Chapter 3

Disgust crept up on me again, but I kept my cool. I jammed my earplugs in and pulled the blanket over my head.

Craig's angry yelling came through the door, but I ignored it and shut my eyes.

I'd always known Craig was a thrill-seeker.

He loved racing, climbing, diving, whatever got his adrenaline pumping. I never tried to stop him.

I figured some people needed that kind of excitement, and that was fine.

But I never expected him to bring that same wild energy into the bedroom.

The first time I caught him cheating was when I was at a super-exclusive club with my boss, trying to close a big deal.

I'd been working my ass off on that project for over half a year. If we landed it, I could finally buy Craig that watch he'd been eyeing.

I'd already planned it out. I was going to wrap it up all fancy, make sure it was a total surprise.

I was so excited, I could barely contain myself.

But that night, I'd had way too much to drink. After forcing myself to throw up in the bathroom, I stumbled into the wrong room, still half out of it.

Hardly anyone ever gets lost in a place like that, so the moment I walked in, I saw something that blew my mind to pieces.

Front and center was Craig himself.

All the booze in my body evaporated in a flash. I went ballistic, clawing at his face and smacking him over and over.

I nearly ground his face into the floor.

Maybe, in that moment, there was still a tiny spark of feeling for me left in him.

He held me tight, apologizing over and over, begging for forgiveness.

But after that, I was never the same again.

I turned into a total control freak, constantly texting or calling to check where he was, setting strict curfews. If he didn't show up on time, I'd freak out.

Maybe all that controlling just made him fed up with me, and he started staying away from home more and more.

After that, he and Trisha fell right in together.

Even though I had a miscarriage while searching for him, Craig still refused to compromise.

He finally bothered to show up at the hospital just as I was about to be discharged, with an impatient look in his eyes.

"If you can put up with it, then fine. If you can't, go out and find someone else," Craig said. "Anyone is fine."

I couldn't believe my own ear.

But that was the harsh reality.

I couldn't accept Craig's betrayal. It was like I was being torn in two.

I kept pestering Craig. I was obsessed, hell-bent on making Trisha pay for my baby's life.

After I made a scene a few times, I was dragged in front of Craig's mother, Melba.

Compared to the elegant, well-bred Trisha, I was painfully average.

All I had going for me was that Craig and I were university classmates, joined the same club, and he noticed me, then chased after me like there was no tomorrow.

Too bad the Hayden family were never really fond of me, especially Melba.

On my wedding day, Melba told me, "If you and Craig can stick it out for seven years, then I'll give you my blessing for real."

That day, Melba jabbed me in the back with her cold cane, and the pain made me gasp.

She said, "I don't care how much you two fight at home, but if you embarrass the Hayden family, don't blame me if I get nasty."

That was the first time I realized how obsessed the Haydens were with keeping up appearances.

That day, Melba also said, "If you can endure it, then endure. If you can't, then get a divorce. But make sure you find someone else."

I was totally lost.

But Craig's sister-in-law, Emma, feeling sorry for me, pulled me aside as I was leaving and whispered, "Melba cares most about the family's reputation. The Haydens can't afford even a hint of scandal."

I understood then. No matter how wild Craig got, none of it ever made the news because the Haydens always had his back.

That was what gave Craig the guts to do whatever he wanted.

Sure, I could get a divorce but only if I screwed up and had to be kicked out.

But back then, I couldn't bear the thought of letting Craig go.

I couldn't believe he could stop loving me, just like that.

I was constantly checking up on him, watching as he handed over everything that used to be mine to another woman.

Every day, it felt like my heart was being ripped apart, and I kept wondering if I was ever enough for him.

I even wondered if I stood on the edge of the rooftop, maybe Craig would finally see me.

It wasn't until the middle of the night, when I finally came to my senses, that I realized I was actually standing on the roof.

The darkness around me felt endless, ready to swallow me whole. Suddenly, I wondered if my misery would end if I jumped.

I took a step forward, about to go through with it, when something strong pulled me down hard.

I hit the hard rooftop floor, the impact jolting me back to reality.

I scraped my arm on the ground, and the pain made me frown.

A teasing voice hovered above me. "So you know it hurts, huh? If you do, why the hell are you trying to jump? Jumping off will hurt like hell."

I froze, completely stunned.

I mumbled, "Really?"

Strangely enough, I realized I couldn't even tell what I was feeling anymore.

"Yeah," the youth said.

He rolled over and lay down beside me on the rooftop, gazing up at the starless night sky.

I was freaking out inside. I felt like I was turning into a monster.

But why?

I just couldn't wrap my head around it.

None of this was my fault.

I knew Craig and I came from different worlds, but he was the one who chased after me first.

He was the one who swore we'd be together forever.

But now that he didn't love me anymore, he put all the blame for the divorce on me.

I wanted to laugh, but the tears wouldn't stop.