Chapter 2

My outburst aggravated the tear from childbirth, and a sharp pain shot through me. As I clutched the blanket, my forehead broke out in a cold sweat.

Shayne licked his lips, his voice dry and strained. "There were special circumstances this time. Summer's parents think there's no point in a girl like her getting educated compared to their son. They were trying to force her to go back home and marry a 50-year-old widower.

"Naomi, I know you're a kind person. You wouldn't want to see a young woman with such a bright future have her life ruined, would you?"

Shayne was using morality to put me in a tough spot. If I said no, he could easily accuse me of being a coldhearted monster.

I had nearly died giving birth just yesterday. My amniotic fluid had caused an obstruction, making the delivery dangerously difficult. If the baby had been born even a minute later, the prolonged lack of oxygen could have left her with permanent brain damage.

Shayne hadn't shown the slightest concern for me. All he cared about was getting me to forgive him. Every word he said was about how helpless he had been and how much he sympathized with Summer.

I stared at him in a daze, suddenly feeling as though I didn't recognize the man standing before me anymore.

Shayne had knelt before me three times in total.

The first time was when I was diagnosed with kidney failure and needed a million dollars for a kidney transplant. Back then, he'd only recently become a literature professor. He'd worked himself to the bone, taking on every speaking engagement he could find.

Some people accused him of being obsessed with money, saying he'd wasted all those years of education. He never paid them any attention.

He'd said, "If I can't save the woman I love most, what's the point of holding on to my so-called scholarly integrity?"

When my condition worsened, Shayne had knelt before me and begged me to hold on until he'd saved enough for the surgery.

I'd been overjoyed and convinced I'd married the right man. However, his claim that I was the woman he loved most only lasted three short years.

The other two times he'd knelt before me had both been because of Summer. He claimed to have chosen me, but his actions showed he instinctively favored her.

When I remained silent, Shayne let out a deep sigh. "Summer's situation is different from yours. She may have both her parents around, but they only see her as a way to make money. You grew up in a single-parent household, but at least your mother loves you."

Every explanation revealed just how much sympathy he had for Summer.

Disappointed, I turned my head away. "In that case, you'd better take good care of her. I'll mail you the divorce papers after I'm discharged."

Shayne's head snapped up. "Naomi, we just had a child! Why are you throwing a tantrum now? Do you really want our child to grow up with a single mother just like you did?"

I gritted my teeth and was about to respond when a sharp slap rang out from the hospital room door. Through the window, I saw Mom furiously confronting Summer.

Without a moment's hesitation, Shayne rushed outside and shoved Mom hard to the ground.

A loud thud echoed through the hallway. I heard the sickening crack of bones breaking.

Shayne shielded Summer behind him and scolded Mom angrily. "How could you attack my student, Lucy? She came all this way just to congratulate me on becoming a father. She didn't mean any harm!"

Ignoring the pain, I hurried to the doorway.

The moment I saw the blood running down Mom's forehead, my eyes reddened. "Hasn't Mom treated you well all these years? How could you lay your hands on an elderly woman like her?"

Hearing this, Mom came over and gently supported me, concerned.

She said, "I noticed something was off between you and Shayne several months ago. I thought things might get better once the baby was born. I never imagined he'd cheat on you! Now, he even has the nerve to bring his mistress right to your door! I had to stand up for you!"

Her protective words made my nose sting, and I nearly burst into tears.

Summer's face flushed red with indignation. "Ma'am, if you don't know the whole story, then stop making baseless accusations!"

Shayne touched the red handprint on Summer's cheek, his heart going out to her.