Chapter 3

Lydia POV

I went to have my identity wiped from the system.

In one month, this identity of mine would disappear from the entire world. Everything about me would cease to exist.

I would wait until Sophia was three months pregnant, until the baby in her belly was stable, then I would change my identity and leave here to start my new life.

I returned home. Every servant looked at me strangely.

I vaguely guessed what had happened in my heart. Walking in, I saw all my clothes thrown at the bedroom door like garbage.

Gideon had his arm around Sophia's still-slender waist, saying matter-of-factly.

"Sophia is pregnant. I'm not comfortable with her living outside alone."

"The master bedroom is spacious with plenty of sunlight, which is good for pregnant women. So you move out!"

I choked up, barely managing to get a word out.

"Okay."

After all, in a month, this would be Sophia's home anyway.

But Sophia asked with a smile.

"Lydia, you're not angry, are you?"

I lowered my head and said.

"No."

Gideon's expression suddenly changed. He pushed me hard, then kicked my clothes on the ground. His voice was frighteningly cold.

"Take your trash and get out!"

Immediately the door slammed shut.

Then I heard them kissing inside, Sophia's soft moans drifting out.

I just tried hard to control my numb nerves, looking at the scattered clothes on the ground.

They still had messy footprints on them.

I silently organized my things like picking up garbage.

On the other side, the butler kept bringing several people to deliver countless shopping bags for Sophia.

"These are all the latest seasonal items from the mall. Mr. Foster had us send them according to your measurements."

Gideon couldn't wait to move the entire mall home for Sophia.

There were people wearing gloves specially organizing these expensive clothes and jewelry for her.

"Gideon, you don't need to spend so much money. In a few months, my belly will get bigger and I won't be able to wear these anyway."

Sophia pouted, clinging sweetly to Gideon's arm.

"These are nothing. Sophia, you're carrying my child. Even if you want the stars and moon, I'll find a way to give them to you."

"Gideon, you're so good to me."

Separated by a wall, the more I didn't want to hear, the more their voices drilled into my ears uncontrollably.

I sat on the edge of the bed in a daze. Suddenly a roar from Gideon came from the villa.

"Lydia!"

"Lydia, where are you!"

I immediately opened the door and walked out. Shirtless, Gideon opened the master bedroom door, his eyes coldly fixed on me.

"We're out of condoms at home. You go out and buy some!"

"Get the most expensive ones, the ultra-thin kind!"

My brain went blank for a moment. I didn't react.

What?

"Can't you understand? What are you standing there for?"

"I..."

I hesitated, then tentatively said,

"But she's pregnant, isn't she? You can't do it now, right?"

Gideon's eyes instantly carried a hint of deeper meaning, as if he was sizing me up.

He raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Lydia, do you care very much?"

"Are you worried about her, or are you actually feeling sad too?"

Gideon stared directly into my eyes.

I understood what he meant and immediately explained.

"It's better to be careful during the first three months of pregnancy."

The air was briefly quiet for a few seconds before Gideon shouted at me again.

"I said go buy them, so go buy them! Get out!"

The sound of the door slamming made me shiver involuntarily.

Half an hour later, I handed the box of condoms I bought back to Gideon.

But Gideon wasn't planning to let me off so easily. He found a random excuse to make me stand outside the door.

Inside the door were continuous moans. Outside the door was me, standing there like being pressed on a chopping board and slowly sliced apart.

I stood until the sky darkened. My two legs were already stiff and numb before Gideon opened the door.

"Clean up inside. The sheets and the clothes all need to be hand-washed."

Gideon instructed me.

Sophia's neck was covered with purple-blue marks, her face still flushed with redness as she looked at me shyly.

"Lydia, the servants have rough hands. I'm afraid they'll ruin the clothes. I can only trouble you. You won't be angry, will you?"

I didn't speak.

Gideon snorted.

"She has no right to be angry."

After saying that, he picked up Sophia, and the two sweetly entered the bathroom.

Looking at the mess the bed, the carpet, the bay window all marked with traces of intimacy I dug my nails into my palm.

I tried to drown the ache in my chest with physical pain, but my heart still throbbed, and I didn't know how to make it stop.

I could only move like a ghost, mechanically stripping the sheets and gathering the clothes to wash.

I tried hard to force myself not to recall, but the scene from three years ago of Gideon holding my hand like a treasure kept replaying in my mind.

He said then.

"Lydia, I will never let these hands do any housework again. I'll spoil you until the whole world envies you."

But now, he was making me wash another woman's underwear.

Perhaps the promises made when deeply in love were real, but the coldness after falling out of love was also real.