Without much thought, she softly whispered into his ear, "Are we there yet?"
Tonight, Lucas seemed distracted, responding to her advances with an unusual indifference.
Cathy's thoughts wandered, and she absentmindedly asked, "Should we... try IVF instead?"
Before she could finish, Lucas abruptly shoved her off him without mercy.
Caught off guard, Cathy tumbled to the floor. Even with the thick carpet beneath her, the fall left her seeing stars and aching all over.
Whatever lingering emotions she had were instantly shattered.
Frowning slightly, she murmured, "Lucas, you-"
Lucas propped himself up on the edge of the bed. Whatever trace of desire he had was long replaced by cold detachment as he looked down at her.
In an icy tone, he asked, "Are you saying I can't do it?"
Cathy's flushed face stiffened for a moment. She hadn't meant that at all.
But instead of explaining, the words that left her lips were, "IVF has a higher success rate. Isn't your family eager for a grandson?"
Three years of marriage, and her belly remained flat.
She had visited both Western and Chinese doctors, taken endless medications, tried countless folk remedies-yet nothing worked.
Lucas lay back down, his voice devoid of emotion. "You think you're worthy of bearing my child?"
As Cathy struggled to get up, her gaze flickered toward the wheelchair at the foot of the bed.
It was an eyesore.
That wheelchair belonged to Lucas.
Three years ago, a car accident had left his legs paralyzed.
And the driver... was Cathy.
Yes, she was unworthy.
Their marriage was nothing more than a transaction-The Green family had offered a dowry worth billions in exchange for The Wilson family sparing her.
She had married Lucas as a woman atoning for her sins, bound to serve him.
Without a word, Cathy got up from the carpet, put on her clothes, and left the room.
-
Cathy never slept in Lucas's bedroom.
Though they were married, they lived in separate rooms.
Or rather, Lucas refused to let her stay with him.
She was only allowed into his room for that, and the moment it was over, she was thrown out.
The next morning, on her way to work, Cathy received a call from her best friend, Amy.
Amy's gossipy voice filled the car's speakers, "Did you see the trending news? Lucas's first love, Angela, has quietly returned to the country! The topic is skyrocketing up the charts!"
Hearing Angela's name, Cathy's heart sank.
No wonder Lucas had been so irritable last night-his most cherished person had come back.
And yet, he was another woman's husband now.
Who wouldn't be angry in his place?
Snapping out of her brief daze, Cathy responded coolly, "If it's all over the trending list, how is that low-profile?"
But Amy wasn't just calling about the news.
She asked bluntly, "Why is she back? To rekindle things with Lucas? Even if she's willing, I doubt Lucas would agree."
Amy scoffed. "She abandoned him when he was at his lowest-crippled, stripped of his former glory. She left the country without looking back. But now that you've taken care of him and he's getting better, she suddenly shows up again? If Lucas still goes running back to her, he's got no self-respect."
Cathy remained silent for a moment.
Amy, sensing something was off, cursed in disbelief.
"Don't tell me... Lucas really still worships her?"