A Lie Born in the Hawthorne House

Just then, the doorbell rang. A delivery man stood at the door, his arms full of packages from high-end boutiques on Fifth Avenue, all for Jennifer.

She didn't even bother to glance at me as she rushed forward, tearing open the boxes one by one.

"Brynden picked all of these for me personally. He said pregnant women must be in a cheerful mood. I swear, if I hadn't stopped him, he would have brought the entire mall home. Oh, this must be a free gift. My baby won't need it, you can have it." She tossed the expensive blanket at my feet as if it were trash.

Brynden frowned. "Jennifer, that's enough," he warned.

But instead of backing down, she pouted, wrapping herself around his arm, her fingertips tracing lightly over his chest.

"Brynden, you know how important a pregnant woman's emotions are. The doctor said if I'm unhappy, the baby will be affected too. You're always so harsh with me, you'll scare the baby."

It was a clumsy performance, but Brynden bought it. The annoyance on his face vanished, replaced by a hint of concern. He even reached out to gently caress her stomach.

Right, because a fetus can feel scared.

I watched the sickening display, a cold knot tightening in my stomach, before turning back to the bedroom.

At that moment, the child I had once longed for had become my greatest sorrow.

Brynden followed close behind, closing the door after him. He looked down at me, his gaze sharp.

"Amelia, you know Jennifer's situation. If I don't help her, her snobbish parents will force her to have an abortion, maybe even kick her out of the house. You're my wife. You should understand me. If there was anything between Jennifer and me, you and I wouldn't be married right now."

I remembered a charity gala where Jennifer was hounded by gossip. She had burst into tears and thrown herself into Brynden's arms, a picture of perfect, trembling fragility.

Brynden immediately softened, defending her and quelling the rumors. Back then, I thought he was a man of integrity. Now, I saw it was just the beginning of his foolish devotion.

"Amelia, no matter what the world thinks, as long as I know you're carrying my child, that's enough. Is a name really that important?"

I felt a gash tear open in my heart, but I still forced out the question that was stuck in my throat.

"If she's so afraid of the shame, why can't she just get rid of the child herself?"

"Jennifer wants to keep the child; it's her own flesh and blood. But she's afraid people will call her child a bastard, so..."

"So now her child is the legitimate Hawthorne heir, while my child becomes the shameful bastard who can't see the light of day. Is that what you mean?" I wasn't crying anymore. I just looked at him with a mocking smile.

Brynden's jaw tightened. A storm was brewing in his eyes.

"No matter what anyone says, this is still my child. And you are my wife. That will never change. Amelia, can't you just be a little more considerate?"

"Jennifer is as delicate as crystal. She can't be expected to suffer through vicious rumors," Brynden said.

I finally understood. She was the crystal, I was the stone. And when a stone is crushed to dust, no one cares.