- 4.
<
The next morning, the company called me in to handle Declan’s rumor crisis.
Unfortunately, I ran into Nora.
Decian probably couldn’t bear to leave her alone and brought her along.
As soon as she saw me, she apologized, “Lydia, sorry about last night. I got drunk and tweeted nonsense, and Declan joined in, causing you trouble.”
“I’ve already told him off. He only thinks of me and not you at all, such a big dummy.”
“The things people say online are so harsh, calling you my stand–in. It’s hilarious.”
“They don’t know how much I want to thank you for taking care of Declan all these years…”
She smiled sweetly at me.
I smiled back, “I’m Declan’s wife. A wife taking care of her husband doesn’t need thanks from outsiders.”
“But you, being called the other woman last night, don’t take it to heart.”
Nora’s expression changed.
She glanced me up and down, suddenly fixating on my ring.
She smirked, “Lydia, you’re wearing my wedding ring, you should return it to me.”
She reached for my hand, and I, annoyed, swung my arm, accidentally hitting her face.
Nora suddenly swung her bag at me, the metal scraping my forehead, drawing blood.
She used so much force, it made my ears ring.
I raised my hand to hit back but someone grabbed my wrist from behind.
Declan appeared, coldly warning me, “Lydia, try touching her.”
When I turned, he saw the blood on my face, paused, frowned at Nora, and asked, “Did you do this?”
Nora, with teary eyes, shook her head, “Declan, she called me the other woman and tried to hit me. I dodged, and my bag accidentally hit her. I didn’t mean it, I’m sorry!”
When she cried, Declan’s heart ached.
Hearing her, Declan ruffled her hair, praising her.
“Anyone hits you, hit back. With me here, you don’t need to apologize to anyone.”
I suddenly envied Nora.
Actually, I’m quite the crybaby too, but the one who cared for me is gone.
Agent Fiona couldn’t take it anymore and pointed at me, yelling at Declan, “This is your wife! Declan, are you blind? Holding onto a green tea witch and not letting go!”
“How is Lydia any worse than Nora?”
“Did you forget you said you wanted a child with Lydia? Did you forget you said being with Lydia felt like home?”
“Now you’re hurting her like this, are you sure you won’t regret it later?”
I subconsciously touched my belly.
Inside my body was a budding child.
<
Declan chuckled, casually glancing at me, emotionless, speaking calmly.
“Lydia, Phoebe, Cora–they all need to step aside.”
Perhaps, at one time, Declan’s feelings for me were fleeting and superficial. But now that Nora has returned, he’s ready to love her.
I removed the ring from my finger, a ring that was never truly mine, and handed it back to Declan. His smile slowly faded.
After a brief pause, he reached out to take it.
Aunt Hazel caught my arm, glanced at my stomach, and gave me a meaningful look.
“Lydia, don’t be foolish, you’re already…”
Nora interrupted, grabbing the ring. She tried it on, but it was a bit tight.
Her smile stiffened slightly, and she tossed the ring into the trash.
“Forget it. Declan, don’t be upset for my sake. I don’t want a ring that’s been worn by another woman. It’s tainted.”
Declan ignored her, keeping his eyes on me as he asked in a serious tone, “What’s going on with you?”
I looked at him indifferently, then turned and walked away. Declan, I’m pregnant, but you don’t need to know.
