Chapter 2

Bella Hayes POV

When I returned to the Foster villa, four bodyguards stood guard outside the master bedroom, and they had even installed two surveillance cameras.

“Eric Foster” walked in with a glass of water and a pillbox, impatience pressed between his brows. “Bella Hayes, take the sedatives first. The doctor said you’re emotionally unstable. Be good.”

Be good.

Those were the two words Evan loved saying to me most. I used to think they were indulgent and affectionate. Only now did I understand that they were just convenient tools for training me.

I suspected I’d never been his wife or lover, just someone he could keep under his thumb.

I glanced at the pillbox and pushed it away coldly. “I don’t want to take them.”

“You haven’t slept in two days!” His tone grew heavier, faintly carrying the pressure of someone used to standing above others.

I lifted my head and stared him down. “What? Afraid that if I’m awake, I’ll get in the way of you taking care of Grace Carter?”

“Eric Foster’s” heart gave a violent jump. He instinctively avoided my gaze. “Grace Carter is carrying the Foster family’s child. My brother is gone. It’s only right that I take care of Grace in his place.”

I watched him act, without even the strength left to laugh at him.

“Fine. Take good care of her, then.”

I took the pills and swallowed them in one gulp.

The look in “Eric Foster’s” eyes as he watched me was dark and unreadable, but in the end, he said nothing.

As soon as “Eric Foster” left, I immediately locked the bathroom door.

From the hidden compartment at the very bottom of the sink cabinet, I pulled out an old backup phone.

I didn’t cry or make a scene the way I used to whenever I felt wronged. Instead, I calmly dialed the number of Ethan Cole, the assistant my father, Charles Hayes, trusted most.

“Ethan Cole, I want to leave the Foster family. Tomorrow morning, bring people to pick me up.”

Ethan Cole sounded a little surprised on the other end, but he immediately said, “Of course, Ms. Hayes. I’ll be there on time tomorrow morning.”

After hanging up, I let out a breath of relief.

I walked out of the bathroom and pulled open the drawer of my vanity.

Inside were all the memories Evan and I had shared.

But as expected, every photo, letter, ticket stub related to Evan—even our marriage certificate—had been taken away.

They wanted to erase every trace of Evan’s existence because they were afraid I would go insane.

But he had never considered that I no longer cared about Evan.

For Grace Carter, he could turn from Evan Foster into Eric Foster.

And for myself, I could also turn from Mrs. Foster back into Bella Hayes.

I let out a cold laugh and neatly pulled the wedding ring off my ring finger.

That diamond ring, engraved on the inside with both our names, had once been something I treasured like my own life. But now, it felt like a disgusting dog collar.

I casually tossed the ring into the trash can.

Then I began packing the things that belonged to me. My ID documents, passport, bank cards, and the bracelet my mother, Mia Hayes, had left me.

My hands shook slightly, my heart hammering away in my chest.

But with every item I took away, my love for Evan Foster died a little more thoroughly.

I knew very clearly that this time, I wasn’t acting out of anger.

I was saving myself.