Chapter 9

I remembered the scent of that perfume from that day.

I was so foolish, so naive, I'd completely forgotten.

What kind of intimacy would leave such a strong, lingering perfume scent?

I think I understood now why Daniel didn't want to divorce me.

Did he think that not divorcing me was his way of compensating me?

Seeing my silence, Daniel continued,

"I want Victoria to move in. You can help take care of her. After all, you're just sitting around."

I walked over, unable to control myself, and slapped him across the face.

The sharp sound echoed in the living room.

Daniel's glasses flew off, landing far away.

Unable to stop the surging tears, I cried and grabbed Daniel's collar.

"Daniel, are you even human?"

"Are you even human!!!"

"You don't have to love me, but how can you humiliate me like this?"

Daniel let me hold him, silently turning his head away.

He knew he was in the wrong.

But his silence at that moment was like a suffocating tide.

Daniel and Victoria were childhood sweethearts.

Their bond spanned from middle school to college.

I never expected Daniel to love me deeply, and I had considered how close he and Victoria might be.

I thought I would be indifferent to it.

But when the truth was laid bare before me, I realized.

Watching the person I once loved so much admit to cheating, my heart still ached.

I released Daniel, leaning against the glass, struggling to breathe.

"It's my fault."

Daniel admitted his mistake for the first time.

"But Victoria isn't well. If she gets rid of this baby, she might never be able to have children again."

"Don't worry, I won't divorce you. Victoria doesn't want to destroy our marriage either."

"We've discussed it. This child will be registered under my name. You'll raise it."

Daniel's words came one after another.

More than he'd spoken to me in an entire month.

And my heart gradually grew calm.

"I agree to Victoria moving in."

Daniel's eyes brightened.

"But, in seven days, I must have the divorce papers."

His earlier words made me realize Daniel was trying to back out.

Since things had come to this.

I had to make Daniel agree to the divorce.

I didn't have another month to wait.

Daniel froze, a hint of desperation in his voice.

"I won't divorce you, don't worry—"

"I'm not discussing this with you." My voice grew colder. "I'm *informing* you. Otherwise, I will make sure everyone knows about Dr. Davies's questionable lifestyle."

I wasn't very good at threatening people; my words weren't very forceful.

But it was enough to make Daniel feel my resolve.

Daniel was speechless. He looked down at me.

"Sarah, are you really going to be this ruthless?"

I smiled. "Daniel, did I get Victoria pregnant?"

Daniel clenched his hand. "I told you, it was a misunderstanding—"

"What kind of misunderstanding leads to sleeping together?!"

I suppressed the nausea in my stomach, glancing at Daniel.

"Daniel, you truly disgust me."

Daniel fell silent.

After a long pause, he bent down and picked up his glasses.

"Fine."

Daniel agreed.

After he left, I ran to the bathroom and threw up.

However much I had loved him before, that's how much I detested him now.

I had always thought they wouldn't reach a point of such mutual disgust.

But now Victoria was pregnant.

All pretense of civility had turned into filth.

And Daniel's actions were swift.

Fearing I might change my mind, he brought Victoria into the house the very next day.

I felt sick, but I didn't argue. I endured it silently.

Five more days.

Five more days until I could leave this bastard.

After Victoria moved in, she became even more brazen.

She stroked her still-flat stomach and ordered me, "Sarah, honey, I'm craving pumpkin porridge."

I didn't like to argue. I said nothing, simply ordered her a takeout version.

But Victoria cried to Daniel.

"Daniel, I'm pregnant. How can I eat takeout?"

Daniel looked at me, silent and unmoving, and for the first time, he didn't side with Victoria.

"Victoria, it's fine. One time won't hurt."

I paid them no mind.

I had no desire to argue anymore.

And I certainly wouldn't cook.

But I never imagined that the day before the divorce.

Victoria would fall in the bathroom.

I stood there, my clothes soaked, clutching my stomach, and cried to Daniel when he rushed back.

"Daniel, why did Sarah spill shower gel on the floor? My stomach hurts so much."

"Sarah, I never wanted to ruin things between you and Daniel. Please don't hurt our baby, okay?"

Victoria was skilled at falsely accusing me like this.

I just felt a deep sense of exasperation.

Daniel believed her without a second thought.

"Sarah, apologize to Victoria!"

My brow furrowed. "Daniel, tomorrow we're going to finalize our divorce. Why would I bother to harm myself like this?"

Whenever Victoria was involved, Daniel turned into an idiot.

Daniel also remembered that tomorrow was the last day of the divorce cooling-off period.

Without thinking clearly, the words just tumbled out of his mouth.

"If you want this divorce to go smoothly, apologize to Victoria."

I froze.

I never expected such a threatening demand to come from Daniel's mouth.

How sickening, how ugly.