I Have Your Illegitimate Daughter, Husband

Chapter 3

My heart splintered, but my expression never changed.

"He treats you so well."

Ruby smiled and began chatting with me as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "You must be a new crew member on my husband's boat. I knew all the old hands, but I stopped working onboard a few years ago. Ryan said they hired quite a few new people after that."

I forced out a sound of agreement.

"Life at sea isn't bad, except you're never home. Ryan hasn't sailed much this past year, but before that, he'd be gone for 6 months at a time. I barely saw him. At least those hard years are behind us now."

A bitter curve touched my lips. "That's right."

Before Ryan supposedly transferred to the deep-sea route, he had often used sailing as an excuse to stay away from home.

Sometimes he was gone for 1 month, sometimes for 3.

I had worried about him enduring the wind and sun at sea.

I never asked him to handle anything at home, no matter how large or small.

Whenever his parents fell ill, were hospitalized, or needed someone at their bedside, I carried the burden alone.

Ryan and I had spoken less and less over the years, but I had never imagined there was another reason.

Now I knew he had not been at sea at all.

He had been ashore, protecting another home.

Ruby did not seem eager to take her baby back. Every so often, she stood to greet another guest.

Surprised by how quietly the baby rested in my arms, she said, "My daughter really likes you. She cries the second my friends hold her, but you've had her this long and she hasn't fussed once. That's amazing."

"Maybe it's because I have a child too. I'm used to holding babies."

Ruby brightened and did not hesitate to take advantage. "Then could you keep holding her for a bit? I need to welcome those guests who just arrived."

I nodded.

She walked away without a worry.

I looked up at the banner hanging in the center of the ballroom: Congratulations to Ryan Carter and Ruby Morgan on Baby Ruby's One-Month Celebration.

It felt as if broken shells had been poured into my chest.

We had never held a one-month celebration for my son.

At the time, the entire family was grieving the loss of his twin sister, and Ryan said he could not bear to celebrate.

My parents argued that the milestone mattered, but he refused. He claimed it hurt too much to think about the baby we had lost.

Now that he had another daughter, he could give her a grand celebration.

I was the only person who still remembered the child who never had the chance to live.

Suddenly, Ryan's mother called.

I answered.

"Elise, didn't you see my w******p message?" Her tone was exactly the same as always.

"No." My voice was as cold as fog over a winter sea.

"Are you grocery shopping? It's noisy there. Read the message I sent. I can't hear you, so just reply on WhatsApp."

She hung up.

I opened w******p and saw the message she had sent 20 minutes earlier.

Ryan's Mother: Elise, a relative back home has a child starting college. Tradition says we need to send a proper gift. I'm short on cash, so send me another 20,000 dollars. We can't afford to look stingy over something like this.

My fingers tightened around the phone until my knuckles went white.

Not only had that family treated me like an i***t, but they expected me to pay for the celebration of Ryan's child with another woman.

I was so furious I almost laughed. I did not reply.

Another message arrived.

Ryan's Mother: Hurry up and send it. We have to observe proper etiquette. The Carter family can't let people gossip.

I still did not respond.

I would wait for her to arrive.

Soon another message popped up, this one full of reproach.

Ryan's Mother: I always thought you understood how to behave, Elise. I never imagined you'd be this kind of person. Forget it. If you don't give me the money, I'll find another way.

A mocking smile tugged at my lips.

All that talk about loving me like a daughter, calling me the best daughter-in-law in the world, and saying the Carter family must have earned a lifetime of blessings to have me...

Every word had been a lie.

Ruby returned while talking on the phone.

I clearly heard Ryan's voice from the other end. "Honey, Mom prepared another blessed shell for the baby. This one's different. It has an anchor design and was blessed at St. Helen's Abbey. It isn't just an ordinary shell."

Ruby smiled sweetly. "Thank Mom for me. That was so thoughtful."

Then Ryan's mother spoke over the phone. "There's no need to thank me. This is what a grandmother should do. You gave me my precious granddaughter. I should be thanking you. We're almost there. Sorry you're having to entertain everyone."

3 days earlier, before my son left for summer camp, Ryan's mother had told him to remove his shell charm so he would not lose it.

He had handed it to her for safekeeping.

Now she planned to give my son's blessed shell to Ryan's other child.

Rage surged through my veins. I nearly exploded right there.

After the call, Ruby reached for the baby. Then she noticed more guests arriving and turned away to greet them.

I continued holding the child.

She was strangely peaceful in my arms.

Looking down at her, I murmured with bitter amusement, "Your 1-month celebration will be something no one here ever forgets."

At last, I heard the commotion of Ryan and his parents arriving.

I carried the baby to the center of the ballroom.

Ryan asked Ruby, "Honey, where's the baby?"

I picked up the microphone. My icy voice cut through the entire room. "Ryan Carter, your illegitimate daughter is right here in my arms."