Home / When My Husband's Number Hit Zero, I Left / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of When My Husband's Number Hit Zero, I Left: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

17 Chapters

Chapter 1

Austin walked in and found me curled up on the couch in a thin nightgown. He frowned, strode over, and wrapped a blanket tightly around me."It's so cold. You should know better than to dress like that."He sounded a little annoyed, but he tucked the blanket around me gently.He hugged me from behind, his warm breath brushing my neck. He still seemed like the husband who loved and spoiled me.I stared hard at the number, but no matter how many times I blinked, the blood-red "three" didn't change."Why are you so late?" I stepped back without thinking, slipping out of his arms.Austin looked away for a moment, then quickly composed himself."Tomorrow's your birthday. I've planned a party on a cruise ship. Haven't you always wanted to watch the sunrise at sea? This time I'll be there with you."He leaned in and brushed his nose against mine. Just as he was about to kiss me, his phone rang, sharp and urgent.Austin answered, and I heard a child crying on the other end.His expression chan

Chapter 2

The next afternoon, Austin finally came home.He came toward me with a bouquet of white roses. "Happy birthday, sweetheart. I'm sorry I wasn't with you last night. Meet me on the cruise ship at the harbor at eight tonight. I've got a surprise you're going to love."He leaned down to kiss me.I smelled that sickly sweet floral perfume on him again. It wasn't mine. I turned my head away.He paused, then smiled and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Still mad? I'll make it up to you tonight."The number above Austin's head still glared at me, but this might be the last birthday we'd spend together.I wanted one last good memory so I could end our marriage with some dignity. So I nodded.When I got to the harbor, the water was empty. There wasn't a cruise ship in sight, or even a decent yacht.The cold wind whipped in off the sea and stung my face.I stood under a streetlight with my arms wrapped around myself, coming up with one excuse after another. Maybe there's a last-minute

Chapter 3

The laughter on the deck stopped short.Austin's smile vanished completely. "Divorce! Over one missed birthday?"He lowered his voice, staring at me in disbelief. "Livia, stop it. Bianca just lost her husband. She's not stable. I can't just ignore her."I looked at him. "What about me?"He froze.I'd waited two hours for him until I was numb with cold, and the first thing he did was blame me for showing up.Austin grabbed my hand. "I messed up today, but don't bring up divorce again. We're not getting divorced."He was about to pull me away when Bianca covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face."It's all my fault... If it weren't for me, Mr. Vance wouldn't be fighting with you. I shouldn't even be alive. All I do is cause trouble for everyone..."Before she could finish, she collapsed onto the deck.Ron burst into tears and threw himself at her. "Mommy! Mommy, don't die!"The color drained from Austin's face, and he crouched down to check on her.I stood to one side and watched

Chapter 4

By the time I returned home with the divorce agreement from my brother, Bianca and Ron had already moved in.Austin was sitting on our bed with Ron on his lap, and the boy's shoes were leaving marks all over the white sheets. Bianca was busy in the kitchen, wearing my clothes.One of the matching mugs Austin and I had made together lay broken in the trash, and someone had replaced the tablecloth with one I didn't recognize.The roses in the vase were gone, swapped out for lilies.Five years ago, we'd searched the whole city for a set of dishes. Back then, he'd said we should decorate the house the way I liked.Now another woman was taking over everything I'd chosen, piece by piece.When Bianca saw me, she set down the ladle and put on a wounded look."Ms. Sinclair, I'm so sorry. Ron's been having nightmares, and Mr. Vance was worried we wouldn't be safe on our own, so he's letting us stay for a few days. As soon as I feel better, we'll move out."Austin added, "I've taken care of it. T

Chapter 5

"Bruto!" I tried to open the box right away, but the latch was locked.Ron stood nearby, swinging the key in his hand, his smile somehow innocent and cruel at the same time. "Mommy says you're a bad person, and the doggy doesn't play with bad people!"With that, he turned and ran.I chased him, my voice rising in panic. "Ron, stop! Give me the key!"He deliberately dodged around the furniture, holding the key high. Bruto's whimpers grew weaker. I forgot about everything else and lunged for the key.Ron spun around, and his forehead slammed into my stomach.I gasped and stumbled back. My side hit the corner of the table hard, my vision went black, and I broke out in a cold sweat.Ron ran to Austin, who'd just come in, and burst into tears. "Daddy, she was mean to me! She won't let me play with the doggy!"When did Ron start calling Austin Daddy?A sharp pang went through me. Whatever. Let them. We're as good as divorced anyway.I reached for the key, but Austin stopped me."Bruto's just

