The Cost of a Complete Family Chapter 1

I was three months pregnant, suffering from severe Morning Sickness.

My husband proposed at this time to bring his daughter with his ex-wife over.

"She has depression and needs fatherly love."

I nodded calmly: "Okay."

While he was overjoyed, I pointed to the door: "Bring her mother along too. Your family of three can stay in the guest room, I'll take the master bedroom."

His face turned pale, and his ex-wife's call had already come in.

...

* * *

The phone ringtone sharply pierced the silence of the living room.

Three words flashed on the screen —— Giselle.

My husband Julian Vance's ex-wife, his daughter Lila's biological mother.

That familiar nausea surged in my stomach, mixed with suffocating sourness.

Julian's face was even uglier than mine, a pregnant woman's, pale white, eyes dodging, daring not to meet mine.

He pinched the phone, like pinching a burning iron.

"Answer it." I leaned on the sofa, voice very light, but carrying undeniable coldness.

His Adam's apple rolled, stiffly swiped the answer button. One second before pressing speaker, he mouthed to me begging: Don't.

I ignored him, just looked at him coldly.

From the other end immediately came a female voice gentle to near guilt, every word seemed carefully polished, carrying just the right amount of fragility.

"Julian... did you tell Serena? All blame me, all blame me useless, can't take care of Lila well..."

Voice not loud, but clearly transmitted to my ears, piercing into my nerves.

I ignored her performance, gaze still locked on Julian's pale face, word by word repeated what I just said.

"Pick up, let her bring daughter, live in guest room."

"You are crazy!" Julian finally couldn't help it, lowered voice roared at me, eyes full of horror and anger, "Serena! Don't make trouble! Giselle just let Lila come to live!"

His reaction, fiercely stabbed into my heart.

I suddenly smiled, but this smile didn't reach heart.

I reached out, fingertip heavily pressed the speaker button.

That weak female voice stopped abruptly.

I faced the cold phone receiver, word by word, clearly said: "Miss Giselle, hello."

"Child depressed, most need is complete family, is biological parents' company."

"Me this stepmother, won't be an eyesore here."

"I fulfill your family reunion, you and Julian take child live in guest room, good good cultivate feelings."

"This house, down payment was paid by my parents, pre-marital property, I live in master bedroom, no problem right?"

Other end of phone, was death-like silence.

I could imagine on Giselle's gentle face, what kind of wonderful expression would be at this moment.

"Serena!" Julian finally exploded, he snatched the phone from my hand, whole face twisted because of anger, glared at me, "Must you be so mean? Lila is my daughter! She is sick!"

His voice was trembling, not because of guilt, but because his "White Moonlight" was publicly humiliated by me.

He ran to the balcony, back to me, voice instantly switched to soothing mode, pressed extremely low, but fragments still drifted into my ears.

"Giselle you don't listen to her nonsense... she pregnant, emotions unstable..."

"Don't think too much, I know what I'm doing..."

"Wronged you..."

Every word, like a heavy hammer, fiercely smashed on my heart.

Stomach churned a while, no longer could suppress, I fiercely sprang up from sofa, rushed into bathroom.

"Vomit——"

Acid water, bile, mixed with few mouthfuls of plain porridge barely swallowed at noon, all surged out.

I lay by the cold toilet, vomited dark heaven dark earth, felt internal organs all displaced, physiological tears flowed out.

Bathroom door was pulled open a crack.

I thought he finally still had conscience, knew to come in check on me.

But Julian just stood at the door, looking at my embarrassed appearance, brows tight locked, eyes had half cent concern none, instead all blame and impatience.

"You scared Giselle."

"She a woman bringing a child, not easy."

My heart instantly fell into ice cave.

I lifted head, through blurred teary eyes, looked at this man I loved for three years, married for two years.

His face was still that familiar face, refined, handsome, but I felt so strange, strange enough to make me cold all over.

Turns out, my pain, my morning sickness, his biological flesh and blood in my belly, all couldn't compare to his ex-wife's one sentence "not easy".

I had no strength to argue with him anymore, just supported wall, swaying stood up, rinsed mouth, wiped tears on face.

I said nothing, passed him, walked into master bedroom.

"Click" a sound.

I locked the door.

Shut him and his "not easy", shut that hypocritical "family of three", all outside the door.

At night, I lay in bed, could clearly hear tossing and turning sounds from living room.

Finally, was muffled sound of pillow thrown on sofa.

He used this silent way, to accuse my "unreasonable trouble", declare his protection for ex-wife.

Very good.

I closed eyes, hand gently placed on flat lower abdomen.

Julian Vance, this is what you chose.

From this moment, my defense, has been built.