Chapter 2

Each cry seemed to tear at my heart. If my children with Jonathan had been born, would they have called out "Daddy" and "Mommy" in such sweet voices too?

Jonathan's fleeting guilt vanished instantly. He grabbed Linda's arm to stop her from leaving. His voice was firm.

"I still make the decisions in the Rivers household. If I say Henry is my child, then he is my child! It doesn't matter if Claire refuses to accept it!"

He determinedly took Linda's hand and brought her and Henry back inside.

Jonathan settled them in the master bedroom. It was only after that did he spare some attention for me, who was standing dazed in the living room.

"Claire, Henry wants to sleep in the master bedroom with Linda and me, so you’ll need to move out for this month. You can move back when he's adjusted to the change here."

He spoke casually, as if it were a trivial matter. Without waiting for my answer, he turned and left, following Henry's repeated calls.

It was not a request for my opinion, but a notification. It was so firm and so unquestionable.

I suddenly remembered the year we first met. Jonathan had firmly grasped my hand, telling me that I would be his only love for life. He defied his family for me, and reformed his playboy ways for me. That Jonathan had once braved everything for me countless times.

I thought we would not repeat the mistakes of others, but it was also Jonathan who, in the seventh year of our marriage, brought home an illegitimate child and turned me into a laughingstock.

That night, I packed my things and moved out.

The next morning, I received news that Jonathan was hosting Henry's sixth birthday party.

The elite wives of Polesburg all inquired about me. Some were concerned, while others were gloating. Jonathan really could not wait, could he?

I replied to each message individually. "It's Jonathan's b*stard child."

Since he had the audacity to do such a thing, why could I not be frank about it?

Before noon, Jonathan returned in a rage, followed by a tearful Henry and Linda.

Seeing me leisurely eating at the table, Jonathan’s hand swept the dishes off the table. Food and water splashed everywhere. Broken glass pierced my calf, and I could not help but turn pale.

Jonathan did not even glance at me. I endured the pain and looked at Jonathan stubbornly.

He sneered. "Stop acting weak now, Claire. How can you be so vicious? It's Henry's birthday today and yet you told everyone he's a b*stard!"

Linda held the resentful Henry in her arms, tears streaming down her face. "Mrs. Rivers, I don't mind if you dislike me, but you don't have children. Henry is still the Rivers family's only heir. He's just a child. Do you know how much gossip hurts him?"

I looked at her coldly. "I only stated the facts. Isn't Henry a b*stard child? He's an illegitimate child with an unknown father!"

Jonathan suddenly slapped me. The force was so great that my lip split. Blood dripped from the corner of my mouth.

I looked up at him through my tears, yet his eyes were calm.

"Apologize to Henry and Linda!"

I retorted sarcastically, "Why should I apologize to a b*stard?"

Linda cried beside us. "Mr. Rivers, Henry isn't illegitimate. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have given birth to Henry, making him the subject of gossip. I shouldn't have brought Henry back to claim his rightful place."

Her words further enraged Jonathan. He grabbed me and dragged me all the way to the dim basement.

I struggled desperately, looking at him in terror.

"Claire, have I been too lenient with you? How dare you defy me!" He shoved me into the dark wine cellar.

I looked at him in despair. He locked the door without hesitation, his voice calm.

"You can come out when you've finished reflecting!"

Facing the complete darkness before me, I screamed in despair. He knew perfectly well that I feared darkness the most. He knew perfectly well that whenever I misbehaved as a child, my father would lock me in a dark room.

This was my lifelong nightmare.

Jonathan had once held me countless times with such tenderness. He promised that he would never let me suffer the slightest grievance.

Even so, it was also him who personally gave me a terrible nightmare.