Chapter 2

I spent a full seven days in the hospital, and Pearson didn't make a single call or send a single message.

But Scarlett posted pictures on social media of the snowman Pearson built for the child, along with videos of them having a snowball fight like a perfect little family of three.

The little girl chased after Pearson, sweetly calling out, "Daddy!"

I placed the cold, lifeless body of my baby in the custom-made freezer. Looking at the tiny corpse, I suddenly remembered how Pearson once said he would have many children with me, watch them grow up together, and grow old by my side.

Lost in thought, the door opened. I limped out of the nursery, and Pearson froze when he saw the bandages wrapped around my leg.

"Callie... you..."

I could clearly see his trembling hands and his desperate gestures to explain.

"Callie, why didn't you tell me you were really hurt? If you had just said something, I would have dropped everything to come take care of you!"

I couldn't help but laugh, though the smile didn't reach my eyes. I asked him, "Didn't you block me?"

He suddenly seemed to remember something and quickly pulled out his phone, his face turning pale.

"I'm sorry..."

I stopped looking at him and lay back down on the bed, pretending to sleep.Pearson lay beside me, attempting to pull me close, but I instinctively recoiled in disgust.

Pearson's brow furrowed deeply. "Callie, I've already apologized to you. Can't we just move on? Look, I'll do nothing but stay home and take care of you for a while if that's what it takes."

"Oh, and remember how you said you were craving jackfruit last time? I bought a bunch. It's perfect timing since it's good for the baby too, helps with nutrition and all that."

I let out a bitter laugh. My stomach was still achingly tight. What baby was there to speak of anymore?

Misinterpreting my reaction as forgiveness, Pearson wrapped his arm around me and whispered, "You know Scarlett's had it tough these past few years, raising a kid on her own. She's your best friend, and I can't just ignore her. Once she's better, I'll have her come keep you company, alright? Don't be mad anymore."

Just as Pearson leaned in, his phone chimed. It was a message from Scarlett.

I knew it was her message because Pearson had set a special ringtone just for her.

This was a privilege even I didn't have.

Pearson's brazen display of favoritism relied entirely on the fact that I couldn't hear it.I turned my back to him as he casually played Scarlett's voice message on speaker: "Pearson, the child fell and got hurt. She's crying and asking for her daddy. Pearson, can you come home?"

Pearson's voice was gentle as he replied in a voice message: "Don't worry, I'll be there right away."

A moment later, Pearson sent me a text message.

"Callie, Scarlett's child is sick too, and there's no one to take care of her. I have to go over there. We have a private doctor and a nanny at home, and I've already instructed them to take good care of you.

You know it's not easy for her on her own. She's running a fever, and the child is only three years old..."

I cut Pearson off, nodding slightly and gesturing: "Go ahead, take good care of them for me."

From now on, I won't need you anymore.

Pearson didn't come home all night. Scarlett posted on social media, showing a scene of Pearson anxiously holding the child while seeing the doctor.

The caption read: "All fathers are wrapped around their daughters' little fingers."

The child had merely scraped her skin a bit, easily fixed with a simple band-aid.

But my child lies cold in the freezer, without a single word of concern from Pearson.For the next couple of weeks, Pearson stayed by Scarlett's side, tending to their daughter.

Only when the child's wounds had begun to scab over did Pearson have his assistant send me a message, inviting me to attend a charity gala.

It was then that I remembered - today marked our eighth wedding anniversary. Every year on this day, we'd host a charity gala, donating the funds raised to underprivileged mountain communities, all in hopes that the heavens might bless us with a child.

After I became pregnant, Pearson declared that this year's gala would be more lavish than ever.

He hoped the powers that be would see his sincerity and ensure our child's health and safety.

I initially didn't want to go. I had already booked a flight for the next day, planning to fly abroad for rehabilitation treatment.

But then I thought, why not use this opportunity to give Pearson a grand surprise?

At the gala, the moment I stepped out of the car, all the spotlights turned to me. As the wife of Langdon Corporation's CEO, I naturally commanded attention.

But in the next second, an even more dazzling figure appeared beside me, affectionately linking arms with me as she smiled, "Callie, it's been a while. How are you? I heard you were in a car accident? What a shame it didn't finish you off!"Her voice was soft, barely audible to me alone. Yet she spoke recklessly, thinking I was still a deaf woman who couldn't hear a thing. Her face betrayed no hint of the venom in her words.

My head spun as I recalled the truck barreling towards me in that accident. It dawned on me that this had all been her doing.

She sighed, barely containing her smugness. "Whatever, it's not like you can hear me anyway. What a shame. I almost managed to kill you. But don't worry, I've got another surprise in store for you tonight. Here's hoping you're not as lucky as you were before."

By the time I gathered my wits, she had already left, hanging on Pearson's arm as she greeted reporters in front of the cameras.

She looked every bit the star of this party.

I stood in the shadows, unable to calm my racing thoughts for a long while.

I had thought my best friend was merely trying to steal my man. I never imagined she actually wanted me dead!