Chapter 2 When I woke up, I was already lying in a hospital bed. The doctor's lips moved, but it took a while before I actually heard his voice. "You're going to be fine-just physically exhausted and mentally stretched too thin. But you need to pay more atten- tion to nutrition from now on. After all, you've got two mouths to feed now." My heart sank, and I instinctively clutched the sheets. I never expected Kenneth's long-awaited child to come at a moment like this. I looked up and met Mom's eyes, brimming with worry. "Lucy, don't overthink it. Just rest and take care of yourself." I propped myself up and sat upright. "Where's Kenneth?" Mom hesitated. "He's not answering his phone. The Garcia family has already gone to look for him." Dad's face was grim, his knuckles bone-white from clenching his fists. After decades of ruling the business world, Dad was a prominent figure in Orlando-he'd never suffered humiliation like this. I couldn't describe how awful I felt inside. Suddenly, my phone rang, Kenneth's name lighting up the screen. Mom glanced at it and immediately pulled Dad out of the room. "Lucy, everything that happened today is my fault. If you need someone to blame, let it be me. Please, don't take it out on Nikki, okay?" His earnest voice made it hard for me to breathe. He wasn't worried about how much I was hurting or how I was supposed to clean up the mess he left behind. The first thing he said was to ask me not to blame Nicole. My lips parted, but all I could manage was a weak, "Okay." "Nikki's had a rough time overseas. She resents me-I owe her too much. 0.0 % 12:02 Chapter 2 "Lucy, just give me a little time. I promise I'll fix this, and when I do, I'll give you the wedding you deserve, with all the bells and whistles. Is that okay?" Kenneth's voice was uneasy. It wasn't that I couldn't wait for a wedding, but the way he walked away so decisively made it feel like I never mat- tered to him at all. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks. "Kenneth." My voice trembled. "Is there... something you're hiding from me?" Kenneth was silent. I choked out the words, "Have you stopped loving me?" "How could I?" He hurried to add, "Lucy, please don't think like that. Trust me." But his silence already said everything. I quietly ended the call. Actually, a few days ago, I'd overheard one of Kenneth's friends asking him, "Did you know Nikki's coming back to the States? She's not planning to crash your wedding, is she?" Kenneth had insisted, "I'd never let Lucy get hurt." I used to trust him, believed he'd handle everything. I never imagined I'd lose so completely in the end. Not long after I hung up, Kenneth's assistant messaged me. "Ms. Crawford, Mr. Garcia wants to transfer ownership of an overseas art gallery to you. Whenever you're available, we can arrange for you to sign the contract." My heart felt hollow. Was Kenneth trying to cover his guilt with money? Late at night, Nicole sent me a video. Curiosity got the better of me, and I clicked play. In a dimly lit bar, Kenneth was so drunk that his expression was vacant. Nicole shoved a bottle of red wine in front of him. 43.3 % 12:02 Chapter 2 "If you want my forgiveness, get on your knees and finish this." Kenneth staggered and collapsed to his knees, slurring, "It's my fault, forgive me, Nikki..." His hand flailed in the air, missing the wine bottle every time. Nicole snatched the bottle, grabbed his chin with one hand, and tipped the wine straight into his mouth. Red liquid spilled from his lips, soaking his shirt. He choked and collapsed onto the floor, coughing violently. I shut off the video, my hands shaking. A new message flashed on the screen. "See? He's as obedient as a dog when he's with me." 84.4 % Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!