Chapter 2

I stumbled backward.

My body slammed into the decorative vase by the door.

With a loud "shatter", the vase smashed to pieces.

The laughter inside came to a screeching halt.

The door was ripped open.

Austin, Evelyn, and those two foreign investors—five people, ten eyes—all stared straight at me.

The remnants of their twisted smiles were still plastered on their faces.

Austin's expression instantly turned incredibly dark.

Looking at them, my mind flashed back to that week.

The first time he walked into my room, smelling faintly of cologne.

The first time he kissed me, clumsy yet gentle.

The first time we made love, his sweat dripping onto my eyelids.

I thought that was the turning point of our three-year marriage. I thought my devotion had finally won him over.

Now, those memories replayed in my mind like a horror movie, leaving behind nothing but the sickening realization of being set up and defiled.

Every single frame made me want to throw up.

"Chloe, what are you doing here?"

Austin spoke, his voice carrying a rare, barely noticeable hint of panic.

I didn't answer.

I looked at him, and then at Evelyn behind him.

Evelyn's lips curled into a smirk, enjoying the show.

I turned around and ran toward the elevator as if my life depended on it.

I could feel their eyes burning holes into my back.

The air in the entire office building felt thick with humiliation.

I just wanted to escape.

I frantically mashed the elevator button to close the doors.

At the very last second before they shut, I saw Austin chasing after me, his face as dark as a storm cloud.

I collapsed inside the elevator, gasping for air.

The pregnancy report slipped from my weak fingers, fluttering down onto the cold floor.