Chapter 2

Charlotte's POV

Less than half an hour after Victoria left, David came home.

I heard his Aston Martin pull into the garage, then leather shoes clicking on marble floors. When he entered the dining room, I sat at the table pretending to drink tea casually.

"Hey babe, you look exhausted today." David removed his suit jacket and kissed my forehead lightly.

Last time I thought this showed love—now it just disgusted me.

How ironic. I was CEO of Blackstone Group, controlling a multi-billion dollar business empire, while David had just been an ordinary financial secretary at the company. I was moved by his small gestures of care and consideration, gradually promoting him until I finally married him.

I gave David and Victoria everything they have today—luxury living, social status, business position. Never expected to raise two ungrateful bastards.

"David, we need to talk." I set down my teacup, looking at his hypocritical face. "About Victoria."

David's hand loosening his tie paused briefly, but quickly returned to normal: "Victoria? What about her?"

"She's pregnant."

"What the hell!" David's expression instantly turned shocked. "But Kevin's in London..."

"She says it's from a one-night stand with some stranger." I carefully observed his reaction.

David's face flushed red, angrily slamming his fist on the table: "That damned idiot! Kevin's busting his ass for his career in London while she pulls this shit! This will destroy our entire family's reputation!"

Such terrible acting.

"David, calm down." I pretended to be scared by his reaction. "Victoria already asked me for help."

"Help?" David turned to me, a flash of cunning in his eyes. "What kind of help?"

"She wants us to say I'm having twins."

David stayed silent for a full ten seconds, then slowly sat down: "Charlotte, do you know what this means?"

"I know it sounds crazy, but..."

"No!" David suddenly interrupted. "This isn't just crazy—this is DECEPTION! But..." He paused, pretending to think. "For the family's reputation... maybe it's the only way."

So fake.

If he really just learned about this, how could he accept the plan so quickly? Last time I was blinded by love—now I see he knew Victoria's plan all along.

"You'd really agree to this?" I feigned surprise.

"Hell no, of course I don't want to agree!" David clenched his fists. "But if the media finds out, Blackstone's stock will crash. We can't let this scandal destroy everything we've built."

I nodded, appearing moved by his "sacrificial spirit."

"I'm going to shower—today was exhausting." David stood up. "Charlotte, we'll get through this together."

He headed upstairs to the master bedroom. I waited a few minutes, then quietly followed.

Water sounds came from the bathroom. David's phone lay on the nightstand.

I quickly grabbed the phone, entering the password—our wedding anniversary. Last time he never minded me knowing it, probably because he was sure I wouldn't check.

The phone unlocked.

I opened messages, heart pounding as I scrolled through recent texts.

Then I saw it.

Amber: Baby, can you come to my apartment tonight? I miss you so much ❤️

David: Not tonight, Charlotte's emotionally unstable. I need to play the good husband.

Amber: God, doesn't she look disgusting now? How do you stand it?

David: Don't even mention it. She's huge as hell now, I'm completely turned off. It'll be better after she has the kid.

My hands trembled.

Not from heartbreak, but from RAGE.

Last time I thought his affair started after the child was born—turns out he was already fooling around with his secretary while I was pregnant.

The bathroom water stopped. I quickly deleted the screenshot record, put the phone back, and rushed downstairs to the living room.

Ten minutes later, David came downstairs in a bathrobe, hair still damp.

"Babe, you're still awake?" He approached me, wanting to embrace me.

I forced down my nausea and let him hold me: "I can't sleep. Today was too shocking."

"It'll be okay, everything will work out." He stroked my hair gently. "We'll protect our child."

Protect our child?

That phrase instantly triggered my most painful memory.

Last time during the kidnapping, when the kidnappers coldly said we could only save one child, David and Victoria said almost without hesitation: "Of course we save Charlotte's daughter—she's the Blackstone heir!"

At that time, I thought they meant my biological daughter and painfully agreed to this choice. I thought I was saving my own child, not knowing my real daughter—that tiny angel who'd been abused for four years—was desperately waiting to die in the kidnappers' hands.

When I held the "rescued" daughter, David comforted me: "Charlotte, you made the right choice. Blood is thicker than water—you saved your own child."

Blood is thicker than water?

DAMN IT, I didn't save my child at all! My real daughter died in that filthy warehouse covered in wounds, while I cried for someone else's child!

Even more terrifying—David knew the whole truth but watched me weep for the "wrong child," watched me blame myself for "not saving the other child." He knew all along that the dead one was my biological daughter but never told me!

"Charlotte? Are you okay?" David looked at me with concern. "You look awful."

I forced myself back to reality, putting on a tired expression: "I'm fine, just thinking about some things."

That night, I lay in bed listening to David's steady breathing, my revenge plan becoming clearer.

Last time you plotted against me, stole my daughter, seized my company, and finally took my life.

This time, I'll make you pay ten times over.

David Morrison, and that bitch Victoria—the game has just begun.