Chapter 2

Perhaps because the disappointment on Leo’s face was too obvious, Austin's expression softened slightly.

"Alright, Leo. How could I actually starve you?"

"I had a business dinner today and brought home some leftovers. Take them to your room."

With that, he pulled a plastic container of leftover fish from his bag.

It was fish. The one food Leo hated the most.

Watching my son's face fall even further, I snatched the container and threw it straight into the trash can.

"Enough, Austin. We can make our own dinner. We don't need your charity."

Austin's brow furrowed deep. "Chloe, what the hell is wrong with you today? What did I do to trigger you?"

"I brought that back specifically for you guys! That fish cost over a thousand dollars at the restaurant!"

"Oh, so I should thank you?" I let out a cold laugh. "Do you even remember that Leo is deathly allergic to seafood?!"

"For seven years, you haven't contributed a single cent to this house. Every time I ask, you say you're networking for clients. Has a single one of your deals actually succeeded?"

Leo’s lower lip trembled, tears falling like broken pearls.

But Austin didn't even look at him.

He turned toward the door, his voice dripping with disdain.

"I knew you were just a gold-digger. Now you're even using Leo's allergy as an excuse to complain about money! If you look down on me that much, I'll just leave."

Even at this point, he still thought I was just mad because he wasn't giving me money.

The anger in my chest was so sharp that it physically hurt. I bent over on the sofa, taking several minutes to catch my breath.

Leo wiped away my tears. "Mom, don't be sad. Dad is just angry."

Even though he was hurting, he was still trying to defend Austin just to keep the family together.

He was such a sweet boy. I couldn't bear to let him suffer in silence.

I rubbed his head and forced a smile. "I know, sweetie. Mom is going to make you some delicious pasta now, okay?"

Leo let out a sigh of relief and nodded vigorously.

Once dinner was ready, he took my phone to send a Snapchat voice note to Austin.

"Dad, Mom made pasta. Are you coming home to eat?"

After sending it, Leo stared anxiously at the screen, waiting for a reply.

But we finished our entire dinner, and all Austin sent back was a cold, brief text: "Busy."

I sighed and sent Leo to his room.

Just as I was about to text Austin, I received a friend request on Snapchat.

It was from Hailey.

The moment I accepted, she sent over several videos.

So, this was why Austin was "busy." He was too occupied feeding Hailey's dog to reply to his own son.

In the videos, Austin was incredibly gentle and patient—a stark contrast to the cold man who had stood in our living room this afternoon.

"Chloe, so what if you snatched him up and married him back then? His heart still only belongs to me."

"You can never beat me, and you don’t deserve to."

It was true. Back then, after Austin and Hailey broke up, he had suffered from severe depression.

He had even tried to jump into a river to end his life.

I had been secretly in love with him for a long time. I happened to be passing by and jumped in to save him without a second thought.

When he woke up, he proposed, saying he wanted to take responsibility for me.

At the time, I wasn't sure if he was over her, so I rejected him.

But Austin insisted. "Don't worry. After facing death, I realize I just want to be with someone who truly loves me."

He made so many promises that I eventually agreed to be with him.

We had been married for seven years. I had no idea when they had reconnected.

I didn't reply to Hailey. Instead, I quietly called a lawyer friend of mine.

"Hey, Serena. Help me draft a divorce agreement."