Chapter 1

Angelina Ashbourne woke up to a mess all around her. She sat in the middle of a pile of designer handbags, her mind foggy and her body stiff. She nearly tripped over a bag as she stood and took a few steps. Catching herself against the doorframe, she barely managed to steady her balance.

She had somehow ended up inside the pages of a romance novel she'd been reading—right in the shoes of the novel's most hated character. The female side character of the book shared her name—Angelina. The similarities ended there, though, because the female side character was anyone's nightmare.

The original Angelina was born into poverty, but she spent her life dreaming of marrying into money. To get ahead, she painted herself as a helpless and sweet girl in front of the wealthy Whitmore family, winning their pity and support.

She played her part so well that the Whitmores took her under their wing, gave her financial security, paid for her college tuition, and even set her up with a job after graduation.

But that wasn't enough for her. She convinced herself she deserved a bigger slice of the pie, believing she was practically a member of the family. In her eyes, the Whitmores owed her a stake in their fortune. Too cowardly to confront them directly, she set her sights on their son, Chester Whitmore.

Using her close connection to the family, she drugged Chester and seduced him. She had spent months preparing for this, even going so far as to get her health in peak condition to ensure she could get pregnant.

Her plan worked, and she was pregnant with Chester's child. It gave Chester no choice but to step up. While he was uneasy about their complicated relationship, he took responsibility and treated her well after learning about the baby.

The female side character used the pregnancy as leverage, pressuring Chester into marriage. If anyone crossed her, Chester was there to protect her.

But when she was eight months pregnant, disaster struck.

The Whitmore family's business went under, leaving them on the brink of bankruptcy.

Before Chester could sort through the mess, the female side character realized her dreams of being a rich man's wife had crumbled. She decided to cut her losses, opting to get an abortion instead of tying herself down.

Chester tried to reassure her, promising, "I'll work harder. I'll rebuild everything. You and the baby will never be lacking."

But she didn't buy it and said with a scoff, "You think I'm going to stick around for your sob stories? I'm not living the broke life with you. Get out of my way."

When he tried to stop her, she slapped him and shouted, "This house? These bags? These clothes? They're all mine. Get lost!"

The female side character didn't stop there. She quickly moved on to other men, chasing her next big opportunity. Her reputation fell apart as she became known around Brookhaven as a gold-digger. She eventually died penniless, infertile from too many abortions, and sick from AIDS.

Chester, on the other hand, was devastated. Her betrayal fueled his determination, and he clawed his way back to success, eventually becoming one of the wealthiest men in the country.

Now, as Angelina stood there, hesitating, her gaze dropped instinctively to her pregnant belly. Around her, the room was a mess—clothes, bags, and shoes scattered everywhere. She took a sharp breath, realizing she had returned to this exact moment.

Just yesterday, Chester had laid everything bare. After resolving the company's final crisis, he brought her the remaining money and calmly told her, "There's no saving the company anymore. From now on, we won't have much, but I'll make sure you're taken care of first."

The female side character had flown into a rage then. "You've ruined my life! You destroyed my dream of being a rich wife! Chester, you useless coward! What good are you to me? What makes you think I'll suffer with you? Dream on! Get out! Just get out!"

In her anger, she slapped him hard across the face. "Everything in this house belongs to me! These bags, these clothes—everything is mine! Now, get out! Go!"

According to the novel, she had already made arrangements with a hospital for an abortion.

Suddenly, the front door creaked open. A man stood there, his expression cold as he scanned the chaotic room and the woman inside it.

Angelina froze under his gaze, her mouth opening and closing as she stumbled for words. "You... You're here…" She forced an awkward smile.

Thinking about the female side character's actions, especially how quickly she turned on Chester after his bankruptcy, the real Angelina felt a wave of disdain. She hated this character when reading the novel, convinced she deserved everything that happened to her.

And now, she had somehow become her. Angelina's smile was more pitiful than cheerful.

Chester looked away, his expression indifferent. "The divorce papers are ready. Come take a look."

Angelina carefully stepped over the mountain of designer clothes and bags, making her way to the living room.

