Chapter 3

Jenny continued, "Scarlett, Susan is pregnant, and that's a big deal for the Graham family. She keeps saying she can't sleep well, and that may be because the lighting and ventilation in her room aren't good. "The house you're living in now is the best. You haven't conceived anyway, so why don't you let Susan stay here until she delivers? What do you think of that arrangement?" Amy stepped forward in protest. "This house has always belonged to Mrs. Graham. How could you ask her to give it up? That's far too unfair to her!" Jenny's expression darkened. "She's been married into this family for three years without bearing a single child. I've already been merciful enough not to make Luke divorce her. What more does she want? Now, Susan is carrying the family's first grandson. It's just a house. What's the big deal about moving?" Susan stood, eyes rimmed red, one hand pressed against her waist. "Jenny, don't say that. I'll live anywhere. It doesn't matter if I suffer a little. Scarlett is Luke's rightful wife. I could never compete with her. I only hope to give him a healthy child." Her face paled further as she sat back down, looking as fragile as glass. Luke frowned at me. "Scarlett, it's just switching houses. Let Susan have this house. She's pregnant, not in good health. Once she gives birth, I'll have her move out right away. The main house will still be yours." For the sake of Susan, Luke wanted his wife to give up her place in the main house. If word got out, the entire business world would laugh at me. It was blatant humiliation, and they all knew it. Yet Luke still said it, all because Susan carried his child. When I stayed silent, his tone grew impatient. "Scarlett, pack up in the next couple of days. Let Susan move in and rest properly." I drew in a deep breath and stood straighter. "I'll move today. I won't delay Susan's pregnancy care." He blinked, caught off guard. "You don't need to be in such a rush…" Susan quickly cut him off with a smile. "Thank you, Scarlett. Luke, I'm craving dried plums. Could you get me some?" Luke's attention shifted at once. "Of course. I'll have the kitchen buy the freshest ones." He sat down beside her, one hand on her belly, the other feeding her a plum. I turned back to the main house and told Amy, who had followed me when I first moved in, "Only pack the things I brought with me. Leave everything else here." Amy was fuming. "You've lived here so long. Why should you be the one to move? This is bullying!" My throat tightened. I looked at her and said quietly, "It won't be for long." Not much longer, and this would all be over. That night, Luke came by. He didn't step inside, only lingered at the doorway, his voice tinged with guilt. "Scarlett, I'm sorry you had to go through this once." I cut him off with a lift of my eyes. "It doesn't matter. This isn't the first time I felt this way. Moving out just makes it easier. Now, you can stay with Susan all you want." Luke's brows knitted tighter, and anger flashed in his voice. "Why do you have to be so bitter just because you had to move? Scarlett, can't you be more mature? "Think about the bigger picture. I've promised her only one child. Once Susan has this baby, things between us can go back to the way they were." Back to the way they were? Never again. After Susan moved into the main house, she grew bolder by the day, acting like the mistress of the estate, clinging to Luke constantly and never letting him visit me alone. The only time we sat together was at dinner, and even then, she managed to draw every bit of attention to herself with her pregnancy. ... Seven days later, it was my birthday. That evening, for once, Luke wasn't trapped at Susan's side. He found me in the garden, guilt written across his face. "Scarlett, I know you've been wronged. It's your birthday today, so let me make it up to you. I've booked a yacht on the river. Tonight we'll watch the lantern festival. It'll be lively." However, before I could answer, Susan appeared, her face glowing with a coy smile. "Luke, I have a surprise for you."