Chapter 3

Tracy had posted a photo of herself, her dog, and both Walter and Thomas.

She was in a wheelchair, with her foot wrapped up in bandages. Maple was sitting in her lap, while the Pattersons stood behind her. They all looked happy. Even the dog seemed to be smiling.

Her caption read, "Thank you, Thomas and Wally. My chaotic life is now peaceful because of you both."

Both Walter and Thomas weren't wearing their wedding rings in the photo. However, they usually never wore it while working since their job scope was out of the ordinary.

Nonetheless, the lack of the wedding bands on both their fingers in the photo now served as a proclamation to the world that they were still single and available.

People were starting to leave comments under the post.

"Oh, my God! You're so lucky! Anyone can tell that they're both father and son!"

"Is this a family photo?"

"No way! I don't believe it! Sorry. I'm just going to insert my wildest imagination here."

"Don't worry. I'm already imagining it. Isn't this kind of love a little crowded, though? Which one does she actually like?"

"I know! It's definitely both of them! She's dating them both at the same time!"

I passed the phone over to Mom. "Mom, I'm definitely getting a divorce."

Mom took the phone from me and enlarged the photo, her face dark and solemn.

A few seconds later, she replied calmly, "It's okay, Penny. I'll do it with you. I've done it before anyway, so I've got the experience. Call up a lawyer and get them to draft a divorce agreement."

…

On the third day, the lawyer was done with the divorce agreement. Mom and I sent the papers over to the Patterson household in the morning.

During the three days that we waited, neither Walter nor Thomas called any of us.

Mom and I remained at the hospital to recuperate. We were recovering quite well. However, since I had an induced abortion in the late stages of my pregnancy, my body was still very weak. I could only spend most of my time in bed. Sometimes, I would just stare at my flat belly and fall into a daze.

My baby was gone.

I had already thought of what he would look like growing up, which college he might attend, and what course he might major in. I also wanted to bring him traveling to see the mountains and the sea, the sunrise and sunset, and the desert and the plains.

Of course, most importantly, I wanted him to be happy. It would be a bonus if he could get rich as well.

My eyes turned red and watery. I wanted to suppress the tears, but it was impossible.

My baby was gone! And it was all because his father refused to come and save us!

I gripped the blanket tightly.

How would Walter react if he knew his baby was gone?

Suddenly, my phone started ringing loudly. It was Walter.

He'd removed me from his blocked contacts and finally called me. He never even bothered asking me why I disappeared for three days or felt concerned about my health. Instead, the first thing he did was shout at me at the top of his lungs.

"Penelope Rosewood! What the hell is going on in that brain-dead head of yours? I never came home for three days and didn't look for you because I wanted you to reflect on all the wrongs you've done!

"How dare you send me a divorce agreement? Do you really insist on getting a divorce?

"I did nothing wrong when I went to save Tracy and her dog. But I guess there's nothing I can do if you want to kick up such a ridiculously big fuss over it!

"Also, where the hell have you been for the past three days? Why weren't you home? Which bastard are you cheating on me with right now?"

Thomas had also called Mom and was similarly yelling at her in the call.

"You're turning 50 real soon, so what kind of nonsense are you and that daughter of yours up to this time? What? Have you both formed a divorce alliance now to go against us? Don't you feel ashamed of yourselves?

"Tracy is my friend. Am I not allowed to help her? I'm a vet! My responsibility is to save animals' lives! And yet, you think this is wrong?

"Fine! You think I'm in the wrong? Then, I'll be as wrong as you want, you goddamn woman! Can you stop all this nonsense, for heaven's sake?"

Mom's voice was calm. She looked calm, too, as she replied, "Thomas, you just want to know where I am, don't you? I'm on the third floor of Dayson Hospital, Ward 319."

"The hell are you doing there?"

"You'll find out when you're here."

Mom then hung up and stared out of the window.

I didn't say anything, either. It was particularly quiet in the ward.

20 minutes later, Thomas and Walter arrived, breaking the peace and silence.

I turned to look at the door. They weren't the only ones there. Tracy and her dog were also present.

This was pathetically ridiculous.

Mom was getting me a cup of hot water from the dispenser when they barged in. As soon as Thomas caught sight of her, he stormed toward her and gave her a huge slap in the face.

The cup fell to the ground and shattered. The hot water spilled onto Mom's hands, which immediately turned red and swollen.

Mom just hissed in pain. However, she didn't shed a single tear.

Meanwhile, Thomas was the one who looked like he was about to implode. "Go on, keep faking everything. I can't believe you actually checked yourself into the hospital to prove your goddamn point.

"You're as healthy as a goddamn horse! What the hell could have ever happened to you?"

Mom didn't answer him. Instead, she just said, "You can sign the divorce agreement whenever you're free."

Tracy then spoke up in her cutesy and nasal voice, "Stella, there's really nothing going on between me and Thomas. Even if we did, it still has nothing to do with you."

"Shut the hell up!"

As soon as she spoke, I couldn't stop myself from jumping out of bed and slapping her right on the cheek.

"You're already turning 40, so can't you be a little less shameless like now? You're not happy just seducing the dad, so you have to go and seduce the son, too? Why don't you just put in a little more effort and open a brothel instead?"

Tracy was stunned by my slap.

Also, because of the slap, Walter was now enraged. He pushed me harshly, his face as dark as thunder.

My body was still weak after the surgery, and he had pushed me with all of his strength. I stumbled backward and bumped into the table, where pieces of the broken glass fell to the ground and stabbed me in the foot. Blood started trickling out.

Walter didn't seem like he was done. He stomped over to me, wanting to continue beating me up.

"That's not the way to talk to Tracy!" He grabbed the collar of my shirt and glared into my eyes. Then, his gaze slowly went downward.

It was only then that he finally noticed my flat tummy. His face turned black at once. "Penelope Rosewood, where the hell is our baby?"

I pushed his hand away and stared into his cold eyes like a deranged killer, spelling it out clearly for him, "Oh, the baby? I killed him. He was a boy, by the way."