The housekeeper stood nearby, her trembling fingers holding an ultrasound photo that had fallen from a book–the
date on it was from a month ago.
Mason’s hands shook as he took the paper, only to see “4 weeks gestation” before his mother snatched it away.
Now he understood–he finally understood what Riley had been upset about!
She had been pregnant… and he had made her take care of another pregnant woman. Worse still, that other woman was widely rumored to be his mistress.
Everything suddenly made sense to Mason.
Suddenly, everything clicked into place in Mason’s mind, a wave of clarity washing over him as the source of their conflict finally made sense: all Riley’s anger, all her tantrums–it was because she still loved him, still cared about
him!
Yes! He needed to apologize! He needed to give Riley a graceful way to return to him, to bring her back to the Reed house with honor.
She loved him so much, cared for him so deeply, was willing to do anything for him–surely she wouldn’t stay angry for long.
“Babe, Riley was pregnant! Is… is it yours?” Mrs. Reed asked.
After the Elise fiasco, she was terrified of misidentifying her real grandchild again.
When Mason nodded, she excitedly shook his arm.
‘Then what are you waiting for? Quick, bring my grandson back!”
‘It’s all that bitch Elise’s fault–I almost missed out on my real grandson. Go bring Riley back right away. I approve of your marriage now!”
Mason paused for a moment before nodding solemnly, his eyes flashing with determination.
‘I will.”
‘I’ll bring both the baby and Riley back.”
She loves him so much, she must be somewhere sulking, waiting for him.
Liam was helping me move my stuff when Mason’s call came through.
The man’s voice was full of entitlement, barely concealing his excitement:
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Nine Years Wasted–Now I’m Marrying Your Rival
Chapter 12
“Riley, stop hiding it. I already know about your pregnancy.”
“Elise is gone. Come home tonight.”
I had no idea how Mason had found out about the pregnancy, but the man’s sudden change of attitude struck me as
ridiculous.
Just a month ago, he was saying my presence made Elise and his mother uncomfortable and wanted me gone. Yet now he was demanding I return?
“Oh, you mean the baby?”
My casual response made Mason eagerly say “Mm–hmm.”
“I got rid of it weeks ago.”
“Mason, when I told you we were done, I meant it. I would never keep your child as some kind of connection
between us.”
“When I said it’s over, I meant it’s truly over.”
My tone must have been too matter–of–fact, because Mason couldn’t seem to process what I was saying.
Liam called out to me just then, so I hung up and blocked Mason’s number for good measure.
Mrs. Reed had been eagerly waiting to hear the results of her son’s call, but found him looking like he’d seen a ghost.
“Well? When is Riley bringing my grandson home?”
“Elise is gone now, so tell her to stop being difficult. All that anger can’t be good for my grandson.”
After saying this, Mrs. Reed suddenly clapped her hands and called to the distant staff:
“Hurry and move Riley’s things back to the master bedroom! I can’t have my grandson coming home with nowhere
to stay.”
As the servants rushed to comply, Mason finally spoke, as if his soul had left his body:
“Riley said she aborted the baby. She wants nothing more to do with me.”
“Mom, why would she do this? Do you think she’s just saying this to make me angry?”
“Riley’s dumping me! I heard another man’s voice in the background! She’s fucking cheating on me!”
Mason exploded with rage, veins bulging on his forehead. All he could think about was Riley with another man!
Mrs. Reed was shocked but quickly shook her head, finding it impossible.
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Nine Years Wasted–Now I’m Marrying Your Rival
Chapter 12
“That can’t be right! Riley was wrapped around your finger–she’d never cheat on you. She wouldn’t even abort your baby!”
With his mother’s reassurances, Mason calmed down somewhat. Thinking of everything Riley had done for him, he
felt more secure.
But days later, the Reed mansion received a package–inside was an abortion report and a formless fetus, bloodily displayed in the box.
Mrs. Reed fainted in her wheelchair after one glance, while Mason frantically called the number he’d been blocked
from.
When he realized he couldn’t get through no matter what, he began using every housekeeper’s phone to call Riley–without exception, she blocked each number after a single call.
Without a word of explanation, with only an abortion certificate and an unformed, genderless fetus, Riley had suddenly vanished from Mason’s life.
Mrs. Reed, devastated by the shock, fell gravely ill, haunted each night by dreams of the fetus, finding no peace.
While without Riley’s help, Mason’s company’s performance deteriorated dramatically, even approaching bankruptcy.
In his darkest, most painful moment, Mason borrowed a stranger’s phone on the street to message Riley.
“Riley, why did you abort our baby?”
“Why don’t you care about me anymore?”
“You promised you’d always stay by my side, always help me, no matter what I did. Why did you break your
promise?”
Mason had no other options. He could only find strangers whose phones might not be blocked to send his messages.
Yet Riley had moved away, hiding far from him.
He didn’t know where she lived now, and even after all this time, he still didn’t know who the other man was.
I received Mason’s message while enjoying a beef bourguignon Liam had prepared. The meat was tender, infused with rich wine flavors that burst in my mouth.
I glanced at the message, then deleted it, and decided to cancel that SIM card by the afternoon.
Why am I not helping you anymore?
Yes, Mason, why? Why did I love you so much before, but now just seeing your messages makes me sick?
Of course, it’s because… people change–not only have you changed, but I have too.
Chapter 12
“Riley, is it good? I heard this dish tastes even better with rosemary. We should try that next time,” Liam said gently.
I raised my fork with a piece of beef to my mouth.
“Okay,” I answered. “Next time, you can make it a bit spicier. I like that.”
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Nine Years Wasted–Now I’m Marrying Your Rival
