Chapter 2

I don’t remember walking into the room. One second, I was standing outside, listening. The next, I was inside, staring at them. Vincent didn’t look surprised. He just looked at me… calm, almost bored, like I was an inconvenience he had been expecting. Rumbidzai, on the other hand, smiled. “Oh,” she said softly, leaning further into Vincent’s arm. “You’re back.”

My throat felt dry. “What… is this?” My voice didn’t sound like mine. Vincent sighed, like I had just asked something annoying. “Daphne, this isn’t how I planned for you to find out.”

Find out? “Find out what?” I demanded. “That our marriage doesn’t exist? Or that the child I’ve been raising isn’t mine?” For a split second, silence filled the room.

Then Rumbidzai laughed. Actually laughed. “You really didn’t know,” she said, shaking her head in amusement. “That’s almost embarrassing.” I felt the humiliation burn through me, but I refused to look away.

I looked at Vincent. “Tell me she’s lying.”

He didn’t hesitate. “She’s not.”

My chest tightened. “So everything… was fake?”

Vincent leaned back against the couch, his expression completely indifferent. “The ceremony was real enough,” he said. “Just not legal.”

I stared at him, unable to process how easily he said it. “Why?” My voice cracked despite my effort to stay strong. “Why would you do this to me?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Rumbidzai did.

“Because you were convenient,” she said smoothly. “You cooked, you cleaned, you took care of the house… and most importantly—” She tilted her head, her eyes glinting with cruel amusement. “You raised my son.”

My knees almost gave out. “No…” I whispered. “That’s not true.”

Vincent’s patience seemed to snap. “Stop being dramatic, Daphne,” he said coldly. “You should be grateful. You got to live in luxury for three years.”

Luxury? I let out a hollow laugh. “I built that life with you,” I said. “I supported you when you had nothing. I—”

“And I’ve repaid you,” he cut in sharply. “You lived comfortably, didn’t you?” As if that erased everything. My hands trembled at my sides. “And the child?” I asked, my voice barely holding together. “You let me believe he was mine.”

Vincent didn’t even blink. “It was easier that way.”

Rumbidzai smirked. “Honestly, you should thank me. I trusted you with something precious.” Something inside me broke completely. I looked at the two of them—sitting there like I meant nothing.

Like I was nothing. Three years of my life. Gone.

Replaced by lies. “So what now?” I asked quietly.

Vincent stood up, straightening his sleeves.

“Now?” he repeated. “Now you leave.”

The words echoed in my head. “What about my things?” I asked.

“You can take whatever you brought with you,” he said dismissively. “Everything else belongs to me.”

Of course it did because legally… I was nothing. Not his wife. Not the child’s mother. Nothing.

Rumbidzai crossed her legs elegantly, watching me like I was some kind of entertainment. “Oh, and Daphne?” she added sweetly.

I looked at her. “Don’t try to come back,” she said. “This house was never yours.”

I should have cried  

I should have begged  

I should have broken down but instead… I felt something cold settle deep inside my chest.

I straightened slowly. “Fine,” I said.

Vincent frowned slightly, as if my calm reaction annoyed him. I turned toward the stairs. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.

“To say goodbye,” I replied. His expression hardened. “That won’t be necessary.”

My steps stopped. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

“You don’t get to see him anymore,” Vincent said flatly. That felt like the final blow. I closed my eyes briefly, forcing the tears back. Then I turned around.

“After everything I’ve done for you…” I said quietly, “this is how you repay me?” Vincent didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. I nodded slowly. “Alright.”

If that was how he wanted it… Then I wouldn’t beg. I walked toward the door, each step heavier than the last and I didn’t look back because something told me… If I did…

I might never find the strength to leave.