The Angelina in the novel was accustomed to a life of luxury and couldn't accept the reality of Chester's downfall. When she first heard the company was in trouble, she assumed it was just a test—a challenge to prove her loyalty. She even volunteered to move into a shabby apartment, putting on a performance of humility as she was convinced he'd come for her any day.

But it wasn't a test. He wasn't joking.

"My parents don't have much money, so they're going to work odd jobs. I can't leave them with nothing, so I've set aside 50 thousand dollars for them as emergency funds. The remaining 68 thousand dollars is yours," Chester said, glancing toward the mountain of designer items cluttering the room.

"You can deal with your things however you want. As for the baby…" His voice trailed off as his gaze lingered on her belly, heavy with emotion he couldn't hide.

Angelina instinctively placed her hands over her stomach.

He finally said, "Angelina, I want the baby. Can you keep it?"

In the novel, Angelina pounced on him after hearing his words, scratching his face and screaming, "You? A penniless beggar like you wants me to have your baby? Do you even know what you look like right now? Do you think you're still the heir to the Whitmore family fortune?

"You're a joke! You ruined me! You don't deserve this child! Just go to hell already!"

Chester had only ever seen her as a younger sister, but after what happened between them and with the baby on the way, he couldn't just walk away. Even without love, he still took responsibility. He was a man who stood firm even when life crumbled around him.

The room fell silent after he spoke, and Angelina found herself unable to respond.

When the quiet stretched on too long, Chester said softly, "My parents and my sister... They're all really hoping for this child. We can go back to the way things used to be, as a family. That is, if you're willing…"

He had already asked her this yesterday and been rejected. Yet here he was, trying again. He had cast his pride aside.

Angelina lowered her head, unable to look at him. She thought to herself, "I can't act like the female side character did. I can't only think about money. I can't be that selfish."

Angeline thought that this crisis was just a test. In the novel, Chester eventually made a comeback, and it didn't even take that long. Who in Brookhaven could possibly outshine him in the end? Even without love, he'd been so generous to the female side character.

What if she chose to stand by him and help him rise again?

The thought sent a surge of excitement through her, and she decided to place her bet on this. "I can't do it."

"What?" Chester's cold voice carried a hint of surprise.

"I can't bring myself to give up this baby. I want to keep it," Angelina said, taking a deep breath and looking him straight in the eye. "Chester, let's get rid of this apartment. I'll move in with your parents. We'll get through this crisis together as a family."

Chester's expression remained blank, but his fists were clenched tightly.

"What's gotten into her?" he wondered. "What a shocker! She actually agreed? No, it can't be real. This woman only cares about money. She doesn't have a heart."

Everyone said so. Angelina's intentions were too obvious. In the early days, she begged the Whitmore family to help her with her education. It was clear she had been scheming from the start.

Just yesterday, she slapped him and screamed at him for ruining her life. "A useless man like you can't give me the life I deserve!" she yelled.

He said stiffly, "Angelina, I promised I wouldn't let you live in hardship, but I need to make one thing clear—I can't give you the life you had before."

"That's fine." Angelina met his gaze. "We'll make money together. Once the baby's born, I'll find a job."

"And the baby?"

"I'll find work that lets me take the baby with me. I'll figure it out."

She turned to look at the piles of luxury goods in the corner. "I can sell all of that. We can use the money to buy your parents' apartment unit. I'll stay with you and start over."

Chapter 2

Chester couldn't believe what he just heard.

Did those words really come from Angelina?

He was so worn out from everything that even in his wildest dreams, he couldn't have imagined this.

Before he could process it, Angelina's phone rang. She picked up the call without thinking.

"Angelina! Do you think you'd be where you are today if not for us? You'd still be stuck in that little town! How could you treat my son like this?" Emily Powell's voice was raw and emotional.

"You're the one who drugged him and insisted you'd marry him no matter what. You promised you'd never leave him! And now, after we've lost everything…" Her voice broke, replaced by sobs. "You can't just walk away. If you want a divorce, fine. But at least let us keep the baby! The baby is eight months along. It has fully formed. It's the only hope we have left."

