Chapter 4

The doctor friend reassured him. "Keep track of her cycle. Around her period, you make sure to be extra 'attentive'. If she has a small amount of bleeding each time, she'll never discover the truth."

Liam chuckled. "Alright, I'll do as you say."

When he came out of the bedroom, I was still tending to my flowers on the balcony.

But unlike before, where I meticulously cared for them, gently nurturing each one.

Today, I cut off all the blossoms, and then I ripped out the entire plant by its roots, carelessly piling them up.

"Stella, you usually cherish these flowers so much. Why did you pull them all out?"

I said, "I don't like them anymore."

"I feel like your mood has been off these past few days."

"It's just my period. Mood swings are normal."

Just then, Mrs. Davis, our housekeeper, walked by. I called out to her. "Mrs. Davis, please throw out this pile of trash later."

"Ma'am, these uprooted plants?"

"Yes, and these flowerpots too. Throw them all away."

The next morning, Liam told me, "Stella, you haven't been in a good mood lately, so I booked you a trip. Why don't you go away for a few days?"

I calculated the time; my new name would become official in five days.

So I asked, "How many days?"

"Three days," Liam said. "It's just the next town over, very close. I wouldn't feel comfortable with you going too far alone."

I agreed. "Okay."

That afternoon, Liam's driver came to pick me up. "Mrs. Anderson, I'll take you to the airport."

I didn't say anything, letting the driver take me.

At the airport, the driver watched me through security before hurrying away.

Outside the departure lounge, the driver called Liam. "Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Anderson is on the plane."

Liam grunted. "Wait there. Chloe's parents' flight is about to land. Pick them up and take them home. Be polite."

"Yes."

After the driver left, I found an excuse to leave the boarding gate.

I stood in a hidden spot and watched Chloe's parents emerge from the arrival gate.

I saw the driver eagerly rush over to help with their luggage, respectfully ushering them into the car, busily loading their bags into the trunk.

I hailed a taxi. "Follow that car."

After I left, Liam went to pick Chloe up and brought her home.

When the driver returned with Mr. and Mrs. Miller, Chloe joyfully rushed to them. "Mom, Dad, I finally get to see you!"

Liam respectfully opened the car door for Mr. and Mrs. Miller and then poured them tea.

His deferential attitude made him look exactly like a devoted son-in-law.

Liam apologized. "Uncle, Aunt, because Stella is still here, I had to send you abroad first. I apologize for the inconvenience."

Mr. Miller chuckled. "It's alright, you arranged for someone to travel the world with us. We had a great time."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Mrs. Miller said, "Chloe is already pregnant. Why are you still calling us 'Uncle' and 'Aunt'?"

Liam quickly corrected himself. "Dad, Mom."

"Ah! That's better!"

The whole family laughed happily.

Chloe clung intimately to Liam's arm throughout, radiating a sweet, demure charm.

She instructed Mrs. Davis. "Mrs. Davis, please prepare the guest room for my parents."

Mrs. Davis nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Anderson."

I watched silently. Liam's affair was something I had already known.

But Mrs. Davis's attitude was the final straw.

Even the housekeeper knew about Liam and Chloe, calling her "Mrs. Anderson."

She was clearly familiar with Mr. and Mrs. Miller; their arrival didn't surprise her at all!

Mrs. Davis was someone I had hired myself.

Because Mrs. Davis had a disabled son, I had even tripled her salary.

I treated her like family, inviting her to eat with us, and even bringing her on our family vacations.

And now, even Mrs. Davis was keeping secrets from me...

I felt a sharp pain in my chest, as if a thousand needles were piercing me. I doubled over, unable to stand steady.

The nauseous feeling rose again, and I started gasping for breath, tears blurring my vision.

I accidentally bumped into the wind chime by the door.

Ding-a-ling—

The wind chime tinkled.

Liam reacted almost instantly, shouting, "Who's out there?!"

He yanked the door open and rushed out, but it was silent outside. There was no one there.

Chloe walked over, asking suspiciously, "What's wrong, Liam?"

Liam shook his head. "I just heard the wind chime by the door, and thought someone was eavesdropping."

Chloe also looked around, then let out a light laugh. "You're too jumpy, aren't you? Wind chimes ring whenever there's a breeze, what's so strange about that?"

Liam frowned. "Maybe."

The driver also said, "Mr. Anderson, don't worry. I personally watched Mrs. Anderson go through the boarding gate. She should be on the plane by now."

Liam still felt uneasy and called my phone.

A robotic female voice announced: "The number you have dialed is switched off."

Hearing this, Liam finally relaxed completely.

"It seems I was just too tense."

He put his arm around Chloe and they sat back on the couch, the door automatically closing.

Behind the closed door, in the corner of the wall, my hand holding the phone was trembling slightly.

I covered my mouth and nose, slowly retreating from the house.

I hailed a taxi and gave the address of a hotel.

The driver asked me, "Miss, why are you crying? Did you have a fight with your husband?"

I wiped the tears from my face and shook my head. "No fight."

Indeed, there was no need to fight anymore.

Chloe was pregnant, Liam was already calling her parents 'Mom' and 'Dad', and even Mrs. Davis called Chloe 'Mrs. Anderson'. They were the family.