Chapter 2

Early the next morning, I went back to my parents' place.

They still lived in the same old apartment building on the South Side of Chicago where I grew up.

I had bought a new house for them once, wanting them to move, but they refused.

They said they didn't want people thinking that just because Claire married into the Gray family, her parents got to live in a mansion.

They thought it would ruin my reputation.

I knew they were just looking out for me.

I didn't think much of it before, but now, the more I thought about it, the more suffocating it felt.

What exactly had I gained from marrying Adrian?

I bought that house with my own money.

For all these years, aside from household expenses and the cost of raising Lucas, I had never taken a single dime from him for my own benefit.

But even so, everyone still thought I had hit the jackpot by marrying Adrian, that I was taking advantage of him.

Including my own son.

One year, I brought Lucas back to visit my parents.

He looked around at the old furniture and suddenly said, "Your family is so broke. You're so lucky Dad married you."

At the time, I just thought he was young, ignorant, and speaking without thinking.

Looking back now, being raised by his father, the boy was already rotten to the core.

Adrian had never truly let go of Emily, and he grew more and more disdainful of me over time.

Because of that, Lucas firmly believed I was just a useless stay-at-home mom living off his father's money.

I hadn't been home in a long time.

Standing at the door, I actually hesitated to knock.

Yesterday, on my birthday, my mother had called to check on me.

I lied to her. I told her I was doing great, that I was happy, and that Adrian and Lucas were celebrating with me.

"Claire?"

I turned around and saw my father, Robert, standing in the hallway with a bag of groceries.

He froze for a second before a huge, delighted smile broke across his face.

"Claire? Why didn't you tell us you were coming? Don't just stand there, get in here! Linda, hurry! Claire's home!"

That long-lost warmth wrapped around me instantly, and my barren heart finally felt alive again.

"Your dad was just saying yesterday how long it's been since we celebrated your birthday," my mother said, rushing over to grab my hands. "Perfect timing. We're giving you a proper birthday today."

Robert laughed. "I'm making my spaghetti! You know your old man's recipe is the best."

Of course I remembered.

He had made spaghetti for Lucas once, too.

That bowl of pasta, which I had always cherished, Lucas had taken two bites of before pushing it away, complaining it was bland and gross.

I scolded him right then and there for being disrespectful.

I forced him to apologize, but his face was full of defiance.

After that, he absolutely refused to ever come back here.

Lucas used to be sweet and innocent when he was little.

When did he change?

Probably when he realized Adrian didn't value me. Wanting to be just like the father he idolized, he started mimicking Adrian's behavior to win his approval.

And so, he started treating me like a useless trophy wife who had married out of her league and contributed nothing.

Robert cooked a massive spread, all my favorite dishes.

Linda ordered a birthday cake, making absolutely sure to avoid anything I was allergic to.

I choked back tears several times during the meal, only putting my fork down when I physically couldn't eat another bite.

Just yesterday, I had cooked an entire dinner by myself, reheating it over and over again, waiting all alone for the two of them to come home.

And all I got in the end was a mango cake after midnight.

I leaned against my mother's shoulder, just like I did when I was a kid, and whispered, "I'm not going back tonight."

Linda gently rubbed my wrist, which was still red from the hives.

"They hurt you, didn't they?"

My throat tightened. I didn't answer.

She sighed, didn't press the issue, and just held me tighter.

"Listen to me. As long as your dad and I are breathing, this is your home. You get hurt, you come back here."

"We don't have a mansion, but to us? You're the most precious thing in this world."

Hearing those words, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I buried my face in her shoulder and sobbed.

I stayed at my parents' house for a few days. Once my emotions stabilized, I went back to the house on the North Shore to pack my things.

But when I pushed the door open, I saw we had a guest.

The woman Adrian could never let go of, Emily, was sitting in the living room, gently playing with my son.

Adrian was standing nearby with a cup of coffee, watching them with a faint smile.

They looked like a real family.

And I was the intruder who didn't belong.

The moment I appeared, the relaxed expressions on all three of their faces vanished.

