Chapter 8

“You—it’s been so long!” Laura’s eyes lit up as she recognized her college friend, Mark.

Meanwhile, the man who had intended to harm her slipped away, realizing his wicked plan could no longer succeed.

Mark, sensing something had been wrong, quickly approached. At first, he didn’t even realize it was Laura Brown standing there.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect to see you here. Out at night—aren’t you afraid someone might try something bad, Laura?” he asked, glancing toward the man who had already vanished into the distance.

“Try something bad to me?” Laura gave a bitter smile. Deep inside, she felt as though the whole world had already wronged her.

“If someone did, maybe I wouldn’t be standing here safe right now. But Mark—what are you doing here? I thought you went abroad?”

“Ah, yes. I’m back now, and I think I’ll be staying for good,” Mark explained.

They talked for quite a while until Mark finally offered to escort her back to her apartment. He was still uneasy, thinking the man from earlier might return.

“You really shouldn’t go out alone, Laura. I wasn’t going to say this, but…I think someone is planning to harm you,” Mark admitted, explaining what he had seen before approaching her.

Laura fell silent at his words, her hand unconsciously resting on her belly. Mark noticed her reaction and grew more certain that she was hiding something. But he didn’t press further—whatever problem she was facing, it was hers to share.

“Just call me if you need help.”

Mark handed her his business card before taking his leave.

Laura entered her apartment, still shaken by what he had said.
Michelle… could it be her? I’ve already disappeared from William’s life—why would she want to hurt me… or my child?

“If it really is her, I won’t let Michelle hurt me or my baby!”

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The next day, William discovered Laura’s whereabouts. She hadn’t gone far from the city, making it easy for him to track her down. He immediately drove to her apartment.

But Michelle was already there, waiting at the front of the building. William stopped briefly when he saw her.

“Will, what’s wrong with you? Why won’t you see me?” Michelle snapped angrily.

“Get out of my way, Michelle, or I won’t be nice.”

“Why are you like this? Are you really going to forget all the love we shared?” she hissed, furious that William now openly despised her.

“Love? Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve realized I don’t have any feelings for you anymore, Michelle.”

“You’re saying you’re truly in love with Laura?” she asked, unwilling to believe it.

“Maybe,” William replied bluntly.

“You’re mine, William. Only mine! Laura was just a temporary replacement! Are you really going after her?”

William clicked his tongue in frustration. He didn’t want to entertain her anymore, but he knew if he ignored her, she’d never stop pestering him.

“Yes, I’m going after her. I will still make her my wife.”

“She’s pregnant with someone else’s child, Will! Why do you still want her?”

“That’s my business, not yours. Laura’s departure has something to do with you, Michelle. You slapped my wife! What did you say to her that made her leave me like that?”

Michelle bit her lip hard. She couldn’t admit that Laura’s child might actually be William’s. That was the very reason she had slapped her sister—out of rage.

William knew she wouldn’t answer. He could already sense the truth. He had never truly planned to divorce Laura, even after everything. Deep down, he wanted her to stay—even if he still didn’t understand why. Why was he clinging to a woman he believed had betrayed him?

Without another word, William climbed into his car where the driver was waiting, leaving Michelle screaming in frustration.

“Laura, you must disappear forever!” she shrieked.

William soon arrived at Laura’s apartment. He pressed the doorbell insistently until she opened the door. Laura was stunned to see him and immediately tried to shut it, but William stopped her.

“What are you doing here, Will? Oh—if it’s the divorce papers, I’ll send them to your office,” Laura said, catching him off guard.

“Divorce? We will never get divorced, Laura!”

Laura let out a bitter laugh, her expression cold.

“Are you joking right now? You already divorced me first!”

She stepped back into her apartment and held up the divorce papers—the very ones William himself had signed.

“This…?!”