Chapter 2

Just like that, Matthew threw me out—six months pregnant, left out in the cold.

All just to force me to apologize to Elaine.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms, tilting my head back to force the tears away.

He used to say this place would always be my safe haven.

He promised he'd never lose his temper with me.

All of it was bullshit.

Our love story was straight out of a fairy tale—he was the prince, and I was the ugly duckling.

He was my senior, two years ahead of me in college.

He was the campus superstar—everyone adored him.

As the heir to Quinn Corporation, he was always surrounded by admirers wherever he went.

And me? I was just a bookworm from a tiny town, the kind of girl who only knew how to ace tests.

I had no idea how to dress up or socialize, and I couldn't even recognize half the designer brands he wore.

But Matthew fell for me at first sight.

To win me over, he pulled every trick in the book.

He'd "accidentally" bump into me in the cafeteria, "just happen" to sit across from me in the library, "coincidentally" have an umbrella ready for me on rainy days, and somehow always ended up on the same running track as me every morning.

For someone as proud as him, he'd stand in the pouring rain, holding breakfast, and wait for me outside my dorm for two hours.

If I so much as said I wasn't feeling well, he'd drop everything and drive over five hours just to be by my side.

He said, "I must've prayed for a thousand years just to get you to look my way."

He said, "Rachel, I'm going to marry you, no matter what."

The moment I graduated, he whisked me away and made me his wife.

He was insanely possessive.

Even just chatting with a guy at work would make him jealous and moody for the rest of the day.

I knew that was just his way of showing he loved me.

I was willing to quit my job.

I made him the center of my universe.

"Honey, we're going to love each other forever," he used to say. "All my money is yours."

I could sleep in as late as I wanted, and I could swipe his card whenever I wanted.

Our love was the stuff of legends in our circle.

Everything changed when Elaine came back after her divorce.

He wasn't just doting on me anymore—his attention was split.

He'd drop everything for her, no matter what she asked.

He'd ditch me for her without a second thought.

He couldn't even bother to show up for my prenatal checkups, but he'd take her to the hospital over something as trivial as a cold.

And now, he was sprawled out on her bed like he belonged there, not a hint of hesitation or concern.

Elaine pretended to be all caring and innocent, acting like she was just trying to help.

Elaine put on her sweetest voice and said, "Rachel, Matt's really exhausted. Can't you be a little more understanding?"

I just couldn't accept it.

The love that used to be mine alone was now being shared with someone else.

His affection was drifting away from me.

Someone else was stealing what belonged to me.

I kept causing drama, again and again.

At first, he'd patiently comfort me, but then he started ignoring me, and eventually, he just lost his patience.

Now, he didn't even hesitate—just kicked me out.

He was fed up.

I was just as drained.

I gave the door one last look.

In the end, I turned and walked away.

I wanted to see for myself.

Without Matthew, stepping into single life, I wondered what was really waiting for me.

Just how tough things could get.

I grabbed a cab straight to Vera's apartment, my usual safe haven whenever I ran away.

As my college roommate, we were as close as sisters, and besides Matthew, she was the only person in this city I could truly count on.

When I got to Vera's apartment building, I tried to pay for the cab with my phone.

But something was wrong with my account—it wouldn't go through.

That was when it hit me—every single bank card I had was from Matthew.

I took a deep breath and called Matthew.

I said, "You always said your money was mine to spend—so why'd you freeze my account?"

Matthew said, "Just apologize, and you can swipe it however you like."

I didn't even let him finish—I just hung up.

I forced myself not to cry.

He actually froze all my accounts just to force me into apologizing.

Looks like slapping Elaine really messed him up—guess I struck a nerve.

I yanked the necklace off my neck and gave it to the driver.

I said, "This should be enough for the fare."

The driver waved it off, "Hey, I'm a woman too. I'll just do a good deed for you."

She helped me get my bags out of the trunk.

The driver glanced at me and said, "You look about six or seven months pregnant. Try not to get too worked up—it's not good for the baby."

She added, "If things really get rough, just give in a little to your husband. Everything else can wait until after the baby's born."

I replied, "Thanks, ma'am. I know."

Vera barely looked surprised, as I had become a regular at her apartment ever since Elaine returned.

"Another fight? So, how many days are you planning to freeze him out this time?"

I sank onto the couch, feeling completely drained.

I said, "This time, he literally threw me out."

Vera blurted out, "Matthew's lost his mind."

She looked at me in disbelief and hurried over to sit beside me.

Vera asked, "Just a frown from you used to make him worry sick. So what the hell happened this time?"

I replied, "I slapped Elaine and wrecked the apartment Matthew got her."

She gaped at me, "That's it? No way, I don't buy it."

But that's really all there was to it.

I glanced at Vera. "Maybe he's just tired of me and doesn't want to comfort me anymore. Or maybe he's lost interest and doesn't love me now."

He was using his cutthroat business tactics on me, forcing me to compromise and stop causing a scene.

He wanted me to be the well-behaved, considerate Mrs. Quinn.

He wanted me to just look the other way whenever he and Elaine were up to something.