Chapter 3

My son’s breathing slowed down, then stopped completely.

I threw myself over his little body, crying until I couldn't breathe.

Eventually, darkness took over, and I passed out.

When I woke up, he was already lying in the cold morgue.

I called Ethan again. As expected, his phone was still off.

So, his own son couldn't even compare to his ex-girlfriend. Maybe it was for the best they didn't meet.

He had barely cared about Leo all these years anyway.

Ethan and I were college classmates.

At first, we were like parallel lines. He was the rich, handsome campus heartthrob, while I was just an ordinary girl who faded into the background.

But during our junior year, I was severely bullied. A group of girls cornered me in an alley, kicking and punching me. I was too terrified to even scream for help.

That was when Ethan appeared.

To me, he was the light that saved my life.

I knew I wasn't good enough for him, but he pursued me relentlessly.

Naturally, I fell hard. I loved him with everything I had and married him right after graduation.

It was only when Chloe returned to the country that I realized why he had chosen me.

I looked remarkably like Chloe.

I was nothing but a placeholder.

But back then, I was too foolish. I thought, *So what if I'm a substitute? We have a child and a family now. I can endure it.*

But as time went on, everything crumbled.

He was no longer the gentle Ethan I knew.

He would stay out all night just because Chloe couldn't sleep.

He would abandon our son at his parent-teacher conference because Chloe wanted to try a new restaurant.

Nothing could stop him from running to Chloe.

I could have endured it forever for the sake of our son. But now, my boy was gone.

Tears soaked my collar once again.

Staring at my son's pale, lifeless face, I forced myself to stand. I had to handle his funeral arrangements alone.

I made one last call to Ethan. Still turned off.

I had done everything I could.

Whether he would regret it or not had nothing to do with me anymore.

When I walked out of the crematorium, my son was reduced to a small, heavy box in my arms.