Chapter 2

Nina knew Wendy had always been hostile toward her—not just because she had wrongfully taken her place for over 20 years, but also because of Yvan. She didn't want to argue with Wendy in front of Abigail, so she remained silent. Abigail quickly tried to smooth things over. "Don't say such things. Nina had a fever and was asleep, so she didn't get the call." She then turned to Nina. "Did you take your medicine?" "Yes, I did." "That's good." Abigail sighed in relief and pulled Nina to sit down, handing her the wedding dress catalog. "Nina, take a look. These are the latest wedding dress designs this year. Help Wendy pick one, and while you're at it, see if there's anything you like, too." From the moment Abigail spoke, Nina felt something was off. Hearing this now, she could more or less guess where this was going. "Nina, Wendy is about to get engaged. You're still all alone—that's not really ideal, no?" Abigail sighed before continuing, "It just so happens that your father has a business partner whose son is two years older than you. He recently returned from abroad. I've met him—he's handsome and well-mannered, a good match for you. Why don't you meet him when you're free?" Nina's fingers felt cold. She opened her mouth, her voice dry. "Mom, I don't have any plans to date right now." As soon as she finished speaking, Wendy slammed the catalog onto the floor, her expression darkening. "No plans to date? Or are you still clinging to old feelings?" She sneered. "Seeing that I'm about to be engaged to Yvan, you're suddenly longing for him again, aren't you?" A lump formed in Nina's throat. She tried to hold back but couldn't. "Since you already know you're about to be engaged, there's no need to be so insecure." As soon as those words left her mouth, Wendy froze for a moment before raising her hand to slap her. Nina instinctively closed her eyes, but the expected pain never came. She opened her eyes to see Shane gripping Wendy's wrist. Wendy's eyes reddened from frustration. "Shane!" Shane glanced at Nina, his dark gaze deep and unreadable. Then, he spoke coldly, "Apologize." Nina said, "I'm sorry." She didn't think she had said anything wrong, but in this situation, apologizing was the quickest way to end things. Abigail rushed over to comfort Wendy, while Nina exhaled, trying to ignore the bitterness in her chest. She went to wash her face, and when she looked up, she saw Shane's reflection in the mirror—a tall figure standing behind her. His expression was icy, his entire presence exuding a suffocating pressure that resembled a brewing storm. He took two steps forward, trapping her in a corner. Nina had nowhere to escape. She could only press herself against the wall as she heard his deep voice. "Where were you last Friday night?" That was an interrogation to her. Nina closed her eyes briefly before answering honestly, "Grand Luminara Hotel." "Who did you meet?" She lowered her voice. "Yvan Smith. I ran into him by chance while negotiating a contract with Dynavest Realty." Nina clenched her palms. Then, she looked up at Shane. "We only saw each other. We didn't even talk." In truth, she wouldn't even know what to say to Yvan anymore. She wasn't lying—Shane always kept a close watch on her. Besides his driver and bodyguards, she knew he had eyes on her even in the shadows. Sometimes, she felt like she lived in a tightly monitored cage, surrounded by Shane's watchful presence, leaving her no room to breathe. Maybe one day, she would suffocate in this environment. Shane's gaze softened slightly. He brushed his fingers over her cheek, his touch cold. "Good." They were too close. Close enough for Nina to catch the faint scent of tobacco on him. The next second, her stomach churned. On reflex, she shoved Shane away and rushed to the toilet, retching violently. She hadn't eaten much today, so all she threw up was mostly water. When the nausea finally subsided, she straightened up and turned around, only to meet Shane's scrutinizing gaze. Her heart skipped a beat. His eyes were sharp, piercing through her. For a moment, her back stiffened. She forced herself to stay calm, but then he asked, "Are you pregnant?" Nina's hand trembled. She shook her head. "That's impossible. I've been taking birth control pills. I just haven't eaten today, so my stomach feels off." Shane stared at her for a few seconds before saying nothing more. He turned and left. After rinsing her mouth, Nina returned to the living room. Wendy had calmed down, comforted by Abigail. When she saw Nina, she didn't say anything and just scoffed loudly. Abigail motioned for Nina to come over and handed her a few photos. "Take a look. See if there's anyone suitable." She smiled warmly. "Even if you're not thinking about dating, you can at least meet new people." Nina had no choice but to take the photos and flip through them absentmindedly. Then, Abigail added, "Oh, and you should go for a checkup sometime soon. See what the doctor says about your condition." Nina froze for a moment. She had a naturally weak constitution—thick uterine walls and underdeveloped ovaries. The doctor once told her that with her condition, pregnancy would be extremely difficult. "Since you're not in good health, you should take better care of yourself," Abigail continued, rambling on. "Shane brought back some premium manuka honey from overseas. Take some home later." Wendy huffed in dissatisfaction. "Mom! Why do you care so much about her? We've been giving her food and shelter all these years. If she's unhealthy, that's her problem. I'm the one getting married soon—I need to take care of my body, too! I want some of that honey as well." Between Wendy and Nina, Abigail had always favored Wendy. She quickly reassured her, "Alright, alright. If you want more, I'll have Shane buy some for you." Nina watched their interaction, her eyes stinging. She was nothing more than an outsider in this home. … After dinner, Nina got up to leave. She didn't take the honey Abigail had mentioned. As soon as she left the Lawson residence, she headed straight for the hospital. She hadn't been feeling well all day. She had no appetite during meals, and she had suppressed the nausea several times. Could she really be pregnant? No, that was impossible. Wendy had once pushed her into an icy pool in the middle of winter, leaving her with severe uterine issues. And the doctor had told her plainly that her chances of conceiving were less than ten percent. Nina tried to stop herself from overthinking. She registered at the hospital and underwent a full checkup. Soon, the results came back—she was really pregnant.