Chapter 2

Ethan stood frozen, panic splashing across his face.

"Chloe, let me explain..."

"Do these clothes need to be washed?" I interrupted him, pointing at the pile of laundry on the sofa.

His face turned deathly pale. He grabbed my hand tightly. "Chloe, don't be like this. Please, just let me explain."

"Be like what? Isn't it a good thing that I'm not ruining your moment?" I looked at him, a faint smile on my lips.

He shook his head, his voice dripping with cautious confusion. "You're... not angry?"

I knew why he was so surprised.

Six months ago, the day I caught him cheating with Iris, I had completely lost my mind.

I printed thousands of copies of their bedroom photos and plastered them all over his law firm's entrance.

When he asked for a divorce, I stabbed him three times with a paring knife and climbed onto the roof of our building.

That day, my parents and Mia had dragged a blood-soaked Ethan to his knees in front of me. Holding my positive pregnancy test, he had begged, "Chloe, you're pregnant! For the sake of our baby, please forgive me just this once!"

Back then, everyone thought I was a psycho.

But now, I just stood there in silence, prying his fingers off my wrist one by one.

"Because it's not worth it anymore."

As soon as the words left my mouth, the baby in his arms started crying. The sharp, piercing wail stabbed right through my nerves.

Suddenly, Mia—the same best friend who just yesterday had been rubbing my belly, begging to be my baby's godmother—rushed forward and shoved me hard.

"If you want to lose your mind, do it outside! Don't scare the baby with your psycho drama!"

"Iris didn't even dare to stay in a VIP room because she was terrified of hurting your feelings! Do you have any idea how much she has suffered?!"

My parents, who had once cried so hard they went gray overnight out of pity for me, now stood like a human shield in front of Iris.

"Chloe, Iris is a good girl," my mom said. "She has no family in this city. We had to be here to support her during the delivery."

Heavily pregnant, I was pushed back by the people who were supposed to love me most. I stumbled and hit the doorframe hard. A cold sweat broke out from the dull pain in my back.

Taking a few seconds to catch my breath, I said, "That's your business. I don't care."

I turned to leave, but Iris, eyes red and tearful, struggled to get out of bed. She fell to her knees right in front of me.

"Chloe, please don't blame them. It's all my fault!"

"My dad was forcing me to go back to that remote mountain town to marry an old creditor. Everyone was just trying to help me. They suggested I have the baby here and pretend I'm married so my family would leave me alone..."

"You were the one who brought me out of the Appalachians and paid for my college tuition. I've never forgotten your kindness. I swear, I would never try to steal your husband!"

She was sobbing, but I saw the triumphant, mocking smirk hidden in the depths of her eyes.

A wave of intense nausea hit me. I instinctively shook off her hand, leaning against the wall as I gagged.

"Iris!"

"Chloe! How dare you push her?! She literally just gave birth!" Mia's eyes flared with rage, and she slapped me hard across the face.

My cheek went numb instantly.

Clutching my stomach, I gasped for air, wanting to scream back, but my parents were already pushing and dragging me out the door.

"Just go home! Stop causing a scene here!"

The heavy door slammed shut.

Through the glass, I could hear them speaking in soft, soothing voices, comforting Iris.

I was locked out.

A sudden crack of thunder rumbled outside. The cold wind blowing through the hallway made me shiver violently.

Ethan rushed out, holding an umbrella.

"Chloe, it's pouring. Let me drive you home."

I didn't refuse. He let out a sigh of relief. "The doctors said Iris has some health issues. If she had aborted this baby, she would never have been able to conceive again. I just couldn't be that cruel."

"But I swear, you're the only one I love."

"Once she's discharged, I'll buy her and the baby a place in the South. They'll never cross your path again."

"I don't care."

I slipped the wedding band off my ring finger and tossed it at his feet.

"Give it to her. We're divorcing as soon as my baby is born."