Chapter 2

2

I kept observing Vance's reaction.

I saw him seamlessly shoot a glance at Macy. Seeing her head down and silent, his smile became slightly unnatural. "Rory, are you... really pregnant?"

I feigned innocence and said softly, "It's possible. We slept together at the end of last month. Doing the math, it should be about time."

Vance's face changed at a visible speed.

I smiled and asked him, "Honey, aren't you happy that I'm pregnant?"

"Of course I am," Vance forced a laugh. "I'm thrilled you're having a baby. I'm just... a bit surprised."

As he spoke, he subtly stole another glance at Macy.

So I turned to ask Macy too. "Macy, it seems we really are the best of friends. We're even pregnant together. When the kids grow up, if it's a boy and a girl, let's promise them to each other, okay?"

Macy's smile was a bit forced. "Forget it, it's the twenty-first century, not some feudal society. Arranged marriages aren't suitable for modern times anymore. Let the kids find their own true love."

I continued asking, "But didn't we agree on this in high school? If they are the same sex, they'll be siblings, and if opposite sexes, they'll marry. Why are you suddenly backing out?"

Macy's smile was extremely unnatural, and her tone was slightly cold. "I just don't want to force my child to do something they don't like."

Vance quickly chimed in. "Yeah, Rory. Macy has a point. We shouldn't force the kids."

I smiled with a hint of amusement. "Okay, no forcing. But if my child and Macy's child freely fall in love in the future, you're not allowed to stop them."

"Impossible!" Macy suddenly stood up. "That is absolutely impossible!"

Her voice was too shrill and loud. Soon, passing doctors, nurses, and patients' families were all looking in our direction.

A nurse reminded us, "No loud noises in the hospital."

Vance quickly apologized to everyone with a smile. "I'm sorry. She's pregnant, and her mood swings are a bit intense."

The nurse nodded to show understanding. "Since she's pregnant, take good care of your wife. Don't make her angry."

Vance nodded again. "I know, thank you."

The crowd then dispersed.

Between the three of us, it instantly became deathly silent.

After a while, Macy finally snapped out of it. She realized she might have overreacted earlier and smiled at me. "Rory, I'm a bit thirsty. Can you go buy me some water?"

I looked at her pale face forcing a smile, and Vance's tightly furrowed brows. I knew they probably had something to discuss in private.

So I smiled and nodded. "Sure."

Macy affectionately shook my hand, as intimate as before. "Thank you, Rory. You're the best to me."

I shook off her hand, turned to leave, and got on the elevator.

A second before the elevator doors closed, I saw Macy turn away crying, and Vance immediately chased after her.

This was the second floor. I took the elevator down to the first floor, then slipped into the adjacent stairwell.

As soon as I entered, I heard an argument coming from the second-floor stairwell.

Macy cried and questioned Vance. "Vance! Why is she pregnant?"

Vance dropped his usual gentlemanly facade. His voice became deep and wicked. "She's my wife. Why can't she be pregnant?"

"Vance, you bastard! You can't control yourself around women, can you? Is Rory prettier than me? Does she have a better body? Is she as good in bed as I am? Didn't you say she's like a log in bed? You can do it with a log... Ah!"

Macy let out a low wail. "Let me go, it hurts..."

Vance reprimanded her in a low voice. "I'm warning you one last time. Rory is my wife, the woman I love most in my life! If I hear you say one more bad thing about her, you know the consequences!"

Macy sobbed uncontrollably. "Then what about me? What am I to you?!"

"Macy, don't forget, you were the one who seduced me."

"So what? What's wrong with pursuing someone I like? Besides, you didn't reject me either..."

Vance chuckled low, carrying a hint of rogue energy. "If Rory hadn't been on her period back then, do you think I would've touched you?"

Macy accused him. "But you didn't push me away, did you? Vance, you always act like a perfect gentleman in front of Rory. Does she know the real you? If she knew your true colors, would she still be with you? Only you and I are a perfect match. A bitch and a bastard belong together... Ah―"

Macy's wailing sound echoed again.

And this time, she also let out some intermittent cries for help and coughing sounds.

She must have been grabbed by the throat.

Vance said coldly. "Rory is the kindest and gentlest girl in this world. You can't even compare to her pinky finger! If it weren't for the fact that you're her best friend, you can go find out for yourself what happens to those women who climb into my bed!"

Macy whimpered and begged for mercy. It took a while before Vance finally let go of her.

Macy cried her heart out, but throughout the whole ordeal, Vance just stood aside. He didn't say a single word of comfort.

After a long time, Macy grabbed his pant leg pleadingly. She said weakly, "Vance, Rory is pregnant. You must be reluctant to touch her, afraid of hurting her body, right? A pregnancy lasts for ten months. If you... if you have needs, you can come to me."