Chapter 5
Jason blocked Denise and deleted her number right in front of me.
But my heart didn't feel the slightest relief. I couldn't shake the feeling that Denise wouldn't give up so easily—and I was right.
That afternoon, I applied for annual leave from work. The doctor told me during my prenatal checkup that I was showing signs of a threatened miscarriage. Along with medication, I needed plenty of rest.
After work, I picked up some healthy snacks—our favorites—and headed home with a light step.
But as I stepped out of the elevator and approached the apartment, I found the front door ajar. From inside came the crisp voice of a child.
I stopped in my tracks. Jason wasn't home yet. Who could it be?
A bad feeling surged through me.
I walked into the living room and there she was—Denise—lounging lazily on the couch, watching TV.
The floor in front of her was littered with snack wrappers.
A little girl beside her had been bouncing happily on the sofa, but the moment she saw me, she froze.
"Mommy, who is she?" she asked curiously.
Denise stopped munching, raised an eyebrow, and looked me up and down.
"Becca? You've gotten so fat since the last time we met. So ugly. I honestly don't know what Jason sees in you."
I was stunned. I never imagined someone who looked so delicate and sweet could say something so openly vicious.
My heart pounded wildly with shock and anger. I forced myself to stay calm.
"That's none of your business. This is my home. Get out. You're trespassing. If you don't leave right now, I'm calling the police."
Maybe it was my cold tone, but the little girl suddenly burst into tears and buried herself in Denise's arms. "Mommy, let's go, I'm scared!"
Denise shot me a glare, then gave a nonchalant smile.
"Aren't you curious how I got your house key? Jason gave it to me. This was our wedding home, you know? I picked it out myself. The furniture, the decorations—every little thing—I chose them all.
Funny how all these years passed and he still didn't change the locks. Tsk tsk... If I hadn't made a silly mistake back then, you wouldn't have had your chance. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"
Her roaming gaze, her smug tone, her clinging to the past—every bit of it ignited something in me.
My heart thundered, scalp tingling, and I had to take a deep breath to steady myself.
"Leave. Now," I said through gritted teeth. "Whatever you had is in the past. I'm the one living here now. I'm Jason's legal wife, and I'm carrying his child. I'm asking you not to disturb our family again."
Denise froze. Her expression flickered.
She stared at my belly, eyes dim, lost in thought.
Just then, the little girl—Alison—suddenly lunged at me. "You're a bad woman! Don't bully my mommy!"
She grabbed my arm and went to bite me.
I yanked free, fury overwhelming me. I raised my hand, ready to strike—
Only to have it caught midair.
Jason had arrived, and his grip locked around my wrist like steel.
Alison screamed and cried harder.
Jason's face was dark, eyes burning. "She's just a kid. What the hell are you doing?"
Right on cue, Denise began to sniffle, a trace of triumph flickering in her tearful eyes.
I trembled all over, as if my heart had been thrown onto open flames. I curled in on myself.
"So I'm just supposed to stand by while they barge into my home, bite me, and humiliate me?"
I tried to laugh, but tears wouldn't stop spilling from my eyes.
Jason panicked. "Becca, are you okay?"
He gripped my hand, worried, then turned to Denise, voice cold and sharp. "The only reason I ever helped you was out of respect for Kate. Don't flatter yourself. Stop interfering in our lives. Leave. Now."
Tears streamed down Denise's face. She pointed weakly to the medical report on the table, her voice barely audible. "Jason, you really don't want me anymore? I had blood in my urine. I just wanted…"
"Don't make me say it again. Get out!" Jason's tone was ice.
Denise stood, dazed, and stumbled out the door.
"Mommy—wait for me—!" Alison sobbed as she chased after her, crying hysterically.
I stood frozen for a long time before finally snapping out of it. When I looked up, Jason was still staring at the doorway, lips tightly pressed together, his expression clouded. He looked torn, worried, and... reluctant.
I spoke hesitantly, "Jason? Are you thinking of going after them?"
Suddenly, he pulled me into his arms. "I'm sorry, Becca. I was just worried... Never mind. Forget it. I must've scared you. I'll change the locks first thing."
I stared at the table, at the pile of snack wrappers.
My nose stung.
This was their wedding home. Her fingerprints were everywhere.
Then what did I count for?
The humiliation I'd swallowed came flooding back, blanketing me in despair.
"Jason," I said softly. "Was it really right for me to marry you? To have this baby with you? Jason, I don't want this house anymore. What should I do?"
His back went rigid. Then he hugged me.
"Becca, don't even think about getting rid of me in this lifetime. If you don't want this house anymore, then after the New Year, we'll get a new one. Okay?"
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