In the original story, this was when the female side character tore into Emily with zero remorse. "You think I owe you because you helped me? If you really cared, you would've made sure I had a perfect life. You've never treated me like how you treat Isadora!"

Isadora was Chester's younger sister.

"You said you'd take me as your daughter, but you're all liars. You make me sick!"

The female side character would make use of people without a second thought. After the Whitmores went bankrupt, she treated them like garbage and tossed them aside.

Later, when Chester rebuilt his fortune and her own life fell apart, she begged the family to take her back, hoping they'd remember she had once carried their grandchild. But by then, they wanted nothing to do with her.

Bitter and vengeful, she retaliated by spreading nasty rumors about them. She told anyone who would listen that the Whitmores had used her as a plaything for their son, even forcing her to terminate her pregnancy.

She became an influencer and milked her fabricated sob story for public sympathy. She charmed a few wealthy older men and even started a crowdfunding campaign, asking for donations.

Of course, her life ended tragically as she fell ill not long after.

Back on the phone, Emily continued sobbing. "Angelina, I'm begging you. We raised you. We gave you everything. Please just have this baby. If you need money, I still have my mother-in-law's bracelet. It's the only thing of value I have left. Take it. Just don't take away our hope."

Angelina glanced at Chester, who had no idea who was on the other end of the line.

"Emily…" she said softly, surprising even herself.

Chester froze. Angelina turned back to the phone. "Of course, I'm having the baby."

"W-What? Are you serious?" Emily sounded stunned.

"We're family, and families stick together. None of this is anyone's fault. We'll get through it. Please stop crying, okay?"

Emily was speechless. The last thing she had expected from Angelina was words of comfort.

When the female side character climbed into bed with Chester, Emily saw her true colors and called her out for being ungrateful. But by then, it was too late. Despite everything, Emily had hoped she might change for the better.

Emily tolerated the female side character's antics, treating her with kindness in hopes that it might change her.

Back to the present, Angelina added, "How could I give up on my baby or Chester? Even if we have to live with less, I want us to stay together as a family." She placed her hand on her belly, her voice sincere.

When the call ended, Angelina realized Chester had been staring at her the whole time. She sat down, picked up the divorce papers on the table, and tore them to pieces.

Chester opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off with a deep breath. Looking him straight in the eye, she said, "I've done a lot of terrible things. I've wasted money, made your life harder, and acted selfishly. I'm sorry."

Her tone was so earnest that Chester didn't know what to say. He reached out to steady her when it looked like she was about to lean too far forward. Her belly got in the way. "What are you doing?" he asked, his brows furrowed together.

"I wanted to bow and apologize properly," she admitted.

Chester stared at her, trying to make sense of her sudden change. It didn't add up. Angeline had always been selfish and self-centered. What was she playing at?

Chester's phone rang moments later. It was the hospital. He said in an icy voice, "Yeah, I understand."

Confused by his sudden shift in demeanor, Angelina watched as his expression turned as cold as stone. "You made an appointment at the hospital. Did you think lying to me would stop me from finding out?"

Angelina froze, the realization hitting her like a truck. "I… I did? No! I swear I've changed my mind," she said, scrambling to follow him as he headed toward the door. "Chester, listen to me! I'm not going to the hospital! I'm not getting rid of the baby! Please believe me!"

Chester ignored her and walked down the stairs. Angelina leaned out of the apartment door, shouting after him. Her voice echoed in the stairwell, activating the automatic lights.

She sighed, muttering to herself, "Trying to turn over a new leaf is harder than I thought."

Reputation wasn't something that could be rewritten overnight. She realized words weren't enough. She'd have to prove herself through actions.

…

After Chester left, Angelina grabbed the female side character's laptop. Her jaw dropped as she opened it to find multiple chat windows. It was worse than she thought.

Even though Chester had just gone bankrupt, the side character was already trying to line up her next sugar daddy. There were messages in exclusive dating forums.

"Hey, handsome. Miss me? I'm in Rhomara right now, but I'll be back in Brookhaven next month. I can't wait to see you."

