Chapter 5

Everyone noticed the strange look on Samuel's face and crowded around to see what was inside the box. Right there in the box were divorce papers. Everyone turned to stare at me in disbelief.

"Oh my God!" Monica, Samuel's mother, gasped.

My mom couldn't hold back anymore. She rushed over to me, her eyes wide with shock.

She said, "Evelyn, are you out of your mind? Can't we talk things out? You can't divorce around like that."

Samuel grabbed my hand, his touch icy cold.

"Evelyn, you're kidding, right? This has to be a joke before the real birthday surprise, right?" Samuel's voice shook, disbelief written all over his face.

I calmly pulled my hand away. "I'm not joking. I really want a divorce."

I met his gaze, making sure he heard every word. "This is my gift to you for your birthday."

Samuel stood there, mouth half-open, tears brimming in his eyes. He let out a mocking laugh.

"Leaving me. That's your idea of a gift? Why?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"At this point, why are you still pretending?" I gave a faint smile. "If you're really clueless, the answer's right there in the box."

Samuel grabbed the thick stack of papers, flipping through them frantically.

Every single page was hard evidence of his affairs, all the dirt I'd dug up on him lately.

It was all right there in black and white. No way he could deny it.

With every page he turned, his face grew even paler.

My mom and Monica grabbed the stack of papers from Samuel at the same time.

My mom scanned a few pages. She was so furious that she was almost in tears.

She shouted, "Who the hell is Nicole Reed? Samuel, you actually spent three million on a house for her? And it's a place just for the two of you?"

The crowd instantly erupted in an uproar.

My dad snatched a few pages and looked them over, his face going livid.

Monica stared at the evidence, unable to believe what she was seeing.

She muttered, "How could this happen?"

I said, "Mom, Nicole Reed is obviously Samuel's mistress. Why else would he drop that kind of cash on her?"

I stayed calm, as if I wasn't a part of this matter.

"Well, it's not like you're spending your own money. So, of course, it's easy for you, right, Samuel?" I said, smiling wryly.

Samuel's eyes were rimmed with red as he looked at me, utterly crushed.

I said slowly, "Honestly, I just don't understand. If you loved Nicole Reed that much, why did you chase after me? Why did you choose to be with me instead?

"Isn't loving someone supposed to mean you can't let go of them? That there's no one else but them?

"I always thought I treated you well. You were into game development, and I backed you all the way.

"When you wanted to start your own company, I handed over every cent of the one million I'd scraped together from four years as a fashion blogger.

"Back then, I wanted to launch my own brand, too. You knew that was my biggest dream.

"But I loved you, so I was willing to put you first, no matter what I wanted."

Samuel completely broke down, tears flooding down his face.

His lips were shaking uncontrollably, but he couldn't say a single word.

I said, "So, I just don't get it. I treated you so well. Why did you have to hurt me? Why did you take my money and buy a house for another woman behind my back?

"I spent that whole night thinking about it, and in the end, I realized. Maybe you just didn't love me enough."

Samuel broke down, sobbing uncontrollably as he shook his head desperately. "No, that's not true."

I said, "You and Nicole ended in regret. You had a love that hurt and you'll never outlive."

"So, what am I? Just another trial in your so-called legendary romance, another hurdle you had to get through."

I thought I was past feeling anything, but as I said those words, my eyes still stung with tears.

I took a deep breath and looked up, refusing to let the tears fall.

Samuel suddenly rushed over to me, his tears streaming as he cried out in desperation.

He said, "No, that's not true! It's not like that at all! Evelyn, I love you. I swear I really love you."

Chloe was quick to react. She jumped in front of me and shoved Samuel away.

She said, "You jerk, get out of here. Stay away from Evelyn."

Samuel tried to pull Chloe away, but my dad locked his grip on Samuel's wrist, holding him tight.

My dad was a kickboxing coach. No matter how Samuel struggled, he was no match for my dad's strength. He had no choice but to sink to his knees.

My dad was so furious that the veins on his forehead bulged.

He said, "Back at your wedding, when I entrusted my daughter to you, what did you promise me? You said you'd love her, protect her, and never let her cry. But look at what you've done."

Samuel choked out, his voice full of anguish, "Tom, I'm sorry. I swear I'll—"

"Shut up. I don't have a son-in-law like you!" my dad shouted, shoving him away.

Samuel slumped to the floor, a deep, purple bruise already blooming on his right wrist.

"Alright, let's do as Evelyn said. Mr. Carter, look over the divorce papers and sign them. After this, we'll each go our own way. There's no need to make things even uglier," my mom said, her eyes red from crying.

My mom had always doted on Samuel, always saying I had good taste, that I'd found her such a wonderful son-in-law, and treating him just like her own son.

But at that moment, she was calling him "Mr. Carter"; that alone showed just how heartbroken and disappointed she was.

"Please, don't get divorced. You can't do this," Monica sobbed as she rushed over and clung tightly to my hand.

Monica said, "Samuel made a huge mistake, I know, and he really hurt you. I swear, I'll give him the scolding of his life.

"If that's not enough, I'll smack some sense into him myself. Evelyn, do me this one favor, okay? Just give him one more chance. I promise, he won't ever dare mess up again."

John, Samuel's father, said, his face full of worry, "Evelyn, you've always been a great daughter-in-law, and I'm proud of you.

"But today, Samuel messed up. As his wife, it's your responsibility to help him find his way back, not just give up on him."

My parents and Chloe looked even more upset when they heard that.

John continued, not letting up, "Cheating is just a small mistake for a man, nothing serious. As long as he didn't get some other woman pregnant, it's not crossing the line. He can still make things right."

"Mr. and Mrs. Carter, I'm pregnant," Nicole announced, her voice clear and unwavering.

Her crisp words cut right through John's speech.

Nicole walked over to us, calm and collected.

She made her announcement loud and clear. "I'm pregnant with Samuel's baby."

The whole room went dead silent.

Samuel looked at her in horror.