Chapter 2

Since I wasn't saying anything, an old mutual friend stepped in.

Trying to play peacemaker.

"Vanessa, it's good you're back."

"Seth actually spent years looking for you."

"He asked about you everywhere!"

Seth’s smug smile stiffened.

He cleared his throat and acted nonchalant.

"Chloe's kid starts preschool next week."

"From now on, you're in charge of the drop-offs."

He was still so incredibly arrogant.

But I wasn't that naive little girl anymore.

Looking at him now?

I just felt exhausted.

And grossed out.

I didn't want to waste another second on them.

I was just about to tell them exactly who I was.

But Chloe beat me to it.

"Vanessa, please don't be mad at Seth."

"He's just trying to take care of you."

"You disappeared for three years."

"Who knows what kind of shady stuff you had to do to survive?"

"Look at how rundown you are."

"Seth wanted to make you my personal secretary."

"But clearly you can't handle that."

"Don't worry."

"Being my nanny is a respectable job."

"No one will look down on you."

Three years apart, she’s still as arrogant as ever.

She still makes me cringe.

Seth saw my scowl.

And thought I was just jealous.

His eyes flashed with triumph.

"Alright, Vanessa, drop the attitude."

"You clearly can't survive out there."

"So stop throwing tantrums."

"Take care of the kid and learn your place."

"Don't worry."

"My mansion has a perfectly good nanny room in the basement."

The whole group howled with laughter.

"Damn, Vanessa, look how good Seth is to you!"

"He's giving you free room and board!"

"Isn't babysitting better than whatever trashy life you're living now?"

"Hurry up and say thank you!"

Chloe touched her diamond earring.

Putting on an affected tone.

"Don’t you worry, dear."

"If my son acts up, I’ll make sure to set him straight for you."

"I won't let you be mistreated."

Seth let out a cold laugh and shot me a glance.

"Why would she be mistreated?"

"She ran away over a tiny little misunderstanding."

"If she hit rock bottom out there..."

"She deserves to suffer a little."

Hearing that...

My heart actually skipped a beat.

After three years.

He still thought ditching me at the County Clerk’s Office for Chloe...

Was just a "tiny little misunderstanding."

The Seth who used to love me was truly dead.

He wasn't the boy who carried me across town, ignoring his own bleeding cuts.

He wasn't the broke teenager who promised me the world.

He wasn't the man who, despite all his fame and success, was still willing to cook for me.

But whatever.

It was all in the past.

None of it mattered anymore.

Besides.

I’m about to give birth to my second baby anyway.