Giselle moved further away and put distance between herself and Alex.

Alex's voice was gentle as he said, "Giselle, Tracy twisted her ankle last night. I had no choice but to bring her back. Her parents are abroad, so I'm the only one she has in Rosewood."

He pulled her into his arms and made her stay in his arms. "Don't be upset. We’re getting married soon. Besides, Tracy even said she wanted to be your bridesmaid, she’s really happy for us."

Giselle’s lips curled into a cold smile. "So, I should cook for Tracy, right?"

The corner of Alex's lips hooked into a smile, “Giselle, I've already asked Lea to do it, it'll be ready later.”

Giselle observed Alex's face as he wondered.

When did the man before her become so calculating? In front of Tracy, he played the role of a caring brother, and yet he shared a bed with her, he played the role of a devoted fiancé. He made it seem like everything he did was for her, while also he was balancing his so-called responsibility to Tracy.

For a long time, she had foolishly believed that Alex was just being overly considerate. However, the photos and videos Tracy occasionally sent her … had torn her heart apart.

These two gigabytes of high-definition photos and video were ironclad proofs of Alex's betrayal over the past ten years.

Alex's voice remained soft. "Please take care of Tracy, will you Giselle? As you know …  You know…   Gerald Lombard died because of me. The least I can do is look after Tracy for the rest of my life. It's the only way I can make it up to him."

He then reached into his pocket and took out a bracelet. Giselle immediately recognized. It was the same bracelet in those photos that Tracy sent last night, that had been wrapped around her ankle, and today Alex gave it as a gift for her.

With practiced ease, he fastened it around her wrist and kissed her forehead gently as he murmured, "Giselle, I can finally marry you."

Ten years ago, her parents had betrayed and schemed against each other, and those experiences had shattered any faith she had in love. However, at that time, Alex stayed by her side and comforted her, and after her parents divorced and remarried, she became the victim of their marriage. She became the unwanted child, that no one wanted to support with love or care, let alone with money.

Through that, it was only Alex took her in. He hugged her and said, "Even if they don't want you, I do. Giselle, you're mine and my most precious treasure."

He had kept his promise. When the Shaw family disapproved of their relationship, he chose to attend a different university with her. Over the past ten years, he had worked tirelessly, becoming outstanding, brilliant, and wealthy.

For the past ten years, she was practically supported by Alex. In their relationship, Alex had given his all, and it had warmed her heart.

She had fallen in love with him in their third year together. It was the night he got into a car accident while rushing to pick her up. She had witnessed it with her own eyes.

At that moment the gut-wrenching pain that she felt had been unbearable. That was when she knew that she loved him.

Yet, the moment she arrived at the hospital; Alex did not care about his own bleeding injuries on his arm. All he cared about was the tears on her face.

His trembling hand had reached for her face, and his voice filled with tenderness. "Giselle, don’t cry. I’m okay. Really, I’m okay."

***

Back to the present, Giselle carried a bowl of cream soup into the room, while Alex was in the study room.

Seeing it was her, Tracy who was lying in bed, ceased all her pretense. She deliberately pulled down the neckline of her shirt, and Giselle immediately saw the hickey that covered her collarbone.

"Giselle, thank you so much. Since Alex dotes on me the most, I became a hassle for you," she said. Her voice dripped with false sweetness.

Giselle said indifferently, "You are right. You could have done all this yourself, couldn’t you?"

Tracy smirked, "Alex insisted that I be your bridesmaid. Do you agree about that, Giselle?"

She got up from the bed. Her ankle was perfectly fine. Giselle had expected that Tracy had been faking the whole thing so she was not surprised.

Suddenly, Tracy collapsed onto the floor and burst into tears as she wailed, "Giselle,  I know you don’t like me, but it was Alex who took me here. How could you treat me like this?"

Giselle was Tracy's impressive performance.

Before long, the door burst open with a bang. Alex stormed in, his angry eyes sweeping over Giselle before he scooped Tracy into his arms. He growled, "Giselle …."

Giselle saw the worry in Alex’s expression. He wasn’t even trying to hide it.

"Giselle, Tracy injured her leg. Can’t you be more considerate?”

She looked at the two people before her and calmly said, “I didn’t push her.”

Tracy sobbed in Alex’s arms. “Alex, I fell on my own. It’s not Giselle’s fault.”

Without another word, Giselle walked out. As she stood outside the door, she could hear the comforting words that Alex said to Tracy, "Does it hurt?"

"Alex, I would never ruin your wedding with Giselle. I know she’s the one you love most. I just want a little bit of your love.”

Alex lowered his voice, "I'm sorry, Tracy but Giselle is my wife."

Since the door was not fully closed and Alex had his back to her, Tracy looked at her through the gap, her eyes filled with provocation. Then she leaned in and kissed Alex.

Giselle didn’t see Alex push Tracy away. Instead, he cupped the back of her head to deepen their kiss.

Tears fell silently down Giselle’s face. Her trembling fingers moved to her abdomen. She could not keep this child.

She went downstairs to her room and sent a message on her phone.

[Doctor Sutherland, please schedule an abortion for me.]

[Are you sure about it?]

[Yes. You told me before that my body isn’t suited for pregnancy.]

[That’s right. You still have a chance to recover with chemotherapy, but you can’t keep the baby.]

