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John refused to believe I was dead. He stormed into Mr. Parkinson’s private estate.
Mr. Parkinson was nursing a bleeding gash on his forehead while his private doctor attended to him.
Seeing John, Mr. Parkinson looked terrified.
I didn’t do anything, I swear! She just ran into the wall herself! You can’t pin her death on me!”
John’s face was a terrifying mask of fury.
Say that again.”
Mr. Parkinson’s fear turned to annoyance.
Fine! I’ll sign a one-year contract with you, consider it payment for your wife’s life. I even had her body sen
o your family’s estate. I’ve done more than enough for you.”
John finally snapped. He punched Mr. Parkinson square in the face.
Say. That. Again.”
Who told you to touch her? I’ll kill you!”
His fists flew, each blow heavy with rage.
He beat Mr. Parkinson so badly he ended up in the hospital. And as soon as he was admitted, reports start
ed flooding in. All the women he’d assaulted in the past came forward. He was arrested the moment he was
discharged.
n the days that followed, John avoided the reality of my death. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at my
body.
His grandfather had to step in and arrange the funeral.
No one dared to mention my name. It became a taboo in the Sterling family.
The day of my burial, John got blind drunk.
When he stumbled home, Leo ran to him, hugging his leg.
“Daddy, I don’t want Mommy to be dead! Please bring Mommy back!”
The word “dead” seemed to trigger something in John.
He froze, then lifted Leo up with one hand, his voice slurring.
“Who told you she’s dead? She’s not dead!”
He swayed, his grip tightening. “And another thing-why didn’t you ever call her Mommy before?”
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Chapter 2
13.17
Leo’s legs kicked in the air as he started to wail under his father’s questioning. A maid had to intervene, lying that his grandfather wanted to see him, just to get him away.
On the seventh day after my death, all the guests went to the memorial hall to pay their respects. John was the only one who wasn’t there.
He sat silently on our bed, crushing the divorce papers I’d left into a fine powder.
After a long time, he looked up at the wedding photo on the wall.
I was in a simple, off-the-rack dress, my face beaming as I leaned against him.
His own face was like ice, without a hint of a smile.
He had married me for revenge. Even the wedding dress and ring were the cheapest he could find.
But I hadn’t cared. I had thrown myself into the role of his wife.
Over the years, there had been moments when I’d seen a flicker of something in his eyes, a sign that I hac
touched his heart.
But he could never forget that his mother had died for me.
n his haze, he thought he saw me walking toward him.
He reached out, pulling the figure into a desperate embrace.
‘Nora? Is that you? You came back?”
He greedily inhaled her scent.
t wasn’t gardenias. It was the sharp, cloying smell of expensive perfume.
John snapped back to reality and saw who was in his arms.
ily. She caressed his face, her eyes full of pity.
Darling, let me be your wife, okay? I can do anything for you that she did.”
She was wearing a low-cut dress, her body pressed tightly against his.
John shoved her away, disgusted.
Who let you in this room? Get out!”
Lily’s face paled, her eyes filled with bitter resentment. When I was alive, he’d brought her to this house coun- tless times, even let our son call her “Miss Lily.” She’d thought she meant something to him. She had finally gotten rid of me, only for him to be unable to let me go. She couldn’t accept it.
She placed a hand on her stomach, a calculating glint in her eye.
“John, I’m pregnant. With your child.”
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Chapter 2
John stared at her stomach, a slow, cold smile spreading across his lips.
“Are you sure it’s mine?”
His direct gaze made her tremble. But this was her last chance to stay. She had to take it.
“The baby is yours! Don’t you believe me?”
The smile on his lips deepened.
“How far along?”
“F-four months.”
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The words were barely out of her mouth before John was dragging her to the hospital. She thought he was taking her for a prenatal check-up. Instead, it was for a paternity test.
An hour later, the results were thrown in her face.
Lily stared at them, incredulous.
The child isn’t yours? Impossible! The last time I was ovulating, I specifically…”
You specifically what? Rigged the test?” John grabbed her chin, his eyes filled with a deep, chilling disgust He had always been careful. He would never allow any woman but me to carry his child. That was his one
ine.
Lily was stunned for a moment, then she let out a self-mocking laugh.
‘Everyone says you’re a player, John Sterling. But it turns out you’re a romantic after all. Too bad your precio Js Nora will never know. She’s dead, hahaha…”
Looking at her crazed expression, the coldness in John’s eyes intensified.
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