Chapter 3

On Claire's first day moving in, she took over Sophia's room.

"Damien, I like this room. The sunlight is wonderful."

Claire pointed at Sophia's room, smiling innocently.

Damien glanced at it. Sophia's room had the best natural light in the entire villa.

Mr. Cross had specifically arranged it because she was anemic and needed more sun exposure.

"Fine, you can have this one."

Damien nodded, then turned to Sophia.

"You move to the storage room on the first floor."

Sophia froze.

The first-floor storage room didn't even have a window. It could barely fit a cot.

"I..."

She wanted to say she was pregnant and couldn't live in a place like that.

But before the words left her mouth, Claire wrapped her arm around Damien's.

"You're so good to me, Damien."

Damien looked down at her, a smile on his lips.

"As long as you're happy."

Sophia watched the two of them being intimate and swallowed back everything she wanted to say.

She moved her belongings to the first-floor storage room by herself.

The storage room was crammed with cleaning supplies and smelled of mildew.

She sat on the cot, hand resting on her flat stomach.

"I'm sorry. Mommy can't give you a comfortable place right now."

She whispered.

That evening, Damien sat in the living room watching TV with Claire.

Sophia prepared dinner in the kitchen.

She made many dishes, all Damien's favorites.

When the food was brought to the table, Claire frowned.

"Damien, I can't eat spicy food."

Sophia's hand paused.

Three of the dishes on the table were spicy.

Because Damien liked spicy food.

"It's fine. Have her remake them."

Damien pushed the three plates aside.

"Sophia, take away the spicy ones and make them again."

Sophia stood there, still wearing her apron.

She looked at Damien.

The man's gaze was fixed on Claire. He didn't even glance at her.

"Okay."

She said quietly.

She took the three dishes back to the kitchen and started over.

The smell of oil made her nauseous.

But she held it in.

Midway through, she snuck to the bathroom and dry-heaved a few times.

No one noticed.

When the new dishes were served, Claire took a bite and smiled with satisfaction.

"Mm, this tastes much better."

"Then eat more."

Damien served her food with his chopsticks.

Sophia stood to the side, watching her husband serve food to his old flame.

She suddenly felt so tired.

A bone-deep exhaustion.

That night, Damien slept in the guest room.

Because Claire was afraid to sleep alone at night and wanted him to keep her company.

Sophia lay alone on the cot in the storage room, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep all night.

She started counting down in her mind.

Twelve more days until the contract expired.