Chapter 7

Willow's POV

I couldn't sleep anymore.

I lay in the darkness with my eyes open, my body rigid as a board.

After an unknown amount of time, the door gently pushed open, and Caleb softly walked in, lifted the covers, and hugged me from behind.

As if nothing had happened.

He smelled of an unfamiliar perfume.

My stomach churned again. I gritted my teeth, pushing down the nausea again and again.

Caleb's arms tightened, his lips pressed against the back of my neck, and he mumbled vaguely, "Willow."

I lay still, pretending to be fast asleep.

He fell asleep quickly.

But I kept my eyes open until dawn.

The next morning, as we were leaving the family estate, Daisy timidly said, "I can just take a cab. No need to trouble you."

Caleb immediately shook his head, "No way. You're pregnant, and there are a lot of reporters out there. It's not safe. Come with us."

The three of us walked to the car. I habitually reached for the passenger door.

From behind me, Daisy's timid voice came again, "The front seat is more spacious, and it's a bit uncomfortable for me since I'm pregnant. Willow, could I sit in the front?"

I didn't say anything, turned, walked to the back seat, opened the door myself, and got in.

Caleb looked at me, ultimately said nothing, and then opened the passenger door for Daisy.

As the car drove onto the main road, a truck suddenly lost control and overturned, causing a multi-car pileup.

Caleb slammed the steering wheel, and the car violently crashed into the guardrail.

The massive impact flung me toward the car window, and blood streamed down my forehead.

Daisy in the front seat shrieked in terror.

Caleb immediately turned sideways to shield her stomach, "Daisy! Are you okay? The baby? Does your stomach hurt?"

Daisy trembled all over, shrinking into his embrace, shaking her head.

The road was blocked, and the ambulance wouldn't be able to get through for a while.

The accident scene quickly gathered a crowd, and people started recognizing them.

"Is that Caleb Owen?"

"The woman next to him, is that Willow? Mrs. Owen?"

"Mrs. Owen? They're divorced, everyone knows that. The other one is Caleb's current girlfriend. Didn't you see that photo of them kissing at the concert?"

"Wait, why is that woman's belly so big? They just got divorced, right? Her belly is already so big, the timing doesn't add up."

"Isn't she just his mistress then? Cheating during marriage!"

"That mistress has no shame."

Caleb's face instantly darkened.

He unhesitatingly pulled Daisy into his embrace, then turned to me, his gaze cold and sharp, and loudly snapped, "Stop following me! We divorced a long time ago!"

My body trembled.

He publicly lied, pushing me out to take the blame for Daisy.

Sure enough, the onlookers immediately changed their tune.

"Oh, so they were already divorced. She's not a mistress then, we misunderstood her."

"So what's the deal with this Willow? Divorced but still clinging to her ex-husband? His new girlfriend is even pregnant."

"What else could it be? She can't let go of the Owen family money. She came from an ordinary family; how could she willingly give up such a rich family?"

"So she's a gold-digger? Mr. Owen used to spoil her so much; he should have divorced her sooner."

I lowered my head, closed my eyes, unable to utter a single word.

The pain from my injuries made me break out in a cold sweat, but none of it compared to the ache in my chest.

It felt like someone had torn my heart from my chest, thrown it on the ground, and stomped on it.

Caleb's gaze fell on my pale face. He was about to say something.

"My stomach hurts so much." Daisy clutched her belly, her voice trembling.

Caleb immediately pulled his gaze away and held Daisy even tighter. "Don't be afraid, Daisy. The ambulance will be here any minute."

The ambulance finally arrived.

I lifted my heavy eyelids and saw Caleb carrying Daisy onto the ambulance.

All his attention was on Daisy. His steps were hurried. He didn't look back once.

My vision grew increasingly blurry. The sounds around me faded away, finally plunging me into darkness.