Chapter 0008

Caroline’s POV:

William’s grasp on my shoulders was painfully tight. I tried to look away, but he said angrily, “Look at me when I’m talking to you! No one ignored me like that.”

“William, get off me!” I replied, firm and uncompromising, but he wasn’t even bothering to listen to me

“Do you know that I’ve been looking for you all afternoon?” William shouted at me, his body rippled with tension. “And what do I find? That you turned off your phone while you were with another man! You can’t even wait until we’re divorced to find someone new?”

William’s reaction was like that of a loyal husband catching his cheating wife in the act. How dare he? I had remained completely virtuous and hadn’t even thought about betraying our marriage.

“We’re not what you think we are. Tell me, William, if you really went out and saw me, then why didn’t you come help me when I needed it the most?”

William paused because of my words. Disbelief and doubt clouded his expression. “What are you talking about?”

I laughed bitterly to myself. Of course he had no idea! How could I expect him to know my struggles? “I fainted from low blood sugar and he saved me out of kindness. What else was I supposed to do? Lie on the ground and wait for you to suddenly grow a conscience? Don’t forget what you were doing at the time, William. You were with your darling sweetheart, Sophia!” My voice was unapologetic and thick with sarcasm.

Shock was plastered over William’s face. He unconsciously loosened his strength on my wrists. Was I mistaken, or was there a hint of guilt flashing behind his eyes?

“I— I really didn’t know. I’m sorry.” He stood up and stepped away from me, deep in thought.

After a moment, his expression hardened again. It was as if he was trying to steel himself up for the following conversation. Sure enough, he changed the topic completely, and I was glad we pivoted from the uncomfortable talk we had beforehand.

“Have you prepared a gift for my mother?” he then asked, leaving the previous subject behind. I was relieved by the change and was proud to have stood up for myself.

I shot him an inquisitive look. “A gift?”

William nodded, a firm frown dipping his lips at my own forgetfulness. “I think James had informed you. Since we’re not divorced yet, you need to be there to show your support. I won’t have you bringing shame to my family.”

I’d almost forgotten about the call from James. Despite the turmoil between William and I, I was still expected to play the role of a “good wife”. I winced at the thought of being near his family, and yet for the sake of being amicable, I agreed.

“Mother wants to meet her new grandson,” William announced stoically. “Sophia and our son, George, will be there.”

I had to swallow my shock. “You want me to be there while your mistress and child are there, too?” What kind of cruel request was that? How shameful it would be for me, the legal wife, to show up to a party to support her husband while he freely walks around with his mistress and their child.

Calling Sophia his “Mistress” had William grinding his teeth. It was true, wasn’t it? “Yes, I do. Is there a problem with that?”

“Is there a problem?” I parroted incredulously. I couldn’t even muster up a reply to his demented question. My stomach churned and I felt a wave of nausea overcome me at his and Sophia’s shamelessness.

I had just lost my own child because of his and Sophia’s selfishness, and he couldn’t even find it in him to apologize. He even dared to order me to play the role of his obedient wife and expect that I would celebrate his child’s reunion with his mistress and grandmother. How could one man be so cold-blooded?

Humiliation burned in my face like a fire under my skin, but William’s own expression only showed confusion. It was as if he had no idea there was anything wrong with his expectations, or what he was doing to me both physically and mentally. His ignorance was both impressive and disgusting.

Had I been the same Caroline from a few months prior, I would have argued fiercely with him. Now, however, I was a terminally ill cancer patient, actively dying on the spot. The ability to muster up an ounce of care was lost to me now. I had long since given up hope on him, and I now knew that it didn’t matter which woman he wanted to be with. All I wanted was to keep what dignity I had left.

With that crossing my mind, the tears I had been desperately holding back for so long finally crossed the flood gates, and soon I began to cry.

“Fine,” I choked out, messily wiping away my tears. “I’ll go to your mother’s birthday party, but we are getting a divorce right after.”