Chapter 2
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After Casey called Sebastian over, she tore into him the moment he stepped through the door.
“The Fabian family did so much for our family, and this is how you repay them? By treating their daughter like this?
“If I had known you’d force her to have an abortion, I would’ve brought her home to live with us myself. Do you think we’re too poor to raise a child?”
Sebastian stayed silent, nodding stiffly while his fists clenched tighter and tighter.
He hated being reminded of debts and favors. Back when we got married, he had warned me not to bring it up.
Sure enough, the second we got back to the rental apartment, he let out a cold laugh.
“Emma, are you using your parents‘ money to guilt–trip my family, the only thing you’re good at?”
I bit down on my lip so hard that I could taste the blood seeping out of my lip.
He always thought I’d used that favor to force him into marrying me.
I’d tried to explain so many times, but I was too tired now. I didn’t want to say another word.
Just then, the door handle turned, and Courtney walked in like she owned the place.
“Sebastian, I brought you a big client. The kind who could buy out an entire building. Come with me–we need to talk.”
Sebastian headed downstairs to call a cab.
Out of habit, I followed after him, not even thinking. Somehow, I found myself walking alongside Courtney down the hallway.
Just as I was about to step outside, she blocked the door with a smug, disdainful look.
“You really shouldn’t come with us. What if the client asks what you do for a living? You’d just embarrass Sebastian.”
As if that wasn’t enough, she grabbed my face and pinched hard.
“When Sebastian finally dumps you, I’m sure all those ‘skills‘ you learned from your little films will still come in handy. Just like in college.”
I remembered how, back in school, she’d spread rumor after rumor about me. She even got the entire class to turn their backs on me.
Even Sebastian believed her lies–that I was some kind of trashy girl. That’s when he started pulling away.
A wave of rage surged through me. I grabbed her wrist and flung her off.
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12:27
Chapter 2
She fell to the ground, her short skirt riding up slightly, and blood began to seep from between her legs.
“Emma, are you insane?”
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Sebastian ran up just in time to see her on the ground. Without hesitation, he scooped her into his arms and rushed her to the hospital.
His eyes were filled with panic and worry, not a shred of doubt.
At the hospital, he listened to the doctor’s instructions with full attention, repeating the care guidelines over and over until he had them memorized.
Back in the hospital room, he waited on her hand and foot.
I stood there awkwardly to the side.
One of the doctors who had operated on me passed by, recognized me, and shook his head with a sigh.
“Jealousy won’t get you anywhere, sweetheart. You’ve still got to stand up on your own two feet. Got it?”
After a few days of treatment, Courtney’s condition stabilized.
She wanted to check out of the hospital, but Sebastian insisted she stay longer.
“Don’t worry about anything else. Just focus on having this baby. That’s what matters.”
So he could be a good father, just not to my child.
When Sebastian walked out of the hospital room and saw me waiting in the hallway, he froze for a second, and then quickly moved to block the door.
“Don’t you dare get near Courtney again? You hear me?”
I glanced past him. Courtney was lying in bed, flashing me a triumphant smile.
She had declared her claim on Sebastian from the day we started college.
I had been so blinded by his early kindness that I clung to hope all these years. In the end, I married him, but still lost.
And Courtney? She won without even trying.
“If you love her so much and want her to have your baby… Why don’t we just get a divorce?”
I’d buried those words deep in my heart for days.
“Divorce?”
Sebastian didn’t look relieved like I’d imagined. Instead, his brow furrowed deeply.
“What kind of stunt are you pulling this time? Planning to run to my parents again and make me look bad once I say yes?
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12:27
Chapter 1
by spoon.
My parents passed away when I was young, so I’ve been living with the Souza family ever since.
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I still remember when I got my first period during puberty–I was too shy to tell anyone and curled up in pain on the bed.
It was Sebastian who noticed something was wrong, and then quietly made a tonic to ease my cramps.
He kept up that habit through college until Courtney Sullivan–his first love–came back into his life. Then it all stopped.
Now, drinking that same sweet soup again, it tasted bitter as hell.
A few days later, I returned to work.
The first video I had to review was shockingly familiar, Sebastian and Courtney tangled up in bed at a hotel.
The upload date? The exact day I was in surgery.
So, it wasn’t work he was busy with. It was something far more important–something more important than my life.
I took the day off, wandering like a ghost. At some point, I found myself in front of the Souza’s residence.
Sebastian’s mother, Casey Delaney, opened the door and caught me just as I nearly collapsed.
Looking into her kind face, I finally broke down in tears.
“I want a divorce,” I choked out. “Please… Let me divorce Sebastian.”
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