Chapter 3

It wasn't that I couldn't help—Lucas Hunt wouldn't let me go to the company.

He said I married him to enjoy life. That was all I needed to do.

But he didn't tell me that to enjoy this bit of comfort, I'd have to lose my marriage, my friends, my parents, and my dignity...

Just as Lucas Hunt was about to chime in, we heard the door from the living room.

Martha was back. "Mr. Hunt, Miss Claire!"

"Didn't you have the day off?" Lucas Hunt asked.

Martha scratched her head: "I got halfway there and remembered I forgot the motion sickness medicine Miss Claire bought for me."

She looked at Tessa with her crooked smile, then at Lucas Hunt, and suddenly laughed twice:

"Mr. Hunt, please don't hit Miss Tessa anymore!"

Tessa's expression changed: "Martha, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Martha tilted her head, looking confused: "I'm not talking nonsense."

The living room fell silent.

Lucas Hunt was the first to react, frowning and scolding:

"Martha, if your head's not clear, go rest. Stop spouting nonsense."

Then he turned to me with a helpless tone, "You know her condition. You'd actually believe her crazy talk?"

Tessa's eyes also reddened, looking aggrieved:

"Claire, just fire this Martha. She's always talking nonsense."

She tugged at my sleeve.

I lowered my eyes, then let out a laugh:

"I know. Martha's mind isn't clear. I won't take what she says seriously."

Lucas Hunt let out a breath of relief and walked over to squeeze my shoulder.

"Alright, I'm going to the study to work."

Tessa, probably to "avoid suspicion," didn't eagerly follow him like usual.

Instead, she pulled me to sit down. "Claire, I'd love to keep you company during the break, but remember when I tried on the wedding dress? Actually, I'm getting married next week too! It works out perfectly that your wedding got postponed."

I sneered inwardly.

I could guess who the groom was, but I was too lazy to ask.

She rambled on for a bit, then suddenly looked pleading:

"There's a very important document that needs to be signed for. Help me receive it before you go home, okay? You don't have a job anyway. You can go back anytime. No rush for a day or two."

I hesitated for two seconds, then nodded: "Okay."

She happily hugged me: "I knew you were the best! I'll leave first then."

The house fell quiet.

My heart also completely quieted down.

Early the next morning, I didn't get up to see Lucas Hunt off.

He sat by the bed, running his fingers through my hair and instructing:

"Babe, when I get back, I promise I'll give you a grand wedding that will make your parents happy too!"

In the past, my heart would have been sweet for days.

But now, every word felt like he was reading a script.

Reading it to someone he had no intention of keeping promises to.

Seeing I wasn't responding, thinking I was still unhappy about postponing the wedding, he left on his own.

The moment he left, I grabbed my suitcase and walked out.

I ran into Martha at the door.

I looked at her and smiled: "Martha, would you be willing to come back to my hometown with me? You could work there from now on."

Her eyes lit up: "That would be great! I know Miss Tessa is pregnant with a baby~ Mr. Hunt said when the baby's born, he'll give it to Miss Claire to raise. I don't want to take care of someone else's child!"

I froze, instinctively touching my own belly.

Married for three years, he had always refused to give me a child.

A while ago I said I was bored at home. He suddenly said, "How about we adopt one?"

"Childbirth is too painful for women. I can't bear to see you suffer like that."

I'd actually believed his "concern" at the time.

I was too foolish.