Third Person's POV
Clifford grinned, “Come on, Edmond, we’re just waiting on you.Getting married doesn’t mean you have to be this tightly managed, right? How about we go talk to your wife instead?”
But Edmond quickly brushed him off with a wave. “She’s already asleep. Don't disturb her.”
Unbeknownst to them, Haven was already up, standing at the top of the staircase. Wrapped in a long coat, she spoke softly, “Go with them, Edmond. They came all this way. You should at least join them for a little while.”
Walter and Clifford’s faces lit up when they saw her.
“Why don’t you come with us, Haven?" Walter asked eagerly. “Let everyone see what the best woman in the world looks like.”
“Exactly!” Clifford chimed in. “Besides, if you don’t come, Edmond probably won’t budge tonight.”
Haven, already set on cutting herself out of Edmond’s life, wasn’t interested in his social circle or their antics. So, she evenly refused, “No need. You all have fun. Edmond, go ahead.”
Edmond, who rarely resisted her wishes, nodded. “Alright, I’ll just change and join you.”
With the latter walking away, Walter and Clifford exchanged a glance and sighed in unison.
“We’ve never seen Edmond this obedient before,” Walter remarked.
Clifford laughed. “Yeah, the guy’s been calling the shots since we were kids. No one tells him what to do.”
Walter added with a grin, “He really loves you, Haven.”
Haven offered a polite smile, but inside, her thoughts were cold. 'If only that were true, he wouldn’t have cheated in the first place.'
When Edmond returned, dressed to go out, he walked over and kissed Haven lightly on the forehead. “You go to bed. I’ll be back soon.”
Haven met his gaze with her usual calm. “Alright.”
Edmond lingered for a moment as if reluctant to leave, clinging to her before finally heading out, treating her like the most precious thing in the world.
But half an hour later, as Haven was about to fall asleep, she received a photo sent by Hattie.
The dimly lit image clearly showed Hattie nestling coquettishly in a man’s arms, the two of them about to drink a toast together.
In the corner of the frame, Haven spotted Walter and Clifford, each holding a seductive woman in their arms.
'This is... a club,' she realized.
Haven stared at the photo for a long time, her expression blank.
'So, even if I don’t go, someone else will keep Edmond company,' she thought bitterly.
Acting on impulse, Haven soon found herself at the same club. She stood at the half-open door of a private room.
Inside, the scene was exactly as she expected.
Hattie, now dressed in a bunny costume, was perched comfortably on Edmond’s lap, feeding him wine. He didn’t push her away. Instead, he leaned back lazily, letting her pour the drink into his mouth. The next moment, he pulled her close, transferring the wine from his lips to hers in an exaggerated kiss.
The room erupted in cheers and then Walter’s voice cut through the noise. “Edmond, you’re a whole different guy when Haven’s not around!”
Clifford laughed. “Right? I mean, as great as Haven is, no proper woman could ever compete with a little vixen like Hattie.”
However, at the mention of Haven’s name, Edmond’s expression darkened. “Haven doesn’t belong in a place like this. Don’t drag her into it.”
The sudden shift in his tone left the room awkwardly silent.
Hattie’s eyes flashed with jealousy, but she quickly masked it, wrapping her arms around Edmond’s neck. “Alright, we won’t bring her up anymore,” she said sweetly. “And to make up to you, I’ll do whatever you want me to.”
Edmond’s expression softened at her words. The tension eased, and the others started teasing again.
“Come on, Edmond! Hattie’s throwing herself at you. What are you waiting for?” Clifford called out.
Edmond glanced down at the seductive woman in his lap and smirked. “What? You want a live performance?”
Third Person's POV
The room erupted in whistles and cheers as soon as Edmond’s smug challenge left his lips, egging him on to “put on a show.”
Hattie fluttered her lashes dramatically, her voice dripping with playful annoyance. “You’re all so annoying... You’re making me blush!”
Outside the door, Haven stood silently, her gaze locked on the man she once thought she knew. The Edmond before her was a stranger—draped in decadence, reveling in a lifestyle she couldn’t reconcile with the man she had loved.
Turning away, her heart felt heavy as memories of a younger, devoted Edmond surfaced, clashing with the harsh reality of the man he had become. It was like looking at two completely different people, and she wondered if she’d ever truly known him at all.
That night, Haven didn’t sleep.
The next morning, she sat across from her daughter at the breakfast table, her expression calm despite the dark circles under her eyes.
Leigh, ever observant, tilted her head with concern. “Mommy, are you feeling okay? You look tired.”
Haven shook her head gently, her voice soft. “I’m fine, sweetheart. But I’ve been thinking... How would you feel about moving somewhere new? Just the two of us, starting fresh in a different place?”
Leigh’s young mind didn’t fully grasp the weight of the question, but the love in her mother’s eyes reassured her. She nodded firmly, her tiny hand reaching across the table to hold Haven’s. “Okay! Wherever Mommy goes, I’ll go too.”
Since the day Leigh was born, Haven had been her rock, her constant. Edmond, on the other hand, had been too consumed with work to be involved during Leigh’s early years. And now, his distractions outside the home left little room for fatherhood. So, for Leigh, her mother was her whole world.
Haven smiled, running her fingers through Leigh’s soft curls. “Mommy will always take care of you, my darling. I promise.”
Her thoughts hardened into resolve. 'I won’t let you grow up in a broken home. You deserve joy, freedom, and love—not the shadow of a fractured marriage.'
The sound of the front door opening broke her train of thought. Edmond walked in, still wearing last night’s clothes. Seeing the mother and daughter eating breakfast, he brushed off the fatigue from his night of indulgence and approached the table with a gentle smile. “What’s for breakfast today?”
