Series1–Chapter 1
Standing at the civil registration office, Thaddeus Blake’s “little sister” sent him a pregnancy test
photo.
He didn’t even hesitate–just left me standing there and rushed off to bring her home.
Within hours, Selena posted intimate photos of them together. The background? Our bedroom.
Then came Thaddeus’s message
“I got drunk at that party, and Violet is pregnant. I need to take care of her.”
“She was gonna hide it from me and raise the kid alone, but she’s so young and has this bright future ahead of her as a cardiac surgeon… I can’t mess that up for her. And I can’t just abandon an innocent
baby.”
“You’ve been dying to have kids, right? Once she gives birth, I’ll send her to Europe to finish her medical study. You can raise the child–it’ll only know you as mom!
When I didn’t respond, he added,
“About our marriage registration… we have to postpone it after Violet delivers the baby.”
I stared at my phone screen, laughing until my eyes turned red.
Did he really think Selena Lockhart, the only heiress of the Lockhart family, had no options but him?
I immediately called Archer Reynolds:
“Marriage–interested?”
He had been waiting at the airport for a business flight to Italy when my call dragged him to the registry office.
Remembering his exasperated expression earlier, I felt a twinge of guilt.
“Selena,did I owe you something? I chased you for eight years without getting so much as an extra
Declaiming My Crown When His Betrayal Became My Liberation.
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Series1–Chapter 1
glance, and now you suddenly want to get married?”
I glanced at my watch,
“The Office closing soon. Are you in or not?”
He deflated instantly.
“OKAY! I brought certifications, rescheduled my flight, and even told my parents. Let’s go!”
I suppose my continued silence finally prompted Thaddeus to call.
His voice carried a hint of urgency.
“Selena,don’t overthink this. You’re the only one in my heart. With Violet, it’s purely admiration. That night was truly just an accident!”
“I understand,” I replied, my voice unnervingly calm. “That’s what men do, right?”
Silence stretched across the line for several seconds before I heard him take a deep breath.
“Where are you? I’ll send the driver to get you. Violet’s uncomfortable, and I really can’t leave her
away…”
I cut him off“No need.”
His voice suddenly turned cold,
“Selena,are you angry now? I’ve explained everything clearly. Violet will leave after the baby is
born. What more do you want from me?”
I felt suffocated,unconsciously clutched my marriage certificate, struggling to keep my voice steady.
“Thaddeus, let’s break up.”
He paused, then let out a bitter laugh.
“After all these years, don’t you know how I feel about you? Yes, I made a damn mistake, but what
man doesn’t? I’m already making up. Do you really so strict with this?”
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Reclaiming My Crown:When His Betrayal Became My Liberation
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Series1 Chapter 1
I closed my lips,without any words.
I stayed silent, his patience finally broke out. “Fine!Whatever!Let’s break up!You’ll be back here crying within the half hour!”
The line went dead with a sharp click, leaving me nothing but the dial tone.
I took a taxi and returned to what was once our home.
Not for begging him, but simply to pack up my things before leaving.
When I pushed the door open, Thaddeus stood there wearing an apron, the dining table laden with carefully prepared dishes.
He and Violet sat facing each other, eating and laughing together.
He gently served food on her plate, even tenderly feeding morsels directly to her lips.
That gentle expression on his face–I had naively believed it only belongs to me.
I remembered when I cooked for him, he would embrace me from behind, whispering in my ear“Thank you, baby.”
It seemed nice, yet throughout our five years together, he had never once made me even a simple
cup of coffee.
He was the youngest cardiothoracic professor at the country’s most prestigious medical school.
His always told me “My hands are for surgery,they must be protected at all time.”
Even when holding my hand, he was excessively cautious.
Yet now, here he was, breaking his own rule to cook for Violet.
When Thaddeus spotted me,letting out a cold laugh and giving a knowing look that said, “I knew it.”
Violet greeted me with manufactured enthusiasm: “Selena! You’re home! Would you like to join us
for dinner?”
I silently walked past her, heading straight for the bedroom.
“Stop right there!” Thaddeus jumped to his feet, his face darkening ominously. “Violet is speaking to
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Series1–Chapter 1
you. At least you could response her. Have you no basic manners at all?”
I turned slowly,curling into a cold smile.
“How exactly would you like me to respond? Should I thank her for eagerly carrying my fiancé’s child, making me an instant mother without any pains? Or should I rush over and slap that homewrecker across the face, telling her to get the hell out of my house?!”
“You-!” Thaddeus sputtered, veins bulging at his temples.
“Ugh…”
Violet suddenly covered her mouth, retching as tears run out of her eyes.
Thaddeus anxiously asked,
“Violet, what’s wrong? Are you feeling bad?”
“I’m fine, Thaddeus…”
She trembled as she clutched his sleeve, yet directed her tearful performance at me.
“Selena this is all my fault. I didn’t want to stay in your home either, but I truly had nowhere else to go. I–I’ll leave as soon as my baby is born, I promise I won’t disturb you and Thaddeus anymore.”
As she spoke, she suddenly clutched her stomach, sobbing,
“I’m so sorry, baby. Mommy doesn’t want to abandon you, but Mommy did something terrible and
must be punished. I’m so sorry…”
Then she began retching violently again, collapsing dramatically into Thaddeus’s arms.
Thaddeus looked at me with pure contempt, as if I had committed some unforgivable sin.
“Are you satisfied now?”
I scoffed and walked away without another word.
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