2#02

2

"Darrell constantly claims he lacks even a single close companion. I accepted Mr. Thornton's offer to join the company as a way to repay the generosity your family extended to me in the past."

I let out a bitter chuckle.

"Generosity? Is this how you show gratitude to my family? Are you aiming to seize control of this household in the coming years?"

Holly's eyes welled up. She chewed her lower lip, then raised her palm and struck her own face twice.

Vivid crimson marks gradually emerged on her cheeks as tears trickled down.

"Alex, does this make you feel any better?" she said, her voice laden with hurt.

Darrell entered upon hearing the disturbance. His expression darkened instantly at the sight before him.

When he turned his gaze to me, it was as cold as ice.

"Alex! I take responsibility for not informing you about this sooner, but that doesn't justify venting your frustration on Holly! She's your former pupil—the one you once supported financially. You were prepared to let her perish before, and now you're doing everything in your power to prevent her from joining the company. How two-faced can you be?"

He paused, his tone growing even more frigid.

"If you won't assist Holly, then I shall! I'm the one who decided to convert the nursery into a bedroom. It's been unused for so long, and since you're unable to bear children, it's more practical to let Holly use it."

My hand instinctively moved to my stomach. I wavered, unsure whether to reveal my pregnancy.

"Actually, I already have two..." I began.

But Darrell irritably waved his hand, interrupting me before I could finish.

"You're merely a homemaker who has no concept of how hard I toil outside. Only Holly comprehends me—she's the one who remains by my side, working late into the night."

He turned to Holly with a tender look, his affection so intense it could overwhelm anyone.

"From this moment on, if there's anything of mine in this house, there will be an equal share for her!"

Then he added haughtily, as if addressing a servant,

"Alex, go prepare two sets of sheets for her bed. Her body is sensitive, and she won't rest well on anything too firm. Also, I'm taking her out for dinner—you can do as you please."

With his arm draped around Holly's shoulders, he marched out of the room, abandoning me.

As I observed his resolute figure vanish, a piercing ache struck my heart.

My thoughts drifted to the message logs I'd accidentally discovered on his phone a few days prior.

The man who once wanted to proclaim his love for me to the world had long since changed.

When he claimed to be working overtime, he was actually exploring "new positions" with Holly in the office.

Afterward, she shamelessly messaged him, "Brother, I've thought of something even more thrilling. Let's try it on the office chair next time~"

And when he told me he had an unexpected meeting and couldn't accompany me to the hospital for my appointment, he was in a luxury hotel, engaging in eight rounds with her.

Holly had even taunted him with a smirk,

"Brother, who feels better—me or your wife?"

Darrell sneered contemptuously, "Her mouth tastes bitter from all the medication she takes, and I have to hold my breath every time I kiss her. How could she ever measure up to someone as fragrant and soft as you?"

As I scrolled through the images one by one, my heart felt as if it were trapped in the icy grip of midwinter.

My body shook uncontrollably, as if seized by the cold.

I had followed him to the outskirts of Brooklyn, starting with nothing. Together, we built our success, and everyone admired our love, calling it more enduring than gold.

"Mrs. Thornton, I recall hearing about your love story back in university," someone once remarked to me.

"Darrell won every scholarship that term just to purchase you a necklace, and he worked three part-time jobs after classes. I heard you still wear that necklace—it's such a beautiful example of mutual devotion."

"Indeed, Mr. Thornton adores you so much," another had added.

"After your marriage, he couldn't stand to see you overworked, so he didn't allow you to work at all. I even remember once inviting him for dinner, but he declined because he said his wife had cooked, and he was eager to return home."

"It would be perfect if you two had a child one day!"