Chapter 3

Caleb didn't rush me. He just broke a roll into small pieces and set them on a saucer.

"What about Eugene? Does he even know you're living like this?"

I shook my head.

Caleb went quiet for a moment, then asked, "How long has it been since he came home?"

I gave a bitter smile. "Last month, maybe."

"He's always off on business trips lately. Last month he swung by to grab a file, and then he was gone again."

His secretary, Paulette, had trailed in behind him.

Eugene had barely scooped the baby up. Before I could get a word of complaint out, Paulette cut in, tapping her watch.

"Mr. Henson, you've been holding the baby for a full minute. One minute is worth millions in revenue. We can't afford any more delays."

His face stiffened. All he could do was hand the baby back to me, reluctant every second of it.

"Sylvia, take good care of the baby. I'll come see you once things settle down."

But that "once things settle down" stretched into nearly three months.

Word was that for the project he'd been chasing lately, he'd bought a small apartment out where he was staying.

Caleb's expression darkened. He pulled out his phone, ready to call.

I grabbed his hand fast. "Don't. He's busy—"

What I didn't say was that if I called him without an appointment first, next month even that $800 living allowance would probably vanish.

Caleb let out a cold laugh.

"Busy? Busy buying Paulette gowns?"

"Five million. The whole circle's talking about it. Word is his little secretary had a birthday, so he rented out an entire floor of Cartier."

"Plus a five-million-dollar couture gown, without so much as a blink."

I lowered my head, my nails digging into my palms.

So everyone had known all along.

Only I sat home like a fool, counting out $800 and splitting each dollar into pieces.

Seeing the look on my face, Caleb realized he'd said too much.

"That's not what I meant. I just think Eugene's a bastard for treating you this badly."

He glanced around the empty apartment, sighed, and placed an order right there for a load of vegetables and quick meals.

"Sylvia, you can't be so soft. If Eugene keeps pushing you around like this, then divorce him. Simple as that."

Still, since I was his brother's wife, he'd kept his advice measured as he left, careful not to overstep.

But we already had a child, and giving birth had left me with lasting injuries.

If we really divorced, what would happen to the baby?

Even so, I was grateful Caleb had come. Because of him, the baby and I had at least another two weeks of food.

Two days later, out of nowhere, I got a call from my mother-in-law.

"Sweetheart, I'm coming to see you and the baby in a couple of days. Oh, that reminds me—did you get the hundred thousand in spending money I wired last month?"

I froze completely.

"A hundred thousand? When was this?"

Hearing my reaction, her tone turned serious.

"You didn't get it?"

"That rotten boy Eugene, I told him to pass it along to you. How did he handle this?"

"Mom—" My lips were trembling. "Eugene has Paulette managing the household budget now. Every dollar spent here goes through her hands."

"Last time, Paulette said you looked down on me for having a daughter, so she didn't give me a cent—"

On the other end, my mother-in-law drew a sharp breath and cursed under her voice.

"That bastard!"

"Sylvia, you stay put at home. I'm coming over right now to have your back!"

Half an hour later, she rang the doorbell.

The moment she laid eyes on me, shock washed over her face.

"You…"

Her gaze moved over my puffy face and my haggard state, and her eyes filled with ache.

"Poor child, has that animal Eugene been mistreating you?"

Then she took the baby into her arms, her eyes blazing with fury.