Chapter 8

Maybe the only bit of kindness Hank ever gave her was that he stopped bringing up the divorce. She, Irene, and Hank just kept living under the same roof, tangled in some weird, messed up arrangement. Since Hank's parents passed away early and he didn't have much other family, the three of them went to the Hudsons' place for Thanksgiving Day dinner—Jennifer's idea. Richard Hudson and Jennifer Hudson were already waiting in the living room. Seeing Irene walk in all smiles with her arm around Hank, their faces lit up with joy. Jennifer grabbed Irene's hand, sighing with tears almost spilling out. "Irene, after all these years, you and Hank finally ended up together." Irene turned to smile sweetly at Hank, then hugged her mom and said softly, "Mom, Hank's really good to me. I'm happy." Though Jennifer was in her forties, she looked like a woman in her thirties thanks to good maintenance. Standing next to Irene, they could've passed for sisters. Completely ignoring Chloe standing nearby, Jennifer wiped the corners of her eyes and said to Hank, "Hank, you better treat our Irene well." Hank pulled Irene close and kissed her forehead gently, like he was handling something fragile. "Mrs. Hudson, you don't have to worry. I promised ten years ago I'd always look out for Irene—and I meant it." Jennifer's smile softened, growing a little wider. "Still calling me Mrs. Hudson? Come on, you've been around long enough. Just call me Jennifer."Looking at the four people playing happy family in front of her, Chloe's expression turned even colder. She walked up to Jennifer and said coldly, "Mom, I'm still Hank's wife, and I'm carrying Hank's baby now. And her—Irene's nothing more than a mistress!" Jennifer's smile fell and turned into a scowl. She snapped, "Chloe! Don't think we don't know how you forced Hank into marrying you back then! Do you really believe I raised a shameless daughter like you?" Chloe chuckled without humor, her eyes sharpening as she looked at Irene. "Of course I'm not your daughter. She is, right?" Jennifer's eyes flicked nervously toward Hank. Then, without warning, she slapped Chloe hard across the face, her hand shaking afterwards. "Stop this nonsense!" The slap knocked Chloe's head to the side, a line of blood trailing from her lips. What kind of mother hits her own daughter that hard? It was almost laughable. This—this was the'family' she had? Even a stray dog would have it better than her. Hank was still fuming from that "mistress" remark, nearly ready to explode, but the sight of Chloe like that made his brows furrow involuntarily. Richard stepped in to try and smooth things over. "She's just spoiled, don't mind her, Hank." Then he turned on Chloe with a glare. "What are you trying to pull now? Don't you know what your sister went through? She's just now starting to recover, and you're already stirring up trouble! Can't stand to see her doing well, can you?" Chloe closed her eyes, struggling to hold back the tears and the bitterness rising in her chest. Her voice came out tired and full of frustration. "Dad, did you forget something? I'm Chloe. I carry the same blood as Irene does." They were both daughters of the Hudson family, yet Irene was always everyone's little princess, while she was just... the unwanted one left in the shadows. That thought made her chest tighten so bad it was hard to breathe. She staggered back a step and leaned against the corner of the table to stay upright. "You okay, Chloe?" Irene stepped toward her, looking like she wanted to help. But Chloe's eyes caught the sight of Irene's ankle, twisted weirdly in those thin heels, like she'd fall any second—and her body was aimed straight at Chloe's stomach. "Stay away from me!" Chloe instinctively shielded her belly and shoved Irene's hand away. "Irene!"