"Sorry, I only chat with trust fund guys who are worth at least nine figures."

Disgusted, Angelina deleted every message and blocked every contact. But it didn't take her long to realize the problem.

The messages weren't going to stop. She needed a fresh start. Without hesitation, she deleted the account, set up a new one, and cleaned the house. She wiped all the contacts from her phone except for Chester.

Now, her contact list was squeaky clean, and her chat history was empty. It felt like a fresh slate. She even started listing her designer bags and clothes on a resale site. With every photo she uploaded, she felt lighter.

…

Meanwhile, Chester was still lingering downstairs, looking up at the lit windows of their apartment. He didn't trust her, not entirely.

Angry as he was, he truly wanted the child. He was afraid that if he turned and left, she'd head straight to the hospital without a second thought.

His phone buzzed with a friend request on Facebook. The message read, "Hey, darling. It's me!"

He stared at the screen, torn between disbelief and confusion. Without thinking, he hit the back button. He neither accepted nor rejected the friend request.

Chapter 3

Angelina worked late into the night, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she answered inquiries. It wasn't until the baby kicked hard enough to make her wince that she finally stopped to take a break.

Selling second-hand luxury goods was a hassle. People asked tons of questions, but only a few actually placed orders. Still, the sales she managed to close that day added up to about 12 thousand dollars. That kind of money could keep her going for a while.

The pile of bags and clothes that had seemed like junk earlier suddenly felt like a goldmine. After looking up their resale value, she realized they were worth enough to buy a house. Angelina's excitement grew as she rested her hands on her belly, her thoughts racing.

If Chester could rebuild his life from nothing, selling all this could speed up the process. He'd bounce back even faster, right?

Just as she reached for a glass of water, a call lit up her phone.

"Have you signed the divorce papers with Chester yet?"

Angelina frowned at the unknown number. Since wiping her phone earlier, she only had Chester's contact saved. She asked, "Who is this?"

On the other end of town, Kierra Harper lounged in a bar surrounded by older men. Her long legs were propped up on the table, and her tight dress left little to the imagination. She froze when she heard the reply.

"What's wrong with you? You don't recognize me now?"

Memories hit Angelina like a freight train. Kierra Harper! Of course. She was the worst of the so-called friends the female side character had surrounded herself with—a full-blown disaster. If anyone had led to the female side character's downfall, it was Kierra.

"Kierra?" Angelina asked.

Kierra's jaw dropped. "What did you just call me?"

The Angelina in the novel had never called her by her full name. It was always "babe", "sweetheart", or something equally fake.

"Sorry, Kierra. What's up?"

Kierra's reply came fast. "Did you sign the papers or not? We agreed you'd call me once it's done. I've got someone lined up who loves this kind of thing. It's way easier than finding someone on your own. You'll get money for the abortion too, so it's not like the kid's a total waste."

Angelina barely made it to the sink before she started retching. The nausea hit so hard that she doubled over, coughing into the sink.

"What's going on? You good, Mrs. Whitmore?" Kierra's tone dripped with mockery. She had always been jealous of Angelina's success in marrying Chester. To see it all fall apart was sweet revenge.

"I'm fine, Kierra. I'm not getting divorced."

It took Kierra a second to process that. She stood up, lit a cigarette, and motioned for the music to stop. The room went silent, and she stepped away.

"What do you mean, you're not getting divorced?" Kierra asked.

The private room fell silent. "What's wrong, Kierra?"

Kierra said casually, "It's nothing. A friend ran into some trouble. I'll handle it—don't let it ruin the fun."

Tossing her sleek, straight black hair over her shoulder, Kierra stepped outside the private room. Her tone turned sharp as she replied to Angelina on the phone, "Are you out of your mind? Chester's gone bankrupt! Why haven't you divorced him yet? What are you even thinking?"

Angelina was about to explain when Kierra said, "Oh, I get it. You're trying to hold on to the 'Mrs. Whitmore' title to boost your worth, aren't you? Smart move—I should've thought of that myself…"

Angelina interrupted, "That's not what I mean. I've decided to stay with Chester and work things out."

