Chapter 3

"Alright, Gracie, stop being difficult." To my surprise, Gavin softened his tone, as though he didn't take my words seriously. He reached out to take my hand again, but I slapped it away. I was still fuming, and perhaps because of the intense emotions, I felt a faint discomfort in my lower abdomen. Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady myself. "It's impossible between her and me now," Gavin said in a low voice. "Besides, we're already married." As he spoke, he wrapped his arms around me from behind. "You're my Mrs. Gould." "Let go of me." I instinctively struggled, but his grip only tightened. "Alright, don't be angry, okay?" The doting tone in his voice was something I had never experienced before. In all the years I had loved Gavin, it had always been me trying to please him. This was the first time he was trying to comfort me. In the past, such a gesture would have made me happy for days. But now, it only left me hollow. "Mandy is divorced," I said flatly. "Don't be difficult," Gavin replied dismissively, clearly not believing me. I took out my phone, opened Mandy's social media profile, and held it out for him. "See for yourself." Gavin glanced at the screen briefly before pulling me back into his arms. His voice was calm and steady. "She has her life, and we have ours." I turned to look at him, unsure whether his words were genuine or simply a way to placate me. Could I really be overthinking things? As my mind raced, Gavin suddenly called out through the intercom, summoning his secretary, Sophia Harper, to the office. When the door opened and Sophia entered, I quickly pulled away from Gavin's embrace. Gavin didn't seem to mind. He simply instructed her, "Cancel my afternoon schedule. Also, contact Dr. Hill at Starlight Hospital. Let him know I'm ready for the appointment we discussed earlier." I blinked in surprise. Greg Hill was one of the top physicians in Fuvine. He was nearly impossible to book an appointment with, let alone meet. I had tried before without success. "What's wrong?" Gavin asked, noticing my surprise. He curved his lips slightly. "Weren't we going to visit your mom today?" "You scheduled Dr. Hill for my mom?" Gavin nodded. My heart softened at his consideration. Knowing he had been mindful of my mother's condition made my chest ache in a bittersweet way. We had been married for two years, and for two years, our marriage had been a secret. Aside from the Gould family and a few of Gavin's close friends, almost no one knew of my existence. Still, Gavin treated me well, giving me the respect and dignity befitting "Mrs. Gould" in public. I had loved him for ten years. Marrying him was the fulfillment of my greatest dream. I should have been content. Maybe I was just too sensitive. Even if Mandy had been Gavin's first love, those feelings should have faded long ago. They were both married—Mandy's divorce shouldn't matter. Would Gavin really leave me to be with her again? And besides, my mom was looking forward to our wedding, and now I was carrying his child. Perhaps my heightened emotions were just due to the pregnancy. With that thought, I mustered my courage. "Gavin, there's something I need to tell you." But before I could finish, Gavin's phone rang. Following his gaze, I glanced at the screen. The caller ID read Mandy Green. The words I had prepared got stuck in my throat. I pushed him away and stepped back. "Answer the call." "It's not important," Gavin said, ending the call. "What were you about to say?" "I—" Before I could continue, his phone rang again. It was Mandy calling, once more. Gavin frowned at the screen, clearly annoyed, but still answered. "Mandy, what now?" I turned my head away, choosing not to look at him. Instead, I lowered my gaze to my abdomen. This life I had longed for suddenly felt bleak. I placed my hand gently on my belly, trying to suppress the waves of emotion crashing inside me. "What?" Gavin's voice suddenly grew tense. "Alright, stay where you are. I'm coming right now!" He ended the call abruptly, his expression grim as he looked at me. "Mandy's been in a car accident. I need to go." With that, he grabbed his car keys from the desk and headed for the door. "Honey…" I reach out instinctively to stop him, my voice filled with disbelief. At the doorway, Gavin hesitated and turned back to glance at me, his expression conflicted. Finally, he spoke. "Gracie, I'll have Sophia arrange a car to take you home. We'll visit your mom another day." Without waiting for my response, he turned and walked out. I stood there, staring blankly at his retreating figure. It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over me, leaving me cold and drenched from head to toe. At that moment, I wanted to laugh. So, when it came down to me or Mandy, Gavin still chose her. He abandoned