Chapter 3

I thought it was some kind of rare antique. But when I took a closer look, it was just a scrunchie. It was yellowing around the edges, showing its age.

The more I looked at it, the more familiar it seemed. It looked like the one I used to wear all the time as a kid but had lost.

Xavier grabbed it from me in one swift motion. He said harshly, "This belongs to her. You're not allowed to dirty it with your hands!"

"That looks like a scrunchie I once had."

The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them, and Xavier looked at me as if I had lost my mind. I grew more and more confused and couldn't help but try to grab it back from him to take a closer look.

Xavier's expression became glacial, and he shoved me to the ground with one hand. My already injured hand hit the shattered glass again. The pain was so intense that my vision blurred.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital bed.

Upon seeing that I was awake, Maisie held my hand and said, "Don't worry, the baby is safe."

Robert exclaimed in exasperation, "How can you not tell us about such an important matter?"

I was stunned. After a long silence, I finally asked the question that had been troubling me, "What's the story behind that scrunchie that Xavier keeps holding on to?"

Robert and Maisie knew I wouldn't rest until I got an answer from them. So, they had no choice but to explain the backstory of that scrunchie.

"When Xavier was a child, he was kidnapped. A little girl wearing that scrunchie saved him. He didn't cry when he came home. On the contrary, he smiled, saying that he'd met an angel."

Familiar memories began to resurface in my mind.

Back then, I had gone to play in an abandoned neighborhood nearby. Xavier had been locked behind a chained fence like a dirty stray dog. To rescue him, I told the police to use me as bait.

After he was saved, my mom beckoned for me to go home for dinner. So, I left before he even had a chance to thank me.

I never imagined Xavier would have such a tender side.

But Robert and Maisie were furious. They pounded the table in frustration and complained, "Because of that incident, no matter how much trouble Elsa caused, Xavier always spoiled her unconditionally."

"Elsa?" I looked up in shock, my memories now in complete disarray.

Robert went on, "Xavier asked us to offer a huge reward to find the girl who saved him after he came back. The very next day, Elsa showed up at our door."

"It's terrible that Xavier's savior turned out to be her," Maisie lamented.

So, that was what happened. It turned out that Elsa was the imposter who had stolen the affection that should have been mine.

Xavier's parents made hundreds of calls to inform him that I was pregnant.

Finally, he showed up, but he brought Elsa with him. He turned back and carefully adjusted her scarf, tenderly reminding her to keep herself warm and not catch a cold.

Then, he strode over to me with an icy expression and slapped me so hard that I fell off the bed.

He angrily accused me, "Whose bastard child are you carrying? How dare you cheat on me!"

Xavier's parents, who had been about to help me up, suddenly hesitated and looked at me with doubtful eyes.

Just then, my dad walked in carrying a kettle. Without hesitation, he pointed his finger at Xavier and shouted, "The baby is yours! I poked holes in all of your condoms."

Rage filled Xavier's eyes, and he punched my dad hard. I saw blood gush from his nose. My dad begged for mercy, but all he received in return were more punches and kicks.

Xavier's parents didn't intervene. They merely said indifferently, "Be careful not to hit Halyna. She's carrying your child."