Chapter 2

The next day, Grace sat in the outpatient clinic of the OB/GYN department of the hospital, listening to Dr. Bobby Gildon’s lengthy explanation. She held her phone, jotting down every detail he said.

“That’s all. The baby looks good. Take care of yourself,” Dr. Gildon concluded.

“Thank you, thank you!” Grace hurriedly expressed her gratitude.

Feeling in high spirits, she put the folic acid and prenatal iron supplements into her bag and happily walked out. However, in the hospital lobby, she encountered Brian and Louise. Louise linked arms with him, a beautiful smile on her face. They both noticed Grace.

In the brief moment their eyes met, Grace saw extreme displeasure in Brian’s cold gaze. She could only awkwardly force a smile and bravely approach.

“Mr. Francis, hello. I’m feeling a bit of low blood sugar. I just came for a checkup. Don’t worry. It won’t affect my work.”

Brian stared in the direction she came from, coldly asking, “Low blood sugar? But then, why did you go to the OB/GYN department?”

Brian felt that Grace intentionally showed up at the hospital and suspected she had planned to run into them. He thought Grace was probably playing some trick, perhaps feigning illness or pretending to be pregnant, using these cheap tactics to gain more benefits from him.

Grace’s face froze with an awkward smile, then quickly understood his insinuation.

“What’s so strange about it? The OB/GYN department is specifically for women’s health. As a woman, it’s normal for me to come here for a checkup.” Grace’s heart raced rapidly.

Brian, finding her explanation reasonable and not making any additional demands, gradually lost his suspicion. He thought perhaps Grace was really just here for a medical checkup. He didn’t say anything and, without a glance back, entered the hospital with Louise. Only Louise couldn’t help but turn around, looking at Grace’s retreating figure with a complex expression.

Grace remained oblivious to Louise’s gaze, rushing out of the hospital. Just thinking about almost being caught, she felt extremely nervous.

Back home, Grace immediately poured out all the folic acid from the box. She tore the empty box and instructions into pieces and flushed them down the toilet. She then transferred the folic acid tablets into a vitamin bottle. At that moment, the room door suddenly swung open.

“What are you doing?” Brian’s ice–cold voice made Grace shudder, and the tablets scattered all over the floor.

“I–I’m taking vitamins.”

Grace forced herself to calm down, giving what she thought was a firm response while holding up the vitamin bottle.

Brian, looking at the vitamin bottle in her hand, began to grow suspicious, his gaze intensifying.

Vitamins were not prescription medication. People could easily buy them at a regular pharmacy. He couldn’t understand why she would go to a hospital to get them. He became more convinced she was trying to pretend to be pitiful to gain benefits. He couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh in his mind.

Though Grace had appeared well–behaved during the past three years, he had long felt she wasn’t genuinely obedient. Now, she was finally about to reveal her true nature.

“Three months left. Behave yourself, and I won’t deduct any money. Just don’t cause trouble for me.”

With those words, Brian left her room without a hint of nostalgia. Grace felt a deep pain in her heart but didn’t have time to dwell on it. She quickly closed the door, picked up the scattered tablets, and put them away. This was the only thing she could do for now.

Early the next morning, Grace received a message from the butler, Melvin Duncan, informing her that Brian wanted her to dress up and join him for dinner at the Bluewave Hotel in the evening.

Grace was shocked upon hearing this news. She was utterly taken aback. Since Brian had revealed everything to her six months ago and ceased pretending to love her, they had never shared a meal together.

Although she found it strange, she still changed into appropriate attire and applied light makeup before heading to the rendezvous.

In the luxurious private room at the Bluewave Hotel, Grace sat on one side of the long table, observing Brian on the other. He wore a clean and sharp dark suit, his gaze cold and demeanor aloof.

“Why did you suddenly ask me out for dinner?” she asked casually. It seemed odd to her, as Brian should be wary of being seen by Louise, so she couldn’t fathom why he invited her to dinner.

your Brian gestured for the waiter to serve the dishes, then calmly replied, “I had something on the day of birthday and couldn’t accompany you. Today, I’m compensating you. Even though our marriage is just a deal, as your nominal husband, I’ll do what’s expected. I’ll provide you with what you deserve.”

