Chapter 2

That evening, Liz had hired a renowned chef to prepare a custom prenatal menu just for Josephine. "Now that you're carrying a child, you need proper nutrition." She glanced briefly at Luciana, sharp and mocking. "Unlike someone who's been married three years and still hasn't given our family a single heir." Luciana stiffened and instinctively glanced at Stephen. She thought he would defend her like he used to. But this time, he was focused on peeling a boiled egg for Josephine, paying no attention to his mother's words. In the past, he would've spoken up immediately. "It's my honor to bear a child for the Cooper family, Liz," Josephine said. "Once the baby is born, I'll leave… I am, after all, Lucy's best friend. If this gets out, people will talk." Liz beamed. "This is a gift for my future grandchild." As she spoke, the lawyer laid out a property contract in front of Josephine. Liz added, "Work hard. If you give us two kids in three years, I'll double the reward." Luciana watched silently for a long moment, a self-deprecating smile tugging at her lips. The whole family was caught up in the joy of Josephine carrying a child. No one noticed her quietly slip away, methodically packing her things. Her luggage wasn't much, mostly academic papers crammed into a single suitcase. Every piece of jewelry and gift had been neatly boxed. The last thing she packed was the lucky charm bracelet Stephen had obtained with great effort after her car accident. "I put some of my hair in there, Lucy," he had said back then. "If you ever face danger, I'll shield it for you." Those words still echoed in her mind. Now, they had become an empty promise. The door was pushed open, and Stephen froze briefly when his eyes landed on her suitcase. He hurried over, asking almost too casually, "You mad about the baby?" Inside, Luciana felt like a wound had been ripped open. "Yes," she replied flatly. Stephen blinked, then let out a soft, almost playful laugh. "Lucy, it's so rare to see you jealous. To me, you're the real mother of the child. Once the baby's here, I'll make you their legal mother and send Josephine away." Luciana didn't want to hear a word from him. She tried to leave, but his strong arms wrapped around her, pinning her against him. In the struggle, the drawer slid open. Stephen's eyes, usually soft and playful, now flashed with a hint of panic as he rifled through the papers. "Lucy… Where's the divorce agreement? You didn't—" "I tore it up," she said, with a burning gaze and sarcastic smile. "I trust you, Stephen. I trust that you won't change, so I destroyed it long ago." The room went silent except for the sound of their breathing. Stephen looked away out of sheer guilt, avoiding her gaze. A faint voice called from outside, and Stephen immediately found an excuse. "Josephine's never stayed at a villa before, and she's timid. I'll keep her company tonight and talk to you again tomorrow." He quickly walked away. As he passed the vanity, without much thought, he pocketed the charm bracelet. "Now that she's pregnant, she's always crying for no reason. This should cheer her up." Luciana's heart skipped a beat. In a rush, her voice shot up. "Stephen, that bracelet…" All she got in response was his puzzled look. Her hand fell to her side. She lowered her gaze in disappointment and shook her head. It seemed she was the only one who remembered the symbols and promises between them. "Mom's having people set up a little celebration party tomorrow for Josephine's pregnancy. Just… don't take it to heart," he said, clearing his throat awkwardly. "You'll always be the lady of the house, and I'll make sure your dad has all the care he needs. I'll get a couple more people to keep an eye on him." The voice outside grew louder, and Stephen's eyes flickered with concern. He hurried out, only remembering that Josephine was timid, but not the fact that Luciana was afraid of the dark too. She never slept with the lights off. Luciana took a deep breath and lay back on the bed, eyes tightly shut. She had been foolish enough to believe Stephen could give himself entirely to her, to leave those women behind and just live a life with her. It didn't matter anymore. As long as the divorce went through, she would take her father and leave for good. … Early the next morning, Luciana arrived at the hospital. She moved methodically, organizing files and handing over responsibilities to the other department heads. The door to her office opened, and she instinctively informed that she wasn't seeing patients yet. "Not even Stephen's baby?" the visitor asked.