Chapter 2

I rushed to the hospital as fast as I could and paid the fees without stopping for a second. Then I waited, my heart burning with anxiety, for two long hours.

Finally, the doctor came out and reassured me.

"Don't worry, Ms. Carter. Thora is stable now. However, her heart can't hold on much longer. We need to arrange a transplant as soon as possible."

I let out a breath I felt like I had been holding forever, like I had just survived something terrible.

"Please schedule the surgery as soon as possible," I said. "Money isn't a problem."

After the doctor left, Thora was still unconscious. That was when I suddenly remembered the thirty thousand.

I went to the payment counter to check, and that was when I found out the truth.

Wade had never come to pay.

Luckily, his bank card was linked to my phone. I logged into the account, and what I saw made my chest tighten with rage.

He had used the entire thirty thousand… to buy a luxury handbag.

In that moment, anger pressed down on me so hard I could barely breathe.

Thinking back to how he and Ella had ganged up on me tonight, there was no question anymore.

We were getting divorced. There had to be another woman, and even as the thought settled in, I clenched my teeth and forced myself not to call him.

Not yet, I told myself.

No matter what, I needed to finalize the divorce as soon as possible.

Thora's surgery would cost a fortune, and the only way to get that money was to claim my lottery prize.

I pushed down my anger and went back to Thora's room.

She was still asleep. Her small face looked pale under the oxygen mask, and the sight made my chest ache.

Looking at my little girl, the child I had nearly died bringing into this world, my heart filled with nothing but tenderness for her and a growing hatred for Wade. She was his daughter too, and yet he was willing to risk her life for another woman.

If I had not gotten that call today, I did not even want to think about what might have happened.

At that thought, the last bit of love I had for Wade disappeared completely.

I reached into my bag and took out his medical report, remembering how helpless and heartbroken I had felt the first time I saw it. However, now, there was nothing left. No sadness. No hesitation.

A moment later, I tore it into pieces and threw it into the trash without a second thought.

By the time I got home, it was already late at night. However, when I stepped out of the elevator, I froze. All of my belongings and Thora's things had been thrown outside the door. Even the lock had been changed.

I started banging on the door.

After what felt like forever, Wade finally opened it, moving slowly like he had all the time in the world.

The first thing he did was hand me a divorce agreement. Not only did it demand that I leave with nothing, it even stated that I had no claim to the house.

"I'm not accepting this." I grabbed his arm before he could walk away, my voice icy. "When your family bought this house, I paid a total of seven hundred thousand for the down payment and the loan. And now you're telling me I have no share? My name is on the deed."

Wade just shrugged.

"So what if your name's on it? That seven hundred thousand you gave went into renovations. The down payment and the mortgage were paid by me. If you want a share of the house, then go ahead and take all the furniture."

I actually laughed.

The furniture in that house had all come from his distant cousin's secondhand factory. The total cost was less than a hundred thousand.

Probably worried I might really take the furniture, Ella rushed out and threatened me.

"If you don't sign this agreement, don't blame us for fighting you for custody of your daughter!"

Right now, I was unemployed, which put me at a disadvantage in a custody battle. They might not win in the end, but I could not risk them delaying Thora's surgery. So I stopped arguing, picked up the pen, and signed my name.

We'll settle this debt later, I told myself.

When they saw my signature, the satisfaction in Wade and Ella's eyes was almost overflowing.

Wade even smirked and said, "Want me to transfer you a hundred bucks for cab fare?"

I let out an icy laugh. "Keep it. You might need it for your own funeral someday."

Ella's face twisted with anger, and she almost snapped again, but Wade quickly pulled her back inside.

Before the door fully closed, I heard her muttering under her breath, "Finally got rid of those two burdens."

I held onto our luggage and pressed the elevator button.

Just then, the door next door creaked open.

It was Linda.

Thora had always been close to her, treating her almost like a grandmother. Linda would often cook soup and ask me to bring some to Thora.

Then, seeing me thrown out like that, her face was full of indignation.

"You might not know this since you're always busy, but your husband has been seeing that young nanny in Building 703 next door."

I blinked in surprise.

With the way Ella usually acted so high and mighty, she would approve of a nanny?

Linda seemed to read my thoughts. She lowered her voice and continued, "My eldest son saw them at the hospital a few days ago. He was accompanying her for a prenatal checkup."

Everything clicked into place instantly.

So they had probably confirmed it was a boy. That was why they were in such a hurry to kick me out.

"Thank you for telling me," I said softly.

"No need." Linda waved her hand, her expression gentle but clearly displeased.

"I just can't stand Ella's attitude. Thora is such a good child, and she doesn't appreciate her at all. People like that… they'll get what's coming to them sooner or later."

I smiled faintly but said nothing, because I knew one thing for sure. Some consequences did not take long to arrive, and Wade was going to experience them very soon.