Chapter 2

"Are you still in pain? You worked so hard."

Murphy's eyes were full of me.

He ran around the whole time, handled all the paperwork for me, and then booked the best postpartum care center.

Early in the morning, before I even opened my eyes, I heard the nurse push open the door.

"By the way, if you've decided on a name, you can go to the first-floor lobby to process the birth certificate and medical records."

"If you haven't decided yet, you can go to city hall after discharge."

Murphy nodded with a smile and listened as the nurse explained some things about caring for me.

Through the thin curtain, I watched him record everything on his phone, word for word.

He looked so focused and patient. In just one day and night, he'd become the perfect husband in everyone's eyes.

But I alone had a cold, unfeeling heart.

"Honey, you're awake?"

"We need to stay in the hospital for observation for a couple days. The day after tomorrow we'll move to the postpartum center I booked."

Murphy wiped the table clean with a disinfectant wipe, then placed the prepared postpartum meal in front of me.

"Oh right, the nurse just came to ask about the baby's name. Should we use the one we talked about before—Phillips?"

I leaned against the pillow and adjusted my sitting position, then lowered my head to sip some soup.

"Don't use that one."

"I want the baby to take my last name. Let's call him Angel Smith."

The bowl in Murphy's hands slipped and crashed to the floor.

Food scraps and oil splattered everywhere. He choked out, "Why?"

"Just because of that glove wrapper on the way here that looked like a condom?"

"I already explained—it was Norris's friend who dropped it. If you don't believe me, I can call her over to clarify."

Murphy sounded righteous, without a trace of guilt.

His tone carried dissatisfaction with me for nitpicking.

Seeing that I still said nothing, Murphy picked up his phone, ready to make the call.

The next second, a phone rang outside the door.

Norris walked in carrying flowers and gifts.

"Mr. Murphy, Clark."

The moment she entered, Norris raised her eyebrows in surprise, glancing at the mess on the floor.

"What happened?"

"Mr. Murphy, are you hurt?"

As his secretary, Norris immediately set down her things and stood beside Murphy, checking to see if he was injured anywhere.

Her movements were skilled and natural, with an innate intimacy.

I watched the movements of her hands, my gaze icy.

Murphy stepped back guiltily and pulled Norris over:

"Norris, perfect timing. Yesterday, didn't your friend drop a condom in my car?

Clark has misunderstood. Explain it to her clearly, right now, in front of me."

Norris was smart. She clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Oh my! It's all my fault!"

"My friend had her birthday yesterday. She got drunk and a bunch of stuff from her purse fell out in the car. I helped clean it up, but I guess I still missed something."

"Clark, I used to be your intern. You gave me this job opportunity. How could I possibly hook up with Mr. Murphy?"

Norris laughed awkwardly and came forward to hold my hand. "Clark, I'm your eyes and ears in the company, your most loyal subordinate."

I looked at her calmly without speaking for a long while.

Perhaps she really was before, but now I was certain she wasn't.

Norris had just graduated from college when she joined our company. Back then it was the startup phase, and I trained her personally.

Finance, management, HR, sales—I taught her everything I knew without reservation.

Only because I felt she was a lot like me—born in the countryside, no father or mother, making it this far entirely on her own.

So I cared about her more than anyone else.

Of course, she was smart and knew how to show gratitude.

Earlier this year, after I got pregnant, I had severe bleeding due to a low-lying placenta. Murphy happened to be away on business, and she was the one who saved me.