Chapter 3

The moment the elevator doors slid open, Zachary saw Genevieve and Tristan standing at opposite corners of the elevator. Genevieve's breathing was still uneven, and a faint flush lingered on her cheeks, vivid against her pale skin. When Zachary's gaze landed on her, a glint of admiration flashed in his eyes. Genevieve was usually dressed in loose clothes and wore thick black-rimmed glasses, her appearance plain and forgettable. But now, the fitted clothes outlined her curves. Her hair was pulled back, and a few loose strands damp with sweat stuck to her flushed cheeks. She didn't look disheveled at all. If anything, it made her more alluring. It was the first time Zachary had truly noticed her figure and how beautiful she was. Even her waist seemed slimmer than Regina's. Zachary's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and a ridiculous thought flashed through his mind. Was she softer, too? He found himself staring at Genevieve, unable to look away. Noticing his gaze, Genevieve spoke up. "Zachary, we need to talk." All at once, Zachary returned to his senses. He furrowed his brow, then said, "Something happened to Grandpa, and he was taken to the hospital. You're coming with me now. Whatever you want to say can wait." Then, he glanced at Tristan. "Did you come here to look for me?" he asked in a hostile tone. But Tristan didn't spare Zachary so much as a glance. He walked straight out of the elevator and deliberately bumped into the latter's shoulder as he passed. It was a blatant challenge. Zachary caught a faint scent coming off Tristan and sneered. "Try not to screw around. You don't want to end up like your mother, who died in disgrace." Tristan didn't respond. Within moments, his figure disappeared down the hallway. Zachary's mood soured even more after being completely ignored. Wearing a grim expression, he stepped into the elevator and stood beside Genevieve. That was when he caught the same scent on her that had lingered on Tristan. He frowned at her. "What are you doing here?" "What? Am I not allowed in my husband's building?" Genevieve shot back. Zachary thought of Regina, still hidden away in his office. In an instant, a flicker of unease crept into him. He sidestepped the topic, his voice edged with warning as he said, "Stay away from Tristan. He's no good." Genevieve couldn't help but find it amusing. If Tristan wasn't a good man, then what did that make him? Her indifference unsettled Zachary for reasons he couldn't name, yet he quickly dismissed it as overthinking. She had gone to such lengths just to marry him, after all. There was no way she'd ever go against him. … The ride passed in silence as the driver took Genevieve and Zachary to the hospital. By then, Raymond had already been moved into a private ward. When Sylvia saw them arrive, her expression hardened. She told Genevieve to go inside and tend to Raymond, then pulled Zachary aside. In the ward, Genevieve walked to the bedside and checked Raymond's pulse. Gradually, her expression turned grim. One look at her face, and Raymond could guess what was going on. He sighed. "Gen, you've been through a lot." Genevieve withdrew her hand, her voice soft as she remarked, "I'll prepare a few herbal tonics for you. You'll need to take them for a while." Raymond clasped her hand, gratitude filling his eyes. "Gen, thank you for everything you've done for this family. As long as you're here, I can rest easy." Genevieve thought about the divorce she wanted. But when she looked at Raymond, the words wouldn't come. She owed Raymond her life. Without him, she wouldn't even have been born. When her mother had been pregnant with her, enemies had staged a car accident on a rainy night. Raymond happened to pass by and saved her mother, allowing her to be born safely. That was why she had agreed to marry Zachary in the first place. Right then, Zachary returned to the ward with Sylvia. The instant he stepped in, Raymond struggled to sit up and urged, "Gen, Zachary, I'm not trying to rush you, but you've been married for almost a year. It's time to have a child. I won't be able to rest until I see my great-grandchild." As Zachary had expected, Raymond had brought up the subject of children again. He was more convinced than ever that his grandfather was just using his hospital stay as a ploy to pressure them into having a child. "Grandpa, that's enough!" Zachary snapped. "I know you're eager for a great-grandchild, but stop using these tricks to pressure us." Nearby, Sylvia's expression darkened. "Zachary, how dare you talk to your grandfather like that!" Raymond's chest heaved in fury. Then, he turned to Genevieve, who had remained silent the whole time. Guilt was etched across his face as he said, "Gen, our family has let you down. You've suffered because of us." Even though Zachary had spoken rudely, seeing Raymond defend Genevieve only made Sylvia feel more resentful. "Suffered? She's just an orphan with no parents! Marrying into the Lambert family is a blessing. Why should she feel wronged?" The more she spoke, the angrier she became. "If we hadn't been in such a rush back then, do you really think she'd become the Lamberts' daughter-in-law?" Sylvia added, her voice rising sharply. At that, Zachary followed up coldly, "If she calls this suffering, then hardly anyone in the city would be happy." Seeing her son take her side only emboldened Sylvia further. She sized Genevieve up and spat, "Since you married into this family, you should fulfill your duties as a wife. Go to the hospital tomorrow and get a full checkup. Get your body sorted out. If a woman can't have kids, how is she supposed to hold onto her husband?" Genevieve glanced at Raymond, who was lying in bed. Eventually, she decided to endure it and swallowed the retort that was on the tip of her tongue. However, Sylvia saw her silence as a sign of weakness and submission. She pressed further, her words laced with insinuation, "You'd better pull yourself together. There are plenty of women out there willing to have Zachary's child. If you can't, someone else will gladly do it in your place." So, this was how it went. The more Genevieve endured, the more she'd be made to suffer. Did Sylvia really think she was that easy to push around? "How am I supposed to have a child on my own?" Genevieve retorted, smiling. Sylvia froze at once. She could hardly believe it. Genevieve, who had always silently endured everything, had actually talked back. She processed her words, then turned to Zachary. "What does she mean by that?" Zachary's heart skipped a beat. He remembered their wedding night. To avoid sleeping with Genevieve and to crush any hope she had, he had told her outright that he couldn't perform in bed. Genevieve remained composed as she continued, "It's exactly what it sounds like. Your son can't—" Before she could finish speaking, Zachary cut her off. His expression softened, and his voice became gentle. "Genevieve is pregnant. Don't worry about it."