Chapter 2

I paused, nodding politely at the surprised duo.

Leo glared at my suitcase. "Where are you going with that?"

"Are you still throwing a tantrum because Scarlett is taking me to Disneyland? Mom, you are so petty. How can you be Dad's wife when you act like this?"

Scarlett gently tugged his hand, a smug, victorious smile playing on her lips.

"Leo, sweetheart, don’t talk to your mother like that. You’ll hurt her feelings."

Leo pouted. "Dad said Mom is only dramatic because she doesn't have your grace and class. He said her anger is her own problem."

This was the child I had carried for nine months.

He spoke so casually, proving this wasn't the first time he had thought this.

A dull ache flared in my chest, but it quickly faded into numbness.

The last shred of maternal longing for this child vanished completely.

I gave Leo a calm, polite smile. "Leo, don't worry. I'm not trying to get your father's attention."

"I've divorced your dad. I'm not your mother anymore."

Stepping out of the Vance mansion, I took a deep breath of the cool evening air, savoring the sudden peace.

I had already rented a small apartment.

Without even unpacking, I collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

In my dreams, I replayed my failed seven-year marriage.

Julian and I had been an arranged marriage, set up by our grandfathers.

The moment I saw him at the altar, I knew he hated me.

Rumor had it that Julian had been beaten badly by his grandfather for refusing to marry me, but he had ultimately succumbed to family pressure.

On our wedding night, he didn't say a word. He just used my body to vent his rage.

Afterward, he pulled up his pants and left, leaving me bruised, staring blankly at the ceiling of our massive, empty bed.

But I accepted it. I had to.

Thus began our cold, distant marriage.

On the rare occasions we crossed paths, he would only give me a freezing look.

Meanwhile, he kept Scarlett close. They would whisper intimately right in front of my face.

Scarlett would look at me with a mix of jealousy and the same contempt Julian had.

I was completely isolated. When I tried to tell my own family, they only warned me not to "make a big deal out of nothing."

But life is unpredictable. Soon, I got pregnant.

Miraculously, our relationship seemed to soften because of the baby.

One night, I woke up to see his tall silhouette sitting by my bed. He looked like he wanted to touch my belly.

I couldn't see his eyes, but his voice was low and unusually gentle. “Go back to sleep. I won't bother you.”

It was the first time he had spoken to me without malice.

He looked exactly like the elegant, charming heir everyone else saw.

I couldn't help but reach out and grab his hand. “Julian, I didn't force them to make you marry me...”

He was my husband. I desperately wanted him to know I wasn't the villain.

“Can you... please believe me?”