Chapter 3

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. My hands shaking, I hung up, only then noticing my face was covered in tears.

Betrayed and humiliated by the person I trusted most.

He said it himself—I wasn't even a woman.

But he was the one who shielded me with his body when we got in that car crash when I was eight months pregnant. He was coughing up blood, trying to keep me calm.

"Aurora, just hold on... we're gonna be okay."

His blood and tears mixed on my face, burning like acid.

"Aurora, this is our first baby—you don't wanna lose them, right? The ambulance will be here soon..."

I fought to stay alive, and Lily was born safe. But the accident meant I could never have more kids.

He promised me then, kissing me and telling me over and over, that Lily would be his only child—his whole world.

Yet here we were, five years later, and he had a second kid with someone else.

I wiped my tears and threw my wedding ring in the trash, hard.

Staring at the red-eyed woman in the mirror, I laughed and cried at the same time, couldn't help wondering.

Aurora, what the hell were you even fighting for?

You went from a privileged heiress to a wife and mom who gave up everything for her family.

And in the end, someone else got all the benefits of my sacrifices!

Finally, I called my dad. Taking a deep breath, my voice still cracked with unshed tears.

"Dad... I wanna come home."

Dad said he'd be there in two days.

But in the middle of the night, Lily spiked a high fever. I had no choice but to call Blake.

"Blake! Lily has a fever! The driver..."

"Aurora, is this your way of groveling? You're so desperate you'd wish our kid was sick? Don't you realize Chloe feels guilty and cried for hours because you left?"

Cried for hours?

Whether it was guilt or post-sex hormones, only they knew.

"You'll get your status as Mrs. Harrison back when you apologize to Chloe and she forgives you!"

He hung up. I bit my jaw, hugging my burning daughter. I walked the streets at night, crying until I had no tears left, finally hailing a cab to the hospital.

The next day, after grabbing some food, I found Chloe and Blake by Lily's hospital bed.

I panicked and rushed over, shoving Chloe away.

"Don't touch my daughter!"

The next second, a sharp slap hit my face.

Blake steadied Chloe, who almost fell, looking disappointed.

"Aurora, Chloe found out Lily was sick and talked me into coming. You don't have to thank her, but shoving her like that?"

Chloe frowned, tears filling her eyes, shaking her head hard.

"Don't say that, Blake. It's all my fault..."

My cheek stung where he'd hit me, but I held back tears. The last bit of love I had for him disappeared completely.

I begged him for so long, but he didn't care that our daughter had a high fever.

But Chloe says one word, and he comes running.

I used to think even if he got tired of me, he'd at least be a good dad. But I was wrong.

Lily and I together meant less to him than Chloe.

I closed my eyes and pointed to the door.

"Both of you get out. You're not welcome here!"

Chloe looked heartbroken.

"Aurora, why can't you forgive me? I know I messed up, back when you were pregnant..."

"Chloe! Enough!"

Blake cut her off sharply, panic flashing in his eyes. He turned to me with a cold laugh.

"Aurora, since you're so ungrateful, I'll transfer Lily's shares to Leo as soon as I get back! You..."

He didn't finish before freezing, like he'd seen a ghost. His pupils shrank, and he grabbed my wrist hard.

"Where's your wedding ring? Aurora, how dare you take off our wedding ring!"