Chapter 4
I took a slow breath, turned around under everyone's shocked stares, and went straight to the pet hospital to pick up Lucky.
On the way back, I printed a divorce agreement.
When I got home, Edward was busy comforting Bella, who was pretending to be the poor "other woman".
I walked up to him with the papers in hand. "Edward, I want a divorce."
I handed him the agreement.
He didn't even look at me. He was too busy soothing Bella.
It wasn't until she nudged him that he finally frowned my way.
He snapped, "God, you're annoying. Didn't I tell you to stop bothering me?"
He took the divorce papers, didn't read a word, and signed his name immediately.
Then he threw the document at me with force. "Get out."
I didn't say a single word.
I picked up the agreement, held Lucky tightly, and went upstairs to pack.
When I finished, the house had gone quiet.
Edward was supposedly in the study. At the door, I saw Bella yanking Lucky's leash like she was "seeing me off", but her eyes were full of poison.
She sneered, "Lily, you've been hogging the spot and doing nothing with it. I swear I'm going to make your life a living hell.
"This is all your fault! I've been the side chick for years because of you.
"If it weren't for you, I would've been Mrs. Hudson already."
I barely heard a word she said. All I could focus on was Lucky, who was desperately struggling in her grip.
"What are you doing? Give him back! Now!" I shouted, and a sharp pain twisted through my stomach and up into my chest, stealing my breath.
While I watched helplessly, her face twisted into something vicious.
The moment a car approached, she suddenly hurled Lucky toward the road.
The car didn't even slow down.
Lucky landed on the ground like a crushed leaf.
Blood poured out of his mouth, and he lay there, unmoving.
"No!" My vision blurred with rage. I shoved her aside and threw myself toward him.
Lucky kept coughing up blood, his body jerking uncontrollably.
Bella let out a mocking laugh.
Then, hearing Edward coming down the stairs, she threw herself to the ground and whimpered, soft and fragile, "Eddie, I'm pregnant. It's our baby. My stomach hurts so much."
Edward rushed toward her, scooping her up in his arms.
He shot me a dark, deadly stare. "If anything happens to Bella or the baby, I'll make you pay for it."
He carried her out without another word.
My fury surged so hard I choked on it and spat out blood.
My blood mixed with Lucky's on the ground, a horrifying shade of red.
As their car door shut, Lucky's little paw slid helplessly to the floor.
And in that moment, something inside me finally died.
I left a signed divorce agreement on the table, grabbed my bags, and walked out.
The butler watched my back disappear through the gates, panic flooding his face as he called Edward.
After I left, I didn't rush to the airport.
Instead, I went to a quiet cemetery.
I walked through the rows until I reached Edward's grandfather's grave. I bent down and placed the flowers gently in front of the headstone.
I said, "I'm sorry. I couldn't live up to what you hoped for. But I have to go."
I grew up alone.
Benjamin saw a little girl with nowhere to go and took me in.
I treated him like my own family. Growing up, Edward and I were childhood friends.
And I fell for him.
Benjamin noticed. With a nudge here and there, my quiet crush slowly turned into something mutual.
We were happy—almost ready to take the final step.
But disaster came out of nowhere.
A car accident took Benjamin's life. It also took our baby and my ability to ever become a mother again.
When the car hit, I threw myself over Edward, and Benjamin threw himself over both of us.
He took the worst of it.
He didn't survive long after.
Right before he passed, he held both our hands, his voice shaking. "I want the two of you to live well. Take care of each other... promise me."
He struggled for breath and turned to Edward. "Edward, I can tell you already love Lily. Marry her. Treat her right. Make a life together, okay?"
Edward tried to pull his hand away, but Benjamin wouldn't let go.
So Edward finally sighed and said helplessly, "Grandpa, I promise. I'll take care of her."
Before he could finish his sentence, Benjamin was gone.