Chapter 2

Victor's POV

I was sitting right in front of Vanessa. Yet she couldn't see the blood seeping from my wound. All she cared about was Ethan's swollen face.

But there was a time when she'd cried herself hoarse over the smallest injury I suffered.

When a criminal had held her hostage, she'd deliberately thrown herself onto his knife rather than let me risk my life to save her. And when I'd been shot twice during an arrest and nearly bled to death, she'd donated so much blood to save me that she'd almost died herself.

That had all been Vanessa. So how had she become this person?

I closed my eyes for a moment before forcing out a single word. "No!"

Vanessa shot to her feet, furious. "Victor Calloway, stop being so stubborn! You know how powerful my family is!"

My blood boiled. I let out a bitter laugh.

Back when I graduated from the police academy, I'd nearly been assigned to another city. Vanessa had been so upset that she'd grabbed my arm and sobbed, "You're not leaving! My family has connections everywhere from politics to business. I can make sure you stay!"

Back then, she'd used her family's influence to protect me. Now, she was using that same influence to threaten me, all for Ethan.

I gritted my teeth and looked her straight in the eye. "Do whatever you want."

With that, I pulled out my IV and stormed out. Just as I started my car, my phone rang. I put the call on speaker. It was Christopher.

Strangely, he didn't speak right away. Instead, he let out a heavy sigh. "Victor, I'm sorry. You've been… fired. Someone filed a complaint against you. They're accusing you of having ties to meth users despite being a narcotics officer and of using excessive force to assault someone…"

I didn't even have to ask who'd filed the complaint. I already knew.

I eased off the gas. The hand holding my cigarette trembled slightly. "Okay."

For a long time, the car was completely silent. Outside, snow fell heavily, and a chill seemed to settle deep in my heart.

On the passenger seat lay a suit I'd never even tried on. Vanessa had had it custom-made for our third wedding anniversary.

Every year since we'd gotten married, she'd gone out of her way to make our anniversary special, buying me ties, cufflinks, or dress shirts.

My colleagues had always been jealous. They all said I was lucky to have such a wonderful wife.

But in the videos Ethan had just sent me, I'd noticed something. Every single gift Vanessa had ever given me, she'd bought an identical one for Ethan. Looking back, all her supposed devotion seemed like a cruel joke.

I drove home in a daze. The yard was pitch-black, with only a faint glow coming from the living room. I sat quietly in my car, listening to the laughter drifting through the window.

Eventually, I couldn't help myself. I got out and walked closer.

The small dining table was already full. Ethan was openly holding Vanessa's hand, the two of them cuddling together like a married couple.

My parents didn't seem the least bit surprised. Instead, they were warmly encouraging Vanessa to have some soup.

"Sweetheart, you need to hurry up and give us a grandchild! I've been waiting forever to become a grandmother!"

Ethan suddenly chimed in, "Mom… She's already pregnant. We're just not sure whose baby it is."

Vanessa playfully punched him on the arm before lowering her head, blushing shyly.

Mom clapped her hands excitedly. "Doesn't matter which brother's the father! Either way, that baby's a Calloway!"

Dad drained his glass of whiskey and chuckled. "Are you sure she's pregnant?"

Vanessa nodded. "I had an ultrasound at the hospital today…"

Only a wall separated us. Inside, the four of them were laughing and chatting like one happy family. Outside, tears streamed down my face.

I had no idea how long I stood there. By the time my breath was no longer visible in the freezing air, I finally turned and walked away, determined never to look back.

At the same time, I sent Christopher a message. "About that offer you mentioned. I'll take it."

It was 10:00 pm when I returned to the house that had once felt like home. Everything was familiar yet somehow completely foreign. Vanessa hadn't come back yet.

I gathered my identification documents, pulled out a suitcase, and packed a few clothes. Looking at the nearly empty suitcase, I suddenly felt like laughing.

Eight years together, and apparently, everything that proved I'd ever lived here couldn't even fill a 20-inch suitcase.

Meanwhile, Ethan's belongings were crammed into every corner of the house.

I wiped my face. Then, I bent down, opened the safe, and took out our photo albums. I tore every single photo to pieces and threw them into the trash.

Suddenly, Vanessa's sharp voice rang out behind me, "What are you tearing up?"