
My Husband's Announcement
Chapter 5
The Lawson family was preparing a grand welcoming ceremony for Jordan.
Using the excuse that I needed rest, Jay trapped me in our private courtyard.
Standing on the balcony, I saw the main house where Riley held the baby, surrounded by Jay and the others, basking in everyone’s admiration.
Jay carried the baby attentively the entire time, allowing Riley to hold onto his arm, his smile gentle.
He proudly announced to everyone that Jordan would be his sole heir after his passing.
Riley could hardly conceal her delight.
"But you will have other children in the future. I’m afraid Jordan might get jealous."
"That won’t happen."
Jay gazed at Jordan with certainty.
"Other than Jordan, I will never have another child."
So, he had no hesitation in getting rid of mine.
I finally saw through Jay’s hypocrisy.
Turning back into the house, I packed up all my belongings.
Anything I couldn’t take, I simply threw into a bin bag.
But I hadn’t expected Riley to come to the courtyard.
She looked at me smugly, like a victor.
"I told you long ago, Mandy, you can’t win against me. So what if you secretly married Jay? Your child still died, and now you’re just a useless woman who can’t have children. Everything in the Lawson family will belong to my son in the future. How does that feel? Doesn’t it hurt?"
My eyes burned red as I stepped forward and slapped her.
"You have no right to mention my child!"
But in the next moment, I saw the triumphant smile on Riley’s face.
She casually tossed a lighter to the ground.
In an instant, the room caught fire.
Riley screamed in terror and was quickly swept into Jay’s arms when he rushed over.
"Mandy, you’ve disappointed me! Riley came to comfort you out of kindness, yet you tried to burn her alive!"
The Lawson family’s elders arrived with dark expressions, putting out the fire, but the way they looked at me was as if they were looking at an enemy.
Riley cowered weakly in Jay’s embrace.
"It’s all my fault. I just wanted to persuade Mandy not to be upset about me attending the banquet with you. I just didn’t expect her to react so strongly."
I stared at the scorched remains of the room, suppressing the itch in my throat.
"Whose child is Jordan?"
Jay instinctively pushed Riley away, thinking I had discovered something.
"Jordan was just a baby I found! The hospital staff can vouch for me! Jordan prefers Riley over you because she is gentler and more understanding. Mandy, you should reflect on yourself. Now, apologize!"
I couldn’t stop coughing, but the elders of the Lawson family only looked at me with disdain.
"A barren woman—it’s such bad luck to have you as a member of the Lawson family!"
"Jay, take Jordan and Riley away. Lock her up here and let her reflect on herself!"
Jay still hoped I would surrender, but I bit my lip tightly.
Watching them lock the doors, I sat on the ground in tears.
I sent a message to my friends, and they soon pried open the gate and took me away.
On the way, I received a message from Jay.
"Darling, just stay home and rest. You don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll take care of it all. Riley is just a stand-in for you. Once everything is over, I will explain everything to you. Don’t be sad. I’ll bring the baby to reunite with you soon."
Even now, he was still lying to me.
But I no longer wanted to be entangled with him.
I sold off all my shares and assets.
Jay was too busy with the banquet to notice I had disappeared.
On the day of the banquet, I stood at the boarding gate and sent him one last message.
"Where are you now?"
Jay, occupied with his "wife" and child, didn’t have time to call me until just before the banquet had started.
"Mandy, everything will be resolved soon. From now on, it will just be us three—me, you, and Jordan. I promise, there will be no one else!"
He casually reassured me while signing the property transfer documents.
Riley was Jordan’s real mother. No matter what, he had to ensure her future.
I looked at the departing plane and sneered. "Congratulations on your family reunion."
Jay hesitated for a moment, then chuckled helplessly.
"Jealous again? We are the real family of three."
But before he could finish, I tossed my phone away.
Hearing the sudden silence on my end, he tried calling again, but no one answered.
Anxiety crept over him.
He immediately ordered someone to check on me at the courtyard.
"Watch Mrs. Lawson closely. She is not allowed to leave until the banquet is over!"
But he didn’t expect that halfway through the banquet, just as he was introducing Riley as his wife, his secretary called. "Mr. Lawson—something happened! The Lawson family villa is on fire, and Mrs. Lawson is still inside!"
"What? Impossible!"
Jay staggered, shoving Riley aside, and ran out of the banquet hall in a daze.
"The fire started in the courtyard. The gates were locked at the time, so there was no way for anyone inside to escape..."
A chill ran down Jay’s spine.
"Where is Mandy? Was she rescued?"
Riley followed him outside.
Hearing his furious roar, she carefully grabbed his hand.
"Jay, what’s wrong? Don’t worry. Maybe this is just a misunderstanding?"
But Jay suddenly turned his head and glared at her with burning hatred.