Chapter 2
The next morning, Eve showed up early.
When I came downstairs, she was in the living room, adjusting Darius's tie.
Her movements were so familiar and natural, like she'd done it a thousand times.
When she saw me, she didn't take her hands off Darius.
She just smiled at me and said hello.
"Kathy, did you sleep well last night? Darius and I were on video call for half the night. Hope we didn't keep you up," she added.
I was already used to her taunts.
But with Frank about to come home, I didn't have to hold back anymore.
"Darius and I have had separate bedrooms for ages. Didn't he mention that to you? Looks like you're not that important to him," I fired back.
Eve chuckled, looking even more pleased when she heard about our separate bedrooms.
Darius's expression frosted over.
He pulled away from Eve's hands impatiently, then called for her to join him at the table.
Eve was no stranger to eating breakfast in this house.
I wasn't that insecure girl anymore—I wasn't going to get jealous and start arguing with Darius over Eve.
Maria came in just then.
When she saw Eve, she glanced at me with an unreadable expression.
For an instant, there was a hint of sympathy in her eyes.
But she quickly switched back to her usual high-and-mighty attitude.
She set her bag aside, pulled out a chair, and sat down across from Darius, her attention shifting straight to Eve.
"You're much too thin, sweetheart. One of these days I'll get someone to look after you for a few months, make sure you really build your health back up," Maria said.
Eve's eyes widened in disbelief. She hadn't expected Maria to speak to her first.
Because of Eve, Darius's reputation outside had started to suffer.
Eve always thought Maria never really cared for her.
Eve flashed a sweet smile and chatted away, while Maria occasionally chimed in.
As we were finishing breakfast, Maria finally revealed the real reason she'd come over.
"Darius, since you refuse to listen to us, have a kid with Eve. She'd had one before, so at least she knows what she's doing," Maria said.
Eve's cheeks went bright red, and she threw Darius a flirty side-eye.
Darius just sat there like he hadn't heard a thing.
I kept my head down over my cereal, but my hand shook as I gripped the spoon.
I'd always known Maria wanted Darius and Eve to have a kid, so none of this should've surprised me.
But today was the first time Maria laid it all out in front of me.
I thought I'd be able to just shrug it off, but clearly, I'd overestimated myself.
I could barely hold back the sting in my eyes. I kept shoveling cereal into my mouth, trying to shut myself off.
Before I could finish my cereal, Darius set down his spoon and finally said, "Kathy's the only woman I married, and she's the only one who'll ever be the mother of my children."
"Well, what are you two waiting for? Hurry up and give me a grandchild then," Maria said.
When Darius didn't say a word, Maria swung her gaze over to me.
"Kathy, what do you think? Anyway, I want grandchildren by next year, no excuses," she demanded.
I rose slowly, keeping my expression calm. "It doesn't really matter to me who gives birth to Darius's child. I won't object either way."
"I've finished eating. I'll go upstairs now," I added.
After three years of being Darius's wife, this was the first time Maria had ever looked at me with anything close to real acknowledgment.
"So that's settled then. If Eve ends up having the baby, we'll just pass it to Kathy to raise," Maria announced.
Behind me, the crisp sound of a shattered cereal bowl rang out—Darius had just smashed it.
Then I heard the angry grind of his teeth. "Fine, Kathy. Don't you dare regret it."
I wouldn't regret it.
By that time, I wouldn't be his wife anymore.
His child would have nothing to do with me.
Maria didn't waste a second. That very afternoon, she brought in a servant and had her move right into Eve's apartment.
Because of that, the rumor mill went wild—everybody in our circle started saying Darius was planning to divorce me.
Little did they know I'd already brought up divorce with Darius back when Frank first got sent to prison.
Back then, Darius completely blew up.
He started staying out all night, going everywhere with Eve, practically flaunting their relationship in public.
He wouldn't answer my calls or reply to my texts.
When I tried to see him at his office, he made the security guards throw me out right in front of everyone.
He didn't care about humiliating me at all.
When Darius finally came home a month later, I argued with him over Eve. It turned out to be the last time.
With tears streaming down my face, I choked out, "Why are you treating me like this?"
Darius grabbed my chin and wiped away my tears.
He snapped, "Didn't you want a divorce? And now you can't even stand this?
"Kathy, since you don't want to be my wife, you brought this on yourself."
He was punishing me.
But none of this was enough for him.
He wanted to hurt me so badly that I'd never forget it.
Only then would I be obedient and never lash out at him, nor ask for a divorce again.