Chapter 2

The next morning, I got up early as usual to make breakfast for Luke and our daughter, Susan Madden.

Susan frowned at the bowl of oatmeal I placed in front of her and complained loudly, "Why are we eating this again? I want a bacon burger!"

Patiently, I told her, "Bacon burgers aren't healthy. Oatmeal is good for your tummy."

Unhappy, she shouted at me, "You're such a stick in the mud! Aunt Wendy says I can eat whatever I want. I want her to be my Mommy and take care of me. I don't want you!"

I paused mid-motion. My heart felt as if it were being torn apart.

I couldn't believe my daughter, whom I had endured countless rounds of IVF and injections to bring into this world, could say such cruel words.

Luke quickly glared at Susan and took the ladle from my hand. "She doesn't know what she's talking about," he said hurriedly with a smile. "Don't mind her. Wendy is just my assistant. Here, sit down. I'll serve you."

I did not expose his lie. Clenching my trembling hands, I did as he asked and sat down to eat my breakfast.

After they left the house, I received a text on my phone.

"I'm glad you've come around. I'll get everything ready, and you can take over next month."

I replied with a curt affirmation. Back then, my parents had been adamantly against my marriage to Luke. I had ended up falling out with my family just to be with him.

Over the last few years, I had enough time to find out his true colors.

I sent another text. "Do me a favor—I want to make sure they never recover from this."

The medication was starting to take effect now. I felt a sharp pain in my lower abdomen.

Unable to bear the pain, I called Luke.

A woman answered the phone instead. She deliberately put on a coy voice, taunting me. "Luke's not free right now. What do you want with him?

"Please don't call him for no reason. He's busy. He doesn't have time to deal with idle people like you."

I didn't answer her. After hanging up the phone, I dialed emergency services.

The ambulance arrived quickly. At the hospital, the doctor did some checks and told me that the abortion was not complete and that I needed a surgical procedure to clean out my uterus properly.

On the operating table, I was so scared that I couldn't stop trembling. Just then, Luke sent me a text saying that he would be going on a business trip for a few days.

On her social media, Wendy also posted about a trip to Mardalf.

I replied to Luke with a single word. "Okay."

Turning off my phone, I let my tears flow freely onto the cold surface of the operating table.

My mother worked quickly. It didn't take long for her to gather plenty of evidence of Luke cheating on me with Wendy, hire a lawyer, and draft the divorce papers.

All that was left was my approval to proceed with the divorce.