Chapter 3
When I got home, Eleanor Kingsley was fussing over Vivienne like she was a princess.
They both looked up the moment I walked in []
Their smiles dropped.[]
Carter frowned.[]
“Didn’t I tell you not to come back yet?“]
1 chuckled. []
“You told me to come back early.”
“Said you had something to talk about.”
Carter hesitated.]
He clearly forgot.
He cleared his throat.
“Doesn’t matter now.”
The annual family dinner–Vivienne’s handling it this year.“[]
Every year, I handled that dinner.
Because I was the Kingsley family’s official wife.[]
It was my duty.]
Eleanor nitpicked everything I ever did for those dinners.]]
The menu, the flowers, the lighting–nothing was ever good enough.[]
But at least it came with the title.
Now that Vivienne was here, even that had been handed to her.[]
I gave a tight–lipped smile. [
“Sure. It’s your house, your call.“[]
Carter frowned, like he expected me to fight back.[]
Eleanor sniffed, pleased. “At least you know your place.“[]
She turned to Vivienne, her voice warm.
“If you run into any trouble, just let me know, sweetheart.“]
Vivienne gave her a bashful smile, and Carter melted all over again.]]
They launched into planning, forgetting I was still in the room.
Laughing together.
Ethan sat beside Vivienne, gently patting her belly.[]
This dinner’s for my baby brother!“]}]
They looked like the perfect little family.]
And 1-
e–0
I was just background noise.
I walked upstairs without another word.
For days, I stayed out of sight.]
They loved it.
Everyone was busy helping Vivienne plan the big event.]]
But this wasn’t her world
She got overwhelmed quickly.]
I overheard her one evening, curled up in Carter’s arms.
“I can’t even get a stupid dinner right… I’m useless.“]
Carter held her tighter. []
No, baby. You’re doing great. It’s your first time.”
The next night, Carter knocked on my door.
That alone was unusual
When I opened it, he didn’t waste time.
“Vivienne’s overwhelmed.“]
“She’s pregnant, and this dinner is a lot. Help her out.”
Ismiled
“When I handled my first dinner, I was eight months pregnant.“||]
He looked surprised.]]
Like he’d only just remembered that
Back then, I was on my feet every day, planning menus and centerpieces, weeks from giving birth.[]
No one offered to help.
No one cared.
And now?
A little guilt on his face didn’t mean a damn thing.]
I cut him off before he could apologize.]
“TT help with the background stuff.“]
Let her handle the main event. She deserves to shine, right?“]
Carter blinked, clearly thrown.
“You’re really okay letting her take the spotlight?”
After all, the dinner was always the First Lady’s stage.
And I was giving it up.
“She is carrying the next Kingsley,” I said calmly.
Carter opened his mouth like he wanted to say something else.[]
But I’d already closed the door.
He stood there for a while.]
Maybe realizing 1 wasn’t the woman who used to beg for his attention.[]
Maybe realizing I didn’t need him anymore.
