That evening, Celine once again seized the opportunity when Thea wasn't paying attention and secretly grabbed her phone, making a video call to Xavier.

When the call connected, she enthusiastically shouted, "Daddy!"

But it was Addilyn who answered.

Addilyn warmly greeted Celine through the screen, "Hey there, Celine."

Celine's expression turned serious as she asked, "Who are you? Why do you have my dad's phone?"

With a cheerful grin, Addilyn replied, "I'm your dad's..."

"Celine!" Thea suddenly interrupted, cutting Addilyn off mid-sentence. She swiftly took the phone from her daughter's grasp, ending the call abruptly. Startled, Celine began to cry.

Feeling both guilty and heartbroken, Thea knelt down to hug her daughter. "I'm sorry, sweetie. It was Mommy's fault for scaring you. I'm really sorry."

Celine cried throughout the evening, eventually falling asleep in Thea's arms, clutching her shirt tightly as if afraid Thea might leave her.

Watching her daughter's innocent face, Thea felt too distressed to sleep.

When she finally checked her phone, she saw Addilyn's latest update on Instagram:

"Happy one-year anniversary, Mr. Ford! Thanks for your love and companionship. I'm so happy and looking forward to our family of three. Love you~"

Thea tapped on the photo that accompanied the post.

In the picture, Xavier held Addilyn's hand. On her ring finger was a massive diamond ring.

Thea remembered when she and Xavier had shared those blissfully happy moments.

When their business secured its first major deal, Xavier had taken her to a jewelry store, insisting on buying her a large diamond ring.

Thinking about their budget, Thea had settled for a modest ring with a small diamond.

That day, they walked out of the department store, hand in hand, with Thea lifting her ring-clad hand towards the rising sun, watching it sparkle through the gaps between her fingers.

Even though it was only a small diamond, it still glittered in the sunlight.

Xavier had held both her hands tightly and promised, "Thea, I'll give you a good life. You'll never regret choosing me."

But Xavier, you've broken your promise.

The next day, whispers filled the office about the size of the diamond on Addilyn Freeman's finger. Everywhere Thea Gonzales went, she felt the weight of curious stares following her.

Her close friend, Paislee Larson, pulled her into the break room, fuming, "Addilyn's got some nerve, doesn't she? You should've made sure Xavier Ford walked away with nothing, and taken over the company!"

Thea calmly brewed herself a cup of espresso and replied, "Xavier's no fool. He gave me the house, the car, the savings, and our daughter, Celine. That means he wanted to keep the company. How else would he support Addilyn?"

"But, Thea, you know what people are saying behind your back, right? They say you’re lingering around, refusing to be tossed aside, just to win him back."

Through the break room’s glass wall, Thea glanced at the office area. Those who'd been watching quickly pretended to be engrossed in their work.

"They're not entirely wrong," she thought aloud. "I’m not ready to just walk away."

"Why should I be the one who stood by Xavier through thick and thin, only for Addilyn to swoop in and reap the rewards? Why does her child get a father while my daughter ends up in a single-parent household?"

"But I don’t want that good-for-nothing man," Thea continued, her voice steady. "What I want is his company, the very thing he prides himself on."

For that, she was willing to do whatever it took.

In the afternoon, Thea Gonzales brought the documents into Xavier Ford's office for his signature. After signing, Xavier handed them back to her and said, "Thea, I'm sorry about last night's video. Addilyn wasn't thinking. Is Celine okay?"

Holding the documents, Thea replied, "Celine's fine."

Perhaps due to lingering guilt, Xavier's attitude toward Thea had softened considerably since their divorce. He was no longer as confrontational as before. Noticing the dress that beautifully highlighted Thea's waist, he remarked, "You've lost a lot of weight. That dress looks fantastic on you."

For the past couple of months, Thea had been working out regularly, and it was beginning to show. Meanwhile, as Addilyn's pregnancy advanced, her once slender waistline had vanished.

Xavier paused, as if he noticed something different, and asked, "Have you changed your perfume?"

In a casual tone, Thea replied, "Yes, a friend gave it to me. They thought it suited me."

Xavier's eyes flickered with a momentary change. He teased, "A male friend?"

Thea didn’t answer him directly. Instead, as she turned to leave, her smile widened.