What hurt me the most was not just the betrayal but the lies. Why had he not told me sooner? Why did he secretly divorce me, then cover it up with a fake marriage certificate?
Whitney’s eyes reddened too.
“Ms. Rivers, I truly never meant to come between you. But I have no choice. My health is poor. If I lose this baby, I’ll never be able to conceive again. Please, don’t blame the child, all right?”
Her voice broke into sobs, and her shoulders trembled.
Staring at them, I was overcome by a suffocating tightness in my chest. I was going to be a mother too. I knew what a child meant to a woman.
I took a deep breath and forced a smile.
“I’m not mad.”
Then, I took another breath and tried hard to make my voice sound calm.
“I understand.”
Zayn froze for a moment, clearly shocked that I would forgive something so absurd so easily. After all, even though I had always been obedient and gentle, I had zero tolerance when it came to betrayal.
“Yvonne, do you really understand?”
I nodded, curling my lips into a bitter smile. “Zayn, we both have to think of the family. I understand you need an heir. After all, the Levine mafia empire is vast. Someone has to inherit it.
“If you think it would be easier, you can bring Whitney home so that she’s cared for. That way, I’ll feel reassured too.”
Joy spread across his face when I said those words. He let out a long sigh of relief.
“Thank you, Yvonne. You’re so kind to me.”
He gripped my hand tightly, his eyes brimming with gratitude.
Whitney, off to the side, was stunned. She did not expect me to agree so easily. Nevertheless, she soon collected herself, and a trace of mockery curved her lips.
I looked at her calmly, feeling nothing inside me anymore.
“Zayn, if there’s nothing else, I’d like to go home now. I’ll prepare a room and hire a nutritionist to look after Ms. Sanders to make sure the baby is born safely.”
Zayn nodded. Guilt flickered across his eyes.
“All right. Go on. Once this is over, I’ll make it up to you.”
I gave him a smile, said nothing more, and turned around to leave.
