Chapter 2

Julian pinched the bridge of his nose. Irritation seeped into every word.

"Vanessa, do you really have to throw a tantrum right now? Yasmine just finished her fetal heart monitor test. She can't take this stress."

He straightened his posture. "I said I will handle this. Your position as my wife isn't changing.

"Go home," he added. "I'll explain everything tonight."

Without waiting for a response, he wrapped an arm around Yasmine and walked right past me.

As she brushed by my shoulder, Yasmine turned her head. A victorious smirk played on her lips.

She mouthed two words, “Old woman.”

I stood frozen.

The sharp throb in my twisted ankle was nothing compared to the violent shatter in my chest.

I stumbled back to the house in a daze.

Looking around at the home we built together felt like a sick joke.

Our fifth-anniversary portrait hung on the wall. A sweater I hand-knitted for him rested on the couch.

I had been the perfect wife in this house. But I had lost myself along the way.

At eleven that night, the front door chimed open.

Julian walked in.

He carried a faint trail of expensive perfume, a woody blend I used to love, now ruined by another woman’s skin.

He paused when he saw me sitting on the sofa. Then, he stepped closer, softening his voice.

"Vanessa, why are you still awake?"

He reached out to touch my shoulder. I jerked away from his hand.

His arm stiffened in midair. His expression hardened.

"How long are you going to draw this out? I told you today was an accident."

"An accidental trip back to the country?" I looked at him coldly. "An accidental affair? Or an accidental pregnancy?"

Julian yanked off his tie and threw himself into the armchair across from me.

He lit a cigarette.

"You used to be so reasonable, Vanessa," he murmured, exhaling a cloud of gray smoke between us.

"Yasmine is only twenty. Her life is just beginning. I can't let a child ruin her future."

"What about my future?!" Tears burned my eyes. My voice shook violently.

"Julian, I spent five years married to you! I wrecked my health building your company until I could barely conceive! Now you're telling me you can't ruin her life?!"

A flash of guilt crossed his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came.

"I know you feel wronged. That’s why I said you will always be my wife."

He leaned forward. "When Yasmine gives birth, I'll bring the baby home. We'll put your name on the birth certificate.

"We can raise the child together," he continued smoothly. "You'll finally have a baby. Isn't that a good thing?"

I stared at the man sitting in front of me with absolute disbelief.

How could he say something so disgusting with such a straight face?

"Julian, you make me sick."

I grabbed a glass from the side table and smashed it at his feet. Shards of glass exploded across the hardwood floor.

Julian bolted up, his face twisted in rage.

"Vanessa! I am making massive concessions here! What more do you want?"

He pointed a finger at me.

"Don't forget, you were the one who pushed to fund that underprivileged student program! How else would I have met Yasmine?

"You brought the snake into our home yourself!"

My whole body trembled with fury.

I had chosen to sponsor Yasmine because she came from nothing, just like I once did.

She wanted an education. I used my own savings to give her an allowance, buy her clothes, and help her map out a future.

I wanted to help her change her life.

Instead, she changed her life by crawling into my husband's bed.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. The screen lit up with the name ‘Yasmine.’

Julian picked it up immediately. His voice softened to a gentle whisper.

"What's wrong, Yasmine? Is the baby kicking again? Don't worry, I'm on my way..."

He hung up. Without a single glance at me, he grabbed his car keys and walked toward the door.

"There's an issue at the office. I won't be back tonight. Calm yourself down."

The door slammed shut behind him.

I sank onto the couch, staring at the broken glass on the floor. A sharp laugh escaped my lips.

Five years of love meant nothing against a younger body.

I wiped my tears, picked up my phone, and called Attorney Ford, my senior from law school.

"Hey," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "Draft a divorce agreement for me. As fast as you can.”