Chapter 3

Hiram was stunned. After all, it was the first time I'd ever defied him in front of an outsider, especially with Daryl there, waiting for his father to make a show of authority. Hiram's face twisted in anger, and he raised his hand to slap me. "How dare you!"

I looked at him coldly. "I want a divorce."

His raised hand froze, and he stared at me in shock. He never imagined that I, who had always centered my life around him, would be the one to ask for a divorce.

Then he laughed out loud, the fat on his face jiggling. "Your parents already cut you off, and they have to support your brother. If you divorce me, you'll have nowhere to go. Do you even know your own worth?"

He added, "If you apologize to Daryl, maybe I'll even give you another chance."

I didn't bother to explain. I pulled out the divorce agreement. "It's already signed. You get Daryl. I take Cecilia."

Hiram's eyes flickered over my signature. After confirming I was serious, he said with disdain, "You're the one asking for the divorce, so don't expect a dime from me."

"Works for me," I replied.

Hiram shot me a venomous glare, probably pissed that I wasn't begging. He snorted fiercely, "You sure talk tough. Let's see how you're going to pay for that money-draining daughter of yours without my help."

I retorted, "If it's that bad, why don't you just take both of them?"

Hearing that, Hiram fell silent.

Josie quickly cut in, "Sylvia, what are you thinking? Daughters are a mother's greatest comfort. You're really not taking her? You'll regret it someday."

I kept my eyes on Hiram and asked, "I can't afford to raise both kids. Why don't you take them both?"

The Zamora family always said that daughters were nothing but trouble, so of course, they didn't want Cecilia. I was baiting them to get the answer I expected.

Daryl scoffed, "Whoever gave birth to that liability can take her away. The Zamora family doesn't waste money raising girls."

Looking all condescending, he added, "If you beg and grovel, maybe I'll feel sorry for you and put in a good word with my dad to toss you some support money."

At that moment, it felt like my heart was being ripped apart.

Daryl was essentially a carbon copy of Hiram—arrogant, cocky, and always acting like he was above everyone else, just as unbearable as his father.

These past couple of years, Hiram's business had taken off. He got bigger offices, fat paychecks, and his ego was inflating with every dollar. Now, he was so lost in his own wealth that he honestly thought I couldn't make it a day without him.

In this family, I never got any respect.

Hiram looked absolutely delighted with Daryl's attitude. "Good boy. Tomorrow, I'll get you the newest gaming console."

Daryl's grin stretched from ear to ear as he shot me a vicious glance. "Dad, hurry up and sign the papers to kick her out. Let her drag that deadweight with her. She'll come begging at your door one day."

Hiram gave a sly, chilling smile. "Take that money pit with you, and I'll sign the divorce. Deal?"

I answered, "Fine, I'll take her. But you'll have to give me some compensation. Otherwise, how am I supposed to feed her?"

Maybe Hiram just wanted this over with, so he didn't even bother arguing. He really did give me some money.

"Fine. From now on, if anything happens with Daryl, don't bother looking for me. Even if I'm out on the streets begging for food, I'll never ask you for help," I spat.

"You'd better keep your promise." Hiram scrawled his signature on the paperwork, his fat rippling with every move. "Remember this. No matter how low you sink, you'd better not come back to beg me."

"That goes double for you and your golden boy," I replied coldly.

Daryl sneered, "Get out already! Once you two finally leave, my dad can take me to buy the latest gaming console."

Putting on her best act, Josie chimed in, "Oh, come on. Why do you have to get divorced? Can't you work things out?"

I shot her a cold, mocking look.

*****

In my previous life, I was near the end of my second pregnancy when I suddenly started bleeding out. I called Hiram, begging him to come home and take me to the hospital.

He just brushed me off, saying he was busy and told me to call a cab myself.

But later, when I was scrolling through Josie's feed, I caught sight of a hand I knew all too well and that same watch he always wore.

That night, I was all alone in the ER. I couldn't reach Hiram, so it was my parents who had to come and sign the papers for my emergency surgery.

Afterward, Josie actually came by the hospital to visit me.

Josie kept gushing about how her "boyfriend" spoiled her that night—showing off her new diamond necklace, bragging about their shopping spree, and waving around a fancy designer bag.

For my children's sake, I kept my mouth shut and pretended nothing happened.

Whenever I was around others, I could barely muster a smile.

But the moment I shut my bedroom door, I'd cry with resentment lodged in my chest.

I couldn't help but feel I'd failed Cecilia.

Hiram and Josie had been messing around behind my back for ages. Daryl thought Josie was going to treat him like gold.

He had no idea. Josie was flattering him, acting like she cared. He wasn't her son, so why would she even bother? Whether he developed obesity or ended up in the hospital, it'd never be her problem.

As for Hiram, once he got himself a new kid, he was not going to give a damn about Daryl.

But honestly, none of that meant anything to me now.

If Daryl was so determined to cut me out as his mom, then I couldn't care less about him, either.