Chapter 4

By now, I was used to it. Ever since Carlson appeared, no matter how low or absurd his accusations against me were, Lilibeth would believe him unconditionally and turn the full force of her anger on me.

"Lily, I'm okay. It's just... I think the watch you gave me broke when I fell," Carlson said softly, his voice laced with feigned hurt.

It was only then that I noticed the expensive mechanical watch on his wrist.

It was a model from ten years ago—the exact one I had dreamed of owning. I felt something inside me shatter all over again.

As I stood there dazed, Lilibeth suddenly rose and slapped me hard across the face.

"Josiah, have I been too easy on you that you think you can get away with hurting Carlson over and over again? Apologize to him right now. Or else we're done—completely done."

My cheek stung. The hysterical woman before me felt like a stranger, worlds apart from the Lilibeth I remembered, the one who'd presented me with that watch with such bright eyes.

Behind her, Carlson mouthed silently, "Unappreciative bastard."

I laughed bitterly at myself. Only now did I realize that I'd been clinging to some sliver of hope about Lilibeth all along. But at that moment, even that last shred of feeling for her disappeared too.

"My lawyer will contact you tomorrow about the divorce," I said, my voice utterly flat. "And Rosaline's still in the hospital, waiting for surgery. You should deal with that."

Perhaps because it was the first time she had ever heard me speak to her in that tone, Lilibeth seemed to sober up slightly. A flicker of panic crossed her eyes, and her lips parted as though she wanted to say something.

But before she could, Carlson stepped forward.

"Lily, Josh, please don't fight over me. This is all my fault. I'll leave right now. You two should work things out." His voice cracked with a fake sob, and just like that, Lilibeth lost her cool again.

"He's the one who should leave," she said coldly, staring at me as if I were an enemy.

In the end, I dragged my suitcase out the door, made my way to the airport, and boarded a flight back to my hometown.

Right before I switched off my phone, I received a voice message from Carlson.

"Hey, you ungrateful cuckold, since you're so hell-bent on being difficult, I'm going to have my way with the woman you've loved all these years. You know what? She's got a certain charm to her."

Below the message was a video that turned my stomach.

I didn't open it. Instead, I forwarded everything directly to my lawyer.

As the plane took off, I left behind the city I'd lived in for nearly a decade, all for Lilibeth.

…

Third-Person POV

The next morning, Lilibeth was jolted awake by her ringing phone. She answered irritably, "Who is this? It's barely morning yet!"

"Ms. Saunders, I'm calling from Crownwell General Hospital. Your mother is still waiting for her surgery. Please arrange the payment as soon as possible."

Groggy and annoyed, Lilibeth snapped, "Why are you contacting me? Call Josiah!"

The nurse had clearly anticipated that response. "Ms. Saunders, the patient awaiting surgery is your biological mother, Ms. Darnell. Mr. Gibson has informed us that you two are divorced and that all future matters concerning her should be directed to you."

The word "divorce" cut through Lilibeth's drowsiness like ice water.

And when her eyes landed on that worn, scratched watch sitting on the nightstand, panic truly set in.