Chapter 1
“Genevieve, the funeral is about to begin. Is Arthur on his way now?”
Dressed in mourning black, Genevieve Harding stood before her mother’s memorial portrait. The flickering light of candles cast shadows across her face.
Lowering her head, she checked her nearly dead phone, and there was still no answer from Arthur Pendelion.
Her mother had passed away. The seven–month pregnant Genevieve had been mourning in the funeral hall for seven days straight. Yet Arthur, her husband of three years, hadn’t shown up once
sunderstood that.
Arthur was a busy man, and Genevieve had always un
So she just comforted herself that he must be tied up with work
“He’s probably busy. I guess he’s not coming.”
Genevieve struggled to her feet, her face tear–streaked, her voice hoarse. “Let’s begin the funeral.”
r pale
Her uncle’s wife, Kaylie Kinon, scoffed, “Genin, how busy could he be? He never showed up even once for the past seven days. Looks like he doesn’t care about your mother at all.”
Genevieve’s cousin, Connie Harding, sneered,”
red, “No, Mom. Mr. Fendeleon just doesn’t care about Genie. Or the baby she’s carrying.”
Their mockery brought a lump to Genevieve’s throat. But she still told herself that Arthur had always been a good husband. He wouldn’t miss this on purpose. Work must have held him back
But the moment she convinced herself, reality slapped her in the face.
Connie looked at her phone and exclaimed, Isn’t this Mr. Pendelton! He’s trending now.”
She deliberately shoved the phone in Genevieve’s face.
Genevieve looked down to see a viral video from this morning’s trending topics. The footage was captured last night.
The headline read: The Pendelson Group’s CEO Arthur Pendelion Booked Entire Venue for His True Love Martha Fitch’s Birthday Celebration.
In the video, the night sky exploded with dazzling fireworks. A man sac elegantly in a chair, his deep eyes fixed tenderly on the young woman beside him. The woman pointed excitedly at the fireworks, her radiant smile outshining even the brightest sparks.
The fireworks were brilliant, bur Genevieve’s attention was solely on the man’s back.
With just one glance, she knew it was her husband, Ambur.
“So last night, he was setting off fireworks for another woman’s birthday?” she wondered.
Genevieve’s mind went blank, and her body stiffened.
As the fireworks continued bursting on screen, Connie’s mocking voice pierced through, Genie, you said Arthur was busy, huh? Well, he certainly was–busy celebrating the birthday of another woman.”
Genevieve clenched her fists, images of Arthur celebrating another woman’s birthday with a fireworks display filling her mind.
She had believed he was working
Even when facing her mother’s death, she had shouldered everything alone. All because she didn’t want to burden him.
For seven days, he didn’t answer a single call or spare a moment to pay respects to her mother, yet he had time to organize a fireworks display for another woman’s birthday.
How utterly ridiculous!
The woman in the video was Arthur’s fint love, the woman he deeply loved.
Genevieve, on the other hand, was just the wife his grandfather had arranged for him. Their marriage was just a repayment for her father’s life–saving favor, making sure she had someone to depend on her whole life.
Genevieve had known Arthur didn’t love her. So for the past three years, she never dared to burden him with her problems, never dared to hope for
Muse.
Arthur had always been cold. He didn’t celebrate holidays or special occasions. His life revolved solely around work. Genevieve thought he just wasn’t a
romantic man.
But now, she had learned the truth Arthur could be romantic, just not for her.
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With that spectacular fireworks display, Arthur had turned Genevieve into the biggest joke of all.
Genevieve clenched her teeth, forcing down the pain as she looked away from the phone. She refused to let herself look any more pathetic than she already did.
Her mother’s funeral still needed her. She had to hold herself together
Ignoring the mocking stares around her, Genevieve steadied herself as she walked forward.
She remembered how her mother had wanted to see Arthur one last time before passing
Back then, too, she had called Arthur over and over, but he hadn’t answered. Perhaps he had been with Martha at that time as well.
Her mother had wished for her to live happily with Arthur forever.
But that might not be possible now.
After taking care of everything on her own and seeing off all the relatives and friends, Genevieve sar alone in the dining hall.
Arthur finally arrived, dressed in a black shirt, his handsome face expressionless as usual. When his gaze fell on Genevieve and took in the scene, a rare flicker of guilt crossed his features.
Genevieve looked up at Arthur with one hand supporting her belly. The pent–up grievances threatened to overwhelm her.
She took a deep breath, forcing her resentment down, her face calm as ever. You just finished work”
Arthur didn’t notice the fragility in her voice.
“I had a meeting earlier.”
“What about last night? Did you enjoy the birthday celebration!”
Arthur frowned. Before he could respond, a woman in a red dress walked in behind him, wearing Arthur’s jacket over her shoulders.
Genevieve’s expression darkened further.
“Genevieve, I’m sorry,” Martha said. “Arthur was with me last night. My mother has bern sick recently, and he couldn’t bear to see me handle everything alone, so he helped care for her. That was why he missed your messages. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have troubled him.”
Genevieve listened, the bitterness surging even more fiercely in her chest
Is your mother seriously ill?
“No, just a minor cold with some fever. She’s almost recovered now.
Genevieve felt devastated. She struggled to stay calm, but her reddened eyes and trembling lips betrayed her
Arthur’s frown deepened. When he’d learned of Genevieve’s mother’s passing, he was in a meeting. By the time it ended, Martha had called him in distress. During the chaos, he’d forgotten about the funeral
Anyway, he felt terribly sorry.
As Arthur moved toward the casket of Genevieve’s mother, she stopped him. Don’t bother. Her mother matters more. Go back to them.”
Arthur froze mid–step.
Genevieve couldn’t stay any longer. She stood to leave, no tears, no outbursts.
She would not cry for someone unworthy.
Arthur watched her struggling to walk, her heavily pregnant body moving with effort. An unfamiliar pang of guilt struck him.
Manha had called him in tears over a simple cold, yet Genevieve had endured her mother’s death all on her own.
“Where are you going? You shouldn’t be wandering around in your condition. Arthur tried to stop her.
Gapevieve smiled bitterly.
So he did remember she was pregnant.
But he abandoned his pregnant wife to care for someone else’s mother. Apparently, he didn’t care about her or their baby at all
A child born unwanted and uncared for would never know happiness,
Genevieve looked down at her belly, the pain solidifying into resolve. She quickened her pace, heading straight for the elevator.
A pang of unease struck Arthur. He moved to follow, but Martha caught his arm. “Arthur, Genevieve just lost her mother, Maybe she needs some space
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Chapter 1
Arthur cut her off with a frown, shaking free of her grip. His voice turned icy “She’s not in the right state of mind. I can’t let her be on her own now.. should go home by yourself”
By the time he reached the street, Genevieve was already gone.
Looking at the busy street, he took out his phone and made a call, Track Genevieve’s phone and find her immediately.”
Arthur’s handsome face showed a hint of unease.
An hour later, his assistant called.“Sir, Mrs. Pendelton is at the hospital.”
“Why? What happened?”
“She…she scheduled an abortion. And… The assistant hesitated.“She had her lawyer draft divorce papers. She has already signed them.”
A buzzing sound rang in Arthur’s ear, his deep eyes filled with disbelief.
