Chapter 3 I Don't Need to Fulfill a Wife's Duties
The necklace was the exact one Jenna had been eyeing for months.
She remembered the day she'd seen it in the boutique. The store had been running a promotion: [Buy a necklace, get a matching bracelet free.]
So the bracelet Edward gave her today was just a throwaway bonus item from the necklace he'd bought for Jennifer?
Jenna felt like the world's biggest fool.
She pushed the gift box away, her voice flat. "Thanks, but I don't accept hand-me-downs."
"It's not a hand-me-down! Edward just gave it to me today. I haven't even—" Jennifer clapped a hand over her mouth mid-sentence, as if she'd said too much.
That little performance only confirmed it. The necklace was from Edward.
And Jenna was expected to accept it as a regift from his mistress.
Suddenly, Jenna felt exhausted by the entire charade.
She didn't want to argue anymore. Didn't want to look at any of them. She yanked the blanket over her head and turned her back to the room, done talking.
Edward's expression darkened. "Jenna, what the hell is your problem? Do you need the entire world to revolve around you before you're satisfied?"
Jenna stayed hidden beneath the covers, tears streaming silently down her face. "No one forced you to come here. You can leave."
"You!"
Edward started to snap back, but Jennifer intervened, gently tugging at his sleeve. "Edward, she just woke up. She's still weak. Let's let her rest."
Edward fell silent. After a long pause, he allowed Jennifer to pull him toward the door.
As they left, Jenna heard Lucas mutter under his breath: "Unbelievable. Gold-digging social climber throws a tantrum and everyone's supposed to bow down? Who does she think she is?"
"Lucas, enough," Jennifer said softly.
Jenna lay motionless under the blanket, tears soaking into the pillow.
So that's what they thought of her. A manipulative opportunist who'd schemed her way into marriage.
And her husband—when faced with that accusation—said nothing in her defense.
Jenna suddenly regretted everything. If she could go back, she would never have met Edward. Never agreed to this arranged marriage.
What had she done to deserve five years of his cold indifference?
She'd only made one mistake: loving the wrong man.
Her hand drifted to her stomach. Fresh tears spilled over.
"I'm sorry, baby," she whispered. "I don't think Mommy can give you a whole family after all."
Jenna checked herself out of the hospital that afternoon. No one came to pick her up. She even handled the discharge paperwork alone.
Her OB-GYN, Dr. Becky Davis—also her best friend—noticed her pale complexion and pulled her aside. "You've been wanting a baby forever. Why do you look so miserable?"
Jenna hesitated. "Becky... do you think I could go back to modeling?"
Becky blinked in surprise, then laughed. "Are you serious? You haven't walked a runway in years. And you're pregnant now. There's no way you'd get back to where you were."
Jenna's shoulders slumped. "But I don't have any other skills."
"Why? Are you hurting for money?" Becky studied her with concern. "That doesn't make sense. Edward's loaded."
"I just... don't want to feel trapped in this marriage anymore."
She couldn't bring herself to say it out loud: that she wanted a divorce. That she was planning to raise this baby alone.
Becky sighed knowingly. "I get it. You were incredible back in the day. If you hadn't quit to get married, you'd probably be walking Paris Fashion Week by now."
It wasn't an exaggeration. Jenna had been on the verge of international stardom—winning competitions, booking major campaigns. She'd thrown it all away for Edward.
And now look where it had gotten her.
Becky handed her a few boxes of prenatal vitamins. "Stop overthinking. Go home, take your meds, and take care of yourself. This baby didn't come easy."
Jenna stared down at the pill bottles, her chest tight.
Home? What home?
That house felt like a prison. She couldn't bear the thought of going back.
Instead, Jenna drove to the suburban villa her mother had bought her years ago. She needed space. Time to think. She wasn't ready to face Edward yet.
Late that night, half-asleep, her phone buzzed. Edward's name lit up the screen.
She answered groggily. "What?"
"Where are you?" His tone was clipped, irritated.
Jenna didn't answer his question. "What do you want?"
"Lucas is throwing a welcome-back party for Jenny tomorrow night. You're coming."
Jenna's drowsiness evaporated, replaced by a surge of fury. "Why would I go to her party? I don't even know her."
"Jenna." Edward's voice dropped to a warning growl. "I'm letting this morning slide. But Jenny personally invited you, and I expect you to show some manners."
"Manners?" Jenna let out a bitter laugh. "You want me to watch you fawn over your ex-girlfriend in public and call it good manners?"
Edward paused. Then his voice rose. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb, Edward. You know exactly what I mean. You've never once acted like a real husband to me. So why should I keep playing the dutiful wife? I'm not going to that party."
She hung up.
Edward called back immediately. She declined. He tried again. She powered off her phone entirely.
She was done.
If Edward didn't love her, there was no point in staying married. She'd divorce him, raise this baby on her own, and finally take control of her life.
The next morning, Jenna was jolted awake by aggressive doorbell ringing.
Confused, she dragged herself to the door. This villa was in the middle of nowhere—hardly anyone even knew it existed.
She opened the door and froze.
Edward stood on her doorstep, his expression thunderous.
And right behind him stood Jennifer.