Kierra frowned deeply as she fixed her fake lashes, her voice dripping with disbelief. She let out a cold laugh and said, "You're kidding, right? Did he threaten you? That loser dares to push you around? I'll take care of him!"

Angelina said, "I'm planning to stay with Chester and build a life together. I've changed. I'll have this baby."

"You're insane!" Kierra snapped. "Do you think he's still the multimillionaire Mr. Whitmore? Times have changed. Now, everyone's looking to trample on him, and that includes you. Mark my words—you'll come begging me for help."

"I've made my decision, and I won't regret it," Angelina said firmly.

…

Unbeknownst to her, Chester had planted a listening device on the couch during their earlier conversation. He was desperate to know what she truly thought, to understand what was in her heart.

And to his surprise... she was serious this time.

Sitting in his car, he stayed silent for a long time and eventually lit a cigarette.

…

Meanwhile, Angelina had just finished her shower. Her belly had grown so large that she couldn't get her nightgown on, and she had forgotten to turn on the A/C. Sweating and frustrated, she was running out of ideas. Then, it hit her—she was alone in the house.

"Right, I'm alone. Why am I even stressing about clothes?" she muttered to herself.

Wrapping herself in a towel, she left the bathroom. The towel was snug under her arms, exposing her smooth shoulders and the gentle curve of her collarbone.

Upon stepping out, Angelina froze. Chester wasn't faring much better than her.

He quickly turned his back to her. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know you, uh, wouldn't be dressed…"

"I-I didn't know you were here! I'm so sorry!" Angelina stammered, clutching the towel tighter as she darted toward the bedroom.

Once the door shut, she glanced in the mirror, her cheeks still flushed.

They might be husband and wife, but the female side character had only been with the male lead once—after drugging him. Ever since she got pregnant, she started living a lavish, revenge-fueled lifestyle, buying everything in sight and indulging in every pleasure while showing him nothing but disdain.

Chester, for his part, had thrown himself into his work. A driven man like him, who always worked so hard, still ended up bankrupt. Life was unpredictable—hard work didn't always guarantee success.

Out on the balcony, Chester paced nervously. If Angelina truly wanted to make things right, he'd have to let go of the past and give their marriage a real shot. The past didn't matter anymore.

But just now...

His face turned red again. He realized he couldn't calm down enough to think straight.

Years ago, his parents brought Angelina into their home because they had taken pity on her. She had no family in the city, so they let her eat and sleep at their house and even taught her life lessons.

​​The first time she ate at their table, she avoided the meat dishes entirely, sticking to the vegetables. Isadora couldn't help but ask, "Why aren't you eating the meat? Don't you like it?"

Angelina had shaken her head. "I've never had it before."

The look on his parents' faces was unforgettable. From that night on, they made sure every meal she had was hearty and full of the things she had missed growing up.

Angelina's innocent appearance charmed everyone at first. Her big, clear eyes made it easy to trust her. But the longer you knew her, the more you saw the truth. Her sweetness was just skin-deep.

Chester sighed, thinking back to the night everything changed. She had waited until his parents were out of town, then slipped something into his drink. When he woke up, she was in his bed, clinging to him.

The memory made him sick.

Angelina came out of the bedroom, now dressed and ready to face him. "Chester…" she started, but when their eyes met, he blushed again.

Angelina had just gotten her emotions in check, but seeing him flustered made her blush too.

"We're supposed to be husband and wife," she thought. "Why does this feel so awkward? If it weren't for the baby, I'd think he was some bashful teenage boy."

Chapter 4

Angelina broke the awkward silence with a cough, clearing her throat.

"So, about what we talked about this afternoon. I want to go over it again."

Chester looked down, his voice cautious. "I'm worried you haven't thought this through. You might just be acting on impulse."

"I've thought it through." Angelina started to speak again but stopped mid-sentence, stifling a yawn. The long day had taken its toll.

"You're tired," Chester said, already stepping back. "I'll come by tomorrow. Get some rest."

