Chapter 1

Lucille Summers was beautiful. She carried with her an elegance that gave her an ethereal charm. At present, she sat across from me in a white dress. She had no makeup on, and her eyes were rimmed red.

"Penelope, I know that I have wronged you. But the baby is innocent…" she said as she gently caressed her baby bump. She looked ever so pitiful with her reddened eyes.

I used to really like her looks, and I had even taken extra care of her because of her gentle and docile nature. But now, I found her simply revolting. Had we not been in public, I would have splashed my cup of coffee on her face so that she would have a taste of her own medicine.

I suppressed the raging fury within me and kept silent. My mind raced as I slowly stirred my cup of cappuccino.

My husband, Patrick Walker, and I had been married for five years. It was ironic that in the past five years, no matter how hard we had tried, I had never been able to conceive. However, the one time that we did it when he had been drunk two months back, it had done the job.

It was an unexpected surprise that I had just found out about half an hour ago. The ultrasound report from the prenatal checkup was still in my bag, and I hadn't yet had the chance to break the news to Patrick. Lucille, however, had given me an even bigger surprise.

I initially had my suspicions that Patrick was sterile. But now, it seemed that wasn't the case. Instead, it seemed he hadn't been up to the task after exerting himself with Lucille.

Lucille got flustered because of how quiet I was. She put on a pitiable expression again and said, "I didn't want to keep the baby, but the doctor told me that with how weak I am currently, I might never be able to have another child if I abort this baby…"

As she spoke, tears began streaming down her face.

I lifted my gaze to look at her. Holding back the disgust I felt toward her, I handed her a piece of tissue. "How many months along are you? Have you told Pat yet?"

Perhaps she hadn't expected me to be so calm. Lucille paused for a moment before answering, "Pat really loves you, Penelope. I can't be sure he would want to keep the baby if I told him…"

So what she meant to say was that Patrick wasn't aware she was pregnant, and she was here to pressure me into supporting her and her baby? What an interesting pair they made!

"So what's your purpose in meeting me?" I raised my brows, utterly flabbergasted and impressed by how manipulative she could be.

"I love Pat a lot, and I don't want to lose him. I can't bear to lose our baby too. But I don't want to ruin your marriage with him either, Penelope. You're the only one I can count on in this city. All I wish is to give birth to my baby safely… Then, I'll leave." She started crying once again.

Given our good looks, the two of us attracted enough attention just sitting there. But once she started crying, a crowd gathered around to watch.

I couldn't afford to embarrass myself like this, so I said, "Stop going around in circles. Just cut to the chase and tell me what you want."

"Pat and I meet twice every week. But I'm three months into my pregnancy, and I'm afraid I won't be able to hide it from him any longer. I've resigned from my job, so I won't have an income. But I can't stay in the apartment Pat rented for me anymore, so—"

I had no patience to hear her harping on and showing off just how in love they were. I interrupted her, asking, "So you want me to pay for your accommodation and take care of you until you deliver the baby?"

Lucille nodded with much difficulty, as though she were in a tough position. She was truly pushing the limits.

I scoffed. "And why are you so confident that I will agree to it instead of forcing you to get an abortion?"

"Because Pat said you adore children, but… you have never been able to…" She gingerly looked up at me with teary eyes, but there was an unconcealable trace of victory in them.

Her goal was simple. She was under the impression that I would try to get her baby from her since I wanted children but had never been able to conceive. Perhaps she thought she could get some money out of me in the process too.

However, once she delivered her baby, there was no saying whether she would use that as a leverage to coerce me into leaving Patrick. How shameless of her!

Nevertheless, I couldn't let my anger show. I refused to give her the satisfaction of knowing that she had managed to get under my skin.

"This really came as a shock to me. Give me some time to think things through. You can head back first. I will contact you after I have thought about it."