Chapter 2

"I couldn't bear the thought of our baby being labeled a bastard from the day they're born... That's the only reason I lost my mind."

Shock and ecstatic disbelief washed over Tristan's face. "Truly? Vivian, you're carrying my child?"

Vivian wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and nodded through her sobs. "Yes. We're having a baby."

They wept in each other's embrace, completely oblivious to the room full of guests who stood frozen in utter shock.

"Are you kidding me? Tristan Lu knocked up his own secretary?"

"Unbelievable. Pulling a stunt like this on his wedding day? Talk about a calculating homewrecker."

"Look at how he's holding her. There's no way that's just an innocent fling."

"Victoria Stone is getting completely humiliated. This is a massive slap in the face to the Stone family."

My face drained of all color. The heirloom jade bangle on my wrist—given to me by the Lu matriarch herself—slipped off my trembling arm and crashed against the floor tiles, shattering into jagged green shards.

I stumbled back a step, putting on a masterclass of shattered betrayal.

"Tristan... I always thought she was just your capable assistant. Now you're telling me she's carrying your flesh and blood?"

Tristan looked at me, caught between embarrassment and defensiveness. "Victoria, she's my childhood sweetheart. She's... the woman I truly love."

"And so?" I cut him off, voice trembling with cold fury. "You two are star-crossed lovers, and now you have a child on the way?"

Every question hit like a whip, leaving Tristan cornered and tongue-tied.

Vivian suddenly fell to her knees before me, sobbing pitifully. "Miss Stone, please don't blame Tristan! It's all my fault! I couldn't control my feelings, and I was selfish enough to want his baby."

"That night... he had too much to drink and mistook me for you. That's the only reason we... we crossed the line..."

"Slap!"

My hand cracked across her cheek, sending her head spinning.

"Watch your mouth!" I snarled, eyes blazing with icy disdain. "I am the sole heiress of the Stone family. I have self-respect and standards. How dare a cheap homewrecker drag my name through the mud to cover up your sleazy affair!"

"Before this engagement, Tristan and I never spent a single moment alone outside of formal business meetings."

"You have zero morals and got knocked up out of wedlock, and now you want to throw your filth onto me? You might not care about your dignity, but the Stone family cares about ours!"

Vivian clutched her burning cheek, tears streaming harder. "It's all my fault... Miss Stone, please don't be angry..."

With that, she began violently slamming her forehead against the floor, bowing over and over.

Seeing blood seep from her forehead, Tristan yanked her back into his arms, furious. "Stop it!"

He whirled on me, his voice dripping with venom. "This isn't Vivian's fault! She just wasn't born into a billionaire family like you were! In my eyes, she's worth ten of you! You just got lucky being born a Stone!"

"If it weren't for the multi-billion-dollar joint venture between our families, do you really think you'd be standing here as my bride today?"

"You're the reason Vivian was driven to suicide! She's carrying my child!"

"Since everyone is here anyway, let me make this abundantly clear: from this day forward, Vivian is my woman. I won't let her and my child live in the shadows!"