"Wait." Angelina stopped him, her tone serious. "I've made my decision. We're not getting a divorce, and I'm keeping the baby. I know I was the one who contacted the doctor, but I've changed my mind. I'm ready to try and make this work. Please trust me."

Chester clenched his fists, trying to stay cautious. Angelina was clever and manipulative—he had learned that the hard way. But despite himself, he felt a spark of hope. Her words struck a chord he wasn't ready to admit.

"I know my change of heart seems sudden," she continued. "But I promise you, I mean it this time. Once I've made a decision, I don't go back on it."

"I'll raise the baby," she added, her voice steady. "You do whatever you need to do. I know I can't help much, but I'll try not to be a burden."

Chester hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Get some rest."

He turned to leave, but Angelina called after him, "You're driving all the way back to the suburbs? That's an hour's trip, at least. We need to save where we can now, and gas isn't cheap. Just stay here tonight."

Chester blinked, caught off guard. The same Angelina who used to spend thousands without batting an eye was suddenly worried about gas money?

"I'm driving a different car now," he said, unsure why he even bothered to explain. "Something more economical—"

"It still uses gas," she interrupted. "Every little bit adds up."

Before he could respond, she disappeared into the bedroom, returning with a pile of blankets. Chester instinctively moved to help her set them up, feeling oddly touched by her gesture.

"There. This should be enough for you to make do on the couch," she said without meeting his eyes.

…

The next morning, Angelina woke up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. She headed toward the kitchen to make breakfast, only to find smoke rising from a pot on the stove.

Chester had beaten her to it. He was already up. He was a disciplined man, getting out of bed every morning at 5:00 am to go for a run. It was a habit he had maintained for years. His hair was still damp from a shower. His complexion was fair, almost unnaturally so, and his sharp features made him look effortlessly striking.

Angelina froze in place, momentarily stunned. She had to remind herself to breathe.

"I'm done in the bathroom if you need it," he said casually, snapping her back to reality.

She nodded mechanically, grabbed her toothbrush, and headed to the sink. Catching sight of her reflection in the mirror, she frowned. Pregnancy hadn't been kind to her. Her face was bloated, and her figure was unrecognizable. She looked like any other average, exhausted mom-to-be.

"Just one more month," she muttered to herself, trying to stay optimistic. "I'll lose the weight. I'll bounce back."

In the living room, Chester was on the phone.

"Yeah, about David… Is it taken care of?" he asked. His tone was calm but firm.

Angelina cracked the bathroom door open, straining to listen.

"Good. Thanks for handling it. I owe you one."

David? Angelina's heart skipped a beat. In the novel, David Peterson was a minor character. But his role was pivotal. He was someone Chester had trusted implicitly, but it didn't end well.

David was one of Chester's closest friends from college, but he came from a humble background and carried a deep sense of inferiority. When David's mother needed surgery to save her life, Chester paid for the best doctors without hesitation.

After graduating from college, Chester even gave David the position of deputy director of the finance department at Whitmore Group's headquarters.

But jealousy poisoned David's gratitude. No matter how hard he worked, he could never escape the shadow of being Chester's subordinate. The resentment festered until David betrayed Chester, conspiring with competitors to siphon funds from the company.

By the time the dust settled, Whitmore Group had lost billions, and David had walked away with more than his fair share.

In the novel, Chester only uncovered David's betrayal years later after clawing his way back to the top.

Angelina's stomach turned. She had to warn Chester before it was too late.

He hung up and looked at her, confused by her intense expression. "What is it?"

"Did you cook breakfast?" she asked, trying to ease into the conversation.

"Yeah."

"I didn't know you could cook."

"Google helps," he said with a shrug, brushing past her question.

Angelina sat down next to him, her tone shifting. "Have you figured out who's behind the company's collapse?"

Chester stiffened. Of all the things he had expected her to say, this wasn't it. The Angelina he knew never cared about business—only how much money it could bring her.

"There were issues with multiple projects. The accounting..."

She cut him off, her voice serious, "If I'm not mistaken, isn't David the deputy director of the finance department? Didn't he oversee all the company's accounts? What's his explanation for the discrepancies?"

