?Chapter 157:


    But no matter how many tests she took, there was simply no way for a baby to appear out of thin air—not when she and Norton had never been intimate.


    After her response, she could clearly feel Edmond’s mood sink.


    Even during dinner, he barely touched his food.


    Later that evening, Edmond insisted that Yvonne and Norton stay over at his ce, which left them with no choice but to share a bed.


    Remembering thest time they had to do this, Yvonne felt a wave of unease wash over her.


    To avoid any awkwardness, she let Norton shower first. Only when he was done and already lying in bed, seemingly half-asleep, did she finally make her way to the bathroom.


    When she stepped out, the room felt oddly quiet.


    She nced at the bed, only to find it empty. Norton was gone.


    A quick search led her to the balcony, where he was standing.


    He stood there, phone in one hand, cigarette in the other, caught up in a call. She couldn’t make out the words, but there was a rare softness in his expression.


    She had nned to wait until he finished his call before stepping out to do theundry.


    But after several minutes, he was still on the phone.


    With no other option, she stepped onto the balcony anyway.


    Since they were close, she could vaguely hear the voiceing from the other end of the call.


    It was soft, sweet, and brimming with affection. “But I miss you. It’s been so long since west saw each other. I want to see you. Can youe over?”


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    There was no denying it—the woman’s voice had a charm that was hard to ignore.


    Even Yvonne, as a woman, had to admit it was captivating.


    Norton, the man who always seemed distant and impossible to approach, clearly had a weakness for soft-spoken, delicate women who knew how to act coy.


    And Shelly fit that mold perfectly.


    From the moment Yvonne married Norton, all they ever seemed to do was sh. It wasn’t surprising that he couldn’t stand her.


    But certain things—her personality, her habits—were deeply ingrained in her. She couldn’t change them. And if she did, she wouldn’t be herself anymore. It meant she was never going to be the kind of woman he idealized. Never the perfect love he might have wished for.


    After doing theundry, Yvonne climbed into bed alone.


    Though she was tall and slender, she barely took up any space, pulling just a corner of the nket over herself.


    Norton noticed how little of the nket she had and instinctively frowned.


    “Don’t you feel cold?”


    “No, I’m good.”


    “I don’t like seeing people ufortable.” With that, he reached for the nket.


    He had only meant to cover her with half of it, but when he pulled at it, his eyesnded on her exposed skin. Faint bruises, some still swollen and red, stood out against her skin.


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