### Chapter 4

Only then did Dick let out a breath, pulling me tighter against him, as if the moment he let go I'd vanish.

“Anything you give me, I'll love it.” His voice was low, coaxing, tender. “Don't cry, baby. When you cry, it kills me.”

I closed my eyes in his arms and said nothing.

In a few days, you can go to hell.

The next morning, guilt must have been eating at him, because a brand-new limited-edition Chanel jewelry set arrived at the door.

“I cleared my whole schedule today. Staying home with you.”

He'd barely finished speaking when his phone rang.

Dick's face went cold as he answered, his tone vicious：“I said no one disturbs me while I'm with Emily. Pack your shit and get out!”

He hung up, caught me staring, and instantly softened. A smile, a light tap on the tip of my nose：“Baby, you're not doubting me, are you?”

He held his phone out to me, the picture of openness. Go ahead, check.

Once, I probably would have thought he was giving me the greatest sense of security in the world.

Too bad. I sighed to myself and handed the phone back.

When my expression didn't change, Dick relaxed and pulled me into his arms：“That's my good girl. You never check my phone.”

He thought I was that stupid.

After he fell asleep last night, I'd gone through every record on it.

The evidence of his cheating glared up at me, impossible to look away from：

My birthday, our anniversary. One wheedling text from Tania, and he'd drop me to go see her.

Hotels, the office, the back seat of his car. Traces of them everywhere.

His purchase history full of lingerie, toys, expensive gifts……

But the thing that froze me to the bone was the message he'd sent Tania.

“I hate condoms, but I don't want Emily going through pregnancy. If you get pregnant, I'll find a way to make her claim the baby as hers.”

“As long as you don't make a scene in front of Emily, I can give you everything.”

Something in my chest shattered under the moonlight. I bit down on my lip until blood filled my mouth, swallowing the scream before it could escape.

The doorbell rang.

The housekeeper opened it, and there stood Tania, tears streaming prettily down her face.

Dick's expression flickered with panic. He was on his feet in a second：“Tania's having some trouble with her coursework. I'll step out and talk to her—won't disturb you washing up.”

He was already pulling Tania toward the garden before he finished.

I followed, quiet as a shadow, and watched Tania throw herself into his arms, sobbing.

Dick shoved her away, his face dark with fury.

“Are you out of your fucking mind? I warned you never to come to the house. If Emily gets suspicious, you're done!”

Tania flinched, but cried harder, holding out a pregnancy test between sobs.

“B-but I'm pregnant. I don't know what to do……”

Every nerve in my body went numb. Even the pain disappeared.

She was really pregnant.

We'd talked about children seriously once. Dick said he couldn't bear the thought of me suffering through pregnancy. If we wanted kids after the wedding, we could adopt.

I'd believed he meant it.

Now I understood. He couldn't stand to see me suffer, but he had no problem letting another woman carry his child.

“If you don't want it, I'll do as you say. I'll get rid of it.” Tania's eyes shimmered with tears. “But it's our flesh and blood. I can't bear to lose it”

Dick froze. He stared at the two red lines, checked them again, and the corner of his mouth slowly curved.

“This is my first child. It has to be born. I'm taking you to the hospital right now for a full checkup.”

I stood rooted to the spot, nails dug so deep into my palms I couldn't feel the pain.

Dick went upstairs to change.

I took out my phone and dialed a number I'd thought I would never use：

“The evidence of Simmons Corp smuggling arms. It's yours.”

Tania glanced back, spotted me under the tree, and a smug little smile spread across her face. She cradled her belly and walked over.

“Dick told me himself—I'm carrying his only heir. How's that shriveled little belly of yours going to compete with me?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Dick rushing back. I uncurled my fists and let a cold smile settle across my face.

“Then let's see how far he'll go for you.”

Before the words had left my mouth, I slapped her so hard my palm burned.

Tania screamed, too stunned to react.

Dick came running. He saw the bright red handprint blooming on Tania's cheek and barely managed to hide the ache in his eyes.

“Mr. Simmons, she, she hit me!”

Tania tried to throw herself into his arms to plead her case.

But when his gaze met the ice in mine, Dick shoved her away：“I told you not to disturb Emily. Get out!”

### Chapter 5

Watching him put on his desperate act of protecting me, I felt not a thing.

“I'm going upstairs.”

I didn't wait for Dick to answer. I walked straight into the bathroom and splashed cold water over my face, again and again.

Seven years of love, turned to ash. I would have nothing left to hold on to.

Dick followed me up, wrapping his arms around me from behind：“I already set her straight. She's young, she doesn't know any better. Don't let her ruin your mood.”

“There's a new Japanese place on the west side, your favorite kind. Let me go pick something up. Be good and wait for me, okay?”

Listening to him lie, I felt only calm：“Go ahead.”

Dick pressed a careless kiss to my cheek and left in a hurry.

The moment he was out the door, my phone lit up.

I answered. A low, rich voice came through the receiver.

“Ready for me? My bride-to-be. Four days, and I'm coming to get you myself.” It was Adrian Sterling.

I nodded softly：“Okay. Four days.”

I hung up, lay back on the bed, and fell into an exhausted sleep.

When I opened my eyes again, Dick was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me. His gaze was deep, searching.

“Emily, why did you change your phone password?”

“Felt like it.”

I sat up, my tone flat.

My password had been his birthday for seven years. I changed it the day I found out he was cheating.

Dick frowned, his scrutinizing gaze lingering on my face for a long time. In the end he just sighed and pulled me into his arms.

“I'm sorry. I've been neglecting you lately.” His voice was tender, the way it used to be. “Something urgent came up at the company. I need to travel for four days. Once this is done, I'll take you on that trip. You've always wanted to see the Pampas, right? We'll go riding. How does that sound?”

I lowered my eyes. I couldn't stand the false affection in them anymore.

I managed a thin smile：“Sure.”

I watched his silhouette disappear through the door and knew that we would probably never see each other again.

That afternoon, Tania sent me an ultrasound photo and a villa purchase contract.

“You slapped me once, and he bought me a villa. Said he's giving me a real home. Said he'll never let anyone hurt me again.”

The provocation barely registered. I started packing. After throwing out everything he'd ever given me, all I had left filled a single suitcase.

On the morning of the fourth day, I wheeled that suitcase out of the villa and all its memories.

I used to play piano on the terrace while Dick listened in the breeze, his eyes full of tenderness.

We used to kiss in the yard at sunset, our shadows stretching long across the grass, as though that single moment could last a lifetime.

But a lifetime is too long. He couldn't give it, and I couldn't afford to want it.

The front gate was right ahead when Tania sent another video.

A Prague dusk. White doves scattering across the square. Dick on one knee, holding out a pigeon-egg diamond ring.

“He proposed to me yesterday! Surprised? Even I didn't see it coming.”

“He said he'll give me and our son his name. Next time you see him, you'll be the one getting thrown out. Today's our wedding, actually. So be smart and get lost on your own—don't humiliate yourself!”

I typed back fast：“Then I'm truly happy for you.”

Message sent. Number blocked.

A black Rolls-Royce was parked at the curb. A striking man stepped out, took my hand, and guided me into the car.

His fingertips tilted my chin up, and he smiled, bold and unyielding：“This time, I'm not letting you run.”

The car pulled away. At the intersection, a lavish wedding motorcade approached from the opposite direction.

I glanced over without thinking. In the open-top wedding car, Dick sat in a white suit, smiling as he kissed Tania on the lips.

He lifted his head from the kiss, and his eyes met mine without warning. His pupils contracted instantly, and every trace of color drained from his face.

The two cars passed each other and were gone.

That was when my phone rang.