Chapter 3

"Sasha… do you want a divorce?"

"What?"

"You sold all the bags and jewelry I gave you. Do you not want me anymore?"

His voice trembled a little.

He was over six feet tall, yet somehow he looked like a big golden retriever whose owner was about to abandon him.

A wave of affection washed over me, and I couldn't resist ruffling his hair.

"Of course not, honey. I just realized I don't like those things anymore. These days, I like cash more than designer bags!"

He still looked doubtful.

I quickly pulled the necklace from my pocket and held it out in my palm.

"I kept this."

He looked down at the necklace without a word.

I held it a little closer.

"Peyton, I was irresponsible. I spent too much, but I won't do that anymore. Once the money comes through, we'll cover the six thousand you still owe."

He looked up, his eyes a little red.

"Sasha, a husband should spend money on his wife. That doesn't make you irresponsible…"

His words touched something deep inside me.

No one in my entire life ever said anything like that to me.

When I told Gavin I wanted a job, he crushed any hope I had of independence.

"What would people think if a woman of your status went out to work? You'd make it look like the Zanes were mistreating you!"

But they were mistreating me.

Gavin gave me just sixty dollars a month, and I couldn't spend a cent on the card my in-laws gave me.

They wouldn't let me eat at the table, either. Every day, I was so hungry I saw stars. They treated me worse than a dog.

Once, the hunger became unbearable, so I secretly sold one of the couture outfits he gave me.

When they found out, they beat me viciously.

They said I disgraced myself and brought shame on the family.

They even confiscated my phone and locked me in my room for three whole months.

Now Peyton's simple assurance that a husband should provide for his wife nearly brought me to tears.

On the day the Shaws took Peyton for his DNA test, we happened to run into Sasha at the hospital.

My in-laws were with her.

Sasha, who now wore my face, froze when she saw me.

"Shay—Sasha, what are you doing here?"

I didn't answer. My gaze settled on my in-laws.

They stood on either side of Sasha, one carrying her bag and the other handing her water.

They fussed over her with an eagerness they never showed me.

Apparently, they still didn't know what disease Sasha was carrying.

That was fine. They would find out today.

Sasha raised her voice when I ignored her.

"Sasha, I'm talking to you! Are you deaf?"

Her gaze shifted to Peyton beside me, and a sneer curled her lips.

"Don't tell me your husband has some terminal illness. Then again, what do you expect when you eat filthy scraps from the market every day? No wonder he's sick."

But the people who reacted most strongly were Peter and Elaine Shaw.

Elaine grabbed Peyton's hand, her eyes instantly filling with tears.

"Peyton, is that… have you've been living like this?"

Only then did Sasha notice the well-dressed, middle-aged couple beside us.

She looked them up and down and muttered, "What the hell? I've known Peyton for years. Since when did he have relatives like these?"

However, Gavin's parents recognized them.

His father's expression changed, and he hurried over. "Mr. Shaw! What brings you here? Is this…"

He glanced at Peyton's worn clothes, then at Peter's face. He noticed the resemblance, and realization dawned.

"Is this your younger son?"