Chapter 7

The first thing Isaac did when he got home was search for their divorce certificate. He found it in the study cabinet, tucked right alongside the marriage certificate belonging to Julia and Daniel.

Looking at the two documents side by side, Isaac felt a bitter pang of irony.

He put away his divorce certificate and began packing his belongings. Halfway through packing, Julia walked in. "What are you doing?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Isaac kept packing without looking up. "I'm moving out."

"Don't be ridiculous. Where would you even go?"

Julia slammed his suitcase shut, a hint of guilt creeping onto her face. "I know I shouldn't have slapped you today, but you crossed the line. That's my son. Shouldn't you have considered how I'd feel when you hurt him?"

Isaac looked at her. "Are you done? I've already resigned. What more do you want from me?"

"Can we stop fighting? Just stay home, rest up, and be my husband," Julia said helplessly.

"Your husband?"

Isaac desperately wanted to ask if he was truly still her husband.

However, he didn't even bother exposing her lies. "I do want to get some proper rest. That's why I'm going on a trip in three days to clear my head."

Julia let out a sigh of relief. "A trip? How about I come with you once I recover?"

Isaac countered coldly, "Could you really leave your newborn son behind? Aren't you worried Daniel would be upset?"

Julia went silent. "I'm sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you next time."

"Ms. Gordon, Mr. Poole's room is ready. He's asking for you."

Isaac froze at the maid's words. "You brought Daniel here?"

"Isaac."

Julia wrapped her arms around him and said gently, "Daniel is still young and doesn't know anything. Noah is still a baby. With your background as an OB-GYN, you know best how to take care of newborns.

"Since you'll be home with nothing to do anyway, why not help us look after him? Daniel needs to focus on his graduation and can't handle it all on his own."

Her scent was intimately familiar, yet it made Isaac gag with disgust.

He pushed her away, his eyes devoid of warmth. "Aren't you afraid I'll hurt the baby again?"

"You won't. Don't be so cold-hearted, Isaac. If you love me, you should love my baby too. I know you'll do everything you can to take care of us."

Love her?

Isaac wanted to tell her that he didn't love her anymore.

"But I'm leaving for my trip in three days. The tickets are already booked."

"Then, just take care of Noah for three days. I'll hire a proper nanny by then," Julia said.

"Fine."

Isaac knew Julia all too well. Pushing back directly would only keep him trapped here.

He had to endure it. Once these three days passed, he would finally be free.

The next morning, Isaac was jarred awake by a bucket of ice-cold water drenched over his head. The freezing water soaked him through to the bone.

Forcing his eyes open, he saw a furious Daniel standing over him with an empty bucket.

Beside him stood Julia. She was glaring at Isaac with seething rage, as if he had committed an unpardonable crime.

"What are you doing?" Isaac yelled.

He had already been feeling under the weather last night. The cold shock made his condition instantly worse.

"Isaac! How could you be so malicious? You actually went to the press and told them Daniel was a homewrecker? He's about to graduate! Do you have any idea what this does to him? You're ruining his entire life!" Julia shouted at him.

"What press? What homewrecker? I have no idea what you're talking about!"