Chapter 4
I was the only child, totally spoiled by my parents, and grew up in a rich family.
Since I hit thirty and was still single, my parents kept lining up suitors for me, one after another.
On my last blind date, I met Hector. Honestly, out of all the guys I'd been set up with, he was the best-looking and had a respectable job.
We got married not just because it made sense, but also because we both wanted to get our families off our backs.
Thankfully, at first, Hector was really good to me after we got married.
He was a doctor, always thoughtful and attentive to both our parents. Every time the seasons changed, he'd even invite the hospital's senior doctor to give everyone a health checkup.
As for me, he handled all the chores himself and always kept things strictly professional with his colleagues. He barely ever went to gatherings, maybe once or twice a year, tops.
We kept our finances separate, and he managed his own salary.
He made just over ten thousand dollars a month, but every six months, he'd surprise me with a designer bag worth over ten thousand dollars.
My friends all said that even though I got married later than most, I still lucked out with a great husband.
Even so, I spent three years making sure he was really the right one before I even considered having a baby.
Our first child was a boy. Hector had never asked me for anything before, but one night when he was tipsy, he wrapped his arms around me and said, "Raya, what do you think about having a daughter?"
But right after I found out I was pregnant again, Hector's first love ended up divorced and returned to her hometown.
After that, Hector, who used to come home on time every day, suddenly got so busy that he hardly ever came home anymore.
At first, I didn't suspect anything. Hector even brought Melody's son over to our place a couple of times.
But then, one day, I found out Melody's son had secretly pinched Eden's thigh. I saw a big bruise on the inside of Eden's leg.
I was furious and called Hector back from work immediately.
"Whose kid is this, anyway? Just take him home already!" I snapped.
I fumed. "Just look at Eden's leg. How could a kid this little be so rough? Eden's barely two years old."
Melody's son, Jason, got scared and grabbed Hector's leg, trying to hide behind him.
But he lied, "Mr. Graham, it wasn't me. I like Eden."
With just those words, it was like Eden's tears didn't matter at all.
Hector picked up Jason, soothing him, but when he looked at me, he was visibly impatient.
He began, a bit annoyed, "Kids are innocent. How could he possibly go and pinch Eden behind our backs?
"Maybe you're just being a bit too sensitive from looking after the kids at home. Eden probably just bumped into something himself."
"Come on, kids don't lie," Hector added.
If I hadn't kept pushing for Melody to come over and apologize, I probably never would've realized my husband actually brought his ex's kid into my house and expected me to babysit him.
Melody acted all apologetic, but every word out of her mouth was just her hinting that I was out to get her kid.
That night, Hector and I had a huge fight.
He called me petty, saying I couldn't even accept a kid who didn't have a father.
After that, Hector started openly supporting Melody and Jason. He didn't even try to keep it under wraps anymore.
On the rare days he had off, he'd take Melody and Jason to the amusement park and spend the whole day with them, saying it was for the boy's own good, because without a dad around, he'd never grow up to be a real man and would end up messed up.
Every time I pushed back, he'd give me this helpless look and say, "I don't have any feelings for Melody anymore. Don't make a fuss. It's tough for a single mom to raise a kid. You're a mother, too. Don't you have any empathy at all?"
He treated Jason like his own, but barely paid attention to his own son, Eden.
He was a pediatrician, but he still gave his own son a double dose of the same vaccine.
After that, my heart completely died for Hector.
Once I was able to function again, I held a funeral for Eden.
In just a few days, I lost two of my own flesh and blood.
Even at their age, I still made my parents worry about me. And as a mother, I couldn't even save my kids.
Not a single one survived.
No matter what, I was a failure.
And all of this was because of the man standing right in front of me, eyes red, looking all defeated, still pretending to be the righteous one.
If he'd bothered to actually look at Eden that night, as a senior doctor, he would've instantly realized Eden had the deadliest throat infection for babies.
He was so cold and heartless back then, and then he was trying to act like Father of the Year? What a joke!
At the funeral, I was listless and couldn't even summon the strength to care.
It wasn't until a heart-wrenching cry came from the doorway that I forced myself to look up.
When I saw who it was, my blood boiled, and rage surged through my chest.
"Oh, Eden, poor little thing. It's so unfair for someone so young to suffer like this," Melody cried, putting on a show.
She sobbed, "I just came to say goodbye, Eden. Rest in peace, okay?"
With a frown, Hector strode over to Melody and her son.
"Why are you here?" he asked.