Chapter 3

3.

Lucas's parents never stopped making things difficult for me.

They spread rumors that I had used tricks to seduce their innocent son. They even tried to use family trust funds as leverage to force Lucas to divorce me.

At first, Lucas would comfort me, telling me not to take it to heart.

But as time passed, the passion of the startup days faded, and the grind of daily life took over. He became impatient.

"Sarah, the company is getting bigger, and the pressure is all on me. My parents are elders, after all. For the sake of our cash flow, can't you just lower your head and make them happy?"

Fine. For the sake of our family, I tried every way to please his snobbish parents.

It only earned me more ridicule.

Gradually, I was pushed out of the company affairs. I became disconnected from society, trapped in domestic trivialities.

Lucas came home later and later. We ran out of things to talk about.

Then came the scents. Strange, niche perfumes on his clothes―scents that definitely didn't belong in a business meeting.

The first time I found a lipstick stain on his collar, I broke down. I asked him if he was having an affair.

He turned it around on me, calling me a crazy, bitter housewife.

"It was a networking event! People were drunk and crowded, someone bumped into me. Sarah, why are you so paranoid?"

Later, pearl earrings appeared under the passenger seat.

I visited his office and saw the flirtatious looks exchanged with his new female assistant.

Late-night harassment calls where no one spoke, just breathing on the other end...

After enough times, my heart went numb. I became cautious, terrified of seeing that look of disgust in his eyes.

On the Sterling family front, Lucas told me that if the company wanted to expand, we needed support from the family fund. But his parents wouldn't budge.

Lucas even suggested, "You know how my parents think. If you could give them a grandson to carry on the Sterling name, maybe they'd accept you."

Sadly, I couldn't get pregnant again.

Until a few months ago.

He told me he was negotiating key financing with the Vance family. I later found out from a friend that Rachel Vance, the heiress who had just returned from abroad, grew up with him.

In college, they were known as the "golden couple." Their relationship had ended when Rachel stayed overseas after graduation.

Now, they were very close. Mutual friends were posting photos of them hugging, publicly claiming Lucas and Rachel were "back together."

Lucas told me it was just a joke between old friends and implied I had become petty and sensitive from staying home too long.

Two months ago, my period was late. Two lines on the stick. I went to a private clinic―eight weeks pregnant.

I planned to surprise him on his birthday.

But late at night, the day before his birthday, a storm hit. Thunder and lightning tore through the sky.

I woke up startled by the thunder, feeling a dull ache in my abdomen. Terrified for the baby, I shook Lucas awake, asking him to drive me to the ER.

He woke up reluctantly, his face full of impatience. "Can't it wait until tomorrow? Don't be so dramatic."

The next second, his phone rang. "Rachel" flashed on the screen.

Lucas glanced at me, then sat up and turned his back to answer.

In the quiet bedroom, the sobbing from the receiver was clear. "Lucas... I'm scared... The power is out, I'm all alone, the thunder is so loud... I fell and hurt my ankle..."

Lucas immediately changed into a different person. He started dressing rapidly. "Don't be scared. I'm coming right now."

I looked at him, deadpan. "Lucas, I'm in pain. And... I'm pregnant."

His hand paused on his buttons. He frowned at me.

"Sarah, are you making up stories again? You haven't been able to conceive for years. You'd lie about this just to stop me from going out?"

With that, he grabbed his car keys and rushed into the rainy night.

The room fell into a deathly silence. I sat there on the bed, still warm from his body, and laughed out loud.

That night, I saw Rachel’s update: No matter what happens, the one who loves me will always come, rain or shine.

Until this moment, Lucas still didn't know I was actually pregnant.

And I had already stayed up all night drafting the divorce agreement.