Chapter 2

Marcus didn't come home for three consecutive days.

Hailey posted on her Instagram constantly. It didn't look like she was sharing her life; it felt like she was specifically targeting me.

Amber was absolutely furious after seeing Hailey's posts.

Her voice over the phone was shaking with anger on my behalf.

"Who does this Hailey think she is? She's literally just a side chick! Why is she acting so proud?"

"Is Marcus blind? What does she have that you don't?"

I had asked myself that question many times.

Was Marcus bad to me?

No. He remembered all my preferences, my birthday, and every single anniversary.

When I was sick, he would stay up all night taking care of me.

If I casually mentioned wanting to go on a trip, he would drop everything to go with me.

Whatever I wanted, he gave me.

Could I say he never loved me?

No, I couldn't.

I had seen the way his eyes used to light up whenever he looked at me.

I took a sip of water and looked out the window.

"Who knows? But it doesn't matter anymore."

The divorce papers were ready.

I was just waiting for Marcus to come back and sign them.

I smiled to comfort Amber. "Alright, let's just enjoy our dinner. Don't let them ruin your mood."

When I texted Marcus, it was Hailey who picked up the FaceTime call.

She had a sweet, mocking smile on her face.

"Chloe, Marcus is making a prenatal meal for me right now. I'll let him know you called when he's done~"

A prenatal meal?

Marcus used to nag me about being too skinny and not eating right. To make sure I got enough nutrition, he used to cook almost every single meal for me himself.

But after he met Hailey, he never had the heart for it again.

His mind and eyes were now completely filled with Hailey.

Before I could even reply, Hailey sent me a photo.

It was a shot of Marcus from behind, wearing an apron and working busy in the kitchen.

"Chloe, Marcus is really stretched thin right now."

"I told him what you said, and he knows about it now~"

Marcus came back very late that night.

Seeing me sitting on the couch, his hand paused as he took off his coat.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

He acted as if nothing had happened.

His tone was warm and familiar. "It's really late."

My voice was flat. "I was waiting for you."

Marcus walked over, and I pushed the signed divorce papers toward him.

"I've already signed. Since you cheated, we aren't splitting the assets 50/50. I've had all our marital property calculated, including the money you spent on Hailey. I get seventy percent, you get thirty."

Marcus frowned.

"Chloe, aren't you being a bit too greedy?"

Greedy? I actually felt it wasn't enough.

I didn't want to argue with him. "You cheated. Me taking this much is only fair."

After a long silence, Marcus was the first to look away.

He sat down, grabbed a pen, and signed his name on the papers.

I took my copy immediately.

Marcus opened his mouth to say something.

But I turned around and walked upstairs without looking back.

Halfway up the stairs, I stopped.

I turned around to remind him, "We need to file this at the family court tomorrow morning."

"After all, there is still a thirty-day waiting period."

Marcus frowned deeply.

He opened his mouth. "Are you really in that much of a rush?"

I finished his sentence for him.

"The sooner we file, the sooner your child stops being an illegitimate kid."

"Isn't that what you want?"