Chapter 4

I wanted to tell him I was okay, but my throat was tight.

He stood on his tiptoes and clumsily wiped away my tears with his tiny palms.

In his sweet, childish voice, mimicking how I used to comfort him, he said, "Don't cry, Mommy. Leo is here. Don't cry."

I couldn't hold it back anymore. I pulled him tightly into my arms.

The tears I had fought all night finally burst through.

After finalizing all the details of the divorce agreement with my best friend, who was a lawyer, Julian finally returned.

He held a delicate gift bag, a perfectly apologetic smile on his face.

"Chloe, I'm so sorry. There was a sudden emergency at the lab, and I lost track of time once I got busy."

"Here, I bought this little gift especially for you. Don't be mad anymore, okay?"

This had happened so many times before.

He probably thought I would blindly believe him like I always did, happily taking the gift and hanging up his coat.

But this time, I just stared at him.

My eyes fell on the bottom corner of the gift bag.

There was a tiny label that read: Free Gift with Purchase.

He was so lazy now that he didn't even bother spending money to appease me.

Suddenly, I found the whole thing pathetic.

When you stop caring, you lose the energy to even argue.

"Okay," I said quietly.

He seemed surprised by my calmness and blinked.

"Wait here."

I turned and walked into the study to print out the document.

Returning to the living room, I placed the divorce papers on the coffee table in front of him. "Let's get a divorce."

Julian stared at the papers. His shock quickly turned into rage.

"You want a divorce just because I didn't take you to the gala?"

I shook my head calmly.

"No."

"Julian, let's keep some dignity. I just don't want to hold you back anymore. You shouldn't have to force yourself to live with a tasteless glass of plain water."

"Just sign it. I'm keeping full custody of Leo."

His shoulders went rigid, a flicker of panic crossing his face as he realized he'd been caught.

"I'm not signing this! Nothing happened between Stella and me!"

"An emotional affair is still cheating."

"I'm setting you free. So please, let me go too."

"In your dreams!"

He swept the papers off the table, sending them scattering across the floor.

"You always do this! You always blow things out of proportion, making a huge deal out of nothing! You never let things go, and you make everyone miserable!"

"No wonder nobody likes you!"

"Even the son you gave birth to is weak and sickly. He's not lovable at all!"

Snap.

The final thread of my sanity broke.

I could tolerate him insulting and hating me.

But he had no right to talk about my son like that!

"Shut up, Julian!"

He stood up, opening his mouth to argue.

As he flung his arm out, he knocked over the delicate porcelain vase on the side table.

Smash!

The loud crash echoed through the room.

Leo, who was hiding in the corner, shook violently at the noise. His face turned paper-white.

In the next second, he clutched his chest and collapsed onto the floor.

"Mommy... it hurts... Mommy..."

My mind went completely blank.

"Leo!"

I scrambled over on my hands and knees, pulling him into my arms.

His lips were turning blue. His breathing was shallow as he curled into a painful ball.

Right then, Julian's phone rang loudly.

"What? You got into a car accident? Stella, don't panic! I'm on my way!"

Seeing him grab his coat to leave, I screamed through my tears.

"Julian! Leo is having a heart attack! Don't go! Help me take him to the hospital!"

He paused, looking back at us.

For a brief second, I thought he would stay.

But his hesitation lasted only a moment.

"Call 911 first."

"He's had these episodes before. He'll be fine. Stella is in danger, I have to go."

Without another word, he slammed the door and rushed out.

The heavy thud of the door cut off my last shred of hope.

Holding my son's increasingly pale body, my hands shook as I dialed a number I hadn't called in years.

"Uncle Marcus... please help me..."

"I'll sign the divorce. I'll go back to Boston with you..."