Hearing this, Grace forced a bitter smile. She knew Brian would always be like this. Even if he had a thousand reasons not to have dinner with her, he would do it anyway, playing the role of a tender and doting husband. However, Grace knew she could never be the one he truly loved. His heart belonged to Louise.

She was merely a substitute for Louise, and now that Louise had returned, she soon wouldn’t even qualify for that. Thinking about this, Grace felt an indescribable bitterness in her heart. Just then, the waiter brought in the food, and a greasy smell invaded her nostrils. Instantly, her stomach churned, and a desire to vomit surged.

“I need to use the restroom!”

She covered her mouth and nose and quickly fled from the table, rushing into the restroom.

Observing her departing figure, Brian furrowed his brow slightly, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes.

He thought Grace was trying to attract his attention by playing tricks. The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he felt. Despite treating her so well, she still resorted to such antics. He couldn’t help but feel that she didn’t understand gratitude.

+5)

In the restroom, Grace, facing the toilet, strained to suppress the urge to make any sound. She dry–

heaved a few times silently, her face turning red as she crouched by the toilet. Simultaneously, she grabbed a pre- prepared box of sour plums from her bag and started shoving them into her mouth. She ate more than ten sour plums, managing to quell the nauseating sensation.

The restroom door swung open at that moment, revealing Brian’s tall figure. He looked down at her with a wrinkled brow.

“Are you okay? What are you doing?”

Startled, Grace instinctively pushed the box of sour plums further into her bag and quickly pulled out a lipstick, responding calmly, “I dropped my lipstick behind the toilet. It took me a while to retrieve it.”

With that, Grace stood up as if nothing had happened and walked out of the restroom.

Brian squinted his dark, profound eyes, staring at her. He couldn’t understand why she had taken such a vibrant shade of lipstick with her when she had barely any makeup on.

Grace returned to the table, staring at the array of dishes laid out before her, feeling absolutely no appetite. She even started to feel a bit nauseous again.

‘No, this won’t do. I need to figure something out!‘ thought Grace.

Just then, a waiter arrived to serve her, standing beside her to arrange the cutlery.

With a slight raise of her eyebrow, Grace made some subtle movements with her hand under the table.

The next moment, as the waiter turned away, a series of clatters sounded. The tablecloth was inexplicably pulled, causing the utensils in front of her and the nearby dishes to spill all over the floor.

The waiter turned in terror, realizing that his coat button had caught the edge of the tablecloth thread.

“Sorry, sorry!”

A group of waiters rushed over, frantically trying to clean up the mess.

“Forget it. I’ve lost my appetite. Let’s go.” Grace stood up, feigning an unhappy expression, grabbing her bag and heading out.

The manager rushed over, apologizing incessantly to Brian. Brian’s gaze remained cold as he waved his hand, following Grace out. The fresh air outside eased Grace’s discomfort a little.

“Let’s dine at another hotel,” Brian spoke behind her.

His tone was so indifferent that it sent a chill down one’s spine.

“No need. I appreciate your gesture, but just take me home. I still think the food I cook is better.” Grace refused him in the same flat tone. This was her first time refusing him.

Brian’s deep, dark eyes studied Grace’s face for a moment. “Fine, let’s 1. I’ll drive you back.”

In the car, Grace immediately sensed something was off. The seat had been adjusted. Over three years, she had been in his car countless times, and the seat had always been adjusted to her most comfortable position. But now, this seat made her extremely uncomfortable. She knew Louise had adjusted the car seat, making it Louise’s spot now.

Then, her gaze fell to a corner inside the car. She found a long strand of hair. Grace’s hair wasn’t that long. Noticing this detail, her already low spirits plummeted even further.

Brian was meticulous about cleanliness, borderline having a mild case of cleanliness obsession. The car was always impeccably clean. Yet here, he seemed to tolerate an overlooked long strand of hair.

In the past, if Grace’s hair happened to fall in the car, Brian would insist on cleaning it up before getting in.