Chapter 6

The next day, Austin's parents held a party at their estate and insisted that we both come.He hugged me. "Bianca and Ron have moved out. Please don't be mad anymore, okay?"I didn't want to go, but Austin's parents had always been good to me. I decided to treat it as my chance to say goodbye.With that in mind, I agreed.At the party, Austin was busy talking with important guests. He'd left his phone with me, and it chimed several times.I glanced at it and froze. The messages were from Bianca."Ron misses you so much, and so do I.""The way you made me feel that night was amazing...""I'm right outside the estate. I took one of Livia's lace nightgowns when I left this morning. I'm wearing it right now. It's such a thrill..."Every suggestive word burned itself into my mind.I stared at the photo she'd attached for a few seconds, my fingers going cold.Austin had given in to temptation after all. He'd cheated on me.When I gave Austin his phone back, his eyes caught on the messages fo

Chapter 7

Austin didn't come back until that night.He came over as usual and reached out to hug me. "Why didn't you wait for me?"I smelled Bianca's white floral perfume on him, and the image of them kissing outside the estate flashed through my mind. My stomach turned."I'm tired." I stepped out of his reach.Austin hesitated, then wrapped his arms around me from behind, his voice softening. "Livia, I really do love you. I know I've neglected you lately. Tomorrow I'll take you to Iceland to get away for a while. Just the two of us, okay?"I closed my eyes and didn't answer.He rested his chin on my shoulder, the way he had countless times before.This time, his arms felt suffocating."Go take a shower first," I said. "That perfume on you smells awful."His arms stiffened. "I must have picked it up at the party."Austin went into the bathroom, and my phone lit up with a message from Bianca.In the photo, she was wearing my nightgown and holding my husband, her neck covered in red marks."Mr. Va

Chapter 8

Austin's message went unanswered.He gripped his phone and stared at the screen.He couldn't explain it, but panic rose in him, as though something precious was slipping out of his life.Austin couldn't take it anymore. He called Livia, but she didn't answer. His unease grew."Is Ms. Sinclair still mad? Should I go over and apologize to her?" Bianca traced teasing circles on Austin's chest with a fingertip.Irritation flared in Austin. He pushed Bianca away, his face blank."I'm taking Livia on vacation. Don't bother me for a while." With that, he grabbed his coat and headed home.He figured Livia was just upset with him. As long as he swallowed his pride and apologized, she'd forgive him and cherish what they had, the way she always had.He called an auction house and bought an antique diamond necklace, sure that a gift that expensive would make up for hurting her.But when he opened the front door, the house was dark and silent. A cold wind blew through the open window.Austin spotte

Chapter 9

Theodore's words left Austin rooted to the spot.He couldn't believe Livia had left or that she'd given up on the years they'd shared.He tore up the divorce agreement and ordered his men to find Livia.One clip from the estate's security cameras stopped him cold.The day Bianca had asked him to meet her outside the estate, Livia had been standing nearby while they kissed.She'd seen it with her own eyes.Austin stared at the screen, his face slowly going pale.He finally remembered the open disgust and rejection in Livia's eyes that night when he'd tried to hug her.At the time, he'd assumed she was still angry.Only now did he realize she'd seen him and Bianca kissing.Austin slammed his fist into the screen. The glass cut into the back of his hand, but he didn't seem to feel a thing.He'd told himself he was looking after the family of a man who'd died serving him. He'd dismissed the ways he'd let Livia down as small things.Now he saw how all those choices he'd brushed off had slow

Chapter 10

Austin hadn't slept for three days straight.He sent every man the family could spare to turn the city upside down, but there was no sign of Livia.Late on the third night, he finally called Theodore. "Where's Livia?"There was silence on the other end for a moment.Austin swallowed his frustration. His voice was hoarse. "I won't force her to come back. I just want to see her once and apologize in person."Theodore ignored his plea. "Sign off on the divorce, and I'll give you what Livia left for you."The word "divorce" left Austin silent for a long time.He'd never imagined he'd be cornered like this. But Livia wouldn't tell him where she was, and he had no way to make her hear him out."Fine."Once he had the divorce agreement, Austin offered to transfer all the money and property in his name to Livia without asking for anything in return.Theodore looked at him. "You think she'll come back for this?"Austin didn't answer. He just picked up the pen and signed his name.None of it wou

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