Chapter 2

There were several used condoms scattered carelessly under the bed.

I froze, my entire body trembling uncontrollably.

Watching me, Aiden’s eyes welled up with tears. He took a deep breath.

"Mom, you can also look under the pillow..."

My mind went completely blank. Mechanically, I lifted the pillow.

A piece of lace lingerie met my eyes.

It was Chloe’s favorite brand and style.

I took a step back, unable to believe what I was seeing.

"How is this possible..."

"Maybe... maybe it was the cleaning lady..."

Before I could even finish the sentence, I knew how pathetic I sounded.

Isaiah and I had been together for seven years. I couldn't bring myself to believe he would betray me like this.

"How does this prove it was them?" I whispered.

Aiden looked at me with pure heartbreak.

"Mom, Dad and Chloe are arguing in the parking garage right now. If you go down, you'll hear everything."

I turned to leave, but then I hesitated.

"Can you tell me... what happens ten years from now?"

Aiden seemed afraid of hurting me. He hesitated for a long time before speaking in a low, trembling voice.

"Mom, you were eventually sent to a psychiatric hospital by Dad."

A psychiatric hospital?

Seeing my confusion, he slowly unfolded the tragedy of my future.

Chloe wasn't satisfied with being just the secret mistress, yet she couldn't bear losing her friendship with me. She fell into a deep depression.

One night, she left a confession letter and committed suicide.

After reading her letter, my mental state completely collapsed. I fell into severe depression.

But instead of comforting me, Isaiah blamed her death entirely on me.

He started openly dating other women—women who looked like Chloe.

I couldn't take the abuse and fought back, even hurting myself in the process.

He used that as an excuse, claimed I was insane, and locked me away in an asylum.

Hearing this, I sank to the floor, my stomach churning. A wave of intense nausea hit me. I rushed to the bathroom and threw up until my throat burned.

When I came out, the video call had already ended.

I touched my belly, my eyes filling with tears.

Looking at my phone, I saw Isaiah’s car locator was still showing he was in the parking garage.

This time, I didn't hesitate. I walked straight down.

As soon as I entered the dim garage, I saw Chloe pushing Isaiah away, crying hysterically.

"Isaiah, what do you want me to do?"

"Every time I see you treating her so well, I go crazy with jealousy!"

"But she is my best friend! What else do you want me to do?!"

Isaiah wrapped his arms around her tightly, looking completely devastated.

No matter how she struggled, punched, or kicked him, he didn't let go.

Only when she ran out of strength did Isaiah finally speak in a soft, aching voice.

"You still love me, and neither of us wants to hurt her. This is the best choice for all of us, isn't it?"

"Besides, didn't we cover it up perfectly just now?"

Hearing those words, even though I had prepared myself, a sharp, stabbing pain pierced my heart.

Chloe sobbed against his chest.

"No... it shouldn't be like this..."

"Isaiah, let's end this! Let's pretend none of today ever happened!"

But he didn't let go. Instead, he pulled her even closer.

"Chloe, are you going to abandon me again after weighing your options?"