Chester's gaze darkened. She spoke like an outsider, yet she knew too much. How did she even know David's name?

"This has nothing to do with him," he said flatly.

Angelina recognized the name of the game. David had set up a scapegoat to keep Chester off his trail. He was playing both sides, pocketing money while protecting his reputation.

"I'm just saying you should look into it," she said lightly, retreating to the bathroom before she said too much.

Chester brought the breakfast to the table. The oatmeal he had tried to make was lumpy and unappetizing, but Angelina didn't complain. She glanced at her phone, her face lighting up.

"Look at this! I made 36 thousand dollars overnight." She grinned, holding up the screen for Chester to see. "I've been listing my bags and clothes, and they're selling faster than I expected."

Chester raised an eyebrow. "That much already?"

"Yeah! After breakfast, we'll ship the items that have been sold. We can take the rest to your parents' house. Once everything's sold, we'll have a nice cushion. And we should cancel the lease on this place. Even if it's run-down, the rent is still expensive. The sooner we move out, the better."

She rattled on excitedly, oblivious to the way Chester was looking at her. There was something strange about her.

"What's wrong?" she asked when she noticed his silence.

"You worked as an assistant. How do you know the name of the deputy director of my company's finance department?" he asked pointedly.

Angelina froze. She hadn't thought that through. In the novel, the female side character had never crossed paths with David. She made a slip of the tongue without realizing it.

"I... heard it from Joshua," she said hastily.

Chester didn't push her further. He simply hummed in acknowledgment, though his expression was unreadable.

Chapter 5

After breakfast, Angelina grabbed a bunch of bags and began packing up all the designer handbags and clothes the original Angelina had hoarded. The pile looked massive, and packing the bags up was even more exhausting.

Sweating and out of breath, she moved awkwardly back and forth, her pregnant belly making everything harder.

Chester was typing away on his laptop, working on something important. The steady sound of his typing filled the room as both of them worked in parallel, neither bothering the other.

A while later, Angelina managed to pull the first batch of bags out of the bedroom. But they were heavier than she expected, and as she tried to drag them, her foot slipped. She stumbled backward, nearly falling—until a strong hand caught her by the waist.

"Careful," Chester said, his voice calm.

Angelina turned to face him, her cheeks flushing as their eyes met. She was about to respond when his gaze swept over the room, taking in the mountain of stuff. Without a word, he stepped forward and began helping her pack.

"Sit down. I've got this," he said firmly.

Angelina didn't argue. She sank onto the couch, poured herself a glass of water, and watched Chester work. He was surprisingly efficient for someone who probably never touched housework in his life. She felt a flicker of admiration. Leave it to a guy like him to adapt so quickly.

As she sipped her water, the baby kicked again, harder this time. Angelina paused, marveling at the sensation. It was strange but magical, as if the baby was flipping inside her.

Angelina got up, ready to go in and help Chester clean up. Just as she moved, her eyes landed on the content shown on his computer screen.

Just glancing at the text left her completely confused. Mixed in with it were lines of jumbled code. It was messy and unfamiliar, growing more incomprehensible the longer she stared.

Once everything was packed, Chester loaded it all into the car himself. It took multiple trips to fill the trunk until it was crammed full, and he even piled the bags onto the back seat. By the time they were ready to leave, it was almost noon.

Driving through Brookhaven, Angelina looked out at the towering skyline. Downtown stretched endlessly, with high-rises gleaming in the sunlight. The city's river ran through the center like a shimmering ribbon, dividing downtown from the quieter neighborhoods on the north side.

They arrived at a modest three-bedroom house in the suburbs. Inside, Chester's parents, Gerald and Emily, were tidying up. It was clear they had finally come to terms with the family's bankruptcy. Once accustomed to a life of luxury, they now had no choice but to make peace with their new reality.

Gerald had taken a job at a company he once brushed off as beneath him. Every day, his new colleagues greeted him with thinly veiled mockery.

"Well, if it isn't Mr. CEO himself," they'd say with a smirk. "Can I get you some coffee, Mr. Whitmore?"

