Chapter 2

It turned into the worst nightmare of my life.

I don't even remember how I staggered out of that hotel room.

Clutching my torn clothes, I stumbled down the street with the intention of going straight to the police station.

But Danny stopped me.

He threw his arms around me, begging through tears.

“Please, Elena. I’ll never look at you differently. Just don't report it. Please.

“The settlement money is enough to save my business. It’ll pay for Liam’s private school tuition.”

My agonizing screams died in my throat.

In that moment of total devastation, I thought of our son. I thought of Danny. I thought of everyone except myself.

So I kept quiet. Danny’s startup survived.

Liam got into the elite academy.

And I broke.

I lost my mind for two years, taking blades to my own skin.

Blood would splatter across the floor, but I couldn't feel a thing.

It took two unbearable years to put myself back together, only for Danny to decide I was damaged goods.

I lunged forward and grabbed his collar, tears threatening to spill over.

“I was assaulted!”

I snarled, every word dripping with rage.

“I suffered so you could have your company! You are the last person on earth who has the right to look down on me!”

Danny flinched. His lips parted, as if he wanted to defend himself.

Then his phone rang.

It was Abigail.

He answered immediately.

Within seconds, he turned toward the door.

I felt something inside me snap into a thousand pieces.

I lost control and chased after him, clawing at his coat.

“Don’t you dare leave! Are you even human?! You're my husband!”

Danny’s eyes were pitch-black, staring at me in dead silence.

Before he could speak, Liam rushed out of his bedroom and shoved me backward onto the floor.

“Mom’s losing her mind again!” Liam spat, his face full of disgust. “Dad, I’m coming with you. Aunt Abigail is waiting!”

They walked out together, stepping right over my sobs without looking back.

Our neighbors heard the noise and tried to comfort me.

“He’s probably just busy with work,” one said softly. “You know how men get when there’s an emergency.”

Late that night, I sat in the dark, staring obsessively at my phone screen.

Sure enough, Abigail had posted an update.

A photo from a five-star hotel suite.

She was lying in a hot tub, her fingers intertwined with a man's hand.

Anyone could tell what they were doing.

“Thank you for always dropping everything to run to my side,” her caption read.

The taste of copper filled my mouth.

With trembling hands, I dialed Danny's number.

I expected it to go straight to voicemail.

But after a long ring, his voice cut through the speaker. He sounded slightly out of breath.

“You just don't get it,” he said, speaking to someone else in the room. “Being around her is suffocating.

“She gave up her youth for me. She had my kid. She suffered because of me. She even took a knife for me once.

“Every time I look at her face, I just feel exhausted. I honestly wish she had left me years ago so I wouldn't have to look at her anymore.”

The phone slipped from my fingers, clattering onto the floorboards.

A sharp, throbbing pain shot through my head. Slowly, I reached up and pressed my fingers against my scalp.

Right there was a three-inch scar.

The scar from taking a knife for him.

We were only in our early twenties back then.

Danny had expanded his business too fast and pissed off the wrong people.

When a street mugger pulled a blade and lunged at him, I didn't think twice. I pushed him out of the way.

When I collapsed, Danny lost his mind. He fought them off like a madman.

He held me in a pool of blood, sobbing like a child.

“Why are you so stupid, Elena?! Why did you take that hit for me?!”

“Don't you die on me! God, take my life instead! Just let her live!”

Maybe God listened.

Or maybe I was just too stubborn to die. I survived that night.

I pressed a hand against my chest.

Inside, there was nothing left beating.

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