Chapter 2

Arlene's POV

The door to my hospital room flew open with a bang.

Caspian strode in, Serafina Cross on his arm. I had been in labor for over twenty-four hours, and he—because Serafina had thrown a tantrum—had abandoned me to keep her company.

"Caspian." I spoke first. "Let's get a divorce."

He froze.

"What did you say?"

"I said let's get a divorce." I met his gaze, calm and steady. "But our daughter stays with me."

Rowena let out a cold laugh. "Are you dreaming? This child carries Valcour blood. What makes you think you can take her?"

"The fact that she came out of my body." I held my daughter tighter. "I gave birth to her. I'm taking her with me."

"You—"

"Arlene," Serafina tugged gently at Caspian's sleeve, tears welling in her eyes, "please don't be like this... I know you hate me, but the child is innocent... Just let her stay with the Valcours. They can give her opportunities no one else can..."

In my previous life, this was exactly the kind of performance that destroyed me.

On the surface, she was speaking up for me. In reality, she was telling everyone: Look how kind I am. Look how ungrateful she is.

"Miss Cross," I turned to face her, my voice flat, "this is a family matter between Caspian and myself. What business is it of yours—an outsider?"

Serafina's expression flickered.

"Arlene!" Caspian's voice thundered. "How dare you speak to Serafina like that?"

"How dare I?" I shot back. "Caspian Valcour, who is she? What right does she have to be in the room where I just gave birth?"

"She's my—"

"Your what? Your mistress? Your first love?" I cut him off. "But she's not your wife. I am."

Caspian's face turned to stone.

Rowena snorted from beside us. "What do you have to be proud of? If Helen hadn't forced him, do you think my son would have married you?"

"You're right. I'm not worthy of the Valcour family." I nodded. "That's why I'm agreeing to the divorce. But my daughter comes with me."

"Absolutely not!" Aldrich finally spoke up. "This child is a Valcour. She stays!"

I leaned back against my pillow and closed my eyes. "If you won't agree, then we're at a stalemate. I have all the time in the world."

"You—"

"Caspian," Rowena turned to her son, "has she lost her mind again? What scheme is she cooking up now?"

Rowena's face had gone white with rage. Aldrich's expression was thunderous. Caspian stared at me as if looking at a stranger.

Only Serafina quietly tugged at Rowena's sleeve.

"Rowena, don't stoop to her level... She just gave birth, she's weak, her mind isn't clear. You know how she is—when she wants something, she always finds a way to get it..."

Her words carried a hidden meaning.

Three years ago, when Helen announced that I would marry Caspian, he had knelt before his grandmother, begging her to change her mind. He swore that Serafina was the only woman he would ever marry.

Helen refused.

That night, I found the engagement ring he had prepared for Serafina in his bedroom. In my despair, I swallowed half a bottle of sleeping pills.

By the time they found me, I was unconscious.

Helen's heart condition flared up from the shock, and she forced Caspian to go through with our wedding.

In their eyes, I would always be the manipulative madwoman who would stop at nothing.

"Let's leave it for now," Rowena said impatiently.

Despite her contempt for me, she was still curious about her own granddaughter. She wasn't foolish enough to harm her own blood.

She walked to the bedside and looked down at the baby in my arms.

"She does look like Caspian." The corner of her mouth twitched slightly as she reached out and took the child from me.

I didn't stop her.

"So tiny." Rowena held the baby, her face softening for the briefest moment. "Aldrich, look—she has our family's eyes."

Aldrich leaned in for a glance and nodded. "She does."

Just then, Serafina sidled up to them.

"Oh, she's adorable..." She reached out, trying to take the baby from Rowena's arms. "Rowena, may I hold her?"

"No!"

I shot upright, ignoring the tearing pain in my body, and shoved Serafina away.

"Don't you touch her!"

Serafina stumbled back two steps and collided with Caspian.

"Ah—" She let out a cry, clutching her arm, her eyes instantly rimming red.