Chapter 3

Natania hailed a taxi and had it follow Rosalie's car. When they arrived at the hospital, she continued to follow Rosalie as the latter headed toward a room and stopped right outside. Through the glass window on the door, she could see everything going on inside the room. Immediately, her heart ached terribly when she saw the scene before her. She bit her lip tightly, forcing herself not to make a single sound. Inside the room, Stephen's son was on an IV drip, the paleness of his small face making him appear particularly pitiful. Stephen was beyond anxious as he paced around the room, yelling, "Just what are you all doing? How could you fail to cure a child's fever? You're all so useless!" Natania recognized the doctor moving about busily off to the side. He was Stephen's best friend, Quentin Zahn. "Your son only has a fever because he caught a cold. It's your own fault for not looking after him properly, so don't take your anger out on my colleagues!" After a brief pause, Quentin went on, "Stephen, I honestly don't know what you're thinking. Didn't you say that you would give the woman a sum of money and send her away after she gave birth? Now, the kid is just having a minor cold, yet you brought him here and even called me over. What if Tania finds out?" Stephen was silent for a few seconds before he spoke up, sounding tired and exasperated. "What else can I do? She's Andy's mother. Every time she leaves, he starts crying and throwing a tantrum. I can't just let him keep on crying, can I?" "Hah! Is it the boy who can't bear to part with her, or is it you? You know better than anyone else the answer to that," Quentin retorted, scoffing. Upon hearing that, Stephen grew even more annoyed and frustrated. He massaged his throbbing temples. "Stop spouting nonsense. I will only ever love Natania in this life, but the Fost family can't go without an heir. You have to help me keep this matter from Tania. I don't want to see her hurt. "As for Rosalie, at the end of the day, she still gave me a son. I can't exactly mistreat her either." It was at this point that Rosalie finally pushed the door open and entered the room. Tears rolled down her cheeks like pearls from a broken string. "Stevie, it's all my fault for not taking care of Andy well enough. After you left last night, he developed a fever and kept crying, saying he wanted to see you. I was worried about disturbing you and Ms. Wendell, and that's why I didn't contact you then…" Stroking his son's feverish cheeks, Stephen sighed, his heart softening. He pulled Rosalie into a hug and comforted her, "Don't cry, Rosalie. I'm not blaming you. Andy is our son, but I failed to perform my responsibilities as his father." Rosalie clutched his clothes with one hand while dragging a finger across his chest. "Stevie, I know I can't compare to Ms. Wendell, but I just can't stand our son suffering any grievances…" Stephen's brow instantly furrowed. "I'd like to see who would dare make my son suffer! Regardless, you need to take care of yourself as well. Look at what a mess you've made of yourself." He raised a hand, gently wiping away the tears clinging to her lashes. The intimate gesture sent a stab of pain through Natania's heart. She clenched her fingers tightly, her nails digging into her palms and leaving bloody crescents. Nonetheless, she felt no trace of pain at all. Or perhaps the pain was so inconsequential that it was drowned out by the agony her heart was going through. The skies opened up again, pouring rain down as though the heavens themselves were weeping. That was the scene Natania stepped into as she left the hospital. She walked through the downpour, feeling numb inside. The rainwater dripped from her hair and into her eyes, blurring her vision, before it slid down her cheeks. However, it couldn't wash away the wounds in her heart. By the time she arrived at Wendell Group, her feet were a bloody mess from the friction of her high heels. Her appearance shocked the receptionist, who hurriedly rushed forward to support her. "Ms. Wendell! What happened to you? Do you need me to call Mr. Fost? He'd surely be heartbroken to see you like this." At this point, Natania was feeling hollow from the pain of her heartbreak. As expected, everyone, with not a single exception, assumed that Stephen loved her. Yet, what they didn't know was just how much deceit and betrayal tainted that love. She gently pushed the receptionist away and said hoarsely, "I'm fine. It suddenly rained when I was on the way here. Please help me buy a set of clean clothes and bring them to me." With that, she handed her black credit card over before locking herself in the closest meeting room. The moment the door shut, she couldn't hold her tears back any longer. She had thought that she would be immune after seeing those photos, but when she actually saw the family of three with her own eyes, the scabbing wound in her heart was ripped wide open again. Her heartwrenching wails resonated in the large and empty room. She genuinely wanted to ask Stephen how he could do this to her. How was it that he was the one who once promised her the galaxy, yet now he was also the one who had cheated on her with another woman, even siring a child with that mistress of his? It wasn't until there was a knock on the door that she finally pulled herself out of her misery. Outside the door, the receptionist had already departed, leaving behind only a new set of clothes, her black credit card, and a glass of warm water. There was even a handwritten note beneath the glass that read, "Don't worry, Ms. Wendell. I didn't contact Mr. Fost as I know that you're afraid he'll worry." Natania, feeling a maelstrom of complex emotions, ripped the note up before tossing it in the trash. She grabbed the clothes and headed to the restroom to change into them. With that, she was once again the aloof and proper Ms. Wendell, who was afraid of nothing. Subsequently, she headed to the CEO's office and buried herself in her work. Before she knew it, it was already evening. Stephen had sent her a stream of messages over the last few hours, but she hadn't read a single one, nor had she replied to them. She dragged her exhausted body home. She planned to pack up her belongings and leave the following morning. Unexpectedly, the moment she opened the front door, she was greeted by the sound of a child's giggling coming from the living room. When she arrived, she saw that Rosalie was there too.