Chapter 4

And honestly, after all these years, I'd watched him grow from a boy into a man, from inexperienced to confident. He was my light, and I watched him shine brighter and brighter.

But today, at that award ceremony, with everyone watching, he said another woman's name that sounded the same as mine. That was the moment every last bit of hope I had left was shattered into pieces.

Carrie, what were you still holding onto?

What you couldn't let go of was that David from back then—the eighteen-year-old whose smile was as bright as the moon—not the thirty-year-old who was out there cheating and chasing after other women now.

But honestly, none of it mattered anymore.

I took out the hospital report from the hidden compartment of my drawer, the one confirming I had stage-two stomach cancer. I stared at it for a long, long time.

In the end, I just put it back.

After walking in on their little affair in the office that day, I went and got myself checked out at the hospital.

"Ms. Evans, you need to be hospitalized right away. You can't put this off any longer," the doctor's warning still echoed in my ears.

But how could I possibly break down now? After fighting side by side with David to build Voyage Technology from nothing, and after suffering such a shameless betrayal right in front of me?

How could I ever just let everything I'd poured my heart and soul into be taken away by someone else?

"Carrie?" David's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "I'm talking to you."

I turned around, stared at him. His face was one I'd known forever, but suddenly he looked like a total stranger. And honestly, I just felt exhausted.

I said, "David, I want a divorce."

He paused, stunned for a moment, and then broke into a mocking grin, like I'd just dropped the punchline of some absurd joke.

"Carrie, what's this tantrum about now?" He didn't even bother setting down his drink, eyes flashing with that familiar, indulgent condescension. "Divorce? Really? Are you just feeling left out lately, so you want to threaten me with that?"

He spoke with the kind of breezy, dismissive tone that made it clear he thought I was just making a fuss over nothing.

"I'm not just throwing a tantrum," I replied, my voice frighteningly calm. "I'm serious."

"You're serious?" he said, staring hard at me, trying to spot any hint of doubt in my expression.

"Serious as can be," I met his eyes without flinching. "Sign the divorce agreement. It's better for all of us. You, me, and Kerry."

When he heard Kerry's name, his expression darkened for a moment before twisting into something I couldn't read.

He said, "Seriously, Carrie? You're upset because of her? When did you get so insecure? Getting all jealous over some young girl?

"We're both adults, Carrie. No more drama. We've got that early meeting tomorrow. Don't tell me you want those fossils at the office catching wind of our mess?"

He turned on his heel and walked straight back into the bedroom, not even sparing me a second glance.

If he'd just turned around right then, he would've seen me vomiting blood—unable to hold it back any longer.

David, I was dying.

The divorce was at a standstill.

David figured I'd cave in sooner or later, just like all those other times, because I was too attached to the twelve years of memories between us.

Just then, I got a call from Kerry.

"Ms. Evans, I want to meet you," she said, her voice shaking with barely hidden excitement and a clear trace of smugness. "I'm pregnant. It's Dave's baby."

Even though I'd tried to brace myself, her words still stabbed into my heart like a poisoned icicle, making my stomach twist in agony.

*****

Three in the afternoon, at Blue Harbor Café.

Kerry was already seated, wearing a loose dress, her hand casually placed over her abdomen like she didn't even notice.

As soon as she saw me, Kerry flashed a look that was equal parts defiance and vulnerability, making her seem both delicate and fragile.

"Mrs. Lane," Kerry spoke up as soon as I sat down, her eyes reddening in an instant. "I know I've hurt you, but the baby is innocent. Dave is really looking forward to this child.

"He said it's something you two could never have, the one thing that was always missing."

She went straight for my weak spot.

Yeah, not having a child had always been our regret.

I'd been totally wrapped up in my career all these years, and we never had a kid. It always felt like something was missing from my life.

But David always said having a baby was just too much pain for me to go through, that after everything I'd suffered with him, I didn't need another thing to hurt for.

I was such an idiot for believing him. And now, look where that got me—he knocked up another woman.

"So, this is your move?" I cut her off, my tone ice-cold. "You think dragging the baby in will make me fold?"

"I just hope you'll go easy on the divorce terms, for the baby's sake," she sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Leave Dave with a foundation, so the child has a future."

"Half of everything he's got comes from my blood and sweat," I said, voice steady as stone. "If your kid ends up struggling, that's you and David's problem."

My refusal to budge was clearly getting under her skin.

Her fragile act started to crack.

Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw David striding in from the entrance.

Almost at the same time, Kerry's expression shifted dramatically. She jumped up, grabbing my wrist, her voice suddenly shrill and miserable. "Ms. Evans, please, don't hurt my baby. I know you hate me. It's all my fault!"

I was stunned by her sudden outburst and instinctively tried to pull my arm free. "What are you doing? Let go of me!"

My wrist had barely moved before Kerry threw herself backward like I'd shoved her, shrieking, then stumbled several steps and crashed to the ground.

Damn, what an act.

"My belly... It hurts... Dave, save our baby!" she wailed.

She curled up on the floor, sobbing so hard that it sounded like her heart was tearing apart.

"Carrie, what do you think you're doing?" David's roar crashed through the air like thunder.

He rushed over like a gust of wind, didn't even look at me, just knelt down next to Kerry and carefully scooped her into his arms. The panic and worry on his face were exactly like back when he'd comfort me through stomachaches.

"Kerry, Kerry, are you alright? Don't be scared, I'm here." His voice was desperate, so soft and anxious that it almost broke.