However, Leigh wrinkled her nose as Edmond came closer. “Daddy, you smell funny.”
Edmond froze mid-step, instinctively sniffing himself. The mix of Hattie's perfume, alcohol, and cigarettes hit him like a slap. In his haste to return, he hadn’t even showered.
Embarrassed, he stopped and looked at Haven. “Last night... I ran into some old friends, had a few drinks, and stayed over. It was late, so I didn’t want to bother you with a call.”
Haven had grown immune to his lies. She merely nodded and said, “Got it. Go shower. Leigh doesn’t like how you smell.”
“Right. I’ll shower now. You two enjoy breakfast,” Edmond replied hurriedly.
As he walked away, he left his phone on the counter.
Moments later, it started ringing incessantly. Haven ignored it, but curious little Leigh, having finished her breakfast, toddled over and picked it up before Haven could stop her.
By the time Haven reached her, Leigh had accidentally answered the call. A woman’s excited voice came through the speaker. “I’m pregnant...”
Haven’s heart sank.
Leigh, unaware of who was speaking, asked in her childish voice, “What does ‘pregnant’ mean?”
There was a brief pause on the other end, and then soon followed by Hattie’s soft laughter. “Pregnant means—”
“Leigh! Don’t touch Daddy’s phone! That’s not very nice, okay?” Edmond’s voice suddenly boomed from the hallway, drowning out Hattie’s words.
He strode over in a bathrobe, snatching the phone from Leigh’s hand before she could respond, then quickly ended the call.
Leigh blinked up at him innocently. “Daddy, what does ‘pregnant’ mean?”
Haven scooped her daughter into her arms, her gaze fixed on Edmond. The stiffness in his posture and the flicker of guilt in his eyes said everything.
Edmond stammered, his voice faltering. “Haven, I... I’ve been meaning to tell you. That girl we’ve been sponsoring—uh, her name’s Lin something—she seems to have started dating someone.”
Third Person's POV
Haven knew everything but still played along. “Oh, really? Well, she’s at the age to start dating, I suppose. But why would she sound so happy to share news about her pregnancy with you?”
“Happy?” Edmond feigned confusion. “You must’ve misheard. A girl her age would be scared out of her wits if something like that happened.”
His explanation was flimsy, and Haven knew it. But instead of calling him out, she leaned back, her expression calm and trusting. “Maybe I did mishear. Either way, since she called you, perhaps you could check in and see if she needs anything. After all, we’ve sponsored her for so many years. It’s only right to do so.”
Edmond studied Haven’s face intently, ensuring that she still trusted him and harbored no suspicions. Once satisfied, he relaxed, offering her a smile that was almost convincing. “I think it’d be inappropriate for me to meet with her alone. I’ll just have my secretary handle it.”
He looked every bit the devoted husband, as though his relationship with Hattie was purely distant and formal.
But no matter how careful Edmond was, there were always people eager to stir the pot.
That day, while Haven was at the amusement park with Leigh, an all-too-familiar voice cut through the air.
“Hello, Aunt Haven,” Hattie greeted with a bright, calculated smile.
At 27, Haven was only seven years older than the 20-year-old, and the use of “Aunt” was an obvious provocation.
But instead of rising to the bait, Haven’s gaze dropped to Hattie’s stomach. The girl was pushing it out in an exaggerated manner, as though she were further along than she actually was. The sight was absurd, but Hattie seemed quite pleased with her performance.
“What a coincidence, Aunt Haven,” Hattie said, her tone sugary sweet. “I’m meeting the father of my child here today.”
Haven’s eyes didn’t waver, though she felt a flicker of annoyance. Just as she opened her mouth to respond, she spotted Edmond approaching from the other side of the park. His face was thunderous, his steps quick and heavy.
Haven kept her tone neutral. “Oh? I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting him yet. Who is it?”
Hattie smiled provocatively. “You know him well.”
Haven glanced toward Edmond, now only a few steps away, and replied evenly, “Then why don’t you tell me?”
Hattie’s smile grew bolder as she said, “The father of my child is, of course, your—”
Before Hattie could answer, Edmond’s cold voice cut through the tension. “Who is it?”
Hattie’s smirk faltered as she turned to face him. His expression was like ice, and the warmth she sought was nowhere to be found. Still, she placed a hand on her stomach and tried to appear pitiable. “Of course, it’s my boyfriend’s child.”
Edmond’s tone remained curt. “At your age, you should be focusing on your studies. But that’s none of my business. You’re an adult now—handle it yourself.”
Tears welled up in Hattie’s eyes, her voice trembling as she spoke. “But my boyfriend stood me up again today... Can’t you drive me home, Edmond?”
Her words were laced with insinuation, making Edmond tense up. He was terrified Haven would catch on. Keeping his expression cold, he said, “I’m here with my wife and child. Just commute by yourself.”
The dismissal was brutal, and Haven found the entire performance laughable. 'Does he really think I’m that gullible?' she mused.
Ignoring the tearful Hattie, Edmond wrapped his arm around Haven’s waist and spoke softly, “Haven, I’m off work today. The nanny told me you brought Leigh to the amusement park, so I came over right away.”
Haven glanced at Edmond, who looked like a loyal dog wagging its tail, and smiled faintly. “Is that so? Well, since you’re free, why don’t you take Hattie home? She’s pregnant, her boyfriend stood her up, and she seems quite pitiful.”
Edmond froze. The next moment, he looked at Haven with a pitiful expression. “She’s nothing to me. How could you ask me to take another woman home? You know, the passenger seat in my car is only for you, right?”
Out of the corner of her eye, Haven caught Hattie’s face going pale. The sight was so absurd it nearly made her laugh.
