Chapter 2

Blushing, I ran off, with David chasing after me. He shamelessly demanded an answer, but I made it only as far as the girls' dorm and left him with a parting word: "Immature."

When I got back to the Scott mansion, David had been waiting in the living room for quite a while. As soon as he heard me, he stood up from the sofa and walked over to me, immediately noticing something was off. "Rose, darling, did you cry? Who made you upset?" His gentle face quickly shifted to one of concern, then anger. "Who dares to upset my Rose?"

I stared at him, unsure whether he was pretending or if he was so deep in his own act that even he believed it. I simply shook my head and said, "I saw a family of four today and couldn't help but feel a little envious."

David and I had been together since we were seventeen, and it had been ten years. Our relationship wasn't without its struggles. My health had been less than perfect, and there were times when I missed my period. Each time, David would become anxious, his hopeful face looking at me as he asked, "Rose, did we make it?" Then, he'd drop everything to go with me to the hospital for a check-up. When the results were disappointing, he'd hide his own sadness.

"It's okay, we're still young. Giving birth is painful, and I don't want you to go through that, Rose," he would say.

I could see David's disappointment, and it tore me apart. It wasn't that I didn't care, David had a younger brother who had died while trying to save him, and David had always longed for a son to carry on his brother's legacy. I knew this about him. That's why I kept going to the hospital for check-ups, trying to spare him the pain of knowing.

What I didn't know was that David had already secretly found someone else to bear his child. When I mentioned the family of four, David's expression shifted slightly, and he pulled me closer, his arm around my shoulders.

"From now on, if you want a child, why not consider adoption?" he suggested casually. "I can't bear to see you suffer. My Rose, just be a child yourself."

He leaned in to kiss me, but before his lips could reach my cheek, his phone began ringing non-stop in his pocket. He tried to hang up several times, but the caller kept calling back. I, ever the understanding partner, gently pushed him away.

"Maybe it's something urgent."

David sighed in frustration, "Really unlucky. The company's been so busy lately, I haven't had time to spend with you."

He complained as he spoke, but his face betrayed a hint of amusement. Grabbing his phone, he walked away, answering the call.

"Hello..."

I stood there, watching him in the yard. I didn't know what the girl had said, but I could guess. I could tell by David's expression that he was about to leave. Sure enough, he hung up, his face showing clear signs of urgency.

"There's an issue with a contract. It's about the company's profits for the second half of the year…"

"Mm," I said, setting my phone down and looking up at him. "It's fine, go ahead and handle it. Work comes first."

I kept my expression calm, just like usual. Keeping things from David was second nature to me. He hesitated for a few seconds, then grabbed his coat and walked toward the door, turning back to look at me.

"Sweetheart, if I'm late, don't wait for me."

"Go to bed early," I replied.

David still seemed uneasy. He repeated, "If anything comes up, call me. For you, I'll always make time."

I smiled and nodded, reassuring him. Only then did he reluctantly leave.

The housekeeper, Shelly, walked in holding a bowl of bird's nest soup, teasing, "Mr. Scott really treats you well. Even I, an old woman, can't help but envy you."

I took the soup, smiled, and didn't respond.