Chapter 2 A Ticking Bomb

Serena's POV

“Are you just gonna let him do this?” Selena, my cousin, sitting in the passenger seat, asked worriedly. Our resemblances were very evident but our characteristics were actually opposite.

“How could you let him do this to you? Have you lost self-respect?”

I sighed while driving. “There's nothing I can do, Selena. He’s my daughter's father. Besides, he's from the most powerful family in this country. It's not that simple to divorce a Walter.”

“But he’s disrespecting you!” She groaned. “You can’t settle with someone like him. Find another man who will satisfy you in everything.”

I shook my head. “I don’t need romance.”

When was the last time I slept with my husband? I don’t remember. I just woke up one day that we’re in this situation. We’re cold towards each other and it started after I caught him with another woman.

I’ve lost my faith in our marriage the moment he cheated and I know it cannot be redeemed. It was only Millie who was making me hold on to it.

“Come on, Serena! Who doesn’t need romance? Besides, your marriage is already falling apart. Divorce him now before he did it first. That would be shameful on your part.”

I remember our conversation last night. I demanded a divorce and Tyler fiercely refused. I don’t think he would change his mind about it.

I glanced at her with a creased forehead. “He won’t divorce me, Selena.”

“How can you be so sure? Because of Millie? Serena, he won’t change. Never! You should know that once a man cheats, he will continue cheating. He won’t ever change and you’ll just punish yourself severely.”

“I’m not waiting for him to change. I just need more time. Millie’s too young. She won’t understand everything and it will hurt her.”

“So you'll just endure everything?” The sarcasm and irritation in her voice were audible.

I pressed my lips together, refusing to answer the obvious question.

Selena has been convincing me to give up on this falling marriage but I couldn’t decide impulsively. I might have suggested a divorce to Tyler but I don’t have the guts to really do it. Not because of his threat but because of my daughter.

“I can't believe you! If only aunt and uncle are here…” she trailed which I ignored again.

I stopped in front of Selena's workplace. She looked at me with a big frown on her face before she got out of the car and entered the tall building in front of us.

I understand Selena’s sentiments. I understand why she’s so protective of me. My parents died early in a car accident and after that, I was raised with Selena by her parents who were also my uncle and aunt. They treated me well but it didn't mean I wouldn't miss my own parents.

Divorcing Tyler would change Millie’s life. He might not be a good husband but Millie was close to him. She’s too young to experience a broken family.

I was lost in thoughts for a while. If not for the loud horn behind me, I wouldn’t have pulled back to reality.

When I reached the hospital, I was immediately occupied by the patients scheduled for the day. It was past lunchtime when I received a call from Maria. She never called me without a valid reason so I immediately answered the call in case of emergency.

“Hello, Maria?”

[Serena! I couldn't contact your husband. Can you come over to Millie’s school? She got injured and she won’t stop crying.]

My heart skipped a beat in worry and fear. I immediately grabbed my bag and car keys, not even bothered that I was just wearing comfortable slippers and still wearing the lab gown.

“I’ll be there quickly. Try to calm her down, Maria.”

[Okay. Drive safely.]

I immediately ended the call and ran to the elevator. I didn’t even pay attention to the nurse who was calling me. My daughter needs me and even if I love my job so much, I won’t trade my daughter’s safety for it.

I cursed under my breath and punched the steering wheel, realizing there was a minor collision of cars on the road, causing a traffic jam. I glanced at my phone on the dashboard and clenched my jaws when my call was, again, directed to voicemail.

I can’t believe Tyler. I really can’t trust him on things like this. He’s always out of the picture. He’s always missing! He doesn’t know his responsibilities.

I grabbed my phone and bag before I left the car. I had no choice. I started running without care. I’m still wearing slippers and the lab gown. Some people were watching me but I didn’t care. There was even an ambulance stuck in the traffic jam.

I was panting really hard when I reached Millie's nursery school. The teacher was waiting for me at the gate and she immediately told me about what happened while we were walking fast towards the infirmary.

“She was playing with her friends when she tripped, Mrs. Walter. She hit her arm on the table and she keeps on crying about it.”

“Does she hit her head?”

“She didn’t but we already called the ambulance so she can be transferred to the hospital,” he paused and glanced at her phone. “Oh! What’s taking them so long?”

That must be the ambulance I saw on the road.

"No more need. I'll take her to a nearby clinic for a checkup first."

“Daddy!”

My heart broke into tiny pieces when I heard my daughter’s painful cries. She’s a daddy’s girl so it’s natural for her to call her father at times like this but when she saw me entering, she cried harder and called for me.

“Mommy!”

“Sweetie…” I kissed her forehead and caressed her hair. She’s already so sweaty. I held her carefully, trying not to hurt her bruised arm.

She whimpered in my arms, "Mommy, where's daddy?"

"Daddy is busy, sweetie. Mommy will take you to the doctor first and Daddy will join us soon. Is that okay?"

She nodded tearfully but disappointment couldn't be hidden in her eyes. I sighed, carrying her out of the school to the nearby clinic.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Walter. Her arm has got some scrapes but nothing serious. Just be careful not to wet the wound when you bathe her."

I nodded and walked out of the medical room only to catch Millie sitting on the hallway bench with her head hung low and Maria accompanied her with a worried face. My little girl must be sad that her Daddy hadn't shown up yet.

I tried calling Tyler again but I gritted my teeth when the call was directed to the voicemail—for the nth time. I can't believe him! What the hell is he doing now?!

I dropped the phone and walked to Millie, ready to take her home. But as soon as I crouched down in front of her, I sensed that she was unusually depressed.

“Hey sweetie, what happened?” I asked softly, caressing her face.

Tears welled up in her eyes again, "Mommy, why didn't Daddy answer me?” and her voice shook, "Does...Does Daddy not want me?”

"What?" I asked, frowning. Maria, standing aside, was hesitant to say. I turned to her, "What happened, Maria?"

"Millie was just a little bored so I took her out on the balcony for a while and then she saw..." her voice grew fainter yet Millie wept first.

"I saw Daddy with another kid! I called him but he didn't answer me! Daddy doesn't want me!"

My mind went blank and I felt my blood freeze. I was about to call Tyler again when my private investigator sent me a message with a picture attached to it. My heart clenched in anger.

In the photo was my husband, accompanying a familiar woman while carrying a boy in his arms. And they just stepped out of this same clinic!

The last bit of faith I had in holding on to this marriage was shattered.

When Catherine Smith came back, I had no chance of winning. And Tyler had just proved it with his actions.