chapter 5

They stood with their backs to me, and I could hear every word they said.

"Baby, didn't you pin that kid on that idiot Charles? Why isn't he here with you for the checkup?" The strange man's tone was dripping with mockery.

Dallas gave a short, cold laugh. "He's stuck working at that shrew's family company. Says he can't get away."

The man chuckled. "Good. The more time he spends there, the more time I get with you and our boy. When my son's born, I'll have him pay the bills for raising him."

Dallas smirked. "He's nothing special—broke and plain. If it weren't for the rich woman he married, he wouldn't even have a shot at money. You think I'd ever let my kid call that loser Dad if it didn't benefit me?"

She flipped her hair and added smugly, "Honestly, it's his good luck he even gets to be called the father."

Shock hit me hard.

Even when they drifted off, I just stood there, and suddenly I laughed.

So the baby in Dallas's belly wasn't Charles's?

Charles, what would you do if you knew?

After the abortion, I wandered through the mall, ran into an old classmate, and chatted for a bit.

The knot in my chest from the past few days finally loosened. I went home.

In the villa, Charles's parents, Charles himself, and Dallas fresh from her checkup were lined up on the fancy sofa in the hall.

Sitting around them were several middle-aged men and women, plainly dressed.

I knew them—Charles's broke relatives.

As soon as I stepped in, all eyes turned to me.

Charles shot to his feet and jabbed a finger at my face, furious.

"Libby! I cared about you. I was there when you were in the hospital, running around to help you, and this is how you repay me? I thought you were a decent woman, but you're nothing but trash!"

I froze.

I had no idea what was going on.

Then he flung his phone at me, and I saw it.

On the screen was a photo of me with my old classmate.

It was taken from just the right angle to make it look intimate.

Charles's mother, Emery Poole, was already seething. Seeing me, she finally had a target and came barreling over.

"Libby! I must've been blind to ever let my son marry a woman like you!

"What a disgrace to our family!"

She stormed closer, her voice sharp and cruel.

"I didn't stop you from marrying into our family back then. But now? I won't have a woman like you ruining our family name. You two are getting a divorce. Now!

"Five years of marriage and not a single child—turns out you've been busy fooling around with other men! If you can't give my son a child, don't stand in the way of someone who can!"

Emery's face twisted in disgust.

I stared at her coldly.

A tall figure stepped into my line of sight.

It was Charles.

He looked down at me, pretending to be gentle. "Libby, I know you wouldn't betray me. Don't worry. I won't blame you for not having kids. If you agree to raise Dallas's baby, I'll handle Mom."

The fake sincerity in his eyes made my stomach turn.

And in that moment, I saw through everything.

He didn't really think I'd go through with a divorce.

This whole show was to pressure me into taking in his and Dallas's illegitimate child.

So when I eventually died, all my inheritance would end up in that child's hands.

Too bad for him—the baby wasn't even his. I can't wait for the day he learns the truth.

He thought he was being clever, but his plan was laughably transparent.

Their scheme was doomed.

I took a step back and sneered, "Keep dreaming."

Behind us, the gossip had already begun.

"She never seemed like that type."

"You don't know these rich girls," another whispered. "They play harder than anyone. Half of them can't even have kids after the way they live."