Chapter 2

Early the next morning, I went back to my parents' place.

They still lived in the same old apartment building on the South Side of Chicago where I grew up.

I had bought a new house for them once, wanting them to move, but they refused.

They said they didn't want people thinking that just because Claire married into the Gray family, her parents got to live in a mansion.

They thought it would ruin my reputation.

I knew they were just looking out for me.

I didn't think much of it before, but now, the more I thought about it, the more suffocating it felt.

What exactly had I gained from marrying Adrian?

I bought that house with my own money.

For all these years, aside from household expenses and the cost of raising Lucas, I had never taken a single dime from him for my own benefit.

But even so, everyone still thought I had hit the jackpot by marrying Adrian, that I was taking advantage of him.

Including my own son.

One year, I brought Lucas back to visit my parents.

He looked around at the old furniture and suddenly said, "Your family is so broke. You're so lucky Dad married you."

At the time, I just thought he was young, ignorant, and speaking without thinking.

Looking back now, being raised by his father, the boy was already rotten to the core.

Adrian had never truly let go of Emily, and he grew more and more disdainful of me over time.

Because of that, Lucas firmly believed I was just a useless stay-at-home mom living off his father's money.

I hadn't been home in a long time.

Standing at the door, I actually hesitated to knock.

Yesterday, on my birthday, my mother had called to check on me.

I lied to her. I told her I was doing great, that I was happy, and that Adrian and Lucas were celebrating with me.

"Claire?"

I turned around and saw my father, Robert, standing in the hallway with a bag of groceries.

He froze for a second before a huge, delighted smile broke across his face.

"Claire? Why didn't you tell us you were coming? Don't just stand there, get in here! Linda, hurry! Claire's home!"

That long-lost warmth wrapped around me instantly, and my barren heart finally felt alive again.

"Your dad was just saying yesterday how long it's been since we celebrated your birthday," my mother said, rushing over to grab my hands. "Perfect timing. We're giving you a proper birthday today."

Robert laughed. "I'm making my spaghetti! You know your old man's recipe is the best."

Of course I remembered.

He had made spaghetti for Lucas once, too.

That bowl of pasta, which I had always cherished, Lucas had taken two bites of before pushing it away, complaining it was bland and gross.

I scolded him right then and there for being disrespectful.

I forced him to apologize, but his face was full of defiance.

After that, he absolutely refused to ever come back here.

Lucas used to be sweet and innocent when he was little.

When did he change?

Probably when he realized Adrian didn't value me. Wanting to be just like the father he idolized, he started mimicking Adrian's behavior to win his approval.

And so, he started treating me like a useless trophy wife who had married out of her league and contributed nothing.

Robert cooked a massive spread, all my favorite dishes.

Linda ordered a birthday cake, making absolutely sure to avoid anything I was allergic to.

I choked back tears several times during the meal, only putting my fork down when I physically couldn't eat another bite.

Just yesterday, I had cooked an entire dinner by myself, reheating it over and over again, waiting all alone for the two of them to come home.

And all I got in the end was a mango cake after midnight.

I leaned against my mother's shoulder, just like I did when I was a kid, and whispered, "I'm not going back tonight."

Linda gently rubbed my wrist, which was still red from the hives.

"They hurt you, didn't they?"

My throat tightened. I didn't answer.

She sighed, didn't press the issue, and just held me tighter.

"Listen to me. As long as your dad and I are breathing, this is your home. You get hurt, you come back here."

"We don't have a mansion, but to us? You're the most precious thing in this world."

Hearing those words, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I buried my face in her shoulder and sobbed.

I stayed at my parents' house for a few days. Once my emotions stabilized, I went back to the house on the North Shore to pack my things.

But when I pushed the door open, I saw we had a guest.

The woman Adrian could never let go of, Emily, was sitting in the living room, gently playing with my son.

Adrian was standing nearby with a cup of coffee, watching them with a faint smile.

They looked like a real family.

And I was the intruder who didn't belong.

The moment I appeared, the relaxed expressions on all three of their faces vanished.