Chapter 3
I walked back into the hospital and sat by my mom's side.
Night fell, and then the first light of dawn broke.
My mom, lying in the hospital bed, opened her eyes, wincing in pain. I couldn't help but tear up.
After letting go of love, it hit me that she was hurting because of me.
"Mom, if I go back again, will you still have to suffer?" I asked.
It was like we were on the same wavelength.
My mom didn't ask why.
She said softly, "Next time you go back, I'll tell you where those matches came from."
I went back to the villa I used to call home and later sold off.
I needed to ask Caleb why. I loved him with everything I had, but I wanted to walk away knowing the truth.
The housekeeper who'd been with us from the start was still here.
I had a lump in my throat.
The ache was subtle, but it kept dragging on.
Everyone else knew about Caleb and Cynthia's affair.
I was the only one left in the dark, like the punchline to some cruel joke.
I placed the photo of the marriage certificate on the table.
"Why?" I asked.
Why did he keep being with me while hiding the truth? Why did he have to kill our baby?
Why did he let Cynthia sell those flowers treated with chemicals to me, yet never tell me anything?
All those questions were stuck in my throat, choking me.
Caleb's eyes widened, and he was clearly caught off guard. His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists.
He said, "You're perfect as a wife.
"I want Cindy to be my princess. She doesn't have to worry about a thing, as long as she loves me.
"Back in college, when we were barely speaking, she was the one who comforted me and gave me advice on how to make up with you.
"All those flowers, jewelry, and sweet talk? She taught me everything.
"It wasn't until we were about to get married that I realized she'd been secretly in love with me. But she felt inferior, and her dad ended up sending her to a nightclub.
"On our wedding night, when I said I was busy, I was at the nightclub trying to bring her home. She's more reserved and cleaner than you. She'd never chase after a guy.
"And the divorce agreement? I made you sign it when we were dealing with the house sale."
A wave of nausea hit me.
Back then, I stole my ID, ready to marry him.
He was crying his eyes out, but he didn't make any empty promises. He spent every penny he had to buy me a diamond ring.
When he looked at me, there was still love in his eyes.
I furrowed my brows. All the curses I wanted to spit out melted into a bitter sigh. "Disgusting."
Caleb sighed deeply and took my hand.
"Eve, I've always thought you're so mature. I'll make sure you get everything you should have," he muttered.
But all I got in return was harm, lies, and betrayal.
That face I'd spent fifteen years with was now slowly warping into something monstrous in my eyes.
I grabbed my phone, ready to walk away.
A wave of exhaustion washed over me.
I didn't need to ask anymore.
Caleb looked stunned and got to his feet.
He grabbed my wrist, his grip tight and unyielding.
His brows knitted together, frustration and unease written all over his face.
"Who are you acting all hurt for?
"Don't think I don't know what you've been doing," he snapped.
He threw a stack of photos right in my face.
I looked down at the photos scattered across the floor.
My face had been photoshopped onto bodies hooking up with random people!
"While we were barely talking, you were out there sleeping around with whoever.
"If it weren't for Cindy, I'd still be clueless! I loved you so much that I didn't care about your baggage. I still married you!" Caleb spat.
Suddenly, I found it all utterly ridiculous.
I couldn't believe I'd loved him for so long.
I couldn't believe I was such an idiot.
I actually burned through two matches for him, making my mom suffer twice.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Caleb, you're not stupid, and neither am I. It would've been so easy to get someone to run a check on those photos, but you never did. You didn't report it to the police and get to the bottom of it, either.
"You couldn't wait to smear my name, so your cheating would look forced, and you could play the victim, all heartbroken and innocent," I said.
My phone rang, and the nurse's frantic voice came through.
"Miss Stone, Miss Grant went into the room, and your mom's gone into shock!" she said.
I yanked my wrist free from Caleb's grip.
But he shoved me into the car.
"You can wait for a cab, but can your mom?" he snapped.
I didn't refuse.
My heart was pounding like crazy.