4

The door of the automobile opened.

After protecting Traci with his hand over the roof, Evan extended his palm to assist her.

Cait turned away as soon as their fingers touched. She should have been devastated by this scene, but instead she felt remarkably at ease.

Perhaps she had awakened at last.

What else could be causing her chest to feel so empty and light?

She used to cry till her lungs ached. All she needed now were answers.

So she that had complications to give birth to Katie, was not a better mother?

"Evan, what the fuck do you mean?" Cait asked. Her speech was weak and her lips quivered.

With her hand on Evan’s arm, Traci emerged. Their shadows blended into a single, long, tangled figure on the pavement in the moonlight.

Evan pretended not to hear Cait. His whole attention was on the woman at his side as he led Traci toward the house.

Cait lost count of the number of times he disregarded her. Her heart had already been battered. However, what about Katie? She was unable to give up.

"Evan Creed, you better answer me!" she yelled as she moved forward and used all of her remaining power to seize his wrist.

Finally, he paused and turned to look at her. There was no sign of warmth in his icy eyes.

"Katie will still be with Traci when you get pregnant, isn’t it? That is, if you even manage to become pregnant.” he stated bluntly after twisting his wrist to break free.

This is how Evan has always been. He never asked her what she thought. He simply declared his choices as though she were his worker rather than his spouse.

She refused to allow him to dominate her this time, though.

Sharp with panic, her voice shot up. "I am capable of raising my own child. I don't require a stranger’s help.”

Evan didn't blink at all. All he said was, "It's decided."

Cait lost her temper. The serenity she had clung to broke. "I said I can take care of her!"

Tension thickened the air.

Traci sensed the battle as she stood behind Evan. Her voice was innocent and beautiful as she spoke quietly. "Ev, you ought to speak with Ms. Creed. I'll go see how Kat is doing."

Ev? Traci even gave Evan a nickname. Wow!

Traci turned to go inside after Evan nodded.

However, Cait’s voice could be heard clearly. "Traci Woolley, stop right there."

Traci froze. Cait’s fist smashed across her cheek in a hard, loud smack before she could say anything.

Evan’s eyes widened. "Are you okay?" he shouted, his voice tight with anxiety, as he surged forward and shoved Cait back with enough force to cause her to fall before pulling Traci into his arms.

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Traci hid her face. She appeared so little and wronged.

As if he were holding something delicate, Evan’s thumb lightly touched Traci’s flesh. As though it might ease the anguish, he blew on her cheek.

Cait gazed at them. Traci felt absolutely no shame at all. Since when did a mistress become so bold in front of the legal wife? 

What typical woman entered the life and family of a married man?

Evan was as awful, of course. He would allow it to occur.

A small figure, barefoot and with wild hair, hurried out of the house before Cait could speak another word. Katie was the one.

"Traci!" Katie said as she ran over and threw herself at Traci’s legs. “Is it painful?’ She tilted her head up and said, "i can blow it better."

Katie noticed Evan’s automobile through the window as she was ready to go to sleep. She ran downstairs, forgetting her shoes, because she knew he had brought Traci. She arrived at the door in time to witness Traci being slapped by Cait.

Cait watched from a distance.

Her daughter, her spouse... They were both infatuated with an unwelcome woman.

She was  in disbelief.

Her daughter, the one she'd fed, caressed, kissed, and cradled in her arms every night... How could she pick a mistress over her?

With trembling palms, Cait extended her hand. "Katie..."

Katie whirled around before she could continue. Anger reddened her face. She rushed over to Cait and began striking her legs.

"Bad mommy!’

Her fists are small, but they hit hard.

“Mommy, bad! You struck Traci! I despise you!I don't want a bad mother!"

Cait froze. Her cheeks began to bleed, and her face turned pale.

The custody she'd fought so hard for? It was only a dream. She was not needed by her husband. Neither did her daughter desire her.

She was merely a joke.

What's the worst part? She had become pregnant once more. For a man who had no affection for her. For a man who wouldn’t  hesitate to end her life as long as she provided what he desperately wanted. For a family that didn't want her.

How long Katie hit Cait didn't matter to her. Neither Evan’s comments nor Traci gentle attempts to "calm" Katie were audible to her.

Like a knife in her chest, all she heard was "bad mommy" repeatedly.

Dazed, Cait stood there. Then she let forth a hollow, sad laugh.

She avoided looking at Katie or Evan once again. She turned and left.

She heard their voices behind her: Katie pleading to stay with Traci that evening, Evan inquiring if Traci was okay.

Nobody called out to Cait or cared if she was fine. Her absence didn't bother anyone.

Cait looked back as she rounded the corner. Only once.

Katie had one hand in each of Evan and Traci’s hands. Slowly and joyfully, they approached the house as if they were the actual family.

Cait gave a bitter smile. She wanted to cry, but she was unable to shed a tear. She was exhausted from these eight years.

They had received everything from her. Her body, her affection, and her time. She had nothing more to offer now.

She would no longer prioritize them.

As she left the Villa, she strolled by herself for a considerable amount of time, her mind heavy.

She realized that she had known for a long time that she shouldn't continue devoting herself to a relationship like this as she relived the events of the previous years. She simply refused to acknowledge the reality.

But that was obvious now. She would love herself properly from now on.

She took a cab back to Creed mansion and headed directly to the study.

She started writing a new divorce decree there. Each of the assets is half. She was also relinquishing custody of Katie.

After carefully signing her name, Cait put the documents on the desk.

She returned by car to her training location in the city that evening. She arrived at the hospital early the following morning. She had quit once to focus on the “supposed family” and now she was back to focus on her work as a pediatric surgeon

Winona Fallon, her college roommate who had some knowledge of her marriage, was the obstetrician on duty that day.

Winona’s eyes were wide when Cait expressed her desire for an abortion. "Getting this baby is challenging. Are you certain? You may keep it for yourself, even if things aren't going well with Evan."

Calm as still water, Cait sat across from her. "I'm a woman, Wi. Keeping a child out of this turmoil is the best thing I can do. My life is also important. I have no doubts about this. Simply set the operation for this morning.”

The former foolish Cait had vanished.

The one who had pled for affection and put everyone else's happiness ahead of her own suffering? Last night, she had passed away.

She would love anyone who loved her from now on. What about her supposed family? She had had enough of them.