Cameron believed I was pregnant, so he had the doctor fabricate a false report, allowing me to give birth to this child.
But I was about to leave. I would no longer endure his constraints or suffer his torments. I wanted freedom, to seek a life without constraints.
My connection with The Lynch Family was coming to an end.
The news of my pregnancy spread within The Lynch Family, and I received unprecedented favor. It turns out there is truth to the saying that a wife is precious when she is pregnant.
The happiest person was Carter. Despite his usual attention to dietary habits, he didn’t avoid alcohol those days. Whether it was red wine, white wine, or beer, he indulged in them all whenever he was in a good mood.
My parents were also very happy. The Lynch Family finally had descendants, and they credited me for this achievement. Coincidentally, a real estate company under The Lynch Group was opening a new property in the city center. They chose a best apartment for me, a sea-view duplex with over a hundred square meters, exquisitely decorated.
I was momentarily immersed in this fictional happiness. I thought I really had a child, that I was the most valued daughter-in-law of The Lynch Family. I believed I would have a complete family with my husband, hand in hand, growing old together.
However, when I met Cameron’s eyes, everything vanished with a ‘pop’.
“Do you like it, Laura?” Stella took me to see the house multiple times, each time she asked me to find out some flaws, but the place was already perfect. How could I possibly find any flaws?
“I like it,” I smiled at her.
She held my hand and led me to the sunroom. It was a transparent glass room with various hyacinths, a vintage bookshelf in the corner, iron floor lamps, and a rattan swing with green checkered cotton cushions.
I fell in love with this place at first sight. It resembled the countless places I dreamed of–calm, peaceful, and secluded from the world.
“Cameron arranged it.” Stella’s tone was casual, as if she was talking about something ordinary.
“Cameron?…” I stared at her in astonishment.
“Yeah, Cameron. Do you like it? I don’t know if it suits your taste.”
She pulled my hand and made me sit on the rattan swing. I grabbed a pillow and hugged it tightly, as if it still carried Cameron’s lingering smell.
“Cameron, I know he has been always bullying you since childhood.” She stood behind me, patting my shoulder, “Laura, I’ve scolded him many times, but Cameron… he has a strange temper. Now that you’re his sister-in-law, please forgive him, okay?”
I blushed and quickly lowered my head.
“Laura, he put a lot of effort into arranging this place,” Stella said. “These flower stands, bookshelves, and lamps, he personally picked them from the decoration market. This swing… He made it himself without a wink of sleep for two nights!”
My heart trembled violently. Cameron actually did all this for me?
Stella grinned at me, “He said, for his unborn nephew, it’s worth the effort! Laura, let the past go, okay?”
I was stunned, my hand involuntarily touching my flat abdomen. I felt extremely anxious.
Cameron… I couldn’t understand him at all now. He could destroy my happiness overnight, but he also spent two sleepless nights making a swing for me. He could trample me underfoot, but he could also carefully arrange a room for me… Which one was the real him?
I leaned on the swing feeling confused and bewildered, my mind went blank.
Stella was called out by other ladies to play cards, leaving me in the new house, and I unintentionally drifted into sleep. However, when I woke up, a pair of sharp eyes suddenly appeared before me.
“Sleeping comfortably?”
Cameron’s large hand stroked my back. I panicked, nearly slipping off the swing. He grabbed my waist, clasped my wrist, and held me tightly against his chest, pressing me onto the swing.
“Cameron… why are you here?”
“This is the house I arranged, the fingerprint lock has my fingerprints!”
“You…”
“Laura, do you really think my parents value you so much? If I hadn’t suggested rewarding you with a house, what do you think you could get?”
So, the house was a gift from him…
“Are you so kind?” I scoffed, “You gave me this house, probably for your own convenience!”
Cameron paused for a moment, then squinted his eyes, his laughter became even more cheerful.
When he smiled, he didn’t seem as cold-hearted, more like a mischievous big boy, making it easy for people to let their guard down.
However, I wasn’t that naive, I had been hurt by him too many times.
“When did you get so smart?” He pinched my chin with two fingers, forcing me to look directly into his eyes.
“I’m not naturally foolish.” I struggled to squeeze out these words, “Cameron, doing this, aren’t you afraid Carter will find out?”
“I’ve already done it. What do I have to be afraid of?”
Yes, who was he afraid of? But I had nothing to fear either, I will part ways with The Lynch Family, soon.
“What are you thinking about?” He leaned in close, his warm breath grazing my collarbone. Suddenly, I felt a wave of confusion and infatuation, my body tensing up as I clenched my fists.
Cameron smiled, his large hand glided down from my cheek, boldly slipped into my blouse, igniting a fire on every inch of my skin. Breathing became increasingly difficult for me. His smile became more apparent, and his fingers gently circled around my lower abdomen. He spoke in a husky voice, “Is my son behaving well these days?”
I glanced at him. “How do you know it’s a boy?”
“I’m healthy and vigorous; I’ll surely ensure you conceive a boy. And, for The Lynch Family, the first child must be a boy.”
Cameron has always been rough and disrespectful, even during passionate moments. Yet today, he’s unusually gentle. His large hand gently lifted the hem of my skirt and explored inside. He wasn’t in a hurry to proceed, instead, he softly caressed.
I had never been treated like this by him. My body trembled violently. Cameron halted his actions, giving me a mischievous smile, “Such an eager response?”
Blushing, I tried to push him away, but the more I pushed, the tighter he pressed. I had to shout loudly, “Cameron, no… I’m still pregnant!”
“The doctor said we cannot to do this during the first three months… Can’t you restrain yourself a bit?”
Cameron abruptly stopped. Though I didn’t look at him, I could still feel the fiery gaze lingering on my face.
Cameron stood up silently, adjusted his clothes, and walked towards outside of the sunroom.
Following him to the living room, he stood in front of the French windows. His tall and robust figure blended into the night, exuding an indescribable chilling aura.
“Take care of yourself,” he said after a long pause, grabbing his coat to leave. Passing by me, he glanced at me, a smirk playing on his lips, “I’ve told you, you can only bear my child… When you give birth to the child, I’ll reward you with something else.”
“But one child is far from enough…” His long arm hooked around me, pulling me in front of him. “Give birth to more for me. The more you bear, the more I can give you!”
My heart shook. It was quite a deal. I would bear children, and he would take care of me. Children born into The Lynch Family would undoubtedly enjoy benefits, and, disguising it as Carter’s offspring.
He wanted me to be his underground mistress, catering to his play, humiliation, and torture, while also involving my several children… Did his parents know about his schemes? Did his beloved brother know?
He bent down, sealing my lips with a deep kiss. In that moment, I suddenly wanted to bite off his tongue, returning all the torment of these fifteen years with interest!
But I couldn’t afford to anger him… not until I left The Lynch Family, not until Cameron investigated everything from the past, not until he fully exposed my background… I had to endure.
I had to endure everything, in exchange for my freedom.
And the moment of my freedom came the next day.
…