Chapter 4Just a Baby? Is That Really Why He Divorced Me?

After finishing the oatmeal, I rode my bike into town and printed out another copy of the divorce agreement.

Just as I handed the new envelope to the courier, my phone rang again. Ethan.

The frequency of his calls made me momentarily think he'd somehow already received the papers I just sent.

I snapped into the phone, "We are about to be divorced! Please stop calling me!"

There was a pause on the other end, then a sickly sweet voice purred, "Claire, honey, it's me, Jessica."

"Tomorrow, Ethan and I are having our gender reveal party! You have to come, okay?" The triumph in her voice was unmistakable, even over the phone.

"Jessica, you're the mistress, the secret on the side. Who gave you the audacity to provoke the actual wife?"

Jessica's sugary-sweet voice came back, laced with venom. "Oh, Claire. The one who isn't loved is the real third wheel."

"In Ethan's heart, I'm the one who matters most."

"From now on, his heart only has room for me and our baby!"

"Hope you can make it tomorrow. Be there!"

After hanging up, a decision formed in my mind.

Not only would I attend tomorrow's party, but I'd also bring a little surprise for her and Ethan. Something truly unforgettable.

The next day, when I arrived at the party venue, it was already filled with familiar faces.

There were Cole family relatives, along with business partners who worked with Cole Industries.

I recognized most of them from my time dating Ethan.

Seeing me arrive, several people approached immediately, offering congratulations. "Congratulations, Mrs. Cole, to you and Mr. Cole on the wonderful news!"

A few businesswomen chimed in with compliments, "Mrs. Cole, you're several months along and barely showing! What's your secret to staying so slim?"

I smiled serenely. "That's because the one who's pregnant isn't me."

I honestly couldn't understand how Ethan could allow his mistress to be presented so formally in front of all these people.

Wasn't he afraid of becoming the laughingstock of their entire social circle?

He must have been completely blinded by Jessica's manipulation!

Just as I finished speaking, music swelled, and Jessica walked out, arm-in-arm with Ethan.

Seeing her obviously pregnant belly, everyone in the room instantly understood what I meant.

The looks on the faces of all the women present shifted dramatically as they stared at the couple on the small stage.

Jessica, seemingly oblivious to the sudden change in atmosphere, shot me a defiant look.

Putting on a frail, delicate act, she stepped forward and took the microphone.

"I have to thank Claire for me being pregnant with Ethan's baby."

"If she hadn't fought with Ethan, I never would have had the chance to go away with him on that three-month trip!"

"That's when our baby was conceived."

This blatant airing of their dirty laundry actually made me see her in a new, albeit disgusting, light.

Now I finally understood why she insisted I had to be here.

She wanted to force my hand, pressure me into a quick divorce so she could marry Ethan, using the baby as leverage.

And Ethan? He didn't seem worried at all about becoming gossip fodder.

So much for Ethan’s “innocent little sister.”

What a calculating bitch!

Jessica then picked up a champagne flute and walked towards me, smiling. "Claire, I really, truly have you to thank!"

I returned her smile, unfazed. "Since you're so grateful, let me give you a big gift in return."

I snatched the microphone from her hand. "Excuse me, servers? Could you please open the doors? Let's welcome the baby's biological father, Mr. Rick Johnson!"

Under the confused stares of the crowd, a rough-looking man dressed in cheap clothes stormed in, fury radiating off him.

He looked like a gorilla, built and angry.

He saw Jessica, standing there pregnant and glammed up, and slapped her hard across the face.

The force of the blow sent Jessica sprawling to the ground.

He grabbed her by the hair, yelling, "You rotten bitch! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"Took me long enough, but I finally found you!"

Jessica scrambled, panicked. "No, no, no! You've got the wrong person!"

The man sneered. "Even if you were ashes, I'd still recognize you!"