Chapter 10
When Henry arrived at the wedding venue, he was surprised to see that the ceremony had yet to begin. So, he hurried forward and took a seat.
Under the dazzling crystal chandelier, guests filled the hall. Amid warm applause, Damien and Callie stood side by side as they filled the champagne tower. Yet even then, Damien’s gaze kept drifting toward the entrance. Juliet hadn’t shown up.
By the third time the host gently reminded them that the ceremony was ready to begin, Callie took his arm and asked softly in concern, “What’s wrong?”
Damien shook his head slightly and turned to grab his phone. Then, he dialed Juliet’s number, only to receive a cold, mechanical reply from the system. “Sorry. The number you’ve dialed is
unavailable… Please try again later…”
Frowning, his fingers subconsciously traced the gilded name on the invitation card-Juliet
Marlowe.
Her words from last night seemed to ring in his ear. “This might be the only time to do it…”
Not only was she so decisive, but it seemed she even refused to spare him a simple word of
blessing.
His gaze swept across the crowd until he spotted Henry. Without realizing it, he took a step
forward and intended to question why Juliet wasn’t here.
The emcee’s anxious voice rang out in his ear, but he got up anyway. He felt a sudden weight dragging at his arm, and when he turned, he saw Callie’s deathly pale face.
“Damien… I’m feeling a little dizzy…”
Before she could finish, her knees buckled. As she collapsed to the ground, her gown spread out around her like petals of a flower in full bloom.
Damien caught her just in time. With the bride passing out, the venue erupted into chaos.
The on-call doctor shoved through the crowd and kneeled to examine Callie, who had sweat beading her forehead. The doctor pressed her stethoscope against Callie’s chest for further examination, and her hands brushed against a thick fabric around Callie’s waist.
Tugging at the side zipper, the doctor’s frown deepened. “Why on earth is she wearing such a tight corset? She can’t possibly risk her life just to look pretty!”
Damien anxiously pressed, “What’s wrong with her, doctor?”
The crowd was in chaos, and they had to send Callie to the hospital for a thorough
examination. Upon arriving at the hospital, Callie was rushed into the operating room. Moments later, a doctor came out looking for Damien.
He eyed Damien up and down as if confirming his identity before asking, “Are you the husband of the pregnant lady?”
Damien’s head snapped up at his words.
Pregnant lady? Hadn’t he brought a fake child home just for show?
Oblivious to the raging storm in Damien’s eyes, the doctor’s next words threw his mind into chaos. “You people are out of your minds! She’s 32 weeks pregnant, so how could she wear a corset? Do you know that it can stunt the baby’s growth and even induce premature labor?”
The doctor’s words pounded on Damien.
The baby they were pretending to be their child was still at home. And just days ago, Callie had told him she was on her period and couldn’t drink. So, whose child was she carrying?
Ignoring the doctor’s relentless chatter, his cold, fathomless eyes fixed on the red light blinking above the operating room.
When Callie finally woke up, her vision was still a blur, but her hand instinctively went to her belly. When she felt the flatness and the absence of the corset, her eyes flew wide open.
“You’re awake.”
The voice ringing in her ears sent a chill down her spine.
Standing by the window, Damien’s expression was hidden in the backlight. It was impossible
to read.
Callie turned her head to look at him, her fists clenching the blanket tightly. Her palms were slick with cold sweat. “Damien, what happened to me?”
“Don’t you know?” His tone seemed almost genuinely puzzled. “You’re pregnant, but you wore a corset that squeezed your body until you passed out.”
“Damien… I don’t understand what you’re saying…”
“The wedding’s been called off.” Damien stepped closer to the side of the bed and sat down before starting to peel an orange. The calmer he was, the more terrified Callie became.
Her phone was gone. She had no idea how long she’d been unconscious or what Damien had discovered.
After learning that the wedding was canceled, she forced a weak smile and asked, “Why call it off? I’m fine now. Let’s just go back-”
“Whose child is it?”
“…What?” Callie’s smile froze on her face.
Whether by accident or intentionally, Damien squeezed the orange too hard, and a jet of juice spurted into Callie’s eye. She immediately flinched, and tears started streaming down her
cheeks.
A second later, he grabbed her chin and forced her to face him.
“Tell me… Whose child is it?”
Their red eyes met. Hers were brimmed with fear while his flared with rage.
“I-Isn’t the child the one you brought home to fool Juliet? Damien… how would I know whose child it is? I have no idea what you’re talking about…”
Seeing her fighting to defend herself fueled Damien’s fury. His grip on her chin tightened so hard that his knuckles paled. “Are you playing dumb, or do you just think I’m an idiot? Callie, whose child are you carrying?”
