Chapter 52

“Mm,” Chase grunted, swiftly entering the car. He rubbed his temples, clearly suffering from a headache. I used to massage them away, but those days were over.

“Mark, have you noticed any changes in Amanda lately?” Chase asked, breaking the silence.

Mark looked confused. Chase’s moods had been erratic recently; even he struggled to keep up. “Well, she’s become quieter over the years and doesn’t smile as much.”

Chase kept his eyes closed, massaging his temples. “Go on.”

“Initially, she argued with you, but lately, she barely speaks, offering little explanation. Mostly, she silently watches you and Ms. Nicole interact.”

Chase’s expression remained icy. “What else?”

“Mr. Reyes, you used to dislike Ms. Nicole, but she’s become increasingly important to you. You often leave Ms. Amanda for her. All the changes in Ms. Amanda are because of you and Ms. Nicole.”

For once, Chase didn’t argue. “Am I really being too much?”

Mark took a deep breath. “From what I’ve observed, you’ve been overly attentive to Ms. Nicole. Outsiders often mistook her for your fiancée. Amanda silently watched, likely too hurt to speak. But she still loved you. I think she truly changed three months ago.”

“She seemed like a completely different person. She spent her days at the children’s home, and when I saw her, she looked lost. She’d lost a significant amount of weight—her wedding dress was too large, requiring alterations.” The dress had been altered for Nicole, in just three months. I’d lost forty-four pounds myself, resulting in a similar ill-fitting garment. Mark noticed, but my fiancé remained oblivious.

“Three months ago,” Chase murmured, opening his eyes to look at Mark. “Take me to the hospital.”

The biggest change in me began three months ago. Chase thought I was seeking attention, but who would feign illness for three months, making everyone suspect something was amiss?

What was the hospital hiding?

As Chase approached the VIP ward, the sharp scent of disinfectant filled the air. He overheard nurses gossiping. “That poor woman. During her pregnancy, Mr. Reyes seemed unconcerned. He visited daily but only focused on his step-sister, never sparing Mrs. Reyes a glance.”

“I heard she isn’t even his real sister. They’re not related by blood.”

“That’s cruel. No wonder Mrs. Reyes lost the baby. I’d be furious too.”

A baby?! The words hit Chase, his eyes widening in shock. I remained detached. He was finally about to discover my secret—my pregnancy.

“Mrs. Reyes is so unfortunate. I heard she crawled from her room after miscarrying, bleeding all the way to surgery. How helpless she must have felt!”

As the nurses’ chatter faded, Chase’s voice cut through, demanding answers. “What…?”