Chapter 5

No matter what went down, we had years of history. Once this was over, I'd owe them nothing.

But the second Josephine heard "hospital," her face iced over.

"Why the hell would I go to a hospital? Just 'cause I scolded you, now you're wishing me dead? How can you be so cruel? My last check-up said I was totally fine. What's the point?"

I said, "There's a top asthma specialist, Dr. Holgate, in town today. It's just a follow-up—"

She chucked her cup at me.

"Top specialist? Please. Like someone jobless like you could get in touch with a guy like that. You're always showing off! Look at Natalie—she stayed up all night just to book me with a real specialist. And where were you?"

She wouldn't shut up about Natalie. Always comparing, always dragging me down.

Didn't matter what I did—it was never enough.

As it hit me, I just gave a bitter smile. "If you don't wanna go, then don't."

Classic me—pushing too far. Again.

Then the banquet day rolled around.

I showed up late. The place was packed with relatives I couldn't even name. Felt like I'd walked into someone else's dream.

Honestly? The whole setup was fancier than my wedding to Jasper.

Right at the entrance, they'd hung this giant family pic—five of them, all grinning like it was the happiest story ever told.

Me? I was the footnote. The punchline.

The second the relatives saw me, the whispers kicked in. Didn't need to hear a word—everyone knew. There was another woman in the marriage of me and Jasper.

Aunt Nancy swooped in and grabbed my arm.

"Emily! When'd you get back? Jasper never said a word. And wait—when did you two have a baby? I heard you're getting promoted at hospital after studying abroad. Big things ahead, huh?"

I just nodded, kept quiet.

The way the relatives looked at Jasper said it all. Disgust, side-eyes, full-on judgment. I wasn't in that perfect little family photo. And the woman clinging to him all night? Yeah, that wasn't me.

Someone pointed Natalie out—feeding him dessert like they were a real couple.

"Emily, who's that?"

I gave a half-smile. "Jasper's new wife."

Every nearby relative—professional-level eavesdroppers—froze. Then the whispers hit like wildfire.

If his family wasn't keeping it low-key, why should I?

Right then, Jasper stepped up and grabbed the mic.

"Thanks for coming. Honestly, I never pictured myself as a dad. Thought I'd screw it up. But hearing my son cry for the first time? It hit me. That's when I understood what being a father really means."

Then he turned to me—eyes soft, like we were still something.

"And I owe it all to my wife."

Aunt Sophia, never one to whisper, jumped in. "Let the baby's mom say something! Where is she?"

Silence.

Every head turned, eyes ping-ponging between me and Natalie.

The answer was obvious. But Aunt Sophia had just dropped the mic straight into Jasper's lap.

One more moment and I'd be gone—ticket already booked.

I locked eyes with him. Then walked up, steady and slow.

His face drained as I reached for the mic.