Chapter 4

Sophia strolled over to Alexander with Andy in her arms, linking her arm with his playfully:

"Alex, did you hear that? Your mom just adopted me as her goddaughter. What about a welcome gift for your dear little sister?"

Alexander pinched her cheek with a fond but exasperated look.

"You're impossible. Don't call me brother."

But despite his words, he had 92 designer fur coats delivered, each paired with matching jewelry.

"I know you love fashion, but you're still recovering from childbirth, so you can't catch a cold. There are 92 days in winter, one for each."

Sophia smiled, planting a kiss on his cheek like a playful young girl.

"Wow, these are limited edition pieces from next year's collections. How did you manage to get them so early? You really do spoil me, Alex."

"But you've already given me so many things. Won't Olivia get upset?"

Compared to these glamorous gifts, my bloodstained clothes made me feel like a joke.

Alexander hesitated, as if just remembering I was there, before awkwardly speaking:

"Olivia, it's not like you think. Sophia's been living abroad, and things are more open there. And these coats, she just had a baby, her husband's not around, and we've known each other since childhood. I just wanted to..."

Before he could finish, Andy started crying. Sophia looked surprised.

"Oh no, is Andy hungry again? Mommy will take you upstairs to feed you."

She didn't forget to feign a bit of concern for me.

"Olivia, please don't misunderstand. I'm just used to comforting my own baby, and Andy always seems happy when I talk to him like this."

But as she started to leave, she suddenly swayed, leaning weakly into Alexander's arms.

"Alex, I feel a bit dizzy..."

Immediately, Alexander shoved me aside, scooping Sophia up in his arms, along with Andy, and rushed upstairs, his expression frantic.

I stumbled and fell, the pain in my leg making everything worse.

But Alexander didn't even glance my way. With all eyes on us, he took Sophia and Andy upstairs, leaving me behind.

The room filled with whispers, each word like a knife.

"No wonder Alex dotes on Sophia. She's so beautiful and kind-hearted, breastfeeding someone else's baby. And Olivia... she's just so... useless. Can't even handle a little leg pain without making a scene. And the way she took medicine while breastfeeding? Selfish."

"How could someone like that even be a mother? Sophia seems like Andy's real mom. He even looks like her. Maybe he doesn't want to resemble Olivia."

"Such a shame they didn't marry back then. They'd be perfect together."

Mrs. Carter, instead of standing up for me, gave me a look of utter contempt.

"What are you doing on the floor like that? If you're begging for food, go somewhere else. We don't feed worthless women like you."

"You don't care about your own son. You couldn't even keep your husband's heart. I heard you can't have any more kids? Marrying you must've been the worst mistake Alex ever made. Get out of my sight. Just looking at you makes me feel like I'll age ten years."

Humiliated beyond words, I thought about the divorce papers sitting in my phone. I said nothing, just struggled to get to my feet and limped upstairs to the study.

After slipping the divorce agreement into my bag, I made my way to the guest room. But when I got there, they weren't there. The nanny was holding a well-fed and calm Andy.

I felt confused until I heard sounds coming from the bedroom Alexander and I used to share.

The door wasn't fully closed. Sophia was sitting on Alexander's lap, her clothes a mess, her voice full of false sweetness.

"Alex, I have too much milk. Andy's appetite is too small, and my breasts are so swollen."

"I'm so uncomfortable. Won't you help me~"

Alexander hesitated, his voice low.

"Sophia, don't do this. You just gave birth a couple of days ago. Your body isn't ready. I can't hurt you anymore... "

Sophia pulled his head down, whispering softly.

"Silly Alex, if I'm not afraid, why are you worried? I had your child willingly. He's always away... Please, take care of me."

Without saying anything more, the sounds inside grew clearer. I couldn't take it. Nausea washed over me as I fled the house.

The fresh air outside didn't quite clear the suffocating feeling, but the tears kept coming.

How could you do this, Alexander, knowing I was just downstairs? And in our bedroom?!

I sat by the door, feeling completely lost, until something cold and foul splashed over my head.

Sophia stood there, smirking, the malicious glint in her eyes.

"Olivia, look at how disgusting you are. Did you enjoy watching Alex lose himself in me?"

She'd done it on purpose.

"Tsk, look at you now. Your son's dead, and you're limping. If I were you, I'd have killed myself by now. What's the point of living?"

"Even if you married Alex and had his child, so what? He still let your son suffocate and made you infertile, all for me and my baby."

Sophia's voice turned even colder as she pulled out her phone.

"I even have a video of your son's death. Want to see how his face turned purple? It was quite something."

I stared at the screen, my body shaking uncontrollably as I watched the life drain from my child's tiny body.

Her casual cruelty took my breath away.

In that moment, rage flooded through me. I raised my hand, but before I could do anything, she pulled out a dagger and slashed it across her own chest.