Chapter 2

She hurried toward me, her eyes wide with exaggerated surprise.

"Summer, it really is you! Why are you at the clinic all by yourself? Morning sickness acting up?"

Before I could speak, Ethan came jogging up behind her, holding a cashmere cardigan, his tone dripping with protective concern.

"Vivian, I just stepped away for two seconds to grab your coat. Where did you run off to? The hospital AC is freezing indoors. You need to keep warm, or you'll catch a cold."

Only then did Ethan seem to notice me standing there.

He froze, a flicker of guilt flashing across his face before he quickly went on the offensive.

"Why are you here alone? Where are the maids?"

I didn't answer. I just stared at him in dead silence.

My gaze must have made him uncomfortable, because his face darkened and he offered a reluctant, defensive explanation.

"I promised Vivian days ago that I'd bring her in for her scan. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you overthinking things. You've thrown tantrums over harmless stuff like this before. Besides, we're getting married tomorrow. I just wanted to keep the peace."

"Right," I muttered quietly, completely devoid of emotion.

Assuming I had bought his excuse, Ethan casually turned back to Vivian, wrapping the cardigan around her shoulders. He even took the time to button it up for her, one careful button after another.

Vivian tilted her head, giving my pale, bloodless face a smug, pitiful once-over.

Then she pouted playfully. "Ethan, stop it!"

"Summer is right here. You should be giving the coat to her, not me. Why are you putting it on my shoulders?"

Ethan didn't even look up. "She's fine. She has a strong constitution."

"You're the one carrying my—"

He abruptly choked on his words.

Ethan's face drained of color as if he had just woken from a nightmare. He shot a frantic, nervous glance in my direction, hastily correcting himself.

"My... my late father's child. My little brother. I have to make sure you're both taken care of."

I felt sick watching them put on their little show.

Outside, dark storm clouds had gathered, and fat raindrops were already beginning to splatter against the pavement.

I threw out a careless excuse, ready to get away from them. "I still have more tests. Excuse me."

I turned to leave, but Ethan suddenly grabbed my arm.

He pointed to the compact umbrella sticking out of my tote bag, his tone dripping with entitlement.

"If you're staying inside for more tests, give me that umbrella."

"It's pouring outside, and I don't want Vivian getting soaked when we walk to the car. Summer rain never lasts long anyway. By the time you're done with your tests, it'll probably be sunny. You won't need it."

I stared at him, my eyes rimmed with red, my voice shaking with raw hurt.

"She's pregnant, so she needs protection. What about me?"

"Ethan, I'm carrying your child."

Seeing my tears, Ethan immediately assumed I was about to make a scene.

He waved his hand in disgust, his voice laced with venomous annoyance.

"Forget it. Keep your damn umbrella."

"You make a massive drama out of lending a simple umbrella. Vivian has always been fragile. Even if you get a little wet, you bounce back fine. You managed to come to the clinic all by yourself, didn't you? Clearly you're doing great. Stop acting crazy for once in your life, will you?"

With that, Ethan slung his arm around Vivian's waist and walked away.

As they walked down the hall, his voice drifted back to me, loud enough that I knew he wanted me to hear every word.

"Gets pregnant and turns into a total psycho."

"I honestly can't stand her anymore."

My tears abruptly stopped, drying up in my burning eyes.

A suffocating wave of humiliation and hatred clawed at my chest until I could barely draw breath.

My knees gave out. I stumbled over to a wooden bench, collapsed onto it, and sat there shaking for a long time.

Then, I pulled out my phone and dialed the private investigator.

"Those intimate photos you took of Ethan and Vivian... do you still have the files?"

"Print fifty thousand copies. I'll buy every single one."

"Have your people plaster them all over the new house tonight."

"And tomorrow morning, when the groomsmen arrive to pick up the bride... pack those photos into the confetti cannons. Blow them up like red rain."