Chapter 2

We stood in the hospital corridor.

Calvin fixed his tired gaze on me, his brow furrowed. "Adela, I need an explanation for what happened today.

"I know you can't stand Ella, but she and I are over. You're my wife now. Stop lashing out at them."

I almost laughed.

Even if I poured my heart out and swore I'd seen Felix push Lilith with my own eyes, he wouldn't believe me.

When I didn't answer, Calvin kissed my forehead the way he always did.

His collar was slightly open. As he leaned in, I caught sight of the knife scar beneath his collarbone.

Calvin and I had grown up together. When a burglar broke into my house and threatened me, Calvin showed up and took a knife meant for me. That blow would have killed me.

I'd been hopelessly in love with him ever since.

Later, his business failed, leaving him with nothing. Ella took whatever money was left and walked out on him with their son.

I was the one who stood by him through his darkest days and helped him rebuild his life.

Every time he left me behind for Ella and Felix, I remembered how he'd been stabbed protecting me. For years, I'd used that memory to convince myself he loved me.

But I was done clinging to that foolish hope and waiting for him...

I pushed him away and scrubbed the spot on my forehead where he'd kissed me. "Let's get divorced, Calvin. I'll step aside so you can go back to your ex-wife and son."

Calvin froze, then looked a little irritated. "Adela, don't throw a fit."

"A fit?" I couldn't hide my contempt. "Lilith is lying in a hospital bed and you call this a fit?"

Calvin went pale. His lips moved as if he meant to say something, but I cut him off sharply.

"When you said you wanted to start the company, I sold every last thing my mother had left me to back you.

"When I was trying to secure your first investment, those investors pressured me into drinking so much that I ended up with a perforated stomach!

"You took a knife for me once. I gave you five years of my life in return, dragging you out of the mud and back to the top."

I took a deep breath and blinked back the last of my tears. "But none of that matters when it comes to the woman who walked out on you. Is that it, Calvin?"

The hallway went dead quiet.

Calvin took a breath, and his voice softened. "Adela, why do you always compare yourself to Ella?

"You're my only wife. The only reason I have anything to do with Ella is Felix. I have a responsibility to him.

"I know you're upset that Lilith got hurt. I'll ask Ella about it again.

"Don't bring up divorce again. I promise I'll try to make more time for you and Lilith from now on. All right?"

The love in his eyes looked real, and in spite of myself, I softened a little.

I was about to nod when his phone buzzed.

Ella's name was on the screen. He glanced at me, hesitated a second, and took the call.

I couldn't hear what she said, but his expression tightened at once. He said quietly that he'd be right there.

He hung up and looked at me. "Felix got so upset he passed out. Ella's terrified. I have to go."

He was already hurrying toward the elevator before he'd finished speaking.

I didn't get angry. I only gave a thin smile.

They were both his children. He panicked over the smallest thing that happened to Felix, yet Lilith couldn't get so much as a word of comfort.