Love Fades Only Shattered Dreams Remain

“Vince, I think I might have twisted my ankle just now. It hurts so much,” Estelle said, all pouty.

Vincent didn’t say a word. He simply swept Estelle up into a princess carry and headed straight for the upstairs bedroom, not even sparing me a glance.

Meanwhile, Vicky shot me a pointed look.

"Not only can you not have children, but you can’t even keep a man. If Ken hadn’t married Elle first, do you really think my son would’ve ever looked at you? How dare you eat in my house? Get upstairs, you’re ruining my appetite just by being here," her voice dripping with cold sarcasm.

I had always known Vicky didn’t like me.

She saw me as the woman Kenneth had rejected, the one who had latched onto her son and made a fool of him. And after all my miscarriages, her disdain for me only deepened.

Since she was Vincent’s mother, I tried to tell myself it was my fault for not being able to carry a child int the past. I felt guilty, especially when Vincent would step in and defend me.

I endured it all.

Right now, though, Vincent was so absorbed in Estelle that he didn’t even seem to remember I was there.

For a brief moment, I considered confronting the truth, but I quickly pushed the thought aside.

I had already made up my mind to leave, so what was the point in saying anything at all?

I silently made my way upstairs and noticed that Estelle’s bedroom door was slightly ajar.

Something compelled me to move closer.

What I saw made my heart freeze: Estelle, her clothes askew, lying on the bed with Vincent on top of her.

"Vincent, you're still the one who cares for me the most. Ken can't have children and if you let Judith gives birth, he won't be able to inherit the company. If that happens... I don't know how much suffering I'll face in the future."

Vincent gasped in between his thrusting, his eyes darkened with desire. "Is Kenneth treating you well? Has he been cruel to you?"

"Ever since I got pregnant, he’s been treating me like royalty. He’s terrified I’ll get tired, even washes my feet himself and he’s been more attentive to me in bed."

Vincent’s expression turned slightly bitter. "As long as he treats you well... as long as you’re happy... I have no regrets."

"Ken, you've done so much for me. I can't marry you, but I can give myself to you. Tonight, I belong to you."

Vincent could no longer control himself and their passion intensified as they pounded into one another.

I never knew that the usually cold and restrained Vincent could lose himself like this.

Tears fell as I stumbled back to my bedroom.

Vincent didn't come back the entire night.

The next day, Vincent stared at me with deep guilt.

"Jude, I planned to come back and stay with you last night, but Mom kept me all night to hear her talk. I just... couldn't get away."

I didn’t call out his lie, simply turning toward the door to wait for him.

A bucket of leftover scraps was suddenly poured over me and Estelle appeared in front of me, holding the slop bucket with a mocking smile.

"Judith, did you enjoy watching Vince lose his mind over me?" she taunted.

So, she had left the door open on purpose.

"Miscarriage doesn’t feel so great, does it? But you won’t have to worry about that anymore—after all, you’ll never be able to have children again."

"If you still had the gall to get pregnant again, I'll make you feel the consequences. You wouldn't steal my spot as Mrs. CEO of Long Enterprises!"

"For me, Vince didn’t just give up his right to inherit the company—he also helped me get pregnant. And those children you lost? They've become my... supplements."

I shot my head up, my voice shaking. "What did you just say?"

Estelle chuckled. "What? Didn't you ever wonder why, every time you miscarried, Vince told you the child had already been buried and wouldn’t let you see it? Well, it’s because I told him to keep it from you. Eating them... it's good for my health."

Despair, rage and disbelief all hit me at once.

So that was the reason Vince never let me see the children?

How could he?

Everything that happened… was all for Estelle?!