Chapter 3

3

I didn't visit the hospital again, nor did I receive any more calls from Cecilia.

Three days later, she returned home from the clinic.

She opened the front door and saw me packing up the nursery items.

Her temper flared instantly, and she kicked the storage bin of toys across the room.

"Garrett, you didn't answer my calls or visit me once! What is your problem?"

Seeing my silence, her rage erupted completely.

"I finally see your true colors. You're giving me the cold shoulder over an accidental pregnancy loss!"

"If I ever become infertile, God only knows how horribly you'd treat me!"

I quietly picked up the scattered toys and looked at her calmly.

"I was busy with work and didn't have time to stop by."

"Besides, you had someone keeping you company. My presence would have been redundant."

Even though I stayed away, Cecilia hadn't deprived herself of luxury.

She hired top-tier nurses and stayed in a private suite, charging every penny to my credit card.

She scoffed. "At least you know your place."

"Jared took care of me the entire time. You should thank him properly."

I let out a cold, silent laugh, wondering why on earth I owed that man any gratitude.

Before I could speak, Cecilia's phone rang, and she stepped into the bedroom to answer it.

Ten minutes later, she walked out in a fresh change of clothes.

"Grandpa wants us over for dinner at the club," she announced coldly.

"The family doesn't know about the lost pregnancy yet, so keep your mouth shut."

When we arrived at the private dining room, Jared was already there, chatting casually with her grandfather.

Cecilia sat directly beside Jared, smiling warmly as relatives asked about her pregnancy.

There wasn't a shred of guilt on her face; she played the role of a radiant mother-to-be flawlessly.

Watching her act made my stomach churn with disgust.

Out of respect for Grandpa Mercer's milestone birthday, I kept quiet and ate my meal.

Throughout dinner, Cecilia peeled shrimp for Jared, never sparing me a single glance.

In the past, jealousy would have torn me apart, but now I felt nothing.

Then Grandpa Mercer raised his glass, proposing that the child take Jared as a godfather.

"Having a celebrated artist as a godfather will be a great honor for the kid," the old man said proudly.

Grandpa Mercer was an avid art collector who adored Jared's work.

In his eyes, Jared was the ideal grandson-in-law he had always wanted.

He had always looked down on me, viewing me as a plain businessman devoid of artistic refined taste.

I couldn't stomach it any longer.

Ignoring Cecilia's frantic warning glances, I yanked my hand away from her grip beneath the table.

"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, Grandpa. Cecilia lost the baby."

"And the man responsible is sitting right next to her―your brilliant artist, Jared."

The smile on the old man's face froze instantly.

The private room fell dead silent before Jared quickly stepped in to defuse the tension.

"Please don't be upset, Grandpa. Garrett is right, it's all my fault."

With a few smooth words of deflection, Grandpa Mercer let him off the hook without a single reprimand.

Jared then walked over with a cup of piping hot tea, putting on an apologetic front.

"Garrett, blame me if you must, but please don't take your anger out on Cecilia."

I didn't reach for the cup, having zero interest in his fake remorse.

Suddenly, his hand trembled, and he lost his grip.

Scalding hot tea poured directly over my hand, making me gasp in pain.

Hearing the commotion, Cecilia rushed toward me in a panic.

For a split second, her panicked expression reminded me of the woman who used to care about me.

Then, her angry reprimand shattered the illusion.

"Garrett! Why are you taking your frustration out on Jared? I am so disappointed in you!"

She shoved me aside and grabbed Jared's slightly red hand, examining it with deep concern.

"I did lose the baby, but it had nothing to do with Jared! It was an accident!"

She turned her venom back toward me.

"For all I know, the pregnancy failed because your sperm quality is terrible!"

Hearing her shift the blame onto me just to shield Jared made my heart turn to ice.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"An accident? Cecilia, how can you stand there and lie through your teeth?"

I pulled the medical diagnosis sheet from my jacket and tossed it onto the table.

"You and Jared know damn well what you did to end that pregnancy!"

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