Chapter 2
Sophia's eyes were half-closed, sultry and teasing.
"My biggest wish is to have a healthy, beautiful baby. But I can't imagine doing this with anyone else.
"Jamie, I only want to have your baby.
"Please—help me become a mom?"
Her gaze suddenly slid to me. "Oh, right, Lydia's here."
She put on a fake smile and said smugly, "As a woman, surely you don't mind if I borrow Jamie to help me have a baby?"
"Why even ask her?" James scoffed, glancing at me. "She'll probably try to hurt you and the baby out of jealousy."
"Lydia." James straightened his collar, his tone cold.
"Sophia wants a baby, so I'm helping her. When she's pregnant, I'll bring her home to take care of her myself. Don't you dare make things difficult.
"We might not be married, but I'm the father. I'll be there for every moment of my kid's life.
"And if you ever have a baby, Sophia's child comes first."
My heart twisted, a sharp pain stabbing through my stomach.
I'd been pregnant once.
But James didn't care about my health then—he even made me dive into freezing water to retrieve his ring.
After I lost the baby, he never even showed up at the hospital.
Now Sophia mentioned a baby, and he was already planning their happy family.
"Why aren't you answering?" James snapped, eyes glaring. "Are you saying no? Listen up, Lydia. If Sophia wants something, I—"
"Who said I don't agree?"
I smiled and slipped off the diamond necklace I'd worn for five years, dropping it into Sophia's hand.
James' grandmother had given it to me—a blessing for a safe pregnancy and healthy baby.
But now, it was something I'd never need.
"It's gorgeous!" Sophia exclaimed, delighted.
Her eyes gleamed possessively as she eagerly fastened it around her neck, pulling out her compact to admire herself.
When James realized what I'd given away, his face went dark with fury.
"Do you have any idea what that necklace means?" he hissed through clenched teeth.
I smiled, "Sure. Congratulations to you and Ms. Reed—may you be happy and have healthy children."
James deflated all at once.
After a pause, he suddenly pulled Sophia close, gripping her shoulders and kissing her hard.
The room exploded with whistles and cheers as they made out, completely lost in each other.
James' expression shifted from simmering rage to something almost blissful.
I'd never seen him look like that.
Even though I'd prepared myself, watching proof that James never loved me still crushed me.
Good thing the divorce was coming. Soon I'd be free.
After that miserable dinner, James said he'd take Sophia home. I watched him leave, then made a call.
"Dr. Lincoln? I'd like to join that project you mentioned before."
"Really?" Dr. Lincoln's voice was filled with shock. "But this project is brutal. You'll be stuck in remote areas doing field research—your family and friends won't hear from you for months.
"You have a family now. Are you sure about this?"
"I'm getting divorced," I said. "So I'm free to dive into the project."
"I see," Dr. Lincoln sighed. "I'll get the paperwork going and contact you when it's ready."
Once I decided to leave, I started quietly packing my things at home.
I wouldn't have even noticed James had been gone for three days if the housekeeper hadn't mentioned it. Not that I needed anyone to tell me—he was obviously with Sophia.
I didn't care anymore, but Sophia couldn't resist rubbing it in.
She sent me a video from an anonymous account.
It was her and James in his office.
Sophia sat on his desk, wearing nothing but a skimpy, cut-out swimsuit, legs wrapped around his waist.
The audio quickly turned explicit.
"So happy, so good," Sophia purred in the clip.
Then came a flood of voice messages: [I heard Jamie's too ashamed of you to have you at the company—let alone step into his office.]
[But today, he couldn't wait to have me by his side. The second he saw me in this special swimsuit I picked for him, he went crazy!]
[Keep trying. It's pointless. You'll never have his heart. Ever.]
I didn't bother replying. I just turned off my phone.
"Mrs. Carter, this came for you," the housekeeper said, handing me an envelope before quietly leaving.
I opened it—the divorce papers my lawyer had sent.
A single, thin copy.
James and I had a prenup. If we divorced, I'd only get a tiny fraction of his wealth.
Compared to the Carter Family's fortune, it was nothing.
But honestly, it was more than enough to live comfortably for the rest of my life.
My lawyer texted: [Ms. Sanders, would you like me to push for a larger settlement?]
I replied immediately: [Don't bother—just get it done as fast as possible.]
"What are you looking at?" James' voice suddenly came.
I jerked in surprise, instinctively hiding the divorce papers behind my back.
"Just some thesis research," I said, shoving the papers into a drawer and willing my voice to sound casual. I couldn't let him find out about the divorce now, or I'd never get away.
Thankfully, he didn't seem to notice.
"Back so soon?" I asked, trying to keep things normal.
James stopped in his tracks, eyeing me suspiciously. "Haven't you always been waiting for me to come home?"
"Yeah," I said, pressing my fingertips together to keep them steady.
I'd gone three days without contacting him.
Nothing in my life had really changed without him.
"Oh, right." James moved in suddenly.
He was so close that I could smell Sophia's perfume on his collar—and see every fresh hickey on his neck.
"You've been good lately," he said casually. "Looks like you passed my test."
My face went pale—I didn't want to think about any of that again.
"Well, isn't this the dream? To be my real, public wife." James looked down at me, his smirk dripping with condescension. "Fine. I'm giving you your wish."
At his command, the housekeeper brought the wedding dress into the bedroom.
It was the very dress he'd designed for Sophia.
I fought back the urge to throw up.
"Here's my final demand. Put on that dress and meet me at the estate. I'll give you a proposal you'll never forget," James said.
I stared at him for a long moment.
"So this really is the last one, right?" I asked quietly. "If I do this, will you let me go?"