[Okay.]

[Come to the hospital today for a check-up.]

When she first learned she had cancer, her biggest fear was that Alex wouldn’t be able to accept it. She was afraid he would leave her. At that time, she also found out that she was pregnant and she said with conviction that she would keep the baby.

The doctor said that her cancer was in the middle stage and that chemotherapy had a chance of curing it. However, she did not want to take that risk because she had longed to have this child for so many years. She and Alex had wanted a child for years. Her health had always made it difficult, and they had never succeeded.

She had barely stepped out when her phone rang.

"Giselle, where are you?" Alex's angry voice sounded. It was clear he was trying to suppress his anger.

Giselle replied flatly, “I went to buy some food for Tracy. I’ll make her some soup.”

As expected, Alex’s attitude softened immediately. He spoke gently. “Come back soon. Tracy and I are waiting for you.”

Giselle hung up as a mocking smile appeared on her face.

Then a message popped up on her phone.

[Mrs. Shaw, Mr. Shaw ordered a limited-edition handbag for you. He said you could use it for the wedding.]

The attached image shows an extremely festive red handbag.

[Mr. Shaw also said that this bag should be a unique one. What was the convenient time for you so I can send this bag to you?"

Something suddenly clicked in her mind that every time Alex went to meet Tracy, Alex would send her a bag. So. did this mean that these bags represent the time he met Tracy and cheated on her?

A bitter smile spread across her face. So, this was the real meaning of his gift.

As soon as Giselle arrived at the hospital. Doctor Sutherland immediately conducted an examination of her body. Then she waited for the result.

"Giselle, if you still want to terminate the pregnancy, there's still time."

Doctor Sutherland had examined her and found out the extent of the cancer had spread. The baby in Giselle's womb was nearly three months old now. Over a month ago, when she first received the diagnosis, she had insisted on keeping the child and delayed cancer treatment.

Giselle gently placed a hand on her abdomen and asked, "If I terminate this pregnancy, do I have a chance of recovery?"

Doctor Sutherland nodded. "Yes. Your cancer hadn’t metastasized yet, so if we arrange the surgery soon, and with early treatment, you have at least a sixty percent chance of recovery."

Just then, Giselle’s phone vibrated with a new message. It was from Tracy. It contained an ultrasound report.

[Giselle, did you really think I was hospitalized because of an injury? I’m pregnant with Alex’s child. You and Alex have been together for ten years and yet you've never conceived a child but this baby of mine, Alex's been looking forward to it.]

Giselle looked at Tracy's pregnancy report and read it. Tracy was twelve weeks pregnant. Her child was actually one week older than hers.

Her fingers gripped the phone harder. Alex had been cheating on her and now Tracy was carrying his child. At that moment, Giselle knew that she could not keep her baby.

Even if she risked her life to bring this child into the world, Alex would never cherish it. Once a man changed his heart, the biological father would become a stepfather. She wouldn’t let her child suffer the same pain she had endured.

"Doctor Sutherland, please, schedule the procedure for me. Let me know the date, and I’ll be there."

"Alright, Giselle," the doctor said. "In the next few days, focus on strengthening your body. Your health indicators are still slightly below the threshold for surgery."

"I understand," Giselle answered.

When she left the hospital, she checked her phone. Her phone was full of messages from Alex.

[Giselle, didn’t you say you were making soup for Tracy?]

[Giselle, where are you?]

[You were never this unreasonable before]

[Giselle, you must understand that Tracy is my responsibility.]

There were tons of messages. Giselle scrolled to the top and saw Tracy's messages

[See how well Alex treats me, Giselle? I just mentioned craving soup, and you had to obediently make it for me. What does it matter that you and Alex are married? I’m not leaving him, and he can’t leave me or our baby.]

Giselle exhaled slowly. There was still much she needed to arrange. The first thing she had to do was to call her lawyer. She then took her phone and called him.

"Help me prepare the divorce papers and sell off all my assets," she instructed.

Her lawyer asked, "All of your assets, Miss Diaz?"

She confirmed, "Yes, all of them."

When Giselle returned home, she found Alex waiting, his expression dark with irritation.

He snapped at her, "Giselle, if you don’t want to take care of Tracy, I won’t force you but at least don’t make empty promises."

He stepped closer, his brows furrowed as he took in her pale complexion. He grasped her wrist. "What’s wrong with you?" he asked. His eyes filled with genuine concern for her.

Giselle looked up at the man she had once loved and said calmly, "I’m going to bed."

Alex’s face darkened instantly, his temper flared as he scolded her, "What did you just say?"

She turned to leave, but he grabbed her again, this time he forcefully pinned her against the wall. Then he tried to kiss her, but Giselle turned her head away.

"Alex," Giselle said. "Your Tracy is watching us."

Sure enough, as soon as she lifted her head, she saw Tracy standing on the second-floor stairs. Her pair of eyes looked at them with tears in them.

Giselle saw the change in Alex's face. He immediately let her go.

"Giselle," he said in a clipped tone, "I won’t hold this against you this time. If you don’t want to take care of Tracy, fine. Lea will do it. You just focus on preparing for the wedding."

Then he walked upstairs and gently supported Tracy.

"Alex, don’t be mad at Giselle," Tracy murmured sweetly. "After all she even let me stay in the bridal suite."