Chapter 2

Chloe drank herself silly on her wedding night, calling another man’s name again and again.

After their wedding, she would often go overseas. The destination was always, without fail, Pineland.

One day, Chloe’s drink was spiked. She ended up spending the night with Joseph.

When Chloe woke up, she angrily accused him, “Joseph Quinn, how despicable of you to stoop to such underhanded means to secure your position in this marriage!”

Joseph felt very indignant. He wanted to say that that wasn't his intention at all, and he’d leave once the contractual term was up.

However, two days later, he saw a tenderness in Chloe’s eyes that he had never seen.

“Joseph, I just found out that you’re the one who saved me back then. I’m sorry, I did so many nasty things… Maybe I can try to slowly understand you and fall in love with you.”

Chloe stopped going to Pineland and cut off all contact with Stephen.

She started showering him with care and attention.

She would prepare surprises for him over various festivals, buy a small island for him, remember the food he likes and preferences he has, cook soup for him when his gastric issue acts up…

Chloe would even call out his name in her dreams. Whenever she woke up and saw him by her side, she would hug him tightly.

Time could melt the hardest of hearts, and Joseph gradually found himself falling in love with Chloe.

He even wanted to tell Mrs. Gibson that he would do away with the contractual term of six years because he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Chloe.

However, before he could do that, he found out that he had heart disease and needed to do an open-heart surgery.

“Honey, don’t fear. I’ll be by your side.”

Chloe patted Joseph’s back comfortingly and it made the fear in his heart dissipate.

After a series of pre-surgery tests, he was about to be pushed into the operating theatre when Chloe received a call.

Stephen, who was still far away in Pineland, had a major depressive episode and was talking about taking his own life.

“Chloe, I’ll wish you forever happiness in heaven…”

“Stephen, don’t do anything rash! I’ll go over to look for you right now!” Chloe left in a rush.

Joseph lay on the hospital bed, his heart breaking to a million pieces as looked at Chloe’s back profile disappearing into the distance.

A few days later, Chloe finally came back from Pineland and explained her side of the story.

“Things are officially over between Stephen and I. We won’t contact each other ever again. Joseph, we’ll spend the rest of our lives together.”

However, Joseph saw it clearly that Stephen had long become a thorn in their marriage.

He couldn’t force matters of the heart.

During those six years, Joseph fulfilled all his duties as a good husband and father.

He started taking care of Rachel from when she was six months old. When she could talk, her favorite catchphrase was “Rachy loves Daddy forever.” Every night, she would only fall asleep with him telling her a bedtime story.

However, last week, he heard Rachel whisper, “Mommy, Uncle Stephen always buys many toys and snacks for me. I like him very much.

“Daddy is too fierce. He doesn’t let me eat chocolate and even forces me to sleep. He’s so annoying.

“If only Daddy disappears one day. That way, Uncle Stephen can be my daddy instead…”

Recalling those words, Joseph smiled bitterly.

He put the divorce agreement in his bag.

Ding!

He received a new message on his phone.

[Mr. Joseph Quinn, we’ve received the documents you’ve submitted. Your visa will be sent to you in about a month’s time, please look out for it.]

Very soon, he would be disappearing from Chloe and Rachel’s world.

He would never see them again.

-

After they left, the house was left empty and quiet.

Joseph looked up.

“Lydia, did you manage to find the photo albums I asked you to?”