Chapter 2

When I left the Savage family's villa, rain instantly soaked my hair and clothes.

The late-night streets were deserted, with only the dim yellow glow of streetlights casting my shadow endlessly across the pavement.

I didn't bother calling a cab. I simply walked through the rain.

The cold rain pelted my skin, but it wasn't even a fraction of the ache in my heart.

I finally had to admit that after in the last three years, I'd lost so completely.

I thought of countless moments when he overlooked me.

All those tiny details I used to comfort myself, all the false hopes I clung to, now turned into needles piercing my heart.

During the first year of our marriage, I had a fever of 103.6°F. My whole body was burning up, and I could barely keep my eyes open.

I called him, crying, telling him how awful I felt and asking if he could come home and take me to the hospital.

But he said coldly over the phone, "Nora's not feeling well. I have to stay with her. Call an ambulance yourself. Stop pretending to be dying."

That night, I dragged myself out of bed, took some fever medicine from the cabinet, and spent the next day and night half-conscious, nearly dying from the fever in that empty villa.

When he finally came back, there wasn't a single word of concern. All he said was, "You're so dramatic."

During the second year of our marriage, my grandpa was critically ill. I begged Vincent through tears to come with me back to my hometown.

He was spending Nora's birthday with her and hung up on me, sounding annoyed. "Don't bother me with your family's drama. Nora's upset today."

I caught the late-night train home, but still didn't make it in time to see my grandpa one last time.

At the funeral, I cried so hard I nearly passed out, but Vincent didn't even text me once.

Then, in the third year—this year—I got pregnant.

I clutched the pregnancy test results, my heart full of joy, eager to share the news with him. But then I saw him coming out of the hospital, holding Nora in his arms, comforting her softly. "Don't worry. It's just a little cold. I'm here for you."

The pregnancy test results in my hand were instantly crushed in my fist.

That night, I had a massive hemorrhage, and I lost the baby.

As I lay on the operating table, silent tears rolled down my cheeks. When the doctor asked if I had anyone with me, all I could say was, "I don't have any family."

Vincent was off watching a movie with Nora while I lay there alone.

I never really blamed him for any of it.

I kept telling myself he was just slow to warm up, bad at expressing himself, and not over his past yet.

I was like a moth drawn to a flame that was never mine. I got burned all over, yet still forcing a smile and pretending it didn't hurt.

But tonight, he brazenly walked into our home with another woman.

That was the moment I truly woke up.

It wasn't that he didn't know how to love. His love simply never belonged to me.

All his tenderness, his patience, his concern went to another woman.

And me? I was nothing but the unnecessary, the obstacle, the ridiculous outsider.

Rain and tears blurred together, sliding down my cheeks.

I collapsed on the sidewalk, finally crying my heart out, unable to stop myself.

I wasn't crying over losing him. I was mourning ten years of pointless love, three years of a marriage that reduced me to nothing, and for my unborn child.

I loved Vincent more than anything.

I loved him so much I lost myself, gave up my dreams, and lowered myself to nothing.

But Vincent crushed my love beneath his feet, until there was nothing left but dust.

I was done, truly.

From now on, I was done living for anyone but myself.

I wiped my tears, got to my feet, and hailed a cab.

I told the driver the address of an apartment I'd lined up for myself ages ago.

It wasn't big. There was no staff, no flashy cars, no designer interiors. But it was clean, cozy, and belonged to me alone.

From now on, I was taking back my passion for design, the thing I gave up for three years.

I would go back to be that proud, radiant, confident Sofia Trevino again.

I wanted Vincent to see that without him, I'd thrive.

I wanted him to regret losing me.

The car sped into the darkness, leaving that icy villa far behind, once and for all.