Chapter 2

For several days, Rhett had not come home, and I acted the part of the abandoned wife.

In fact, it was unnecessary to put on such a display. There were only two servants in our place. Cassie Griffiths, an orphan I had accidentally saved on my way to the Baxwell, and the other, Aubria White, whom Rhett hired after his success in the imperial exams. Cassie was genuinely loyal to me, while Aubria was simply doing her job for the money. Both had witnessed my forlorn demeanor and might potentially become the source of rumors about Rhett.

Cassie couldn't bear to see me like that. Whenever I pretended to nibble on food while casting longing glances at the door, she would earnestly comfort me. She said that Rhett was merely busy with official duties and that I shouldn't pay attention to the gossip on the streets. I gave a faint smile, more of a cold smirk. Even if Rhett was busy with his work, he wouldn't be so occupied as to not come home. He must spend a happy time with another woman and forget about me. In others' eyes, my smile probably seemed like a self-deprecating chuckle. So Cassie offered further consolation.

As we were talking, the wooden gate of the courtyard creaked open. Rhett must come home.

I pretended to dab at my eyes with a handkerchief. But in fact, I was pinching my hand hard enough to bring tears to my eyes.

I hurried to greet him and attempted to straighten his coat. But he pushed me away.

I looked at him, and tears streamed down my face.

"Rhett, I've heard from the neighbors that... that you..." I lowered my head, wiped away my tears, and feigned distress that left me unable to finish the sentence.

My mother was the late Empress, renowned as the most beautiful woman in Baxwell. Naturally, I had grown up to be quite striking. I knew that my tearful, heartbroken appearance would prevent him from speaking harshly to me.

Sure enough, he wanted to embrace me as he saw me like that, but I avoided him.

"Keira, let me explain," he said.

I wiped away my tears and looked at him expectantly.

"Keira, I have just arrived in Baxwell. I have no power or influence. I need a stepping stone, and the Prime Minister's family is my ladder to power. You'd better voluntarily leave me for now. Next year, after I've established myself, I'll make you my second wife. I promise you won't be mistreated."

I was stunned, and disbelief was written on my face.

Clearly, he still had some lingering feelings for me, or perhaps it was just a ploy to placate me and prevent me from making a scene.

At that moment, I was the epitome of a pitiful, abandoned wife. Rhett's tone was gentle, but his eyes were cold.

"Smack!" I slapped him hard across the face, and he was caught off guard.

I was usually gentle and mild-mannered. I had ever laid a finger on him.

"Do you want to dump me? Rhett! Do you have a heart? Don't forget you got here with my money," I sneered, and my voice was hysterical.

It felt liberating.

I continued, "What do you take me and the baby for?"

The baby?

Rhett was about to retort, but he stopped when he heard me mention the baby. "The baby? What baby? When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I've been pregnant for over two months now." I paused before continuing, "The doctor confirmed it on the day the exam results were announced."

Undoubtedly, Rhett cared about his descendant.

It was common among "scholars." They boast of their lofty morals, but they were unscrupulous in their pursuit of power. They attached great importance to their descendants. Such hypocrisy was nauseating, so I pretended to retch.

After all, pregnancy nausea was quite normal.

Rhett didn't doubt me. Instead, he became more patient.

He coaxed me. "Keira, you are my wife. We've been married for three years. How could I abandon you? I just urgently need the Prime Minister's support, and his daughter is intolerant of you. You will have to make sacrifices for a short period. I only use her for leverage, but my feelings for you are genuine. Why would you mind it?"

His words sounded good.

I pushed him away. "Rhett, I've never cared about power or influence."

I paused and continued, "When I got married to you, you promised me a lifetime of fidelity. I can't tolerate any betrayal. You either break off the engagement with that lady now, or be prepared for the news to spread throughout Baxwell that you abandoned your wife and your child after you achieved success."

He looked at me as if he had never known me.

I had always been gentle and considerate in front of him. I had never ever stood up to him like that before.

I ignored him and quickly walked into my room, slamming the door shut and locking it.

Rhett was merely a weak scholar. He had no means to break down the door, so he could only fume helplessly outside.

After that day, Rhett never went home, which was just a good thing to me. It spared me the trouble of dealing with him.

During that time, I received a message with just a few words: "The plums are about to ripen."

I smiled.