Chapter 2

I got out of the cab with my mind still in a fog. But before I even reached the door, I realized Annie was burning up in my arms.

I had been malnourished during pregnancy, and Annie had been frail since birth. I had no choice but to keep her with me at all times.

I hurried to the nearest hospital.

After Annie was finally connected to an IV, I went to the hospital lobby to pay the bill, but an angry voice came from behind me.

"Rose, didn't I say I'd explain when you got home? Why did you follow Mia and me to the hospital? She just found out she's pregnant with her second child and can't be upset. Hurry up and leave!"

Calvin grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the entrance.

I slapped him hard on the face instead. "Annie has a 104-degree fever, but you're here with another woman for a prenatal checkup. Where's your conscience?"

"Annie is strong, just like you. How could she suddenly get sick?" He questioned me instead.

Suddenly, I felt all the strength drained from my body. I had handled everything after Annie's birth. Calvin had not changed a single diaper and he knew nothing about Annie's health conditions.

Calvin still wanted to say something, but he stopped when he saw my red eyes. "Where is she? I'll go see her."

Then, he continued, "I told you a long time ago to stop being so stingy with the money. It was bad enough that you picked up a stroller someone else threw out for her, but you wouldn't even spend money on a cab. Now she has to suffer because of your penny-pinching."

I could no longer control myself. Three years of hurt surged up all at once. "You think I want to do that? Would I be doing this if I had money? If not for that stroller, I never would have known you had pretended to be poor and lied to me for three years while spending every cent you made on your home wrecker."

Calvin, who used to tease me with a smile no matter how unreasonable I was, instantly went cold. "What right does a woman who has slept with someone else have the right to call Mia a home wrecker?"

My ears rang.

For the first time, the man who had shared my bed for three years felt like a stranger.

Back then, everyone avoided us after my family went bankrupt and my father jumped from a building. The debt collectors took me and tortured me for a full day and night as revenge.

When Calvin called the police and saved me, I was barely clothed, covered in wounds and blood from fighting back in desperation.

With red eyes, he held me and told me repeatedly that he believed me. He also had all the edited photos circulating online taken down. But… It turned out he had never believed me.

I leaned weakly against the wall. When Calvin saw that I could barely stand, his expression softened. "What happened mattered to my parents, so they threatened to cut me off from my inheritance unless I married Mia. Once I take full control of the company, I'll bring you and Annie to live with me. I won't let you suffer anymore.

"Mia has been spoiled since she was little, and she’s always depended on me. When the time comes, you’ll have to be a little more understanding with her."

I let out a bitter laugh. "There's no need for that anymore."

Before I could finish, Mia's voice came from the other end of the corridor. "Honey, you promised to go with me for my prenatal checkup. Where are you?"

Calvin's expression changed instantly, and he quickly pulled away from me.

But Mia still spotted us. She stormed over and swung her handbag, hitting my face. "I gave you a stroller out of my kindness, and you came here to seduce my husband? What's wrong with you?!"