Chapter 3

Vespera didn't even know how she managed to walk out. She only knew she was exhausted, physically and emotionally drained. Vespera stared blankly out the taxi window.

She recalled what happened half a month ago at the birthday party of Quinton's close friend. Someone offered Francesca a toast during the party, but Quinton stepped in and drank on her behalf. When the others protested, he casually said it was because Francesca was pregnant. Rumours circulated that the child was Quinton's because her husband had died a few months earlier and he had been caring for her ever since. People even joked about it.

"Quin, is the baby yours?" someone teased.

Quinton simply smiled and replied, "It wouldn't be wrong to say that."

After the party, Vespera confronted him, demanding to know why he would say such a thing. Quinton claimed that Francesca's child was his godson and there was nothing wrong with saying it that way. Besides, he hadn't married Francesca, so people would naturally assume he meant it that way.

Everyone knew that Quinton had harbored feelings for Francesca for five years. Still, in the end, she chose to marry a wealthy man in his forties instead. It was only after that that Quinton finally agreed to Vespera's proposal. They got their marriage certificate and had a happy life together for a time.

They didn't hold a wedding, so the only people who knew about their marriage were the two of them and Quinton's parents.

After Francesca's husband died, she was forced out of her home. Quinton had been taking care of her ever since. To outsiders, Vespera was the third party who ruined Quinton and Francesca's supposed love story.

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Back home, Vespera took off the jade safety pendant around her neck and placed it in the safe, along with her pregnancy test results. Her mind echoed the doctor's words, "Your body is weak. Getting pregnant this time was pure luck. If you don't keep this baby, you might never get another chance. Think carefully."

The timing couldn't be worse. She should terminate the pregnancy, but if she did, she might lose the chance to be a mother forever. She knew exactly why her health was so fragile.

Years ago, Quinton took her and his friends on a mountain camping trip. When it suddenly started raining, they had to evacuate quickly. On the way down, Francesca slipped and almost fell off a cliff. Vespera instinctively reached out to save her. In the end, Francesca was fine, but Vespera fell instead.

She barely survived. A rock had struck her stomach, damaging her uterus. The doctors had warned her that having children in the future would be extremely difficult.

After finally getting pregnant, she lost everything to Francesca again. No, Francesca didn't even have to take anything. All she had to do was lift a finger and Quinton would go to her willingly.

Vespera shook her head, refusing to dwell on it. She could be a single mother. She had money, and her parents would dote on the child, too. With that thought, she comforted herself and drifted off to sleep.

At two o'clock in the morning, Quinton returned home and went to bed. Vespera was a light sleeper. He often came home late because of his demanding job and she had gotten used to waiting for him. Habits indeed were hard to break.

At first, whenever he returned, he would hold her from behind, kiss her and share intimate moments with her. Ever since Francesca's divorce, he spent most of his time caring for that woman. He always said that he was tired every time he came home. Even so, he still hugged Vespera. Unfortunately, she felt that the hug was half-hearted.

Then he just never came home; if he did, he would turn his back to her like now, and they no longer had any communication. She had long told herself to give up. Still, her breathing couldn't help but quicken after feeling his change.

Quinton heard the sound of her breathing and turned on the light, staring at her. "You're awake."

Vespera met his gaze directly. "Yeah."

"Perfect. Francesca's health was awful. The doctor said she should drink some chicken soup for nourishment. She's picky and doesn't like restaurant food. She only likes the way you make it. Stay home tomorrow and make some for her. Bring it to the villa in the Westone Villa."

That villa was the place where she and Quinton had shared their happiest moments. Now, even that had been tainted.

Vespera closed her eyes, her voice cold. "I don't have time."

Quinton frowned, displeased. "Why are you being so difficult? You're a housewife. Your time is the least valuable."

Vespera felt her blood turn ice-cold. Her fists clenched tightly. When they first married, Quinton told her, "My woman doesn't need to work. You just need to enjoy life at home."

"But that makes me a housewife. I don't want to be one, I want to create my own value," she replied.

Quinton had playfully pinched her nose and said, "What's wrong with being a housewife? It's a real job, just a different kind of value. Besides, I make more than enough money for you. If you work, it'll make me look incompetent."

His charming words had totally deceived her. She even rejected an offer from a top-tier law firm to stay home for him, and now, he dismissed her so easily.

Suddenly, she thought of a popular saying on the internet. Before marriage, it's 'I'll support you', after marriage, it's 'I'm supporting you'.

"No matter how worthless my time is, I have no interest in raising someone else's child. If you want to be a stepfather, go ahead. I won't be a stepmother."

Quinton clenched his jaw. "You … " Then his eyes landed on her bare neck. "Where's the jade pendant I gave you? Why aren't you wearing it?"

Vespera slowly opened her eyes and met his gaze. Her voice was calm but distant. "It no longer keeps me safe."