Chapter 3

Sean's expression softened instantly. Even his voice went gentle. "Daddy misses you too. I'll come play trains with you tonight."

"Okay, wait at home for me. I'll drive us. You can't manage it on your own."

I watched him in silence.

When we first got married, Patricia was constantly giving me a hard time because the doctors had advised against pregnancy while I was still recovering.

Every time, Sean stepped in and took all the blame, then reassured me. "No rush. Whenever you're ready."

Back then, I was certain he would make a wonderful husband and father someday.

He did.

Just not for me.

After hanging up, Sean pulled a black card from his pocket and held it out to me.

"Joanna, Tina needs to take Noah for his vaccinations. I don't feel right letting her go alone.

"Take the day off. Go buy yourself something nice. I'll take you out to dinner when I get back tonight."

After he left, I skipped the shopping and hired a private investigator instead.

Photos and videos started flooding my phone almost immediately.

Sean had taken Tina to one of the city's most exclusive private hospitals, one that didn't accept outside patients. Only shareholders and their immediate family were allowed through the doors.

According to the investigator's report, Sean had become the hospital's largest shareholder when Tina was three months along.

Her checkups, the delivery, her postpartum recovery, the baby's care. All handled by a team of professionals.

I stared at the dates on the paperwork, my eyes burning.

Back then, Sean's company had just "gone bankrupt." We'd moved into a shabby apartment and were starting over from nothing.

My first day doing food deliveries, I wasn't used to the scooter and went flying off it, scooter and all.

When Sean saw the injuries covering my body, all he could manage was a sorry and told me to tough it out because the hospital was too expensive.

So while I'd been lying in bed gritting through the pain alone, Tina had been enjoying professional care around the clock.

Sean, the difference between your love and your indifference had been staring me in the face all along.

At six that evening, Sean came home carrying several shopping bags, all from the clothing brands I used to love.

"Joanna, guess what I got you?"

He spread the clothes, shoes, and jewelry out in front of me like a child waiting to be praised.

"I don't want any of it." I shoved the things aside and turned toward the bedroom.

But a hand caught my wrist and pulled me back, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Try them on. Stop being difficult."

I yanked my arm free and forced the words through clenched teeth. "They disgust me."

The next second, his hand clamped around my throat and his lips crashed against mine.

Tears poured down my face as I flailed, hitting him blindly with both hands.

Slap.

The crack of it echoed through the room.

Sean finally stopped.

"I'm sorry, Joanna." A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes. "I just wanted to make it up to you."

I pulled the freshly printed divorce papers from the drawer. "If you want to make it up to me, let me go."

Sean blinked, then laughed coldly. "Let you go? Where would you even go?

"Your parents are gone. You sold their house to help pay off my debts. You're not exactly young anymore. Without me, who's going to want you?"

I held his gaze, my nails digging into my palms.

So that was what gave him the nerve to hurt me without consequence.

His phone rang. Sean grabbed it and hurried out the door.

Half an hour later, the investigator sent me photos of the three of them at dinner.

The outfit Tina was wearing turned out to be identical to the one Sean had brought home that afternoon.

I closed my phone with a bitter laugh. His so-called devotion was nothing special after all.