Chapter 2

"The living and the dead are in different worlds. Those of us still here need to move on," Jody said, then she ended the call.

From inside the house came Jody's wanton moans.

She threw her arms around Pete's neck. "Sam's more of a woman than a man. It was just one little brat's life. It's been six months, and he still brings it up just to disgust me.

"You're so much better. You always do exactly what I want. I have to give birth to a child that's ours alone—our love child."

Jody shot a disgusted look at her phone and hurled it at the vase in the yard.

The ceramic vase—the one that held memories of our happy family of three, the one our daughter had painted with her own little hands—shattered into pieces.

She clung tightly to Pete on the swing, their bodies tangled together. But this was the swing I had made with Jody for our daughter. Back then, she was so gentle and shy. She had leaned against me in my arms and whispered nervously, "Honey, she's going to love the swing we made for her, isn't she?"

She was hopeful and anxious, afraid our daughter wouldn't like her as a mother.

But why had she forgotten all of it?

…

I slipped away in a daze and hid inside the car parked outside.

This was the first luxury car Jody and I bought after our business took off. We were so excited and nervous. We spent an entire month decorating it, turning the cold machine into a warm little home. She never let me smoke in it. She'd even scold me for drinking a sip of water inside.

I hadn't sat in this car for the better part of a year. Now, the floor mats were covered in cigarette ash. The seat had a big hole burned through it from a cigarette butt. And the car reeked of a certain indescribable, intimate smell.

I stayed inside like I was punishing myself, sitting there for three full hours. I didn't open the door until night fell.

The pain in my heart had gone numb. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The sound of me opening the door startled Jody, who had been eating. She quickly shoved Pete aside—he had been spoon-feeding her soup—and gave me an awkward smile.

"Sam, why are you back early? You should have told me. I would have picked you up.

"Pete made you some nutritious soup. I said I'd taste it for you first, so he just happened to feed me a spoonful. Don't overthink it."

I gave a faint nod and set my suitcase aside. The moment my eyes landed on her, my heart still lurched out of control. It had been a long time since I'd seen her. Her belly was indeed swollen.

Following my gaze downward, Jody smiled with a hint of condescension.

"Sam, you can never have children anymore. When this baby is born, we'll let him call you Dad. As long as you're good to him, he'll take care of you in your old age."

A gust of wind blew. Jody instinctively turned around and let Pete blow the sand out of her eye.

When she saw I wasn't responding, her voice turned cold, degree by degree.

"You should know what happens to a man who can no longer perform his husbandly duties. Besides me, who else would treat you this well? And don't forget, Chloe died because you failed to protect her. We're in this situation because you messed up big time.

"Pete is willing to stay by our side without any title, just for your sake. In this house, whatever you can't do, Pete will do for you. All you have to do is help take care of the baby."

Getting worked up, she forgot to step out of Pete's arms.

I looked at this absurd scene before me and barely held back my rage.

"Did you forget the vows we made on our wedding day? Through poverty and wealth, sickness and health, you promised to stay by my—"

"Enough, enough!" Jody cut me off impatiently.

"I don't want to listen to ancient history. Go wash the dishes. I'm not feeling well. I'm going to rest. You can talk to me when you've figured things out. Honestly, you've been spoiled way too much."