I Hid His Sterility for 8 Years. He Gave Me a Fake Daughter.

Chapter 2

Early the next morning, the noisy sounds of doors opening and luggage wheels rolling echoed from downstairs. I walked out to find Ezra standing in the living room with my parents-in-law, my best friend Sarah Bennett, along with Camilla and Daisy.

Ezra's face darkened the moment he saw the divorce settlement agreement on the coffee table. He picked it up, skimmed through it, and tore it to shreds right in front of me.

"Rosalind, enough is enough," he snapped. "The child calls you mom, and you get to secure your position as the Vance family's wife without going through any pain. Camilla has suffered so much and is willing to step into the background. How much further are you going to take this tantrum?"

Mrs. Vance rolled her eyes and chimed in to support him. "Rosalind, you shouldn't be so greedy. You occupy the position of Ezra's wife, yet you can't even give the family an heir. If it weren't for Camilla stepping up to give the Vance family a child, we would be left with nothing. Instead of being grateful, you're throwing a fit?"

Sarah stepped closer and linked her arm through mine with practiced familiarity. "Camilla is honest and knows her place. As long as Daisy can be legally registered, she's willing to stay out of sight. Don't be so petty."

At that moment, Camilla stepped forward, her eyes red and her body trembling slightly. She dropped to her knees at the foot of the stairs. "Rosalind, please don't blame Ezra. It's all my fault. As long as you don't divorce him, I'll even act as Daisy's nanny. I'm begging you, please don't tear this family apart."

She wept beautifully, and Ezra's eyes filled with heartache as he hurriedly reached out to help her up.

"Enough," I said, cutting off their little performance as I slowly descended the stairs. "Ezra, don't you find it absolutely disgusting to drag your 3-year-old illegitimate daughter here and play the devoted savior in front of me?"

Losing his patience, Ezra snatched my passport and ID cards, shoving them into his briefcase. "I'm confiscating your documents so you can't try any tricks. Daisy needs a quiet environment to recover, and you need to learn how to act like a mother." He pointed toward the side room of my second-floor art studio. "Camilla and Daisy will stay there for now. It's the perfect opportunity for you to teach Daisy how to draw and bond with her."

My mind buzzed with disbelief, but I kept my tone calm. "That is my private art studio."

"We are all family, so there is no boundary between yours and mine," Mr. Vance said with a frown, tapping his cane in displeasure.

I didn't say another word, simply turning around to continue grinding the lapis lazuli pigment in my hands.

Camilla placed Daisy on the sofa and went to pour some water. Accidentally, Daisy knocked over a glass on the coffee table, spilling warm water all over the floor. Camilla's expression instantly darkened. Terrified, Daisy flinched, tears welling up in her eyes, but she bit her lip hard and didn't dare make a sound.

As I walked by with a rag to clean it up, Daisy cowered and instinctively reached out, grabbing tightly onto the hem of my skirt.

Camilla suddenly rushed over and violently yanked Daisy's hand away. "Rosalind, I know you don't like us, but please don't take your anger out on the child!" she cried out, her voice sharp and tearful.

Amid the struggle, Camilla backed right into the easel behind me. With a loud crash, she knocked a bottle of industrial paint thinner off the adjacent shelf, splashing it directly onto Rebirth. Two years of my blood, sweat, and tears instantly melted into a puddle of muddy sludge.

"Oh my god, I didn't mean to!" Camilla gasped, covering her mouth as she backed away in a panic.

Hearing the commotion, Ezra rushed over to help Camilla up and inspected her carefully. "Are you hurt anywhere? Let me see," he asked anxiously.

Staring at my ruined masterpiece, I pulled out my phone and dialed 911.

"Are you crazy?" Sarah yelled, rushing over to snatch my phone. "Camilla didn't do it on purpose. It's just a painting, so do you really need to call the cops and have her arrested?"

Half an hour later, Ezra politely escorted the police out the front door. "I've already dropped the case since it's just a minor family dispute, and we shouldn't turn this into a public spectacle. As for that spot in the biennial exhibition, I've already had the exhibition committee transfer it to Camilla."

I looked up at the man I had loved for 8 years. "That was my spot, and I spent 2 years preparing for it."

"Rosalind, try to be reasonable," Ezra sighed, reaching out to smooth my hair. "Camilla was the art student you sponsored back in the day. If she gains fame, Daisy's biological mother will have a respectable background. You're already famous enough, so wouldn't it be better to just stay home comfortably as the lady of the house?"

I tilted my head to dodge his touch, my gaze landing on the space behind him. Camilla wore a triumphant smile on her lips. Lowering my eyes, I gently stroked the vintage agarwood bracelet on my left wrist. "Fine."