When I got home, Eleanor Kingsley was fussing over Vivienne like she was a princess.
They both looked up the moment I walked in.
Their smiles dropped.
Carter frowned.
‘Didn’t I tell you not to come back yet?”
I chuckled.
‘You told me to come back early.”
‘Said you had something to talk about.”
Carter hesitated.
He clearly forgot.
He cleared his throat.
‘Doesn’t matter now.”
‘The annual family dinner–Vivienne’s handling it this year.”
Every year, I handled that dinner.
Because I was the Kingsley family’s official wife.
t was my duty.
leanor nitpicked everything I ever did for those dinners.
he menu, the flowers, the lighting–nothing was ever good enough.
But at least it came with the title.
Now that Vivienne was here, even that had been handed to her.
gave a tight–lipped smile.
Sure. It’s your house, your call.”
Chapter 3
Carter frowned, like he expected me to fight back.
Eleanor sniffed, pleased. “At least you know your place.”
She turned to Vivienne, her voice warm.
“If you run into any trouble, just let me know, sweetheart.”
Vivienne gave her a bashful smile, and Carter melted all over again.
They launched into planning, forgetting I was still in the room.
Laughing together.
Ethan sat beside Vivienne, gently patting her belly.
“This dinner’s for my baby brother!”
They looked like the perfect little family.
And I-
I was just background noise.
I walked upstairs without another word.
For days, I stayed out of sight.
They loved it.
Everyone was busy helping Vivienne plan the big event.
But this wasn’t her world.
She got overwhelmed quickly.
I overheard her one evening, curled up in Carter’s arms.
“I can’t even get a stupid dinner right… I’m useless.”
Carter held her tighter.
“No, baby. You’re doing great. It’s your first time.”
The next night, Carter knocked on my door.
That alone was unusual.
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Nine Years Wasted–Now I’m Marrying Your Rival
Chapter 3
When I opened it, he didn’t waste time.
“Vivienne’s overwhelmed.”
“She’s pregnant, and this dinner is a lot. Help her out.”
I smiled.
“When I handled my first dinner, I was eight months pregnant.”
He looked surprised.
Like he’d only just remembered that.
Back then, I was on my feet every day, planning menus and centerpieces, weeks from giving birth.
No one offered to help.
No one cared.
And now?
A little guilt on his face didn’t mean a damn thing.
I cut him off before he could apologize.
‘I’ll help with the background stuff.”
Let her handle the main event. She deserves to shine, right?”
Carter blinked, clearly thrown.
‘You’re really okay letting her take the spotlight?”
After all, the dinner was always the First Lady’s stage.
And I was giving it up.
‘She is carrying the next Kingsley,” I said calmly,
Carter opened his mouth like he wanted to say something else.
But I’d already closed the door.
He stood there for a while.
Maybe realizing I wasn’t the woman who used to beg for his attention.
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Nine Years Wasted—Now I’m Marrying Your Rival
43.8
Chapter 3
Maybe realizing I didn’t need him anymore.
