Chapter 2
“We’ve been together since we were kids, married for ten years-how could you throw all that away over something so petty?”
Gavin’s voice rang out, thick with disbelief.
“I don’t care about any other woman. As long as you’re willing to come back, I won’t hold anything against you.”
Just a few carefully chosen words, and suddenly the blame shifted. The air in the room turned hostile.
All eyes fell on me, sharp and accusing.
And then-my father’s fist connected with my shoulder. Hard.
“So that’s it,” he shouted. “You’re leaving him because you’re having an affair! I raised a disgrace like you?”
“Ungrateful girl! Stop this nonsense before you send your father to the hospital,” my mother cried, gripping my arm. “Go home. Be a decent wife. Stay with Gavin.”
Friends, family-they all tried to pull me back.
Even Gavin, now in tears, fell to his knees and begged.
But my heart had long gone cold. I shoved him away, my voice firm and steady.
‘Let go. I don’t love you anymore.”
He stared at me as if I’d stabbed him.
‘What… what did you say?” he whispered, his voice cracking.
The entire room went silent.
Gavin broke down sobbing, louder this time, desperate and messy. I turned to leave.
But he scrambled up and grabbed me again, crushing me in his arms.
‘Don’t
go, Cassia, please don’t. It’s all my fault, I’ll change, I swear. Just give me another chanc -don’t leave me.”
Then his older brother blocked my way.
‘Cassia, are you out of your mind?” he snapped. “Apologize to Gavin!”
“You’ve been together for over a decade-how can you be so heartless? From middle school to
marriage-it took eight years to build this life. Have you forgotten all of it?”
“And what about the baby? You’re really willing to let your child grow up without a father?”
The room exploded again as the news of my pregnancy hit them.
My parents rushed to stop me, their faces pale.
“You’re pregnant and still want a divorce? Where’s your conscience?”
I wrestled free from their grip, my jaw clenched, my tone defiant.
“I’ll raise the baby myself. We’re already divorced.”
My mother recoiled like I’d slapped her.
“You’ve wanted a child for years! And now, when you’re finally pregnant, this is how you act?”
Her words struck something deep.
Yes, I had wanted a child. Desperately. From twenty to thirty, I dreamed of a family-of hearing a child call me “Mom.”
But every time I brought it up, Gavin shut me down. Or worse-pretended to try, only to sabotage things behind my back.
We lost two pregnancies. Both in “accidents.”
And I finally understood: he never wanted a child with me.
Now I just wanted out. For good.
The noise must have drawn attention-because Sabrina Lowel, the single mother from next door walked in holding her baby.
She didn’t say a word about the chaos around us. She went straight to Gavin and handed him :he child.
He took the baby automatically, gently, like it was his own.
The way he looked at her daughter… it was a softness I had never seen in his eyes when he ooked at me.
My chest tightened. I staggered slightly, dizzy with pain.
We had once had children-twice. But they never made it.
Sabrina turned to me politely.
Cassia, I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I heard everything just now.”
If it’s awkward, I can find a new place today and take my daughter with me. I don’t want to come between you two.”
Gavin frowned, glancing at her in panic.
No-there’s no need for that. I’m just helping you out. It’s nothing serious.”
Then he turned to me, his voice laced with irritation and guilt.
‘Cassia, stop projecting your anger onto other people. You just got out of the hospital-can you stop overreacting?”
4:32 pm
