Chapter 3

"Emily? What's going on?" My mom's anxious voice called out from behind me. She must've been worried after waiting so long, so she came looking for me.

When she saw me confronting David, with Sophie hiding behind him, and especially when she noticed Sophie's pregnant belly, her face instantly drained of color.

"David? Wh-what is this?" my mom stammered.

David's face froze for a moment when he saw my mom, but then he just doubled down, acting all tough. "Mary, what are you doing here? It's nothing, just a little misunderstanding. You should take Emily home first."

"A misunderstanding?" My mom's voice trembled as she pointed at Sophie's belly. "Is this what you call a misunderstanding? David, you've betrayed Emily. You've betrayed this family!"

Sophie's eyes brimmed with tears as she clung desperately to David's arm, her voice choked with sobs. "David, I'm so sorry. I made Mary and Emily angry... Emily, please don't blame David. Blame me instead. I just couldn't help how I felt..."

She kept saying it was her fault, but her body pressed even closer to David, her hand resting possessively on her belly like she was flaunting her victory for everyone to see.

"Sophie, this isn't on you," David said, shielding her. His gaze toward me and my mother grew even more impatient. "We can deal with it at home. Let's not make a scene here at the hospital."

Home? What home was he even talking about?

The one he was about to build with Sophie and their soon-to-arrive new family member?

So where did that leave me and Lily?

The sheer absurdity and a cold swept through me. I couldn't even muster anger anymore, just a deep, soul-crushing exhaustion and numbness.

"David," I heard myself say, my voice eerily calm, like I was talking about someone else's life. "We're getting a divorce."

David froze, clearly not expecting me to be so blunt about it.

A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by irritation. "Emily, are you done making a scene? Divorce? What are you and Lily supposed to do after that? Don't be so impulsive!"

He was basically reminding me that I had no income, that he'd been the one supporting the family all these years, and that I depended on him.

It was absolutely ridiculous. Even now, he still saw himself as the one doing me a favor, like our whole relationship was just his charity.

"That's none of your business," I said, grabbing my mom's cold hand. "Mom, let's go."

As I turned away, tears finally streamed down my cheeks, but I bit my lip hard, not letting myself make a single sound.

I couldn't let myself break down in front of him and that homewrecker. I just couldn't.

"Emily!" Sophie called out behind me, her voice timid but just loud enough to make sure I heard.

I stopped in my tracks, but didn't look back.

Her words floated over, soft but clear, laced with fake concern and venom. "Emily, please don't be mad at David. If anyone's to blame, it's me.

"And Lily is so adorable. David really cares about her. When my baby is born, we'll treat Lily as our big sister..."

Every syllable was like a poison-tipped needle, stabbing deep into my already bleeding heart.

She was flaunting it, marking her territory, making it painfully clear that she hadn't just stolen my husband. She was planning to step into my daughter's life, too.

And David actually chimed in, putting on that rare "generous dad" act he hardly ever gave Lily. "Sophie's right. Lily will always be my daughter. Nothing will ever change that."

Disgusting.

An overwhelming wave of disgust rose in my throat.

I didn't hesitate for a second. I grabbed my mom's hand and dragged her out of that suffocating place like I was escaping for my life.

I was completely out of it the whole way home, barely even aware of how we got there.

My mom held my hand tight, tears falling nonstop as she kept murmuring, "Emily, you've been through so much. My poor girl..."

When we got home and I closed the door behind us, all my strength just crumbled in an instant.

I collapsed to the floor, hugging my knees, my whole body shaking uncontrollably.

The hospital scene kept looping in my head. David's cold, heartless words, Sophie's phony act...

So in the end, he just didn't want me to have his second child.

I never knew love could turn someone this cold.