Chapter 3 Chapter 3

The suspended arm fell, and she pretended to stagger backward, as if she had been pushed. Her eyes filled with tears, and her face trembled with fear.

"Sister... I'm sorry. I know I'm wrong, but I can't control my feelings. I really love Edward.“ She brought her hand to her belly, sobbing. ”Please don't hurt my child...“

She looked as if she was about to fall when the door suddenly opened.

”Claire!"

The anxious voice echoed even before the man entered.

Edward Collins rushed to her and held her against his chest.

“Claire, are you okay?”

She lifted her face to him, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her voice sounded shaky, almost choked:

“Edward... I'm so scared. Our baby almost... almost didn't make it...”

She clung to him, trembling, as if she were about to collapse.

"Edward, I know I disappointed my sister. I would never dare to expect her forgiveness. If she wants to hit me, humiliate me, I can take it... But our baby... our baby is innocent! How could she...

Her cheek still marked by the slap, her face red and swollen, her eyes teary. She looked like a fragile victim, a perfect martyr.

Edward's heart tightened at the sight. His expression closed in pain and anger. Then he turned to Caroline.

His gaze was full of contempt.

“Caroline, Claire's baby is only a month old. This is the most unstable period of pregnancy. Do you know the consequences if she had fallen to the floor?”

His voice grew harsher, each word like a blade.

“I always thought you were kind and gentle. When did you become so cruel?”

Caroline took a step back, stunned.

“Me? Cruel?”

Her eyes widened, her vision blurred by the tears that threatened to fall.

He stood before her as always: impeccable, in his white shirt, the image of a fairy-tale prince.

A prince she had worshipped, loved, and waited for ten long years.

But now... that face seemed unrecognizable to her.

Cold. Unfair.

Ten years...

Ten years by his side.

Ten years of loyalty.

And yet, in a single moment, Edward chose to believe Claire's fake tears.

Caroline felt her heart break.

Ten years of trust and love... and that was all it was worth to him?

Seeing the way he held Claire so tightly in his arms, as if she were something precious, and that gentle look he had never given her in ten years, Caroline's heart froze. Disappointment spread across her eyes as she whispered, her voice breaking:

“Edward Collins, have you forgotten who your fiancée is? And whose woman are you holding right now?”

Edward froze. His eyes met hers—sad, but mocking. A trace of guilt crossed his face. Even so, he didn't let go of Claire. On the contrary, he hugged her tighter.

“I'm sorry, Caroline. Claire is pregnant with my child... I need to take responsibility.”

Caroline let out a bitter, almost insane laugh.

“Responsibility?” Her eyes flashed with irony. “You have to take responsibility for her? What about me, Edward Collins? What am I to you?”

He pressed his lips together, hesitant, but feeling Claire's trembling body against his, he only held her even tighter.

“Edward...”

Claire called him softly, almost pleadingly, as if each syllable were laden with love.

He stroked her head and then looked up at Caroline. After a long silence, his voice came out hoarse, as if it were tearing the air from inside him:

"Caroline, I'm sorry. But... the person I love is Claire. I can't keep deceiving myself, nor do I want to deceive you.

The words hit her like a knife through the chest.

She wanted to laugh. And she laughed.

At first, he had promised to love her for the rest of his life. He had said he would never disappoint her. That only she existed in his heart.

But now? Now he stood before her, without hesitation, saying he loved her sister.

Caroline's lips curved into a wry smile.

Behind Edward, Claire discreetly turned her face away. And smiled.

A smile of victory.

Her lips moved, soundlessly, but Caroline read them perfectly:

Sister, I've won again.

Caroline's heart, shattered a few minutes ago, was now just growing cold. The pain gave way to a strange calm.

She lifted her face, her eyes dry and steady.

“All right, Edward Collins.” Her voice sounded cold as ice. “As you wish, we are breaking off the engagement.”

She looked one last time at that face she knew so well, but which now seemed like a stranger's. There was no more love in her gaze. Only indifference.

“From today on, we go our separate ways. If we meet in the future... we will be strangers.”

And then, without hesitation, she turned and left. Her steps were firm, decisive, leaving no room for regret.

Edward watched her back as she walked away, and panic began to grow inside him.

“Caroline!” he shouted, running after her.

“Edward!”

Claire's high-pitched, pained voice made him stop.

He turned immediately, his heart racing. Claire was bent over, her face pale, her hands clutching her stomach tightly.

“It hurts... my stomach... it hurts so much...” she moaned, trembling.

Edward's face changed instantly. In desperation, he ran back to her.

“Claire!”

He hugged her tightly, his expression filled with panic.

“Claire, what's wrong with you?”

Claire covered her belly with one hand, her eyes half-closed in calculated pain.

“My stomach... it suddenly hurts so much. Edward, is there something wrong with our baby?”

Upon hearing the word “baby,” Edward's heart contracted. The whole world around him seemed to disappear.

The only thing that mattered was Claire.

Caroline, standing a few steps away, watched the scene in silence. His gaze did not waver; there was no longer any room for her in his heart.

Edward held Claire even tighter.

“No, no... don't worry, Claire. Our baby will be fine. I'll take you to the hospital right now!”

It was at that moment that Caroline turned her face away.

Without saying a word, she pushed open the door and left.