Chapter 3
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Alaric’s voice was cold over the phone.
“Reflect on your actions while you’re at home. The doctor said Ruby nearly suffered a miscarriage.”
I was hospitalized for three days. He didn’t visit me once.
Meanwhile, Ruby’s social media was flooded with posts flaunting her new yacht, mansion and luxury car, all gifts from Alaric. The entire Middleton Family treated her like she was some precious jewel.
I sat quietly by the hospital window, staring blankly at the rustling leaves.
My phone rang, but it wasn’t him.
“Hello, Miss. Regarding the baby welcoming party you booked, we’ll be using our finest 288,000–dollar package.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“Contact Alaric. You don’t need to notify me.”
On the day I was discharged, I took a cab home by myself.
As soon as I stepped through the door, I saw Ruby lounging lazily on the sofa while Alaric gently peeled grapes for her, one by one.
He grabbed my arm and dragged me to the side, lowering his voice.
“Ruby’s pregnancy is finally stable. Don’t stir up trouble with her again, understand?”
“From today onward, she’s living here.”
Ruby shot me a smug, challenging glance. Her face said it all: I’ve won.
Late that night, a blood–curdling scream came from her room. When Alaric rushed in, he found her writhing in pain on the floor.
“Help! It hurts! Save the baby!”
At the hospital, the diagnosis was food poisoning.
Lying on the bed, Ruby looked at me with teary, wounded eyes. Her voice trembled.
“Madam, why would you do this to me? This is Alaric’s child.”
Alaric’s gaze turned ice cold.
“Eleanor, have you lost your mind?!”
Without giving me a chance to explain, he had someone forcibly send me to a secluded villa on the outskirts of the city.
I sat on the floor of that vast, empty villa, heart twisting in agony.
Three years of marriage and I had never warmed his heart. All I’d done was expose how little I truly meant.
I texted him.
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23:33 Tue, 24 Jun
[Let’s get a divorce.]
His call came almost instantly, his tone forceful.
“I don’t agree! How long are you planning to keep this up?”
I answered calmly, “Alaric, your heart belongs to someone else and now she’s carrying your child. Divorce will set us both free.”
“Think carefully before you speak again.” He hung up on me.
I shook my head with a bitter smile. He’d married me for the Middleton Family’s reputation.
And now he refused to even let me go. This hollow, hypocritical marriage, I didn’t want it
anymore.
Three days later, he suddenly showed up at the villa. His tone had softened.
“Eleanor, today’s your birthday. I prepared a surprise just for you.”
Before I could say a word, he pulled me into the car and brought me to a high–end private
club.
He opened the door to a luxurious private room, inside stood a towering champagne fountain and an exquisite eight–tier cake.
His friends all shouted in unison, “Happy birthday, sis–in–law!”
Alaric gently placed a birthday’s hat on my head, his voice warm but edged with warning.
“You’ve been through a lot lately, I know. But remember, you’ll always be my wife. So, stop being stubborn, alright?”
Just then, the private room door swung open.
Ruby walked in gracefully. The mood shifted in an instant.
She leaned close to Alaric, whispering just loud enough for only me to hear, “I’m not wearing anything underneath.”
Alaric’s expression changed immediately. Without a word, he turned to me. “I’ll be right back.”
Then he followed her out.
And never returned.
The guests exchanged awkward glances before making excuses to leave, one after another.
Suddenly, I felt a forceful shove from behind I crashed into the champagne tower. Glass shattered around me, slicing my arm open in dozens of places.
Slumped on the floor, I scooped up a piece of ruined cake with trembling fingers and took a bite.
Chapter 3
