Chapter 4

Sandy's social media account was packed with posts about her pregnancy. I scrolled through every single one and discovered that the guy keeping her company while she was on bed rest was none other than my husband, Colin.

For the eight months after I found out I was pregnant, Colin was always away on business trips. He was hardly ever home.

I didn't want to interfere with his work, so I dealt with all the pregnancy challenges on my own. I even went alone for my prenatal appointments.

I never imagined those "business trips" were just a cover for him to be with Sandy while she was pregnant.

Sandy's long social media updates documented everything from her pregnancy to the birth of her child. Colin even started trying to cook healthy meals, and she posted about it.

"Darling's first time cooking. I'm so touched! But it ended up getting burnt, so I couldn't bring myself to try it. He ate it all, then spent half the day running to the bathroom."

At that time, I was stuck with morning sickness and couldn't keep anything down. I messaged Colin, but it would take him forever to respond, and it was always the same.

"Don't force it if you can't eat. You'll eat when you're hungry enough. I'm not a chef. Asking me won't help."

On the other hand, Sandy posted about her swollen legs and back pain. "My calves are so swollen I can't even wear cute skirts. It's all his fault. I'm punishing him—no sleep tonight until he soaks my feet and gives them a massage!"

I couldn't bring myself to keep reading. Tears blurred my vision. I couldn't keep fooling myself. Colin never loved me. Sandy was the only person who mattered to him from the beginning.

I grabbed my phone and dialed the number that ran through my mind a million times before. It barely rang once before someone picked up.

"Lucille, you finally came to your senses and decided to call me?"

"I'm sorry for letting you down, Professor Roland. Is there still a chance for me to join your research project?"

"Of course. I told you—you're always welcome. You're my star student. I was so disappointed when you dropped out of college to get married, but I'm glad you've changed your mind!"

I booked a flight to leave the country in a week. I would erase every trace of my life here and walk away with nothing tying me down in seven days.

That night, Colin didn't come home. He didn't show up the next day or the day after. He didn't even bother calling me.

Then, on the day I was discharged, he finally showed up in my hospital room, carrying takeout.

"Lucille, I brought you something healthy. Eat up. I'll take care of the discharge paperwork in a bit," he said.

I glanced at the takeout bag in his hand, remembering Sandy's social media posts of him cooking in the kitchen. That was when it finally dawned on me that his care for me was always half-hearted.

When we got home, I saw my mother-in-law, Grace Falkman, sitting on the couch in the living room with Sandy, teasing Oliver. They were chatting and laughing, looking as close as a mother and daughter.

Sandy was wearing silk pajamas, and her skin was glowing and smooth. She looked stunning—a sharp contrast to how exhausted I looked.

Grace shot me a look of pure disgust and snapped, "All you did was hold Oliver, and you still ended up falling into the pool? You should've just drowned! Thank goodness, Oliver's fine. I would've kicked you out of the family if anything had happened to him!

"Look at you—still in hospital clothes. You're an eyesore! Has Colin been treating you like crap? You and Sandy both had babies, but somehow she looks amazing, while you look like a mess. It's embarrassing!

"You got sick from falling into the pool and had to take meds while you're still breastfeeding! What kind of mom does that? Sandy's more of a mom to Oliver than you are. She even looks a bit like him.

"I guess you're so unattractive your own kid didn't even want to take after you! Ugh, Sandy and Colin would've been such a perfect couple. Too bad they didn't get married back then."

Sandy shot me a smug look, then forced a fake smile and said, "Please don't say that, Grace. Lucille might get upset."

"Upset? I've watched you grow up and loved you like you were my own daughter. Who could have an issue with that? Lucille knows she's supposed to breastfeed Oliver, but she's still on meds.

"If you weren't here to help feed him, he'd probably be starving by now! You're the only one I can count on. You really are my sweet goddaughter, Sandy!"

I knew Grace looked down on me. If Sandy wasn't married to Mike Jensen, the oldest heir of Jensen Group, Grace would never have allowed Colin to marry me.

Back then, Colin used to defend me when Grace put me down, but now, he wouldn't even look my way. His eyes were full of affection for Sandy.

I turned away, refusing to look at this disgusting family.

I pulled up the divorce papers I drafted on my phone and headed upstairs to the second-floor study. All I had to do was print them out and get Colin to sign. Then, I would be done with the Selwyns for good.

I slid the freshly printed divorce papers into my bag and set off to find Colin. I thought he might be in the guest room, but as I passed our bedroom, I heard Sandy's voice, teasing and breathy.

"My boobs feel so full, Colin. Can you help me massage them?"

Colin's breathing sounded strained. "You're still recovering from giving birth, Sandy. You can't handle this. You already took a huge risk hiding the pregnancy from Mike and having my kid. I don't want to make things worse for you…"

"I wanted your baby, Colin! Mike's hardly ever home. He doesn't know. Stop overthinking it. Come on, it really hurts. Hurry up and help me get the milk out…"

After a moment of silence, I could hear the sounds of sucking and Sandy's moans coming from the room. The noises got more vulgar with every passing second.

My face went pale, and my stomach twisted. I slapped my hand over my mouth and ran out of the house without looking back.

It wasn't until I got outside and took a deep breath of the fresh air that the tightness in my heart started to let up.

I thought I could keep it together, but watching them do that in our bedroom shattered what was left of my broken heart. How could he?

With my head hanging, I sank by the front door. Out of nowhere, something wet and rancid hit me on the head. I reached up to touch it, only to realize it was a dirty diaper smeared with poop.

Behind me, Sandy's laughter echoed.

"Doesn't Oliver's poop smell just amazing, Lucille? Oh, wait—you probably don't know that Oliver is actually my son."

She walked up to me, holding her phone, grinning like she just won something.

"Colin smothered your baby to death to make room for Oliver. I even recorded it. Your son fought so hard, struggling for a full minute before his little limbs went limp. Want to see the video?"

I stared at the screen in horror as Baby Selwyn thrashed under Colin's hand, his tiny body jerking helplessly. His face turned from red to purple before he finally went still.

My whole body shook uncontrollably. How could anyone be that monstrous, watching a fragile life snuffed out without even flinching?

"You shameless woman! I'll kill you!" I screamed.

With bloodshot eyes, I raised my hand to slap Sandy as hard as I could. But just before I could, another hand clamped down on mine.