Chapter 3

3

Nathan's brother, Silas, was still abroad, so Nathan was busy greeting guests.

As the insults grew louder, I couldn't take it anymore and tried to slip away.

I used the excuse of getting fresh air, but Serena followed me out, looking triumphant.

"My dear little sister, are you sad? I almost feel bad for you."

The woman gave a provocative smile, showing off the Miller family heirloom necklace.

"Elena, I have the company now, and the Millers adore me."

"Your ex-fiancé and your current husband both love me. Everything that was yours, I will take, piece by piece."

"By the way! Nathan faking the paralysis to chase you? That was my idea."

When I was eighteen, my mother died of illness, and Serena was brought into the family.

I hated the girl who destroyed my home, and she hated me for having our father's love first.

But my father always felt he owed Serena, so he made me give in to her constantly.

First, it was my position at the company. Then, it was my fiancé.

"Elena, after all these years, you're still as useless as ever."

"You couldn't protect your mom, and you can't keep a man. You're a joke!"

Serena's words snapped me out of my memories.

Hearing her mention my mother made a surge of rage boil in my chest.

I couldn't help it. I swung my hand to slap her face.

But she caught my wrist just in time.

Serena flashed a creepy smile before I could react.

The next second, she screamed at the top of her lungs, "Elena, please don't push me!"

She grabbed my hand and pulled herself backward toward the pool.

"Serena!"

The moment I hit the water, I saw Nathan leap out of his wheelchair.

He sprinted over, completely ignoring his supposed disability, and caught Serena in his arms.

I didn't know how to swim. He had shoved me aside to get to her, and I fell deep into the cold water.

I thrashed about, gasping for air and reaching for help.

By the time the security guards pulled me out, I was nearly unconscious.

Before I could say a word, Serena started sobbing and putting on an act.

"Nathan… don't be hard on Elena. I'm sure she didn't mean to push me."

"Silas leaving her at the altar was my fault. Let her take her anger out on me today…"

"But if she hates me this much, maybe I should just move out with the babies."

Nathan's face darkened with anger at her words.

But when he turned and saw my shivering, pathetic state and the mocking look in my eyes, he froze.

Realizing what he had just done―sprinting on his 'broken' legs―he looked guilty.

"Elena… it was probably just an accident. I'm just glad you're both okay."

Serena was stunned. This wasn't the reaction she wanted.

She glared at me before being led away by a doctor for a check-up.

Nathan wrapped a towel around me after the crowd dispersed.

"Elena, even if you're jealous of Serena, you shouldn't try to hurt her!"

He seemed to realize his tone was too harsh and tried to soften it.

"She just gave birth. If something happened to her, neither of us could explain it to the family."

I took a deep breath, ignoring the sharp pain in my lungs.

I looked at the man who was so panicked he forgot to keep up his act and smiled coldly.

"Nathan, when did your legs get better? Why didn't you tell me?"

He froze, reaching out to grab my hand. "I…"

Just then, his mother yelled from the distance, "Serena fainted!"

Nathan's hand flinched, and without a second thought, he ran toward Serena.