Chapter 5
Willow let out a satisfied sigh. “Mason… you feel so cool…”
In that instant, Lyra felt her world collapse.
She stood outside the hospital room, watching through the crack in the door at the two naked figures embracing inside.
Mason held Willow tightly, skin against skin, body heat merging, like a real married couple.
She suddenly remembered how long ago Mason had despised being touched by others.
Once, when a female assistant at the company accidentally brushed his hand, he’d immediately gone to wash it three times and came back frowning. “Lyra, anyone but you touching me makes me sick.”
But now, for Willow’s sake, he could strip naked without hesitation and use his body to warm her.
Lyra bit her lip hard until she tasted blood, then finally let go.
She turned and left, bought some fever medicine from the next ward, then went home alone.
That night, she had many dreams.
In them was sixteen–year–old Mason.
He climbed over the school wall to buy her bubble tea.
He shouted “Lyra Sinclair, I like you!” across the basketball court.
He knelt in the snow asking “Will you marry me?”
Finally, sixteen–year–old Mason took sixteen–year–old Lyra’s hand as they walked farther and farther away, all the memories scattering in the wind.
Three days later, Mason finally came home.
The two faced each other in the living room, the air thick with tension.
Lyra turned to go upstairs, but Mason grabbed her wrist. “Lyra, about what happened when you fell into the sea, I need to explain…”
“You chose Willow because she’s carrying your child.” Lyra calmly finished his sentence. “I understand.”
Mason paused, then relaxed, thinking she really didn’t care.
He smiled, his tone becoming lighter. “Good that you understand. By the way, your birthday’s coming up–I’ll throw you a birthday party.”
Just as Lyra was about to refuse, he’d already let go of her and turned to make phone calls for the arrangements.
On her birthday, the party was as lavish as always.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled, champagne towers gleamed, and guests raised their glasses in celebration.
But Mason’s heart clearly wasn’t with her.
He kept checking his phone, constantly replying to messages.
Lyra didn’t need to guess–he was worrying about Willow and the baby she was carrying.
Sure enough, before the birthday party even ended, Mason hurried over to her side and whispered, “Lyra, there’s an emergency at the company. I have to go.”
Lyra said nothing, just quietly watched his retreating figure.
2
She didn’t want to stay any longer either and was about to leave when her phone suddenly buzzed.
It was a message from an unknown number.
[Happy birthday, Lyra! Too bad nobody at your birthday party really cares.]
Below was a photo.
In the picture, Mason, who was supposed to be at the “company,” appeared in another birthday party venue.
So today was also Willow’s birthday. So he’d rushed off to celebrate another woman’s birthday.
[Come take a look.] Another message from Willow popped up. [My birthday party is right next to yours. There’s a surprise waiting for you~]
Lyra had wanted to turn and leave, but her legs moved toward the adjacent room against her will.
The moment she pushed open the door, she was struck like lightning!
Mason was gently caressing Willow’s belly, his eyes unbearably tender.
Mason’s parents were slipping a jade bracelet onto Willow’s wrist. “Willow dear, this bracelet has been passed down to the daughters–in–law of the Vale family. You’ve worked so hard carrying our grandchild.
In our hearts, you’re the Vale family’s only daughter–in–law.”
As if doused with ice water from head to toe, Lyra trembled all over.
She remembered this jade bracelet.
When Mason had first brought her home to meet his parents, they’d taken her hands lovingly and said, “Lyra, this bracelet is passed down to the Vale family daughters–in–law. It’s yours now.”
But later, when news of her infertility got out, Mason’s parents never smiled at her again, even hinting that they wanted the bracelet back.
And now, that bracelet was on Willow’s wrist.
Lyra wanted to leave, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move.
Just then, Mason in the banquet hall suddenly looked up, his gaze cutting through the crowd and locking directly onto hers.
