Chapter 3 Lucas froze, finally noticing the trash can stuffed with all those toys he'd picked out for me. 'Babe, didn't you say you loved these so much?" finally looked up at him. Į couldn't sleep last night. Woke up sore all over. Any idea why?" or our three years together, for the baby growing inside me, I'd give him one last chance. ucas's eyes flickered for a second, then he cooed gently: Maybe it's just pregnancy fatigue, babe. Let me book you a prenatal massage." burst out laughing like a maniac, smashing the clay couple sculpture he'd made for our third anniversary. .ucas stared at the broken pieces for a long time before hesitating: Is the pregnancy making you uncomfortable? You seem upset." shook my head and slipped the divorce papers between a stack of lesson plans, sliding them toward him. Vithout even looking, he signed and started massaging my temples with his fingertips. How about I run you a hot bath to relax?" My stomach lurched. hese same hands had just scattered those photos across my naked body at the pool hall. his same mouth had called me used goods. I've decided to let Chloe be my bridesmaid." ucas's hands stopped moving. What made you change your mind?" I thought about it. I was being petty." I forced a smile. Besides, she saved your mom's life. I shouldn't be so selfish." Mentioning his mother, Lucas didn't hesitate anymore, pulling me close: Eva, you're so understanding! If Chloe hadn't carried my mom ten miles to get help, she wouldn't have even made it to the vegetative state..." frowned but said nothing. After the crash, Eleanor had been in a coma. What really happened that day was still unclear. 'Don't worry! I'll take time off for your delivery, take care of you and the baby!" Just then, Lucas's phone buzzed twice. He let go and headed quickly to the balcony. Through the security monitor, I watched Lucas speaking softly: "Chloe, I promised you'd get what you wanted. Maybe don't post those photos though." A woman's sugary voice came through the phone. "No way! Lucas, you promised I'd be the only one getting the outstanding young teacher award. Besides, once these photos go out, Eva can quit and focus on you and the baby. It'll help your relationship AND let me blow off steam. Pretty please?" After a long pause, Lucas gave in with that indulgent tone. "Fine." Two minutes later, my phone started ringing like a death knell. I jumped, phone and heart both crashing to the floor. Ms. Bennett: @Ms. Mitchell what the hell is this? How could you take such disgusting photos? Mr. Johnson: This is sick! How can someone like this teach our kids! Mrs. Williams: I'm filing a complaint first thing tomorrow! We need to get this morally corrupt teacher out of our school! My teaching career, my reputation-destroyed in minutes. When Lucas came back to the living room, he glanced at the group chat and sighed: "Eva, I believe you. Tomorrow's Chloe's award ceremony anyway. I'll come with you to explain, okay?" Explain again and again while more people cursed me out. Exhaustion flooded every part of my body. "I don't want to go." Lucas looked shocked that I'd refuse. But then his eyes landed on my wedding ring sitting on the coffee table, and he smiled knowingly. "Don't worry about the wedding. The invitations are out. Day after tomorrow, right on schedule."