Chapter 4

Asher’s phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the screen, then awkwardly looked at me.

Then he walked to the balcony, his voice deliberately kept very low.

But blurry words still floated into my ears.

“Good girl, I’m busy now, can’t come back yet… I’ll be done soon… Mhm, I’ll bring you a small cake…”

When he hung up and turned around, the tenderness hadn’t faded from his face.

Asher walked over, his gaze towards me now tinged with apology.

“Something urgent came up at the company. I need to handle it. I’ll be back later to have dinner with you.”

I nodded, saying nothing.

Ryder looked at Asher with concern.

“Is something wrong?”

“Minor issue.”

They were playing a charade in front of me, thinking I didn’t know.

Ryder eventually left with Asher.

At the door, they both turned back to look at me.

Asher’s eyes were filled with lingering affection: “Aria, wait for me. I’ll be back tonight.”

Ryder also looked at me with doting affection.

“Sister, go to bed early. Brother will take you for your hospital follow-up tomorrow.”

I smiled and nodded.

The next second, the door was gently closed.

The front door isolated me from them, and it also severed my last shred of hope.

Only I remained in the spacious living room.

The wall clock ticked, seemingly knocking against my shattered heart.

It felt like Ryder and Asher were slowly killing me, all in the name of love.

That night, Asher didn’t return.

He only sent me a message:

[Company business is hectic; I’ll have to stay at the office tonight. Babe, get some rest.]

And the next day, Ryder, who said he’d come to pick me up for my follow-up, didn’t show either.

I took a taxi to the hospital by myself.

After my check-up, as I was about to leave, a commotion suddenly erupted nearby.

I subconsciously looked up.

Just one glance, and my blood instantly froze.

Asher Vance was carefully supporting Chloe Miller, his face filled with tenderness and concern.

Ryder followed on the other side, his tone cautious and worried.

“Walk slowly. The doctor said you’re at risk of miscarriage, you can’t exert yourself now.”

I froze.

Chloe Miller was pregnant…

Chloe Miller looked at Asher Vance coquettishly, her voice sickeningly sweet.

“It’s all your fault, you didn’t come back to be with me last night for so long, that’s why I almost had a miscarriage.”

“Yes, yes, it’s all my fault.”

Asher Vance lowered his head, one hand supporting her shoulder, the other touching her belly.

The doting affection in his eyes was impossible to hide.

“I’ll stay with you from now on, okay?”

“My husband is so good to me.”

Chloe Miller burst into tears, then a smile.

Ryder also chimed in:

“As long as you’re well, we’ll do whatever you want.”

The three of them stood there, backlit, their figures searing my eyes.

Chloe Miller leaned against Asher Vance’s chest:

“Husband, will you always be good to me?”

“Of course. You’re my wife, and you’re carrying my child in your belly. Of course, I’ll be good to you.”

Asher Vance looked at her, his profile unbelievably soft.

Ryder joked from the side.

“You’re just spoiling her rotten.”

But there wasn’t a hint of blame in his tone, only pure indulgence.

Chloe Miller giggled, clearly amused…

That metallic taste surged into my throat again.

I clapped a hand over my mouth, forcing myself to swallow the blood.

Not long after leaving the hospital, my phone vibrated a few times.

It was a message from Ryder:

[Sister, how were your check-up results?]

[Brother’s quite busy here and can’t get away. Next time, I’ll definitely go with you.]

I looked at that text, smiling through my tears.

After getting home, I took a cold shower.

Finally, I felt a little clearer.

Asher Vance’s words to Chloe Miller, “You’re my wife…,” kept echoing in my ears.

I sent a message to a contact with a plain black profile picture.

“Julian, help me look into Asher Vance…”

About ten minutes later, he called me back.

“Aria, I found out you and Asher Vance divorced six months ago.”

“Asher Vance’s current wife is named Chloe Miller.”

I clutched my cramping stomach, laughing and crying on the sofa.

It was so absurd, so ridiculous.

I was a joke.

In three years, someone had completely taken my place.

The person on the other end of the line sounded anxious.

“Aria, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Julian, I’m fine. And—I agree to marry you.”