Chapter 3:
Lucas stood at the stove, frying egge Lily shipped behind tam, gently wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her cheek on his
back with a sweet smile!
The moment she saw me, she let go and took a step back, putting on a delicate expression “Sister–in–law, I have a headache Can Lucas get my hat for me?“%
Without a word, Lucas turned around and headed upstairs #
As soon as he disappeared, the softness on Lily’s face vanished. She approached me, her red lips curling into a smug smile
“Lucas said that the bastard in your belly should’ve never been kept.“%
My eyes snapped up, fingers trembling
She gave a mocking smile and leaned in. “Do you know the Carter Camily? They’re backing me.“%
She paused, watching my face change.
“If the Carters so much as lift a finger, Beijing will shake. What can you use to fight me?”
My fists clenched.
The Carter family–an elite lineage with over a century of power–held influence over half the country’s economy. Even the mighty Turner family was insignificant in comparson. In front of the Carter’s, everyone else was dust.
Suddenly, Lily stumbled backward and threw herself onto the floor, crying out.” “Sister–in–law! I know you hate me for stealing Lucas! Are you going to kill me now?”
“Nina!” Lucas rushed down the stairs and shoved me aside.”
I stumbled onto the edge of the coffee table, pain shooting through my lower back.
He knelt and wrapped his arms protectively around Lily, eyes ice cold.
“What did you do to her? Can you stop being so unreasonable for once?”
“I didn’t touch her!” I said, my voice shaking.4
“You’d better not have,” he snapped. Without sparing me another glance, he picked her up and walked toward the door. “Lily, let’s go.”
I stood frozen in the living room, my hand slowly moving to cradle my belly.
Lucas didn’t come home for two days.M
I quietly took down our wedding photos from the wall, one frame at a time. The sound of the last one hitting the trash echoed like a final goodbye.
My phone vibrated.
“Nina, I’m sending someone to pick something up. Can you give it to him?”
In the walk–in closet, the set of jewelry worth tens of millions lay quietly in a velvet–lined drawer. I remembered how he once said while taking photos of it, “This is for the most important person.“/
I stared at it for a long time, then smiled faintly.
Expressionless, I took out the jewelry and handed it to the driver at the gate. Then I turned and came back with a manila envelope. “Wait,” I said calmly. “I’ll go with you. Take me there.“W
The driver hesitated but nodded.
The car pulled up in front of a lavish estate, ablaze with lights and the sound of a live orchestra flowing out into the night.”
“Ms. Shaw, happy birthday!” Cheers and well wishes rang out as I walked in.
All eyes turned toward me.}
“Isn’t that Mr. Turner’s wife? What’s she doing here dressed like that? So tacky.“W
“I heard she’s clinging to him shamelessly. How pathetic.”
“Mr. Turner should’ve dumped her ages ago. Ms. Shaw is carrying his child now. Why won’t she just leave?”
“She even tried to push Ms. Shaw down. What a heartless woman…”
I ignored the murmurs and kept walking.
Lucas’s brows furrowed when he saw me. “Nina, why are you here?”
I smiled. “It’s Ms. Shaw’s birthday. How could I not attend?”
I held out the jewelry box. “What she wanted.“}]
Lily’s eyes sparkled as she reached for it. She opened it slowly, deliberately, so everyone could see.
“Lucas, this is for me?” she asked sweetly.
Lucas didn’t respond. His gaze lingered on me, unreadable.}]
She giggled, “Put it on for me?”
After a pause, he picked up the necklace and fastened it around her neck.
Then, on tiptoe, she suddenly threw her arms around his neck, kissed his cheek, and turned to me with a triumphant smirk.”
I didn’t say a word
Suddenly, Lily staggered with a cry. “Ah!”