Gerald swallowed his pride and smiled through it. He knew exactly how far he'd fallen but also understood that groveling was part of survival.

Meanwhile, Emily had started babysitting for neighbors, earning a few bucks here and there to cover groceries. Isadora, who had recently graduated with a design degree, was doing her best to navigate the job market. But even her connections couldn't fully shield her from the family's tarnished reputation.

When they heard Angelina and Chester were coming that morning, the Whitmores scrambled to make the house presentable. Emily wiped down every surface, Gerald replaced the water in the flower vases, and Isadora collapsed onto the couch, exhausted from vacuuming.

"Mom, I think your soup's burning," Isadora called from the living room.

"Is it?" Emily dropped her rag and rushed to the kitchen. Lifting the lid, she sighed in relief. "It's fine. I used fresh chicken from the farmer's market this morning."

Gerald chuckled under his breath. "Poor chicken didn't deserve this fate."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, dear."

As Emily returned to her cleaning, Isadora sat up and frowned. "What if she's faking it?" she asked. "Angelina could be playing along just to stir up drama."

"Isadora, don't assume the worst," Emily said. "People can change. Maybe she really wants to make things right."

The doorbell rang, cutting off the conversation. Emily opened the door to find Angelina standing behind a stack of boxes that was nearly as tall as she was.

"Gerald! Isadora! Come help!" Emily called, grabbing one of the boxes herself.

The family worked together to carry everything inside. The master bedroom had been cleared for Chester and Angelina, but it quickly filled with a mountain of bags. Isadora stared at the pile, wide-eyed.

"This is insane," she muttered. "Angelina, did you spend all our money on this stuff?"

"Isadora!" Emily scolded, elbowing her daughter in the ribs.

Angelina shifted uncomfortably. "It's okay. Honestly, I bought too much. If there's anything you like, feel free to keep it. I'm selling the rest to help with expenses. I was thinking we could even use the money to buy this apartment. That way, we won't have to worry about being kicked out by the landlord."

Emily's eyes welled up as she took Angelina's hand. "Thank you, but we don't need any of this. It wouldn't feel right, not with where we are now."

Angelina nodded in understanding. They were all learning to live with less, and flaunting luxury items in their current situation would only invite ridicule.

"Why don't you sit down? I'll bring you some chicken noodle soup," Emily offered.

Angelina smiled and made her way to the bedroom, though there was barely any space to sit. Chester followed her inside, closing the door behind him.

"Angelina, if you want to keep any of this stuff, just say the word," he said quietly. "I may not have much now, but I'll never let you sell your things to support us."

She shook her head. "I don't want them anymore. I'm over them."

"You used to love this kind of stuff," he said, his tone skeptical.

The female side character's greatest passion in the past was spending money. Whenever a luxury brand released a new collection—whether it was a rare color or a niche design—she wouldn't bother weighing the price against its value.

As long as she liked it, she had to have it. She didn't care if she never wore it, carried it, or even used it. Owning these luxury items empowered her as if they filled her with strength.

"What I used to like isn't the same as what I like now. All this stuff piled up is just clutter at this point. I might as well sell them."

"Angelina, the soup's ready!" Emily called.

"Alright, I'm coming."

Angelina headed back to the kitchen, brushing past Chester on her way out. She stopped and turned to him with a small smile. "We'll bounce back. This is just a rough patch. Don't stress too much."

Emily handed her a bowl of chicken noodle soup, beaming. "Eat up, sweetheart."

Angelina took a sip and nearly choked. The soup was so salty and sour that her eyes watered.

"Is it good?" Emily asked expectantly.

Angelina looked at Emily, trying to find the right words. Emily had probably never cooked a meal in her life before the bankruptcy, and it showed.

"Have some chicken. You're eating for two now. No need to worry about dieting anymore."

Angelina usually could stomach even bad food, but this was just too awful.

Chester came out of the bedroom, took the bowl of chicken noodle soup from her hands, and tasted it.

"Mom, it's too salty and way too sour. Cut back on the salt, and don't add vinegar next time," he said before pouring out the soup and adding some water to the pot to fix it.