Chapter 3

Adrian seemed incredibly pleased with his own logic, his voice dripping with pity.

"Besides, you don't even have a real career. You must have had a rough time these past few years after leaving me. Just come back with me now, and I’ll let you be Mrs. Vance again."

As he spoke, his eyes swept over my outfit.

Today, I was just wearing a simple beige knit dress with no designer logos.

So, he naturally assumed I was living in poverty.

I looked at him, suddenly tempted to ask where on earth he got this delusion.

But I couldn't be bothered to waste my breath.

"Actually, I'm doing great," I said calmly. "And this child is not yours."

The smugness on Adrian's face vanished instantly, replaced by a dark scowl.

"Not mine?"

He scoffed as if he had just heard the funniest joke. "Claire, how long has it been since you left me?"

"If the kid isn't mine, whose could he possibly be?"

He stepped closer, his burning gaze locking onto me.

"Are you really making up a lie this ridiculous just to hurt me?"

Before I could speak, a soft, delicate female voice echoed from the hallway stairs.

"Claire, Adrian truly loves you. How can you break his heart like this?"

I looked up.

Chloe Miller was standing at the end of the hallway. She was wearing a flowing white dress, her long hair curled perfectly, her makeup flawless.

Just like five years ago, she looked like a fragile little white flower that would shatter at the slightest breeze.

And Adrian, of course, always fell for it.

The moment I saw her, my stomach churned with pure disgust.

Memories of that night five years ago flooded my mind, completely out of my control.

I was lying in the hospital bed, fresh out of emergency surgery.

My hands were shaking so badly I could barely hold the pen when the nurse handed me my baby’s death certificate.

At that exact moment, Chloe had sent me a Snapchat video.

In the dimly lit hotel suite, the sound of her soft moans filled the audio.

Adrian was pressing her into the mattress, kissing her over and over.

Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling mockingly at the camera. "Adrian, isn't your wife giving birth right now?"

Adrian let out a low chuckle.

"Don't bring her up."

"She's a buzzkill."

The video ended with the two of them tangled together.

And I was left alone in a cold hospital bed, signing my baby's death certificate.

Thinking about it now still made my fingers go numb with cold fury.

Yet, here was Chloe, still playing the innocent angel.

"Claire, Adrian has missed you so much over the years."

"He really loves you."

"Please, stop throwing tantrums and just make up with him, okay?"

I looked at her coldly. "Are you done?"

Chloe froze, clearly not expecting this reaction. Her eyes welled with tears instantly.

"Claire... are you still blaming me?"

"What happened back then... I really didn't mean for it to happen..."

I didn't want to hear another word.

Today was Leo’s vaccination appointment, and I wasn't going to waste my time.

I turned around, holding my son close, and walked away.

Adrian immediately chased after me.

"Wait!"

He reached out, trying to grab Leo.

"Give me my son!"

But Leo quickly hid his face in my neck, looking at him with deep suspicion.

"I don't know you! Go away!"

Adrian froze. He had probably never been rejected like this in his entire life.

Suppressing his irritation, he tried to coo softly, "Hey buddy, I'm your daddy."

But Leo’s eyes widened in anger.

"No, you're not!"

"My daddy is super handsome!"

"Not a weird uncle like you!"