That child would be the eldest son of the Romulo family in name—his brother's child.
I stood up and instructed the housekeeper to take down the huge wedding portrait hanging in the bedroom.
But the moment she removed it, several men came in carrying another massive wedding portrait.
The groom was still Oliver. But the bride... was now Czarina.
Czarina walked in, hand gently stroking her flat stomach.
"Lydia, I'm sorry. My condition has been unstable lately. The doctor said having more items that show my intimate connection with Oliver will help me recover."
"You have great taste. Help me pick a few more photos."
Her finger scrolled down and down—she couldn't even finish flipping through the endless wedding albums.
She glanced at me, smiling faintly. "By the way, why are there no photos of you and Oliver in this house? Did you hide them somewhere?"
Right then, Oliver entered and directed the servants to mount the new frame.
Only afterward did he speak.
"Czarina will be staying here until she gives birth. For her health, we'll arrange the house according to her needs."
"So put our photos away. If she has another episode and hurts herself after seeing them, it'll be on you."
"We don't have photos anymore."
I said it beneath Czarina's triumphant gaze.
Oliver had forgotten—forgotten that he was the one who burned our wedding albums himself during one of my desperate breakdowns.
I once mourned it at midnight...
We had been just one photo away from completing the album.
He parted his lips, about to speak, but before he could—Czarina grabbed my wrist. Her nails dug into my skin.
She gently traced the jade bracelet on my arm, eyes glowing with envy.
"Mom treated you well... She even gave you the family heirloom."
The moment Czarina said those words, I instinctively removed the jade bracelet and handed it to her.
Ever since Ryan died, Czarina had been left with severe psychological problems.
She would break down without warning.
And every time, Oliver expected me to give way.
The last time she wanted the earrings my mother left me, I refused. I lost my temper.
The next day, the entire house was filled with flowers—so many that my asthma flared up.
I clutched the hem of Oliver's trousers, gasping, begging him for my inhaler.
He merely looked down at me, towering like a judge from above.
"Now you know how much pain Czarina feels when she has an episode."