Chapter 3

Julian's composure wavered for a split second, his eyes darting between me and Victoria.

Then he scoffed. "Oh, please. Audio can be faked so easily, darling. He's desperate."

Victoria's gaze, which had flickered with something unreadable when she heard Julian's voice, hardened again as she looked at me.

She reached out and snatched my phone.

With a swift movement, she stopped the recording and deleted the file.

"Enough of this, Ethan," she said, her voice sharp. "Julian is my guest. You will treat him with respect. Apologize."

My hope for a sliver of justice died. She wouldn't even listen.

"I have nothing to apologize for," I said, my voice flat.

Julian, emboldened, stepped closer.

"See, Vic? He's impossible."

He picked up a steaming mug of coffee from the side table.

"Accidentally," his hand slipped.

The scalding liquid splashed across my chest and arm.

I hissed in pain, stumbling back.

"Oh, my goodness!" Julian cried, then immediately yelped, dropping the mug. "Ouch! I think some splashed on me too! My hand!"

He held up his hand, which had a tiny red mark, barely visible.

Victoria rushed to him, her face a mask of alarm.

"Julian! Are you alright? Let me see!"

She completely ignored me, though my shirt was soaked and my skin was already blistering.

She fussed over Julian's hand, dabbing it with a napkin.

"We need to get some ice on this immediately," she declared. "Marcus! Get the car! We're going to the clinic."

She guided Julian out, her arm around him protectively.

She didn't even glance back at me.

The pain in my arm was intense, but the pain of her absolute indifference was worse.

A few moments later, one of the household staff, a young woman named Maria, came in hesitantly.

"Mr. Hayes... are you... are you okay? Mrs. Price said... she said you might need some cream."

Her eyes were full of pity.

"I'm fine, Maria. Thank you."

But I wasn't fine. My resolve to leave, to escape this poisonous charade, solidified into cold, hard certainty.

I went to the bathroom and treated the burn myself. It was nasty, already starting to blister badly.

The so-called "expert medical staff" Victoria employed were no doubt all attending to Julian's phantom injury at the private clinic.

Later that evening, I had a scheduled follow-up with Dr. Albright, our fertility specialist. A routine check I'd forgotten about.

Victoria had insisted on these regular appointments for me, to "monitor my progress" after publicly taking the blame for our inability to conceive.

Dr. Albright looked uncomfortable when I walked in alone.

"Mr. Hayes. I was expecting Mrs. Price as well. We have some... news."

"She's... indisposed," I said.

"Well," the doctor began, then hesitated. "It's rather unexpected. Victoria... Mrs. Price... she's pregnant."

The words hit me like a physical blow.

Pregnant?

"IVF," Dr. Albright continued. "The last cycle took. She's nearly two months along. Congratulations."

My mind reeled. Victoria was pregnant.

After all these years. After she'd told me her chances were near zero due to aggressive treatment for a rare illness in her youth.

I had covered for her, taken the fall, let the world believe *I* was the infertile one.

And now... a child.

A child I never thought possible.

A wave of complex emotions washed over me – a ghost of old affection, confusion, resentment.

Just then, Victoria swept into the clinic, Julian trailing behind her like a pampered pet.

She hadn't gone to the appointment with me, but she'd clearly come to hear the news herself.

Dr. Albright repeated the news.

Victoria's face lit up with a triumphant, possessive smile. She didn't look at me.

She turned to Julian. "Did you hear, darling? We're having a baby!"

*We're*?

Then she looked at me, her eyes cold.

"I'm giving *you* a child, Ethan. So you'll be more accommodating to Julian. My fun with him is temporary. This child... this child is our future."

She still believed I was the infertile one, that this was some miracle she was bestowing upon me.

Julian smirked, placing a proprietary hand on Victoria's arm.

Victoria then turned to Dr. Albright. "Is there anything else, Doctor?"

Dr. Albright looked flustered. "No, Mrs. Price. Just regular check-ups."

As Victoria and Julian were about to leave, Julian paused, looking back at me with a smug expression.

"You'll make a great nanny, Hayes."

Victoria smiled indulgently at him.

Before Dr. Albright could leave the room, I spoke.

"Doctor, about the specifics of the pregnancy... could we maintain confidentiality for now? Just between us and Mrs. Price?"

He looked surprised but nodded. "Of course, Mr. Hayes."

I needed time to think. This changed everything. Or nothing.