Chapter 2

The sight before me was a shock.

Emma had her legs draped over Jaden's lap, and he was feeding her bagels one bite at a time.

I rubbed my eyes, not wanting to believe it, hoping it was a hallucination.

But Jaden's cold voice told me it was real.

"What are you doing in here? Get out."

Emma patted the back of Jaden's hand to soothe him, then walked over and took the box from me. Her tone was all magnanimous favor.

"Sophie, thanks for the effort! If not for you running the errand, I wouldn't get to eat the famous Si's bagels that everyone lines up for. I've got it now. You can go. Otherwise Jaden will be upset."

It suddenly hit me. All the things I'd been asked to deliver—the sweet soups, the desserts—they were all the kinds of things young girls like.

I had wondered before why Jaden wanted me to buy those things.

But I never dared to think too deeply about it. I just did as I was told.

Now it was clear. It was all bought for Emma.

A dense, aching bitterness spread through my heart. The humiliation was total.

Jaden saw I was still standing there. His voice got even colder. "Did you not hear me? Get out."

I held back the sting in my eyes, swallowed the bitterness, turned around and left.

To think I hadn't dared stop for even a moment, afraid I'd delay his meal.

A self-mocking smile tugged at my lips.

If nothing I did could warm Jaden's heart, then fine. I was done.

The next day.

I had my lawyer draw up a divorce agreement and brought it to Jaden's office.

I waited a while before the secretary led me in.

Once inside, I placed the document on his desk.

"Take a look. If there are no issues, sign it."

Jaden glanced at the cover, saw the words Divorce Agreement, and tossed it aside.

His tone was flat.

"Until you sort things out with the elders, don't bring up divorce with me. Save me the trouble of them kicking up another fuss."

My voice was urgent. "If you want a divorce too, why won't you come with me and talk to them?"

Jaden finally looked up at me and said coolly, "I'm not as idle as you are, with nothing to do all day."

My breath caught. I nearly choked.

Idle?

I'd put aside my own work at Shaw Group to stay home and care for his sick mother. I handled everything, down to the last detail, and put a lot of thought into it.

And in Jaden's eyes, that was being idle?

An icy chill spread through my chest, wrapping around my heart.

I was about to say something when the door behind me suddenly opened.

Emma swept past me like a gust of wind and threw herself into Jaden's arms.

She held up a medical report and said in a playful voice, "Jaden! We're having a baby!"

Jaden froze for a second, then his face lit up with genuine joy.

He pulled Emma tight and pressed his lips to hers.

They were completely intimate, acting like I was nothing but air.

Watching their bodies press together sent a shuddering pain through every organ in my body.

This was the kind of closeness I'd never once been given.

Jaden had a touch-starved condition, but even when I initiated intimacy, he'd never let me in.

I lowered my lashes and sucked in a hard breath through my stinging nose.

A moment later, they separated.

Emma looked at me as if she'd just noticed I was there. Startled, she said, "Sophie, I'm sorry, I didn't expect you here. You're not mad, are you?"

The words flew out of Jaden's mouth. "Why would she be mad?"

Then he paused, seeming to remember something. He picked up the divorce agreement, flipped through it, and signed his name.

"It's signed. Once you sign, we go to the courthouse tomorrow."

Icy coldness flooded through me instantly.

A moment ago, Jaden wouldn't sign. Now that he knew Emma was pregnant, he signed without a second thought.