Chapter 2

When Stanley Maxwell opened the door, I was curled up on the floor amidst the mess.

He didn't say anything. He quickly rushed over, bent down, and helped me up.

He grabbed a towel and gently wiped my hands.

"Dr. Maxwell, my clothes are dirty. There's no way to get them clean now," I said.

He paused for a moment.

"Then put on a clean set," he replied. "There's always something clean."

With that, he took off his white coat and draped it over my shoulders. It was still warm from his body.

Then he turned and left, returning a moment later with a clean hospital gown.

"I'll wait outside," he said.

*****

As the door closed behind him, I couldn't hold back and started sobbing.

Why? Why did things between Colson and me have to end up like this?

I pressed my hand to my belly, where I once carried Colson's child.

I had dreamed so many times about what our future child would look like, but never once did I think he would be the one to take that dream away.

I lay back on the hospital bed, my eyes swollen and red from crying, my body shaking uncontrollably.

I instinctively reached under the pillow.

I pulled out the leather notebook I'd bought on the first day Colson and I started dating.

Back then, I planned to use it to record every special moment of our lives.

But I never imagined that, just ten years later, the notebook would be almost full.

I couldn't tell if the notebook was too thin or if our love had already faded.

At first, I filled pages every day, each line overflowing with sweet, hopeful love.

But over time, the words became fewer.

The only thing I wrote was that he said he was busy. First, it was on Valentine's Day, then our anniversary, and eventually, he didn't even have time for my doctor's appointments.

The pages were soaked and dried with my tears, over and over again.

The most recent entry was messy and uneven.

It read: [Harley used the necklace my mom left me to threaten me. I knew it was a trap, but it was the last thing my mom left me.

They covered me in red paint and locked me in the bathroom. I called Colson so many times, but he never answered.

It turned out he was with Harley at her prenatal appointment.

Ethan tried to stand up for me, but Harley had someone break his leg.

He had just earned a spot in the Youth Skiing Competition, but now his dream was shattered.

I hate you all. I hate every single one of you.]

As I stared at those words, it felt like my heart was being squeezed, and big tears fell onto the page.

My thirty-two-year-old self had suffered so much.

It was time to get back at them.

*****

The next day, I went to the courthouse.

The whole process was quick and simple. Without any complications, we got the divorce certificate.

I grabbed my bag, ready to leave, but he stopped me and handed me a bank card.

"This is my additional card. Use it however you want. Consider it my way of making things right," he said.

I stared at the card and let out a cold laugh.

"Mr. Zamora, you really think one card can cut everything between us? Maybe you'll even call yourself the 'bigger person.' Nice move," I said.

He frowned. "Noelle, be careful with your words. They come with consequences."

I took a step back. "Is Harley's sweet talk any better?

"Since we're divorced, please keep your distance."

Colson's face darkened, but in the end, he said nothing and walked away.

*****

I returned to the house that used to belong to Colson and me, the one I'd written about in my diary.

When I pushed the door open, Harley strutted over in a pink silk nightgown.

She sneered, "Oh, so you got kicked out again?

"Noelle, look at you. Aren't you like a lost stray, wandering with nowhere to go?"

I ignored her and tried to walk past, but she blocked my way.

"I'm talking to you. Can't you hear me?" Harley snapped.

Just then, I pulled an investigation report from inside my jacket.

"Harley, did you know Dr. Gorman from the OB-GYN was sentenced to life in prison last week for serious medical fraud?" I asked.

At the mention of Eugene Gorman, Harley's face drained of color.

"He left behind some files, and now they're in my hands. Aren't you curious?" I asked.

"I just wired him 150 thousand dollars to keep quiet. How could he—" Harley blurted out.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she froze, realizing she had slipped up. She slapped her hand over her mouth.

I couldn't be bothered with her performance. I shoved her aside and walked into the house.

I began packing up my things, loading them into the moving truck I'd hired.

Then, under Harley's confused and uneasy gaze, I plopped down on the couch, right in the center.

"What kind of game are you playing now?" Harley demanded.

I stayed silent, my gaze fixed on the wall clock.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Harley's eyes lit up. Thinking it was Colson, she rushed past me to open the door. "Colson, you're b—"

The moment she opened the door, her smile faltered.

It wasn't Colson. It was a rich woman Harley didn't recognize.

I stood up, smiled, and nodded. "Emily, welcome."

I welcomed her inside and began showing her around.

Harley was dumbfounded. She screeched like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Noelle, what the hell are you doing? This is my and Colson's house!"

I turned to her and smiled, my eyes cold.

"Ms. Lynch, looks like the deed to this house has my name on it," I said.

Harley was shaking with fury. "Y-You evil witch. Camilla, get her out of here!"

But no one answered.

Camilla was already working for me.

Harley finally realized she was all alone. Her face went from red to white as the truth hit her.

Emily was really impressed with the house I was showing her, and the next step was signing the contract.

"Don't you dare sign!" Harley suddenly shrieked, lunging at the contract like a madwoman.

I was ready for this and stepped aside.

But Harley was so frantic that she lost her balance and slammed her belly into the sharp corner of the marble table.

Blood instantly gushed from her forehead, spilling across the floor.

Emily was startled, so after signing the contract, she quickly left.