After I stopped going to the Smith Corporation, Andrew came home more often, his eyes gleaming with secret joy.
At dinner, he would wait for me, even bringing my favorite fruit.
At the table, he would eagerly serve me food, hiding concern in his words:
“Rachel, eat more.”
After one such meal, he couldn’t hold back.
“Rachel, since you’ve got nothing to do at home, maybe I’ll find something for you.”
“Sure. What is it?” I set down my teacup, curious about his scheme.
“Chloe’s pregnant. With my child.”
The scalding tea burned my hand, but the pain went straight to my heart.
For a moment, my heartbeat stopped. His words were a knife, slicing me apart.
It took me a long time to find my voice, steady and cold:
“So? What do you want?”
“Chloe is just a young girl. I can’t leave her alone. Since you’re not busy, you’ll take care of her. When the baby is born, you can even be the godmother.”
“As long as you behave and cover for us, I won’t divorce you.”
Numb, I nodded. Let them bask in their brief joy.
I would make sure they understood—I was not someone to be trifled with.
From the moment Chloe moved in, she never stopped causing trouble.