The Unwanted Wife is A Genius Doctor

Chapter 2 Little Tricks

Seeing Lucas gently shielding Charlotte behind him, Lavinia felt a wave of mockery rise in her chest.

He must have known Charlotte was pregnant, which explained his nervousness.

Covering her face, Lavinia gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I didn't touch her. She just lost her balance on her own."

Lucas let out a derisive chuckle. "Do you think pulling little tricks like this will make me care about you? Don't you know exactly what kind of person you are?"

What kind of person she was?

Lavinia couldn't help but recall the past.

The Sterling family was in the luxury design business, while the Westwood family had made their fortune in fashion. The two families had always worked together, so she and Lucas had grown up as childhood friends.

Back then, their marriage gave Lucas the backing of the Westwood family, paving his way to becoming the head of the Sterling Group. With Lavinia's help, his Jes Corp thrived, combining fashion and modeling into a powerhouse in the industry.

Now that he had climbed higher, he had turned around and started fooling around with Charlotte.

"I'm sorry, Lavinia. I-I lost my balance," Charlotte whimpered, her eyes brimming with tears, playing the victim perfectly.

Lucas' heart softened, and he pulled Charlotte closer.

"Lavinia! Charlotte invited you out of kindness, but you just can't stand to see her doing well, can you? All you do is cause trouble."

Lavinia had no interest in watching the two flirt. Before leaving, she left behind one cold sentence.

"Lucas, let's get a divorce."

Lucas tugged at his shirt collar with disdain, clearly unconcerned by her words.

"Fine. I've been tired of you for a long time anyway."

*****

After Lavinia left, the atmosphere in the private room quickly warmed back up.

Someone joked, "Lucas, Lavinia wouldn't actually go through with divorcing you, would she?"

Lucas said nothing, but another person chimed in.

"Impossible. Everyone knows she can't live without Lucas."

Charlotte added gently, "That's right. Lavinia loves Lucas so much. It's understandable that she doesn't like me."

Lucas playfully tapped Charlotte's nose. "And yet, here you are defending someone like her. You're too kind for your own good."

The group chimed in with agreement.

"Lavinia is so temperamental. She's no match for Charlotte."

"Lucas, you've spoiled her too much. That's why she acts out."

Surrounded by their flattery, a glimmer of triumph flashed in Charlotte's eyes.

Meanwhile, outside the door, Lavinia barely made it to the restroom before her stomach churned violently. She clung to the toilet and vomited.

Just the thought of that pair of scumbags made her sick.

Though Charlotte was adopted, Lavinia's parents had treated her as one of their own.

Two years ago, while Lavinia was on a photoshoot abroad, a fire broke out at the Westwood mansion.

Charlotte saved herself without a second thought, leaving their parents behind. By the time help arrived, the entire house had been reduced to ashes.

Later, Lucas explained that Charlotte had been too frightened to think straight, which was why she failed to save anyone.

For years, Lavinia had trusted Lucas, even handing over her family's business to him.

Had everything been a setup between them from the beginning?

As the thought crossed her mind, Lavinia steadied herself, splashed water on her face at the sink, and looked up into the mirror. Her reflection was haggard, almost unrecognizable.

No wonder Charlotte had taken over her modeling career and stolen Lucas' heart.

That night, desperate to relieve her frustration, Lavinia went to a bar.

"I'll have another dry martini... with extra ice," she told the bartender.

Drink after drink, her senses dulled. When the bartender handed her another glass, a clean, elegant hand stopped him.

"Miss Westwood, didn't I warn you that alcohol can accelerate the spread and metastasis of cancer cells?"

A familiar voice rang in her ears. Lavinia half-closed her eyes and turned her head sluggishly.

"Who... are you?"

The man wore a dark brown suit, exuding sophistication. His sharp, chiseled features and deep-set eyes were captivating, like a starry night.

Looking into his eyes, Lavinia suddenly felt a moment of clarity. "Doctor? What a coincidence."

When they'd met at the hospital, he'd worn a mask. Now that his face was fully visible, she found him strangely familiar.

"Not a coincidence. I saw you through the window and decided to come in," he replied, frowning slightly as he handed her a business card.

"James Sterling… Dr. Sterling?" Lavinia murmured, curious about his shared last name with Lucas.

Before she could dwell on it, the alcohol hit harder, and her vision blurred.

The next time she opened her eyes, she was sitting in James' Aston Martin.

The car was parked in a luxurious private garage. James was in the driver's seat, typing on a laptop.

The soft lighting in the car lessened the distance his composed demeanor often created. His sharp nose and gold-rimmed glasses reflected the glow of the screen.

Noticing she was awake, he set aside his laptop and removed his glasses, his expression calm and unhurried.

"I told you. Alcohol isn't suitable for you right now."

If Lavinia's head hadn't been pounding, she might've thought she was dreaming. "It's really you..."

He handed her a bottle of water. "I have shares in the commercial center where the bar is located. Running into you isn't exactly unusual."

Lavinia was left speechless.

Soft music played in the background, filling the silence with an ambiguous warmth.

For a while, she gazed at his almost-perfect profile, her fingers moving as if guided by an unseen force.

When her hand lightly touched his face, James' voice deepened.

"Miss Westwood, do you know what you're doing?"

Mimicking his usual tone, Lavinia replied, "Of course."

If Lucas could trample on her feelings, then tonight, she was going to indulge herself for once.

Climbing onto his lap, she kissed him messily, abandoning all hesitation.