Chapter 2

The first time Derek cheated, I caught him in the underground parking garage. He was terrified, weeping and kneeling before me, begging for my forgiveness.

He even slapped himself a hundred times, pleading with me not to divorce him.

The company was just stabilizing, and I'd just found out I was two and a half weeks pregnant. For the sake of our child and our business, I forgave him.

The stress festered in my heart, and when Leo was born, he was diagnosed with a genetic condition.

The second time was with a club manager. He actually bought her the most upscale club in the city.

By then, Derek had started to sound self-righteous.

"She's just some tart, right? She offers her services, I pay the bill, and she even helps with clients. Don't be so petty."

Until the third time, the fourth time...

He finally became so nonchalant that he'd tell me about these things as casually as he'd discuss eating or drinking.

After a year of heartache, I came to a realization: Leo was still young, the company wasn't fully stable, so I just started seeing him as a glorified cash cow.

After all, I held twenty percent of the company shares, plus my patents, and another thirty percent I'd anonymously acquired. Getting rid of him would be a piece of cake.

Love faded like smoke, but the money remained. For an orphan like me, who started from nothing, that wasn't too hard to swallow.

I drove straight to the luxury apartment I'd privately bought.

Pushing open the door and flicking on the warm orange light, I finally felt a sense of peace, a moment to truly breathe.

Ever since Leo was born, every day was filled with Mrs. Miller's criticisms, Leo's volatile temper, and Derek's endless string of women.

Mrs. Miller would say I spent too much time in the business world during my pregnancy, which is why I "gave" her Miller family a "defective grandson."

Leo would throw tantrums for his games, hitting the nannies, screaming and crying if he didn't get his way, biting and kicking me.

Derek's women would brazenly bring him home, drunk, and they'd kiss goodbye in the entryway as if I didn't exist.

Only here did I feel like I was truly home, a place where I could shed my exhaustion, recharge, and muster the courage to return to the battlefield the next day.

After a solid night's sleep, I put on a bold, striking makeup look and a vibrant red dress, feeling refreshed as I headed for the office.

Passing by Leo's school, I couldn't resist stopping to glance.

Sure enough, there was Derek.

Serena was kneeling in front of Leo, one hand holding a cotton candy, the other a fried chicken, as she tried to pacify him.

Leo greedily devoured the fried chicken, occasionally licking the cotton candy.

I sighed. The doctor had warned that children with Leo's condition shouldn't be overly indulged; if they don't get what they want, they can explode with even greater aggression. And definitely no junk food.

Serena proudly patted Leo's head.

"Derek, see how well-behaved Leo is? He's not nearly as difficult as Ms. Hayes said."

She then turned Leo's face towards her and asked,

"Leo, would you like me to be your new mommy? What if I have a little brother for you to play with later?"

A bad feeling twisted in my gut. Before I could even cover my eyes, Leo's tiny fist flew, connecting squarely with Serena's eye.

"I don't want a brother! I'm going to kill him!"

Then he kicked Serena's stomach again.

By the time Derek reacted, Leo had already grabbed Serena's hair and furiously scratched her face.

Serena shrieked in agony, falling to the ground.

Derek rushed to pull them apart, but Leo was stout and strong, and Derek couldn't restrain him right away.

I massaged my temples, letting out a small, wry chuckle, then slammed my foot on the accelerator, heading for the office.

Leo has his condition, but he's not intellectually disabled. His possessiveness is extreme. Once, when I mentioned having another baby, he picked up a vase and threw it at me.

It had taken a lot of explanations and promises that he wouldn't have a sibling for his rage to calm down.

I just hoped Serena had enough luck to keep her baby.

When I arrived at the company, a few of the executives I'd discreetly cultivated offered respectful greetings.

"Ms. Hayes, good morning."

I gave a slight nod and strode purposefully toward my office. Before I could even sit down, Derek called.

"Chloe, get to the hospital now. Look at the wonderful son you've raised; he kicked Serena so hard she's having contractions!"