I looked down and sent the photo I had prepared in advance with a reply.

[Yes.]

Julian seemed relieved. He replied within seconds.

[Good. I’ll head over once I’m done. Love you, darling.]

What a hypocrite!

My lips curled faintly, but there was no warmth in my face.

All this time, he had played the role of a devoted husband and a considerate son-in-law perfectly. Every word and every gesture had seemed full of care.

Had I not noticed the gold bracelet and the couple photos, I would never have known how much deception hid behind that face.

At 6 p.m., relatives of the Holt family began arriving one after another. Nancy Holt was all smiles. She moved briskly through the crowd as she handled everything.

Her attentive and considerate demeanor gave the impression of an ideal mother-in-law.

Once, she had shown me the same careful attentiveness as a way of expressing the Holt family’s regard.

She remembered the fruits I liked and prepared them in advance each season.

When Dad’s blood pressure ran high, she specially arranged for herbal remedies to be brought from the countryside. She neatly packed them and sent them to our home.

When I caught an occasional cold, she would personally deliver soup and stay by my bedside until the fever broke.

I had once genuinely believed I had become part of a warm and caring family.

But at this moment, Julian stood beside Tessa, who wore a radiant smile. Behind them, relatives and friends gathered. She looked as though the “family” belonged to her.

Only I was an outsider, like a stranger excluded from it all. I had not realized when that had happened.

At 7 p.m., as everyone settled into their seats, Julian stood up with Tessa. He had her hand in his and raised a toast.

With tears and emotion, he recounted to his relatives how he and Tessa had met, grown close, and fallen in love.

More importantly, their love had given them a child.

He held Tessa tightly by the shoulder and declared that the child would inherit everything he owned and stand as the Holt family’s sole future hope.

The private room broke into thunderous applause. Everyone was moved by what they saw as a long-awaited fulfillment of happiness.

I sat in the adjoining room, watching this carefully staged display of emotion. I was almost tempted to applaud their “happiness” as well.

If only the man speaking so tenderly were not my husband…

Tessa spoke next. Her voice was thick with emotion.

She called Julian the best man in the world and said that when her pregnancy left her emotionally unstable, he had stayed with her. He had patiently comforted and cared for her.

“I must’ve done something truly good in my previous lives to deserve a man like him.”

Seeing them act in seamless harmony made my stomach turn.

While they were wrapped up in their sweet life together, I had been harmed. He had removed my uterus and forever stripped me of motherhood.

When they began trying for a baby, I was suffering from depression after the miscarriage. I had barely survived in the hospital room.

Even back then, when Nancy came to the hospital every day with nourishing soup, she had not come there for me.

I realized that it was only to keep me under watch, so Julian could freely go and be with Tessa, who had just found out she was pregnant.

At that moment, Julian clasped Tessa’s hand more firmly.

He pulled a velvet box from his pocket, dropped to one knee, and opened it.

Inside was a large diamond ring.

With overwhelming tenderness, he looked at Tessa and said, “Tessa, I know you don’t care about any of this, but I love you and want to give you the very best life. This family banquet is only the beginning. Once the baby is born, I’ll give you the grandest wedding and marry you with full honor and glory!”

The private room erupted in excitement, with shocked gasps all around the room.

Amid the noise of celebration, I heard Julian’s uncle—the same man who had borrowed more than two million dollars from us over time—raise his glass and laugh loudly.

“Jule is truly reliable. That’s what a real Holt family man looks like.”

His third aunt, whom I had once gone to great lengths and used my connections to help send her daughter overseas, clapped while wiping away her tears.

“This is wonderful! I’ve always liked Tessa. She’s such a reliable girl.”

Meanwhile, Julian’s younger brother, whose repeated business failures I had helped smooth over each time through my family’s resources, stood up excitedly to toast them.

“Jule, and Tessa, my soon-to-be sister-in-law, I wish you a long and happy marriage and a safe delivery for the baby.”

Each of them had once benefited from my help, received my kindness, and taken what I had offered.

Yet, at this moment, none of them remembered I existed. Not one of them mentioned my name.

Just then, a five-year-old cousin of Julian’s suddenly broke through the flattering chatter with a loud, clear voice.

“Is she your sister-in-law? What about Annie?”

The innocent question drained all color from Tessa’s face.

She swayed and fell into Julian’s arms. Her eyes darted in panic. She looked guilty.

Even Julian’s composure cracked for a brief second.

But he quickly recovered and pulled her into a firm, protective embrace. His gaze turned cold as he looked across the room. His voice was sharp and decisive.

“Whoever I acknowledge is your sister-in-law. Anyone else is irrelevant and doesn’t need to be mentioned.”

I listened to his words from the adjoining room. My nails dug deep into my palms.

All these years, I had used my family’s money to cover his company losses, pulled every string I could to smooth his path, and even given up my own career to devote myself entirely to him.

I had given him everything, only to be dismissed as “irrelevant.”

Heat surged to my chest again, and I forced it down.

Sensing the tension, Julian’s father, Owen Holt, quickly smoothed things over with a smile.

“Let’s not bring up unnecessary matters on such a happy occasion. There’s actually more good news. Tessa is expecting a boy! The Holt family line will continue!”

The relatives raised their glasses again in celebration.

“Congratulations, Tessa! You can tell she’s blessed, unlike someone else who’s nothing but a hen that can’t lay eggs. She nearly brought the Holt family line to an end!”

“Good thing Jule is smart. He chose well and got himself a lucky girl like Tessa.”

“If you ask me, fertility is what truly matters. Status means little. What matters is carrying on the family line. Tessa has done really well!”

Seeing that all the relatives were on her side, Tessa quickly regained her composure.

She smiled and nodded in acknowledgment before turning to Julian with an affectionate gaze.

“Thank you all for your blessings. I’m so happy to become a part of this family. I love Jule, and I’m willing to have his child. From now on, the three of us will always be this happy together.”

Julian wrapped his arms tightly around her and made a vow to everyone present.

“I will give Tessa and our child the best possible life. I’ll make sure everyone witnesses our happiness!”

Applause broke out once again.

Just then, the door swung open, and I stepped inside amid the chatter and noise.

I smiled as I met the gaze of everyone in the private room.

“Such a lively gathering! Why wasn’t I invited?”