Leaving on a Summer's Day

On the way back, Mitchell's phone kept flashing.

While Heather wasn't paying attention, Mitchell took the chance to check the messages. They were from Bethany.

[Mitchell, what do you think we should name our baby? Can you come over later and help me pick one?]

Mitchell quickly typed a warning in response.

[We'll talk about names later. Don't say anything in front of Heather that could give us away. If she finds out about us, you won't want to deal with the consequences!]

Even though Mitchell said that, Heather could still tell from his relaxed demeanor that he didn't seem bothered by Bethany's pregnancy. After all, Mitchell had told her long ago that he liked children.

Heather noticed her phone light up as well. She glanced down to see a friend request from Bethany. She knew it was meant to provoke her, but she accepted it anyway.

As soon as the request was accepted, Bethany's message came through.

[Heather, aren't you curious who the father of my child is? I can't believe you're that clueless—don't you see how close Mitchell and I are?]

It seemed like Bethany was waiting for Heather to ask, but after this message, there was a long pause before another one came through.

Heather stared at the message but didn't respond. She already knew the answer and had made her decision to leave, so there was no need for her to lash out and ask questions.

When no reply came, Bethany couldn't hold back any longer and sent another message. This time, it was a photo of Mitchell and Bethany's marriage certificate. Heather had already seen it, and now, seeing it again, she felt no shock or pain. The feeling had long passed.

[Heather, I got a marriage certificate with Mitchell. No matter what, I'm his legal wife. It doesn't matter that you're getting married soon. As long as I don't agree to a divorce, you'll always be beneath me.

[And now that I'm carrying his child—two of them, actually—we'll never be able to separate. You still don't know how much he loves me, do you? He makes time for me every day. He's even told a lot of people about us.

[Don't you feel pathetic when others talk about how good Mitchell is to you? They're just mocking you. Do you remember the dress I wore to the charity gala? Mitchell spent a fortune having it made just for me. Did you ever get that kind of treatment? You can't even imagine how much he loves me.

[A woman like you—so boring and predictable—he could never love. What he likes is someone like me, someone who's free and confident in the bedroom.]

Bethany sent more photos of herself and Mitchell in bed.

Looking at her smug, high-and-mighty attitude, Heather couldn't help but feel a deep, bitter sense of mockery in her heart.

"What are you staring at so seriously?" Mitchell suddenly asked, snapping Heather out of her complicated emotions.

Heather quickly turned off her phone, shook her head, and didn't say anything more.

Mitchell noticed her calm expression, but it only made the unease in his chest grow stronger, like something was slipping out of his control. He took Heather's hand in his, pressing it firmly against his leg.

Heather wanted to pull away but couldn't. She just let him do it, leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes to pretend she was sleeping.

When Mitchell felt the softness of her hand and realized she wasn't struggling anymore, he sighed, the anxiety in his heart finally easing.

In the following days, Mitchell used the excuse of work to stay away from home, both during the day and at night. Heather didn't actively search for his whereabouts, but Bethany made sure to send her updates.

Mitchell had lied about being busy with work. In reality, he was spending time with Bethany. They went shopping for baby supplies together, preparing for their two unborn children, whose genders they still didn't know.

Bethany sent photos of Mitchell carefully choosing names for the babies, and another of him resting his head on her belly...

[Heather, Mitchell has been here with me. He must've told you he's busy with work, huh? It's such a shame you can't see for yourself how much he cares about me and our babies. Do you think, on your wedding day, he'll run away with me and the kids?]

Heather didn't respond to her taunts.

On the wedding day, someone was indeed going to run away, but it wouldn't be Mitchell. It would be her.