Chapter 3

"Emily, Ethan's been coming home late lately, and he's started working out," Amelia complained weakly from the bed.

I looked at her, startled. "Do you mean Mr. Sutton is having an affair?"

Amelia spat through gritted teeth. "I knew it. Now that his first crush is back, Ethan will lose control sooner or later. I didn't expect it to happen so fast."

A flash of insight hit me—I suddenly remembered why Stella seemed familiar.

I hesitated, then told Amelia, my face paling. "Mrs. Sutton, Ethan's first crush has a daughter named Stella Lane. It looks like she's trying to get close to Ethan."

"You mean the woman we saw at the café was her daughter?" Amelia said in disbelief.

I nodded. "Yes. She's working at our company now. Kevin said she just lost her father."

Amelia sneered, "She just lost her husband and already wants to be with Ethan? Fine if she's seducing Ethan, but now her daughter's after my son. Should I beat Kevin up to make you feel better?"

Suddenly, I didn't feel so pitiable about losing my husband.

Amelia was the one to pity—her husband stolen by Lily, and now even her son was being hunted by Stella.

"Don't look at me with that pitying face. It's not only Ethan who's being stolen," Amelia said, folding her arms and looking at me with satisfaction.

"That was Ethan's first crush. Kevin's first crush was me." I couldn't help but defend myself.

"Clearly, he's a scumbag. Are you still going to try to win Kevin back?" Amelia asked, puzzlement on her face.

I thought back over our college days and the years after—the love we'd shared—and couldn't bring myself to be ruthless. "I'll try first. If it doesn't work, then I'll let it go."

Amelia gave my hand a helpless pat, but secretly she started moving assets around.

I had held on for more than a year. I had given him all my love and courage—my child's life had even been at stake because of him.

"Are you awake?" a voice asked.

When I opened my eyes, the sharp smell of disinfectant hit me again.

Amelia, eyes bloodshot and exhausted, looked at me. "Luckily, I was smart and came to the hospital. The nurse said you'd been discharged. I couldn't reach you by phone, so I went to your place and found you collapsed on the floor."

"What happened to me?" I licked my dry lips and found my voice.

Amelia hurried over with a cup of warm water and put a straw to my lips. "Drink slowly. It's nothing serious. You're very weak after the miscarriage, and your emotions were all over the place."

After I finished the water, Amelia watched me and asked cautiously, "You're not arguing with Kevin anymore?"

I nodded. "I want a divorce, but he won't agree. When Stella calls him, he runs off."

"What?" Amelia slapped her thigh in anger. "If I'd known my son was a jerk, I would've strangled him back then. This bastard is just like his father. But you love him so much. You've been miserable for over a year because of him."

Then, lowering her voice, Amelia gripped my hand. "I've moved most of the liquid assets I could. But Ethan's older and patient—he hasn't slipped up yet. If you agree, I'm going to help fan the flames between Lily and Stella."

I blurted out, "Mrs. Sutton, if you get divorced, can you really bear to leave your son?"

The night I had the miscarriage, I sobbed under the covers all night.

I couldn't even bear the thought of losing the few-month-old child in my belly—how could she give up a son raised for so many years?

Amelia sighed softly, "I'll miss him, but I can't help it. If I were younger, I might fight. But I'm old now. I don't have decades left to waste. I need to live for myself a little."

She watched a V of wild geese fly past outside the window, her gaze distant. "When I was younger, other women used to throw themselves at Ethan, too. Back then, I was hot-headed—we fought all the time. I did exactly what you've been doing this past year, trying to win through arguments, as if winning proved his love.

"Emily, it's not like that. Love is unpredictable. Today, he loves me; tomorrow, he loves her. You can't hold onto it. I'm tired. I want a freer life."

I stared at Amelia's soft, beautiful profile and felt moved.

"You're so wise, Mrs. Sutton—like a goddess," I said.

"So pull yourself together and transfer whatever assets you can now. After the divorce, we'll squeeze Kevin a bit," Amelia advised, turning to face me.

"I see," I replied, nodding.