All Chapters of The Hated Lives, the Loved Is Gone: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

Our son curled into a ball in my arms, clearly still in pain.I quietly suggested, "Could you maybe, perhaps drive us to the hospital? I'll feel better once he's been checked out.""I got them!"The words had barely left my mouth when Theodore Shaw practically leaped off the couch. He immediately sent Vivi Wells a voice message to tell her he had secured the tickets, and the two of them launched into an animated conversation.I stood there, suffocating beneath the sheer absurdity of it all.When he happened to look up and noticed my expression, his smile finally faded."The baby's stopped crying, hasn't he? If you're still worried, check with AI. You can find anything on there."After our son was born, I struggled with postpartum anxiety for a while. Whenever I was extra cautious and asked Theodore a question, he would simply toss me his phone."If there's something you don't understand, ask AI. Technology is so advanced now. You can find the answer to anything with a quick search."W

My blood ran cold when I saw the immigration approval letter in Charlie's hands.Sure enough, Vivi Wells's name was printed right there on the page.At that moment, the clerk behind the counter slid my own results toward me. I looked down and saw the same answer I had seen so many times before.Rejected.Charlie finally realized what was going on and quietly asked if I was okay. I shook my head, too drained to even manage a thank-you.That evening, Theodore came home and found the dining table buried beneath stacks of immigration applications. The moment he saw them, a look of understanding crossed his face."So you found out."That was all he said. There was no apology in his voice, not even a trace of guilt.He walked over to me, and when he spoke again, his tone had softened."Vivi has wanted to live there ever since she was a kid. I asked a friend to help with her immigration application, so she ended up taking the spot that would've gone to you."My hand, resting on the table, slo

"June? June?"He called June's name twice, but the only answer was the hollow echo of his own voice.He set down what he was carrying and walked toward the bedroom. When he pushed open the door, he started to call out again."June..."Then he stopped.All the bottles and toiletries that had once filled the room were gone, and so was the stroller that had always sat in the corner."Fine." Theodore planted his hands on his hips and stared at the half-empty room. "You really have to play this kind of childish game? You're already a mother, but you're still acting like a kid..."He sounded exasperated, yet part of him felt that this was more like the June he remembered.She used to get upset easily and give him the silent treatment whenever they fought. But no matter how angry she was, all it usually took was a little coaxing from him before she softened again.The thought made him smile despite himself.He took out his phone and called her.But with every unanswered attempt, the same auto

I left the city with my son and began traveling around the country.I used to beg Theodore to take trips with us, but his answer was always no. It wasn't until I saw new places and experienced different things that I finally realized something.We could have just as much fun without him.When we arrived in another city, a string of messages came through on my phone.Theodore had written, "If you don't come, then don't expect to ever see me again."I didn't reply.That was exactly what I wanted.Life with my son wasn't much different after leaving Theodore. Even before that, I had handled everything myself, big or small.Since our son was born, Theodore had never once made him a bottle or put him to sleep.There was one thing he'd said that was absolutely true."Besides, you've been doing fine taking care of him on your own. You're getting better at it every day."And I had.Maybe my son didn't need a father after all.The divorce, however, was going nowhere, so I finally called Theodor