Chapter 5
Jennifer stepped out of her room to find the living room dimmed, the three of them huddled on the couch playing video games.
Edward Harris curled up in Nicole Harris’s arms while Nicole leaned against Alexander Smith’s shoulder, their laughter echoing nonstop.
Alexander took Edward’s hand, guiding his fingers over the controller before gently ruffling his hair.
They didn’t even glance up as Jennifer passed by, treating her like thin air.
Alexander used to recoil from any physical contact–he’d push her away at the slightest touch.
Yet now, he let Nicole nestle comfortably against his shoulder without protest.
“Tll tidy up the coffee table,” Nicole said, starting to rise.
Alexander’s slender fingers pressed down on her wrist.
“Nicole dear, don’t dirty your hands with chores.
Meanwhile, Edward burrowed deeper into Alexander’s embrace.
“Miss Harris, your hands are too precious for this,” Jennifer’s mother chimed in, scurrying from the kitchen to bow and scrape before them.
Jennifer froze, watching her mother’s servile display.
Her heart felt hollow, a sudden chill shuddering through her.
Chapter 5
Her mother grabbed a rag and began wiping the table.
In her past life, Jennifer had shouldered all the Smith household burdens -laundry, cooking, even meticulously ironing Alexander’s suits before every business trip.
Year after year, without complaint.
But now she realized: to Alexander, this was simply her place.
While Nicole, newly arrived, was already cherished dearly.
Jennifer swallowed her questions and retreated to pack her belongings.
She finished folding clothes before collapsing onto the bed for a nap.
‘Buzz buzz buzz…!
Her phone vibrated violently.
“Jennifer, get to the Integrated Medicine Hospital now!
See what you’ve done!”
Jennifer’s heart seized. She rushed to the hospital where Alexander stood in the corridor, suit jacket slung over his arm, tie hanging loose. Nicole knelt sobbing beside him.
Spotting Jennifer, Alexander strode forward and slapped her, fury blazing in his eyes.
“Why did you tell your mother to serve Edward seafood? He’s deathly allergic!
Are you trying to kill him?!”
Chapter 5
He loomed over her, his shadow swallowing her whole.
“I didn’t!” Jennifer met his glare. “I never left my room!”
“Still lying? Your mother confessed you told her Edward loves seafood!”
Alexander lifted her chin, his
rage
undiminished.
Nicole sprang up and punched Jennifer’s chest repeatedly.
“Is it because we moved in? You tried to murder my son while Alexander and I were out!
You vicious monster! You’ll die a horrible death!”
Jennifer staggered from the blows, crashing to the floor as Nicole rained down kicks and punches.
Only when exhausted did Nicole finally drop her hands.
Jennifer paid no heed to the woman’s hysterical screams, feeling as if waterlogged cotton had been stuffed down her throat.
She stood there numbly, her palms unconsciously clenching into fists.
So this was how her birth mother placed the blame squarely on her shoulders.
A bitter smile touched her lips as a thorn labeled “family bond” pierced her heart, drawing blood.
“The child is stable now.”
A nurse emerged as the hospital room door swung open.
Nicole rushed inside, shoving Jennifer aside where she blocked the
Chapter 5
doorway.
“What exactly happened?”
Alexander demanded, his voice low and controlled.
Edward clutched his own throat, gasping dramatically. “I feel awful, Dad. So awful…”
Only when tears welled in her eyes did Jennifer realize she’d been crying.
How desperately she’d once longed for a child with him. She’d believed herself inadequate, never realizing he’d already built a family elsewhere with his true love.
