Chapter 2

Just as I was sinking deep into painful memories, the front door opened.

Brandon was back.

Seeing me curled up on the sofa, he paused, then instinctively said,

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

He quickly kicked off his shoes and walked over, putting his arm around my shoulders.

"Is the baby bothering you again?"

He reached out and stroked my still-flat belly, gently humming a lullaby.

Listening to his soft voice, my hands, clutching the blanket, tightened.

Sometimes, I couldn't help but want to confront Brandon and ask him how he managed it.

He still smelled of the woman he'd been with, yet he'd made it home by 10 o'clock, the curfew I'd set for him.

Then he'd kiss my cheek.

Then he'd sit with me, playing educational music for our baby.

Well, it made sense. After all, when I was found and brought back to the Vance family, he managed to subtly approach me, listening to my stories of the five years I was lost and the pain I endured.

Yet, in the middle of the night, if Sierra called, he’d take her out for a night ride on his motorcycle.

He was always so contradictory, unable to let go of me, yet unable to let go of Sierra.

Even when my brother's actions forced me into孤苦无依 (loneliness and helplessness) abroad for college.

When I called Mom and Dad again for living expenses, they were busy traveling with Sierra and Derek, ignoring my calls and me.

Crying, I made just one call to Brandon. He only heard two sobs before he was on a plane that very night, flying to me, giving me money, and giving me his loving support.

But after he returned home, he showed up at our family's holiday dinner, embracing Sierra, looking like the perfect couple, in our family photo.

I honestly thought I had won.

After all, when I returned home, I threw a huge fit and practically blackmailed my parents into sending Sierra abroad.

I forced Brandon to ultimately choose me.

But only now did I realize I had lost. Completely.

The pain was so intense that tears welled up and streamed down my face without my conscious control.

Seeing me cry, Brandon panicked instantly.

"What's wrong, Cassie? Don't cry, tell me what's wrong."

I looked through my teary eyes at the man before me, his eyes full of concern.

For a moment, I truly believed I was his whole world.

But as he turned to grab tissues for my tears, I saw the dense, unmistakable hickeys on his neck, and my heart clenched.

No wonder Brandon had been sleeping in high-collared shirts these past few days.

When I was asleep, he was still working in his study.

When I woke up, he was already dressed in his suit and tie.

I had always thought Brandon was feeling guilty about his betrayal, but at that moment, it hit me.

His pathetic attempts to cover his tracks were simply to hide the evidence of his infidelity.

But what did he have to hide? Sierra had already threatened me the day she returned, vowing to take back everything that "belonged to her."

So, these past few days, the drawer where I kept my wedding ring was already filled with intimate photos of Brandon and Sierra.

Any day Brandon might notice I wasn't wearing my wedding ring and, on a whim, decide to put it on me, opening that drawer to find them.

Yet, the man who used to complain if I didn't wear my ring for even a day, accusing me of not valuing our marriage,

Hadn't noticed I'd taken off my wedding ring since Sierra returned.

I also noticed Brandon’s wedding ring had changed.

It was a ring with a similar general design to mine, but the details were completely different.

I even snuck it off his finger while he was asleep and saw that the engraving inside the band had changed from B&C (Brandon & Cassie) to B&S (Brandon & Sierra).

My heart ached, a suffocating pain. As Brandon reached out with a tissue to wipe my tears,

A wave of nausea suddenly hit me.

I instinctively slapped his hand away.

Brandon froze, the tissue still in his hand.

I quickly blurted out an excuse.

"Sorry, I think I'm just having morning sickness. I'm going back to bed."

After that, I didn't spare a glance at Brandon's expression, fleeing frantically back to my room.

The moment the door closed, I collapsed over the toilet, violently vomiting.

For the past three months of my pregnancy, this baby had been incredibly considerate; I hadn't experienced any morning sickness at all.

But now it had begun.

So, it wasn't just me who found his disgusting, two-faced act nauseating.

My baby felt it too.