Chapter 42
Laura's POV
Under Richard's care, I felt much better when we got home.
At the store, my blood pressure had spiked from anger. My legs went weak, my vision started to darken.
The fainting was half real, half performance. I needed him to see what Grace had done to me.
Watching Richard grovel and try to appease that woman—I couldn't take it. I wanted to scream, to cry, to make him see how much he was hurting me.
But at the critical moment, I was still the one Richard worried about most. The second he saw me fall, he abandoned Grace and rushed over to take me to the hospital.
Richard stayed with me through all the tests, had the doctor prescribe medication, then brought me home, insisting on cooking for me himself.
I watched him bustling in the kitchen, my heart filled with a mixture of love and resentment.
"Richard, Grace really went too far. You saw how she treated me today, how she treated you, didn't you?"
He didn't answer, focused on stirring the congee.
I grabbed his arm, forcing him to look at me.
"Maybe... we should tell everyone the truth. After all, I'm carrying your child. No matter how much your parents hate me, they'll have to accept it eventually, right?"
I could see each word making him more uncomfortable. His jaw tightened.
"Laura, you know my parents' temper. Even if they could accept what we've done, what about the company?"
His voice was tense. He couldn't let both family and company collapse at the same time.
I knew he wouldn't agree. I knew it before I even asked. But I couldn't swallow this anymore.
I pushed away the spoon of congee he brought to my lips.
"If Grace comes back to the company, your whole family will be controlled by her. What hope do I have then?"
"No. Once she returns to the company, I'll slowly repair our relationship."
The way he said it—so matter-of-fact, so resigned—made my chest ache.
"You're going to slowly repair your relationship with her? What about me?"
The man before me suddenly seemed like a stranger. Ten years. I'd given him ten years of my life, sacrificed everything, and now he was talking about appeasing another woman right to my face.
"I'm doing this for the company's IPO. Once the company goes public, as my true wife, you'll be the biggest beneficiary. You already have more than Grace. Why make things difficult for me at this critical moment?"
His patience was exhausted. I could hear it in his voice. After speaking, he set down the bowl and stood to leave.
"Richard, wait—"
He didn't look back.
Something inside me snapped. I grabbed the bowl and threw it with all my strength.
Scalding congee splattered everywhere. Ceramic shards scattered across the floor. A fragment grazed Richard's arm, drawing a thin line of blood.
He whirled around, his face twisted with anger.
"You've really gone crazy. Cool down on your own. We're not contacting each other for now!"
The door slammed shut behind him. I chased to the stairway, but he'd already gotten in his car and driven out of the driveway.
I collapsed on the front steps, sobbing uncontrollably. I called him over and over, but every call went straight to voicemail.
This was the first time since we'd known each other that Richard had shut me out like this.
We'd promised that no matter how we fought, it wouldn't last more than an hour. Whenever I was upset, he'd appear immediately. No matter how angry he was, he'd never reject my calls.
But now... everything had changed.
---
Grace's POV
The next evening, I took extra care getting ready. I chose a deep burgundy dress, a fitted style that accentuated my curves, paired with simple gold jewelry, and spent longer on my makeup than usual.
I arrived early at the private restaurant, wanting everything to be perfect.
But when I walked in and saw the romantic decorations everywhere—roses, candles, soft lighting—I finally realized what day it was.
Valentine's Day.
What am I doing?
The burgundy dress I'd chosen suddenly felt too formal, too much like I was trying to send a message I wasn't sure I wanted to send. This was supposed to be a simple dinner, not some grand romantic gesture. But sitting here in this intimate setting, surrounded by soft jazz and candlelight, and it being Valentine's Day, it felt like something more.
I checked my phone again. 8:47 PM. Alex was only seventeen minutes late, which was nothing in the business world. Still, my stomach twisted with an uncomfortable mix of anticipation and anxiety.
Maybe this is a mistake. Maybe I'm reading too much into—
My phone buzzed. I immediately grabbed it, hoping it was Alex.
Richard Harrison
Fuck.
I stared at the name on the screen, my jaw tightening. Of course it had to be tonight. Of course he would choose tonight—Valentine's Day—to barge back into my life.
I almost didn't answer. Almost let it go to voicemail. But curiosity won out.
"What do you want, Richard?"
"Grace! Happy Valentine's Day, darling." His voice was warm, almost cheerful. Like we were still playing house. Like nothing had happened these past few weeks. "I know this is last minute, but I wanted to surprise you for Valentine's Day. I've made reservations at—"
"Weren't you at the hospital with Laura yesterday?" I cut him off, my voice flat.
The silence stretched between us. I could practically hear him scrambling for an explanation.
"That was... that was different. She needed medical attention. I don't have any obligation to spend holidays with her."
Liar.
I didn't listen to his continued excuses and chose to hang up the phone.
Thinking back to these six years of Valentine's Days, Richard would always come home late, and he would have the scent of unfamiliar perfume on him. Back then, I naively believed his bullshit about accompanying clients. How foolish and ridiculous I was then.
Now I would never believe his sweet lies again.