Chapter 2

I froze, my stomach dropping through the floor.

I thought she was just selfish and cruel. But she was actually sleeping around behind my back!

What about the baby in her belly?

Was it even mine?

Blind with rage, I ignored the doctor and stormed toward her room.

The door was cracked open. Just as my hand touched the handle, Raymond's furious voice drifted out.

"I don't care how reckless you are normally, but look at what state you're in!"

"If you lose this baby, how do you expect to keep using Liam as your personal ATM?"

Vanessa sounded petulant. "It wasn't my fault! It's that loser's fault! He keeps using this pregnancy as an excuse to keep me locked in the house. Dustin missed me so much, he couldn't help himself..."

Her voice turned bitter.

"If I'd known, I would've divorced Liam the second Dustin got me pregnant!"

"Just imagining my baby calling that pathetic loser 'Dad' makes me want to throw up!"

I was right. The child wasn't mine.

Raymond snapped back, "If that deadbeat Dustin were willing to support you, would you have needed to marry Liam in the first place?"

"Screw whoever you want, but you cannot lose Liam's wallet!"

I couldn't take it anymore. I kicked the door wide open.

Both of them jumped out of their skins. Panic flashed across their faces before they scrambled to compose themselves.

Raymond immediately scowled, trying to flip the script. "What kind of husband are you?! You can't even take care of your pregnant wife! You almost caused a miscarriage!"

"If she hadn't gotten here in time, she might have lost the baby!"

I let out a cold laugh. Snatching the medical chart the doctor had given me, I hurled it straight at Vanessa. "I was just wondering the same thing. Why did the doctor tell me my wife almost miscarried from violent, aggressive sex while I was at the office working my ass off?"

"I—"

Vanessa choked, then scowled. She stood up, marched over, and slapped me across the face.

Smack!

The sharp crack echoed through the room.

She put on a display of tearful outrage. "What are you implying?! You think I cheated on you?!"

What a performance.

If I hadn't heard every single word outside that door, I might have actually believed her.

"These hospital reports are full of nonsense. You can't trust them..." Raymond chimed in hastily.

Holding my stinging cheek, I didn't apologize like I used to. Instead, I stared straight into her eyes. "Then do you have the guts to do a prenatal DNA test?"

Vanessa's gaze dropped guiltily.

I was done playing along. "Vanessa, do you really think I'm deaf?"

"You... you heard everything..."

All her arrogance evaporated.

"Let's get a divorce," I said coldly.

"On what grounds?!" Vanessa protested instantly.

"Even if the baby isn't yours, we've been married for five years! How dare you abandon me?!"

It was almost comical. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, her tone suddenly softened.

"I know... I know I messed up..."

"Look, once this baby is born, I'll give you one of your own."

"I swear I'll cut all ties with other men."

"Just forgive me this once, okay?"

In two lifetimes, this was the first time she had ever lowered herself to beg me.

Raymond jumped in to smooth things over. "She just made a foolish mistake! I promise I'll keep her in line from now on!"

I stood in silence for a long moment, then gave a slow, deliberate nod.