me. Lowering my gaze, I placed a trembling hand over my abdomen. Suddenly, I wondered if this child should even be brought into the world. … I didn't ask Sophia to send me home. Instead, I left the company alone. The massive LED screen outside continued to display Mandy Green's advertisement. Her radiant smile seemed to mock me, a reminder of how utterly out of place I felt. Not far from the entrance, I saw what Mandy had called a car accident. A sleek black Maybach was parked on the roadside with its hazard lights flashing, and behind it was a minivan that had rear-ended it. It was nothing more than a minor fender bender—barely a scratch on the paint. Moments later, Gavin's car arrived. He stepped out, frowning, and Caleb immediately approached him, lifely explaining the situation. Mandy also got out of the Maybach, raising a hand to massage her forehead. She brushed her hair back and leaned toward Gavin, her lips pursed in what seemed like a playful complaint. Seeing the two of them—handsome and beautiful, standing so close—it was hard not to think of them as a perfect match. My vision blurred as tears welled up. I reached up instinctively and felt the wetness on my face. As I wiped away the tears, a car pulled up beside me. The door opened, and the first thing I saw was a pair of black military boots hitting the ground. The man who stepped out moved with precision, the straight lines of his trousers accentuating the muscular contours of his legs. His shadow stretched long in the summer sun. The golden sunlight illuminated his figure, and when I looked up, I saw his face. Sharp features, dark brows, and piercing eyes—his whole presence exuded an untamed confidence, sharp and commanding. I frowned slightly. It was Tom White—Gavin's childhood friend, the heir of Fuvine's most prominent family, the Whites, and the indisputable golden boy of the social elite. Back when he and Gavin were at Fuvine University, they were dubbed the "Twin Stars." But I remembered he had joined the military the year I married Gavin. What was he doing here? "Grace?" Tom smirked, his gaze carrying a hint of mischief. His inky black eyes, though playful, had a depth that was impossible to read. "What are you doing here, crying all by yourself?" "I wasn't crying." I refused to admit it, especially in front of Gavin's closest friend. Tom chuckled lightly, not pressing the issue. He glanced toward the minor accident scene before turning back to me. "Heading back to the Gould residence? I can give you a ride." "No, I…" Before I could finish, he added with a smile, "Or should I call Gavin over to take you home?" "No!" I blurted out instinctively. Tom grinned, leaning against the open car door with one arm resting on the frame. "Then hop in." Left with no choice, I relented. "I'm not going home. I need to go to Starlight Hospital." "Fine, that's on my way too. I'll take you." "Alright." The car pulled away, driving past Gavin and Mandy. I couldn't help but glance back. Mandy looked startled, clutching Gavin's jacket lapel and hiding against him as if something had frightened her. I averted my gaze, unwilling to look any longer, but my eyes landed on Tom's hands gripping the steering wheel. His long, well-defined fingers moved with practiced ease, their grip firm yet relaxed. It was hard not to acknowledge how generous fate had been to him. Good looks, an impeccable family background, intelligence, and skills. Not a single flaw. Like Gavin, he was truly one of life's golden children. "Grace, how've you been these past few years?" Lost in thought, I was startled by his deep voice. I looked up and met his dark eyes in the rearview mirror. "Fine," I replied quickly, shifting my gaze. Back when I was secretly in love with Gavin, I had learned everything about the people around him, including Tom's wild and unrestrained personality. He was someone not to be trifled with, given his formidable background and reputation. After years in the military, he carried an even more intimidating presence, a natural authority that made people cautious around him. Tom glanced at me briefly before turning his attention back to the road. His expression was unreadable, his dark eyes as impenetrable as ink. "Still as bad at lying as ever, Grace." I turned to him, startled by his remark. "Sorry to eavesdrop…" Tom smirked, his tone polite but his demeanor unapologetic. "I overheard your argument with Gavin earlier." Argument? I froze, my gaze dripping to his shoes—a pair of black military boots. Only then did it dawn on me. The shadow I had seen outside Gavin's office during our fight had been Tom. He must have been there to find Gavin. But why had he left? As my thoughts spiraled, Tom turned to look at me, his lips curving into a carefree smile. "Grace, are you thinking about getting a divorce? I can help you."