3: 3

After I left the hospital, I went back to the house I shared with Nathan.

That night, I had just stepped out of the shower when Nathan wrapped his arms around me from behind.

Just like always, he rested his chin on my shoulder, his voice soft and doting.

“Sweetheart, today was my fault. I didn't protect you and the baby, and I spoke to you far too harshly.”

“But it all happened so suddenly. Gail was only worried about you. You can't accuse her of something just because you were upset.”

I turned my head and looked at Nathan's face, as calm as ever, and my heart felt as if a ton of wet cement had been poured into it, pressing down until I couldn't breathe.

His acting really was good. He wanted nothing more than to throw me out the door that instant, and yet he could still play at loving me this much.

I pulled free of his arms and turned, my eyes falling on the gift bag he'd set down by his feet.

Feeling my gaze, he bent down, picked up the bag, and drew out the gown inside like he was showing off a treasure.

“Grandfather's birthday banquet is the day after tomorrow. I picked out your favorite brand just for you.”

“The color's the pink you love, too. Try it on?”

The brand and the color were both Gail's favorites. Even the size was Gail's size.

I let out a cold laugh and stepped back. “When did the two of you start?”

Nathan froze, then immediately gripped my hand, all tenderness.

“Gail and I were just an accident. Three months ago I got drunk, and I didn't mean for it to...”

He tightened his hold on my hand, his eyes fixed on me, uneasy.

“Madison, you're the only one I love. We've been married ten years and I've never once done anything to wrong you.”

“I'm begging you, just forgive me this one time. Please?”

I flung his hand off in disgust. “So you admit you cheated?”

“I did not!”

Nathan cut me off sharply, then in the next second suddenly changed the subject.

“Madison, don't you love children?”

“When we did the IVF, the doctor already said that if we couldn't save this pregnancy, you'd never be able to be a mother again.”

“You and Gail are best friends. Once she has the baby, I'll have her hand the child over for you to raise.”

“With a child to lean on, there's no way Gail could ever threaten your place as Mrs. Henson.”

If I hadn't known this was the trap he and Gail had laid for me for the banquet, I probably really would have given in, because I loved him.

But now, all I wanted was to see him ruined.

I tightened my grip on the phone that was still recording, and nodded.

“All right. After Grandfather's birthday banquet, the three of us will sit down and talk.”

Nathan's face lit up, and out of habit he pressed a light kiss to my forehead.

“Good. Tomorrow I'll come pick you up for the banquet myself. Get some rest. I'll sleep in the guest room tonight.”

Once the bedroom door was shut, I scrubbed at the spot where Nathan had kissed me with the back of my hand, over and over, and the tears fell without my being able to stop them.

With shaking hands, I sent all of the recordings to Blake.

A message came back almost at once:

“I already have all the proof that Gail hired a man to hurt you.”

“At the banquet tomorrow, neither Nathan nor Gail is getting away.”

4: 4

On the day of the banquet, Gail called me.

"Madison, my dress zipper's stuck. Could you come to the dressing room and help me with it?"

Such a clumsy excuse. And last time, I'd fallen for it so easily.

But this time, I was the one setting the trap.

I tightened my grip on the phone that was recording. "I'll be right there."

The moment she saw me, Gail hooked her arm through mine, warm and affectionate, as if nothing had happened two days ago.

She stared at herself in the vanity mirror and scolded herself in that soft, coy voice.

"It's all my fault for putting on weight with the pregnancy. Now I've dragged you all the way here just to zip me up."

I lowered my eyes with contempt, my gaze landing on the slight swell of her belly.

"Why Nathan?"

Gail raised her eyes and looked at me in the mirror, the smile draining from her face bit by bit.

"Nathan has always loved me. He only married you for your family connections and your ability."

"And now that Nathan already has everything, of course he wants to be with the woman he loves."

She stroked her stomach carefully.

"The child in my belly is the only heir the Henson family has now."

"After tonight, once it's set in stone that you cheated and betrayed Nathan, you can walk away with nothing and get out of the Henson family for good!"

My hand at my side tightened without my meaning it to, and my voice shook badly.

"So to drive me out of the Henson family, you framed my honor and killed my child?"

"Gail, we've been friends for over a decade. You knew that baby didn't come easy. Why would you..."

Gail shot to her feet and glared at me, vicious.

"So what? If you don't get out, I'll never get to be Mrs. Henson!"

Then her lips curled up. "Besides, Nathan knows everything I've done."

"He despises you as much as I do. Madison, tonight you can look forward to being ruined."

She strode out of the dressing room, smug, and locked the door behind her.

A moment later, the lock outside turned.

A man with a sleazy face opened the door and walked in.

He looked me up and down, baring his yellow teeth. "Not bad, sweet thing. You play along nicely in a bit, and I promise I won't hurt you."

I stared at him with disgust, gripping my phone, asking what I already knew. "Who sent you?"

He stepped closer and let out a mocking laugh. "Your husband, of course."

"I really don't get it. A wife this pretty, and he actually pays me to put horns on his own head. That mistress of his isn't even as good-looking as you..."

I stared at him, stunned. It really was Nathan.

"But your husband did say I'm only supposed to make it look real. He told me not to actually touch you."

He wanted to ruin my honor while still keeping his devoted-husband image.

Nathan really did want to have it both ways.

I stepped back, snatched up the vase behind me, and brought it down hard on the man's head.

He dropped where he stood.

I slipped out through the staff corridor and lost myself among the guests in the banquet hall.

Feeling a hot gaze at my side, I turned and met Blake Gilbert, in a white suit, refined and sharp.

He arched a brow at me, then let his eyes shift to the big screen at the front of the hall.

The next second, the screen went black, and the conversation between Nathan and Gail came pouring out.

"Nathan, Madison must have... lost the baby. But I suddenly can't reach that man anymore."

"I should have arranged for a few more people to leave proof. Then Madison couldn't have turned it back on us."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of all of it. The most important thing now is to keep the baby in your belly healthy."

"With Madison's child gone, the only heir the Henson family can have is ours. It's just a shame we couldn't send her off with nothing this time..."

The stream of comments on the screen suddenly scrolled.

【Go up there, slap him, make him walk away with nothing!】

I clenched my fist and walked toward Nathan, who stood frozen in place, and slapped him across the face.

"Nathan, walk away with nothing."