Chapter 2

His voice through the phone sounded utterly exhausted, causing my heart to ache with raw grievance.

"Not get divorced? Then what about Chloe?"

"How are you going to explain that to her?"

"Nora, I'm just giving her a baby. It's really nothing. My heart is still with you, so why do you have to be so petty about it?"

I let out a cold laugh.

"Ethan, you've been wanting to sleep with her for a long time, haven't you? Since when did breaking basic human decency become me being petty?"

"Go ask around! Who loses a husband and immediately targets his brother? Chloe has always looked at you differently, and don't you dare pretend you didn't notice!"

"Bottom line: sign the divorce papers. Other than that, don't say a damn word to me!"

I hung up on him, feeling utterly repulsed.

Earlier, I had actually felt a little sorry for him, but now I realized that feeling bad for a toxic man only brings misfortune.

The fact that he could utter those words proved that he never respected me to begin with.

In that case, he didn't deserve an ounce of my pity.

He brought this entirely upon himself.

I tossed my phone aside, pulled the covers over my head, and fell into a deep, dark sleep until the next morning.

The moment I woke up, I heard aggressive banging on my front door. I pulled it open, only to find Chloe standing there, flanked by a whole crowd of Ethan's relatives.

I frowned. She actually tracked me down here? How impressive. "What the hell do you want?"

With a loud thud, Chloe dropped straight to her knees. "Nora, I'm begging you! Just give me a way to live!"

I stared at her in shock, barely able to process the melodrama.

Behind her, the relatives began chiming in: "Nora, don't be so hard on her. Ian just passed away, we all need to take care of her!"

"Ethan is just helping her out. Why are you throwing a jealous tantrum over this?"

"A daughter-in-law in this family is supposed to be understanding!"

Hearing their sanctimonious nonsense, I burst out laughing.

"Understanding? Great! Why don't you offer your own son to knock Chloe up? You're all related anyway, what's one more kid to feed?"

"What is that supposed to mean?!"

"Can't understand plain English? Ethan's idea of 'taking care of her' means climbing straight into her bed!"

"None of you have any shame. Her husband died, so she wants to jump in bed with mine to have a baby—she's a textbook homewrecker, and you're telling me to be 'understanding'?”

“Who do you think you are? Let me tell you something, Chloe: over my dead body!"

"Want me to agree? Fine. Ethan signs the divorce papers! Otherwise, even if you kneel here until you drop dead, it's never happening!"

"Nora, you're driving me to suicide!" Chloe sobbed.

"Then go ahead and do it! If you want to die for Ian, I might actually respect you for once. Don't pull this emotional blackmail on me.”

“Ethan and I are already processing a divorce. Instead of begging me, go beg him to sign the papers! That way, you two can be together out in the open!"

I moved to slam the door, but she tried to force her way inside. I shoved her back, and she collapsed to the floor, wailing dramatically.

Her pathetic routine infuriated me. Right at that moment, Ethan and Vivian showed up.

"Chloe, what are you all doing here?" Ethan gasped.

Chloe turned around, instantly gaining a boost of confidence.

"Vivian, I just came to beg Nora... Ian is gone, I really can't..."

"Enough. Go home," Vivian interrupted coldly.

"Right now, it's time for prenatal bonding. I bring Ethan here every day at this hour to read to the baby. The rest of you, stop meddling in our private business."

I was about to lose my temper at Vivian, but she pulled me firmly back inside the apartment.

"Whatever happens, as long as you haven't terminated the pregnancy, we are doing the reading sessions."