Chapter 2

I had no idea how much the diamond ring was worth.

Taylor said diamonds didn't have much resale value, so she had only managed to sell it for 20 thousand dollars.

I used some of it to pay off my daughter Kayla Zeller's hospital bills and gave the rest back to Taylor.

Kayla was finally well enough to be discharged.

The moment I laid her on the bed, a cramp suddenly shot through my calf. I was in so much pain that I broke out in a cold sweat.

Seeing this, Taylor hurriedly helped me to the couch. "It's all Edmund's fault. If he hadn't been so stingy with his money, you could've bought some calcium supplements for yourself."

My eyes stung, and tears welled up.

The doctor said I had severe calcium deficiency during pregnancy, along with long-term malnutrition. Both had taken a serious toll on my health.

In fact, these cramps would continue to happen from then on.

Over the past year, if it weren't for Taylor, I wouldn't have been able to make it through.

As I massaged my calf, I happened to notice the new bag Taylor had left on the coffee table. It looked like a new release from some high-end brand, and its official retail price was over 200 thousand dollars.

I froze. "Taylor, did your boyfriend give you that bag? Did Vincent just hit it big?"

Taylor's hand froze midair. She quickly set the bag aside, wearing a forced smile.

"How could that be? This is just an imitation. It only cost a few hundred dollars."

I didn't think much of it. After all, Taylor was my best friend. After I married her brother, we became even closer.

I had always been in poor health, even as a child. After I got pregnant, things only got worse. I could sleep for more than ten hours and still wake up feeling exhausted.

Just before Edmund went overseas, he was extremely worried about me, so Taylor volunteered to look after me.

"Don't worry, Edmund. Let me handle groceries, cooking, and bills. You can just transfer me the money for living expenses.

"I don't want Britney worrying about all these little things. I promise I'll take good care of her."

Edmund agreed right away and kept reminding me. "Forget about everything else. Whatever you need, just let Taylor know. If you don't have enough money, have her tell me."

At first, Edmund sent me around six or seven thousand dollars a month. Then it dropped to three thousand dollars.

One day, Taylor looked at me with a troubled expression. "Britney, Edmund only gave me eight hundred dollars this month. Maybe his company hasn't been doing well lately.

"But don't worry. I'll cover the groceries this time."

But at that time, I needed to buy iron and calcium supplements. Eight hundred dollars wasn't even enough to cover the groceries.

I called Edmund and told him I didn't have enough money. His tone was slightly cold as he said, "Got it."

But when the next month came around, Taylor told me Edmund had only transferred eight hundred dollars.

Later, Taylor started working later and later into the night, and she would hand me a few hundred dollars afterward.

"Britney, take this money. I made this from working part-time today. My brother may not be reliable, but you can always depend on me."

I turned down her offer, and she deliberately frowned at me. "Not only are we best friends, but we're in-laws too. Why are you making such a big deal of this?"

I felt so guilty that I couldn't sleep all night.

When I was seven months pregnant, I set up a stall at a market. One time, my vision went black, and I passed out by the side of the road.

A vendor at the stall next to mine gave me some water, and I slowly came to. She tried talking some sense into me.

"You're so far along. You shouldn't be out here working. Your husband's really heartless. If something happens to you, it'll be too late to do anything about it."

I caressed my stomach and smiled bitterly.

Then the day came for me to give birth, and Edmund had been held up by an important project. Not only did he not come back, but he didn't even send me a single cent.

In the past, I used to think Edmund was a good husband. But now, I was nothing but disappointed in him.

…

The day after Kayla was discharged from the hospital, Edmund suddenly gave me a call. He had requested it at the last minute.

The moment the call connected, he immediately confronted me. "Did you sell your wedding ring? My friend works in that shop and happened to see it."

Edmund was clearly holding back his anger. "Did you know I designed that ring myself? It's one of a kind."

My anger erupted. "Kayla was sick, and I didn't have enough money to keep her in the hospital. Is the ring really more important than our daughter's life?"

Edmund snorted. "Taylor told me she already gave you the money. Even if you really needed more money, you could've come up with a better excuse."

I felt like I had been stabbed right in the chest. I couldn't believe Edmund actually expected me to spend Taylor's money.

I couldn't help but sneer. "What does Taylor's money have to do with you? Do you really think she's doing this for free?"

Taylor suddenly hurried out of the kitchen and snatched the phone from me.

"Edmund, that's enough. Raising a kid costs money, and Britney just gave birth. Must you really fight with her now?"

Edmund fell silent on the other end.

I stood next to Taylor. At first, I didn't want to cry, but the tears just wouldn't stop falling.

I regretted ever meeting Edmund. I couldn't believe I had misjudged him, and that Kayla had ended up with such an irresponsible father.

Perhaps Edmund had heard me sniffling, and his voice softened. "Forget it. I was too harsh earlier. I'll ask for a bigger allowance tonight."

He paused. "But next time something like this happens again, you have to talk to me first. Don't just sell things like that. That ring means a lot to me."

I didn't respond. Soon, Edmund's time was up, and he had to end the call. As usual, he abruptly hung up.

The moment the screen went dark, whatever hope I had left for our marriage was gone.

I secretly began preparing the paperwork for our divorce.

At the same time, Taylor seemed to be thriving. She had a new designer bag every few days, and she often posted about going to fancy restaurants and high teas on social media. Eventually, she even got a new car.

Whenever I asked Taylor about it, she said Vincent Jebb had given her all that.

Vincent was Taylor's boyfriend and had dropped out of high school. Not only did he spend all his time gambling and betting on sports, but he even owed others hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Back then, I had always been against the idea of Taylor dating Vincent, but she happily told me that he had turned over a new leaf.

Not only did Vincent quit gambling, but he even started his own business. In the future, he would definitely be making a fortune.

Today, she came home with another new bag, humming to herself.

I teased her with a grin. "Vincent's really changed for the better, huh? You've been going to fancy restaurants and buying designer bags. Looks like he's been spoiling you lately."

A smug smile tugged at the corner of Taylor's lips. She couldn't even hide her satisfaction. "Of course. If only you knew where he got his money to start his business…"

Taylor suddenly stopped and glanced at me nervously.

I assumed she had given him her own salary, so I couldn't help but give her some advice. "Vincent used to be a gambler. It's okay to help him, but don't give him all your savings. You can't always believe what a man tells you."

Taylor's expression suddenly darkened. "What are you trying to say? Do you really think every man in this world sucks because you have an unhappy marriage? I don't mind giving him all my money. Just stay out of this."

My cheeks started burning. "Taylor, that's not what I meant."

I kept apologizing to her. It wasn't until she finally calmed down that I breathed a sigh of relief.