Chapter 1

The storm outside had been raging for three hours.

I wrapped myself in that cream-colored wool blanket, half-lying on the leather sofa in the living room, holding a copy of "Prenatal Nutrition Guide." My belly was huge like a basketball, making it difficult to find a comfortable position.

After the power outage, only the firelight danced in the house, the orange glow illuminating the luxurious Casey family living room with warmth and comfort. Owen had been on a business trip to San Francisco for three days, originally scheduled to return tonight, but his flight was delayed due to the storm.

"Baby, daddy will be back tomorrow." I gently caressed my abdomen, feeling the little one kicking inside.

Thunder rumbled, and rain pattered against the floor-to-ceiling windows. I was just turning to the "Pre-labor Signs" page when I suddenly heard urgent knocking at the door.

Thump thump thump—

I struggled to get up from the sofa, dragging my heavy steps toward the foyer. Looking through the peephole, I could see two soaked figures under the porch light.

A tall male silhouette and a petite female form.

It was Cooper. And Iris.

Two years. It had been two whole years. I thought I'd never see them again.

Cooper knocked a few more times, pressing his face near the peephole. "Hazel, I know you're in there. Open up."

That familiar voice instantly dragged me back to that nightmare morning two years ago. The same urgent knocking, me opening the door in my pajamas to see Iris crying her eyes out: "Cooper, are you really going to marry Hazel... If you do this, I'll have no choice but to die..."

My hand trembled as I placed it on the door handle.

"Hazel?" Cooper's voice grew impatient. "Damn it, it's pouring out here. Open the door!"

I took a deep breath and opened it.

Cold wind and raindrops hit my face. Cooper stood at the doorway, his black hair plastered wetly to his forehead, deep blue eyes staring directly at me. Two years had carved some marks on his face—stubble on his chin made him look more mature, but also more haggard.

Iris hid behind him, still with that pitiful look, her golden curls matted against her cheeks by the rain, green eyes brimming with tears.

"Hazel..." Cooper pushed through the door without so much as a greeting. "I'm home."

"This isn't your home anymore, Cooper." I backed away two steps, protecting my belly. "You gave up everything here two years ago."

His gaze fell on my protruding abdomen, pupils contracting instantly.

Iris followed behind him, speaking in that soft voice: "Hazel, we really have nowhere else to go... just for one night, okay? We'll leave tomorrow."

Cooper ignored Iris's words, his eyes scanning the luxurious living room—imported Italian leather sofas, crystal chandeliers, Persian rugs, hardwood furniture. His expression grew complex.

"Looks like you're doing well." There was an indescribable emotion in his voice.

I remembered those whispered voices, the eyes of the wedding guests mocking me. Back then, I was just a supermarket cashier, wearing a rented wedding dress, left standing at the altar like a joke after Cooper claimed Iris couldn't live without him.

"Much better than you could ever imagine." I straightened my back. "Now please leave."

Cooper didn't move. His gaze refocused on my belly. "This child... how many months along?"

"None of your business." My voice grew wary.

He was quickly calculating something in his head, then his face darkened. "Damn it, Hazel! You're still living in my house, yet you got pregnant with someone else's bastard!"

I looked at him steadily and said firmly, "What's in my belly is Casey bloodline, just not yours."

Iris looked shocked and spoke up, "Hazel, even though Cooper ran away from the wedding, he still let you enjoy wealth and luxury in the Casey house. How can you be so shameless as to get pregnant with a bastard?"

I glanced at her. "Speaking of shameless, who could compare to you two?"

Iris immediately looked at Cooper with an aggrieved voice, "Cooper, we've always been proper and restrained, but she actually got pregnant with a bastard."

Cooper angrily raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

"Bitch! You got pregnant with a bastard yourself, yet dare to throw dirt on me and Iris. Get the hell out of the Casey house!"

Pain shot through my cheek, and I was stunned for several seconds from the blow.

I remembered that afternoon that completely changed my fate. At the wedding, after Cooper fled, I desperately said to the whole congregation: "Today, whoever is willing to come up here and complete this wedding with me, I'll marry them!"

Everyone was laughing, except Owen, Cooper's brother.

He stepped out from the crowd, his stride steady, expression calm: "I will."

Cooper's father flew into a rage on the spot, publicly announcing he was disowning Cooper. And I, wearing that rented wedding dress, completed a hurried but sincere wedding with Owen Casey.

"Cooper..." Iris gently touched his arm. "Don't get worked up. Maybe... maybe we can think of another way."

She looked at me, a calculating gleam in her green eyes: "A child can't be without a father, Hazel. Even though you have a new life now."

'This woman is still so hypocritical.'

"What are you implying?" My voice turned ice-cold.

Iris put on an innocent act: "I'm just saying... the real father should take responsibility."

Cooper nodded. "I have the right to know the truth! You get out of the Casey house!"

Flames of anger burned in my chest. I remembered what Owen said to me after the wedding: "You don't need to be grateful, Hazel. I should thank you for giving me a home."

In that moment, I realized I was no longer that pitiful abandoned woman. I was Hazel Casey, the lady of the Casey house.

"Listen carefully." My voice became firm and calm. "This is Owen's child. And..."

I paused, my expression shifting from fear to determination:

"You already gave up everything in the Casey family. You'd better leave immediately."

I pointed toward the door: "Or when Owen comes back, there will be consequences."