My time in the freezer left me bedridden for nearly two weeks.
Because Elise casually mentioned being afraid I would infect her with my illness, Mason had me moved to a storage room in the most remote corner of the mansion.
The staff, always following whoever had power, took away my blanket at Elise’s subtle suggestion while I was burning with fever.
The storage room was dark and damp. Cold wind seeped through the windows, making my bones ache.
When Elise came in, wrapped in a thick fur coat and dressed elaborately, I was shivering uncontrollably.
Without Mason around, she bared all her fangs.
“Riley, you’re about to become a mother. Why are you still looking so sickly?”
I looked at Elise, confused. “What do you mean?”
“You used your three years of devotion as leverage to make Mason marry you, didn’t you? Well, you’ve achieved your goal. Mason said that no matter what, you’ll be Mrs. Reed.”
As Elise said this, a flash of resentment crossed her face, quickly replaced by smugness.
She continued boasting: “But unfortunately, you may control a man’s body, but you can’t control his heart.”
“Mason promised that after my baby is born, he’ll let me register the child under the Reed family name.”
“Mason hates you so much; he probably won’t let you have his child. Soon, I’ll be the mother of the only Reed child…”
Elise’s voice took on a dreamy quality.
The thick fur coat wrapped around her body swayed slightly in the wind, seemingly protecting her from the cold that was making my teeth chatter.
I laughed silently, my heart growing colder, yet I felt this was exactly how things should be.
Elise was right: in Mason’s heart–in everyone’s heart–I would always be the woman who used any means necessary to marry him, who leveraged her help to trap him.
I was also grateful that Mason didn’t know about my pregnancy.
I pressed my lips together, fighting the dryness in my throat from days without proper food or water.
“Elise, come closer.”
15:29
Nine Years Wasted–Now I’m Marrying Your Rival
85.8
Chapter 3
The woman impatiently approached the bed.
“What are you up to now, Riley?”
When she was finally in front of me, I summoned my last bit of strength to spit out a curse,
“Elise, take your bastard child and get the hell away from me!”
You want me to raise your child? Keep dreaming!
I hadn’t even finished savoring Elise’s shock when a seething voice from behind interrupted me,
“Riley, you really are… incorrigible.”
18
