hers.

The ballroom was full of guests.

Hildegarde walked in on Nathan's arm, elegant, and made the introductions to my brother and my parents. "Mom, Dad, Aiden, this is my husband, Nathan Henson."

"He and I are in love with each other. He's so good to me, so good."

My parents' faces went dark at once, displeasure written all over them.

Beside them, my brother stood tall, his face cold, an icy air radiating off him.

The atmosphere froze in an instant. No one dared say another word.

Nathan noticed nothing off about the room, mistaking the Simmons family's silence for a cold nature.

He stepped forward on his own, humble and deferential, and inclined his head politely to my parents and my brother. "Uncle, Aunt, Mr. Simmons, hello. I'm Hilda's husband, Nathan Henson."

My brother looked down at him, his thin lips parting without a trace of warmth. "You're sure?"

Nathan didn't hesitate. His eyes were full of conviction, even a touch of tenderness, as he answered clearly. "I'm sure."

"I love Hilda deeply. We're already legally married. For the rest of my life, I'll cherish her, protect her, and never fail her, never fail the Simmons family."

My brother let out a cold laugh, his gaze dark. "You married her? Then what does that make my sister?"

Nathan froze on the spot, blank and stunned, and blurted out before he could stop himself. "Mr. Simmons, isn't Hilda your sister? So of course I'm your brother-in-law."

My brother's voice was steady. "My sister has never been her."

Then he raised his hand gently toward the spot where I stood and called out softly. "Silvie, come here. Come to Mom and Dad and your brother."

Every eye in the room snapped to me at once……