Chapter 2

When I got back to the villa, I was shaking all over and even passed out on the sofa.

When I opened my eyes again, a faint fruity scent filled my nose.

"Lucy, you're awake?"

My father, Robert Patterson, was sitting by the bed reading the newspaper. Seeing me open my eyes, he lovingly put down his reading glasses. "How could you be so careless? Connie said you fainted just now. Is the morning sickness too bad?"

"Darling, here, have some fruit." Edward walked over with a fruit plate, wearing that familiar doting smile I knew so well.

He picked up a neatly cut piece of apple with a toothpick and brought it to my lips. "Don't move around right after waking up. Is the baby giving you a hard time?"

He immediately pretended to scold my belly affectionately, "Daddy's telling you, Daddy loves Mommy the most. You can only come second, so you're not allowed to give Mommy a hard time anymore, understand?"

The warm yellow light, the caring father, the thoughtful husband...

This scene was so heartwarming, so heartwarming that it made me feel like I was imagining things.

Everything I saw happen at the club was just a nightmare caused by pregnancy anxiety.

How could it be real?

After all, to marry me, Edward once knelt in the pouring rain for an entire night. For my sake, my father hasn't remarried for over ten years.

I opened my mouth to take the apple, my eyes stinging with tears.

"I'm going to the bathroom." Edward tucked in the covers for me, gently kissed my forehead, and turned to walk into the bathroom.

Maybe I really was overthinking.

I was about to close my eyes and rest when I noticed the bathroom door wasn't fully closed. Through the sound of running water, I caught Edward's extremely low voice.

"...Of course, the wedding dress has to be the best, that French lace one suits you... Don't worry, she just fainted, she's sleeping deeply... Be good, I miss you too."

In that instant, the apple in my mouth became as nauseating as wax.

It wasn't a dream.

It wasn't even a nightmare—it was a living, breathing reality that was slowly torturing me.

I dug my nails hard into my palm, the sharp pain keeping me alert.

Just then, my father looked at his watch and stood up. "Lucy, there's an emergency meeting at the company. Dad has to go handle it. You rest well."

"You have to go this late?" My voice was hoarse, desperately suppressing the trembling.

"I have to. After all, all of this will be yours someday. Dad wants to leave you a good foundation." Father sighed, looking exhausted from working for this family.

The moment he left, I immediately grabbed the tablet from the bedside.

Security cameras were installed in every corner of the villa complex, but I had never bothered to check them before.

Robert's black Maybach drove out of the garage. Instead of heading toward the company, it turned and drove straight to another villa less than five hundred yards from my house.

Audrey was waiting for him at the door.

So this was what "working overtime" meant, what leaving me a good foundation meant—going to spend time with his mistress and illegitimate daughter.

Watching my father's figure on the screen with his arm around Audrey, my stomach churned violently.

"What's wrong?"

Edward came out of the bathroom, carrying the fresh scent of body wash, but it couldn't hide the disgusting hypocrisy.

He sat back down by the bed, reaching out to touch my belly. "I want to hear the baby's heartbeat."

His phone lit up.

While pretending to look at me affectionately, he quickly typed a blind reply, a smile on his face.

I couldn't see the screen, but I knew it must be Angela on the other end.

While talking to me about our child, he was flirting with another woman.

The intense physical revulsion broke through my rational defenses. I suddenly pushed him away and leaned over the bed, vomiting violently.

"Lucy!" Edward jumped in surprise, reaching out to pat my back.

The moment his hand touched my spine, every hair on my body stood on end, as if a poisonous snake had wrapped around me.

Through my disheveled hair, I saw the flash of disgust and impatience in his eyes, though he quickly replaced it with a mask of concern.

"Why are you vomiting so badly? I'll go get Connie..."

"No need." I grabbed a tissue to wipe my mouth. When I looked up, my eyes showed deathly calm. "I want desserts from Bluebell's Treats. Can you go get some for me?"

The nearest Bluebell's Treats was ten miles away—at least an hour round trip.

Edward paused, a flash of joy in his eyes.

Of course he should be happy. With that much time, he could also make a detour to Audrey and Angela's house.

And conveniently meet my father.

"Okay, as long as you want it, I'll go get it no matter how far."

He grabbed his coat, acting deeply devoted, and hurried away.

Finally, I was alone in the room.

I took a deep breath and called my father with trembling hands.

"Dad..." I said with a sob, my voice soft and sweet, just like that spoiled daughter, "My stomach hurts so much, I'm so scared... Edward went out. Can you come back and stay with me?"

Angela's flirtatious laughter came through the phone, immediately covered by the sound of someone deliberately muffling the receiver.

A moment later, Robert's impatient but forced-caring voice came through: "What's wrong? I will be right back."

Fifteen minutes later, Robert pushed through the door with a chill about him, but his brow showed the irritation of having his fun interrupted.

"What's wrong, Lucy?"

"Dad, I just had a nightmare. I dreamed all my shares were gone." I said with red-rimmed eyes, pulling out a document I'd prepared from under the pillow. "This is the supplementary equity trust agreement the lawyer sent last time. They said it's for your convenience in managing things. Please sign it, Dad. I'll feel better if you do."

Father was clearly anxious to get back and had no interest in reading it carefully.

In his eyes, I was just an idiot who only knew how to spend money and date, nothing more. He'd been managing all my assets for years—signing was just a formality.

"You silly child, always coming up with random ideas."

With a flourish, he signed his name at the end of the document, without even turning to the second page.

He didn't know it wasn't a trust agreement.

It was a "Confirmation of Waiver of All Asset Inheritance and Management Rights Over Children's Assets," with a deadly additional clause hidden in the terms: once signed, all supervisory rights over my trust funds would be immediately terminated.

"Alright, I still have things to do. Go to sleep." Robert threw down the pen and left again.

As the door closed, I casually wiped the tears from my face.

I picked up the signed contract.

"Thomas, it's me."

I looked out at the pitch-black night. "Immediately initiate the termination of the equity trust procedures. Also, notify the finance department—starting tomorrow, gradually shut down all ongoing collaborations between the Patterson Group and Edward's company."