Chapter 2
Beckett soon followed the doctor into the office to pick up the prenatal report. Delaney, however, made an excuse about needing to use the restroom—and then just stood there. Once they were both inside, she finally drawled lazily, “You can come out now. You’ve been standing there watching long enough. Haven’t had your fill yet?” I stepped out without a word, my expression blank. Seeing that I stayed silent, Delaney grew impatient. Her gaze sharpened with mockery. “What, no shame left at all? You knew Beckett never loved you, yet you still insist on holding on to the title of Mrs. Shaw?” I let out a cold laugh. “And you don’t find it shameful to be the other woman, fully aware he’s married?” Delaney’s lips curled into a smile. “I knew Beckett long before you did. If I hadn’t gone abroad, you’d never have had the chance to marry him.” She lightly patted her belly, then added smugly, “But I’m back now—and I’m pregnant with his child. So I’d say it’s time for you to step aside.” From the moment I married Beckett, I knew he had a woman he considered his one true love. But I never thought she’d hold such an unshakable place in his heart. The pain that shot through my chest nearly brought me to my knees. My grip tightened instinctively on the report in my hand. And that’s when Delaney saw and snatched it from me. She scanned the conclusion and burst into wild, gleeful laughter. “Cancer, huh?” she said. “So, what do you think? Will you live long enough to give birth to that bastard baby, or are you both going to die together?” Her laughter rang in my ears like sirens and something in me snapped. I stepped forward and slapped her, hard. She staggered back dramatically, then fell to the ground with a wail. “Evelyn, I didn’t mean to keep this from you! But I’m pregnant! How could you hit me like that?” Huge, dramatic tears rolled down her cheeks. And before I could even process her performance, I felt a violent shove from behind. I lost my balance and my belly slammed into the cold, hard floor. Beckett grabbed my arm and yanked me up. I was still dazed, still trying to process the shock, when he yelled in my face. “Are you out of your mind?! How could you push Delaney? She’s pregnant!” I stared at him, stunned. Before I could speak, Delaney cried out, “Beckett, please don’t fight with Evelyn because of me. I shouldn’t have asked you to come to the appointment with me. This is my fault. As long as the baby’s okay, she can slap me.” She looked like a tragic heroine—eyes glassy, lower lip trembling. Beckett’s face twisted with anger. His voice was low and sharp when he turned to me. “You’ve crossed the line, Evelyn,” he said coldly. “Apologize to Delaney.” The sound of it shocked even me. I laughed. Bitterly. “You want me to apologize?” I said, my voice hoarse. “Beckett, do you know what this is?” I shoved the cancer report into his chest, my hands shaking. My throat tightened with emotion. He didn’t even look at it. He tore the paper in half and glared at me like I was the problem. “I don’t care what that says! All I know is you’ve gone too far. God, you’re pregnant, Evelyn! How could you be cruel to other woman?” Tears finally slipped down my cheeks, hot and silent. My whole body trembled—not from pain, but from sheer fury. Beckett saw me crying and for a moment, his expression softened. His tone shifted to something gentler. “Alright… can you just apologize? I know I haven’t been giving you attention these past few months. But I promise I’ll make it up to you once the baby’s born.” Then, without a trace of shame, he pushed me toward Delaney. She looked back at me, eyes glinting with smug triumph. I looked hard at Beckett, wondering how the man who once swore he loved me could change so drastically the moment Delaney came back. Had he forgotten every promise he made the day we stood at the altar? I drew in a long, steadying breath. “No,” I said quietly. “I won’t apologize. And Beckett… you’ve truly disappointed me.” Then I turned and walked away.