Chapter 18
The young foreign woman my husband had been financially supporting showed up at my door, demanding that I divorce him.”
“Zoey, I’m the one who can give Tyler what he needs. Please, just divorce him,” she urged.”
I stood there, frozen, staring at the photos she handed me. Some were taken in the car, while others were taken in the bedroom. It was clear, undeniable proof of what had transpired between them. Their bodies were intertwined, intimate in a way that went far beyond anything platonic.”
Jessica, the foreign woman, stood by my door, surveying the anniversary dinner I’d spent hours preparing.
Although her voice was calm, there was a hint of subtle mockery in her words. “I really appreciate you funding my education, Zoey, but love isn’t about money. Please, don’t use your kindness to trap me and Tyler in something that isn’t real.“}
She paused for a moment, then added, “By the way, today marks the 400th day I’ve been with Tyler. He booked a hotel to celebrate. You don’t need to wait up for him.”@
With that, she turned and walked out, her head held high.”
As the door clicked shut behind her, my phone buzzed in my hand.
Tyler’s cold, emotionless voice came through the line.
-9
“Hey Zoey, there’s an important client at the office today. I might not make it back in time. Get some rest.“}
Before I could even process his words, the line went dead.}
I stood there for a moment, staring at the phone in my hand, the emptiness of his words sinking in.
Ijstood
‘What am I supposed to do now?‘ I asked myself.”
Slowly, I turned back to the dinner table, poured myself a glass of red wine, and took a sip, letting the warmth spread through me.” My eyes drifted to the cake.}
‘Happy 10th Anniversary‘ was written in icing, a bittersweet reminder of everything I thought we’d built. The words blurred as tears filled my eyes.
I picked up the fork, cutting a small piece, and ate it slowly, the saltiness of my tears mixing with the sweetness of the cake.
So this is what a 10th anniversary cake tastes like.
Bittersweet, with a touch of irony.
I glanced down at the pregnancy test Jessica had handed me.}
Two weeks pregnant.‘}
I ran my fingers over my uneven belly, the emptiness of it all overwhelming.
It felt ugly, barren.}
Nothing would ever grow there.}
By the time Tyler came home, I was already drunk. My vision was blurry, and my body slumped next to the couch.>
He rushed over to me, guilt written all over his face, but his body reeked of something foul. He tried to help me up, but the smell made me gag, arid I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
I vomited all over him.
Tyler didn’t even flinch. He didn’t care about cleaning himself off. He was too focused on wiping my face with a warm towel, trying to calm me down.
It reminded me of that night ten years ago when their family business collapsed. I had to take on half of the shares, and out of desperation, I married him.”
On our wedding night, I cried and vomited on him, just like now. Back then, he’d comforted me, promising that he would prove to my parents that I hadn’t made the wrong choice.
I shivered at the thought and mockingly handed him the pregnancy test. “Tyler, are you really going to tell me this is all fake? Is Jessica lying to me?”
Tyler frowned, his brows knitting together.
After a long pause, he finally said, “Zoey, I’m sorry. I couldn’t stop her. I never meant to hurt you.“}
His words lingered, thick with guilt. “I swear, from now on, I won’t let her anywhere near you. I won’t let her mess with our life again.”
I stared at him, frustration rising in my chest. “Then why the hell are you letting her keep the baby? Why not just send her back to Harrington, her country, and end this mess once and for all?“>
Tyler’s body tensed, and after a brief pause, he spoke, his words cutting like an icy blade.
“Zoey, I can’t do that.” He stepped back as he continued, “The Scott Group is massive. It needs an heir. You know your health isn’t exactly great. Jessica said she’ll head back to Harrington after the baby’s born. She won’t mess with our lives anymore. The kid can grow up under your name. He’ll be your child too.”
I was shocked, my mind spinning. Suddenly, everything about our marriage, everything about him, felt like a lie.!!
“Who exactly am I sacrificing my health for, huh? Tyler, you said you’d be happy just having me by your side. You told me you could live without kids. But now you’re telling me you regret that?“%
11:11 AM
I couldn’t help but think back to ten years ago, when the Scott Group went under, and the protests from workers and executives demanded compensation.
They trapped Tyler in that warehouse for three days.
i knocked out the guards in the dead of night and managed to get him out, only to find ourselves surrounded by workers.
In the chaos, my people fought with theirs.