Chapter 2
"You've been giving it your all to keep this marriage alive for five years, but Roger has never truly accepted you," Lainey said.
She leaned in, a sly smile playing on her lips, and whispered in my ear, "Why else do you think he's never laid a finger on you?"
My nails dug deep into my palms.
"If Roger had been a little more clear-headed back then, you would never have married him," Lainey sneered. "You really think you can threaten him? That's hilarious."
With that, Lainey casually tossed the handkerchief she'd used to dry her hands at my feet.
"Oh, and I've got some good news for you. Thanks to your healthy cooking, I'm pregnant." She gently stroked her belly, a smirk tugging at her lips.
My voice shook as I choked out, "You're pregnant?"
For five whole years, all I ever dreamed of was having a child with Roger.
But even on our wedding day, he didn't even give me a hug.
After rushing through the ceremony, he vanished, leaving me alone in the bridal suite while he went off to mingle.
When he came back the next day, his neck was covered in hickeys.
Back then, I was so naive I really thought they were just mosquito bites.
Turned out, it was all Lainey's doing.
"Why won't you just leave? No matter how hard I try, I can't get rid of you," Roger snapped. "Sign the papers!"
He walked over to the coffee table and tapped the divorce papers with his finger.
The eyes I'd once imagined would be gentle with me were now nothing but cold and tired.
"Sign it," he said again.
He'd never looked at me with such seriousness before.
Even on our wedding day, his gaze barely lingered on me, like I was just some temporary decoration.
"Roger, did you really never love me? Not even once?" I asked. I still couldn't let go.
Roger didn't even hesitate. "Never. Samantha, I'm saying this one last time. Sign the papers."
He picked up the divorce papers and slammed them down in front of me.
From that moment on, five years of feelings between us were reduced to ashes.
All at once, I was done holding back.
I didn't hesitate. I signed my name, flung the divorce papers to the floor, and strode out the door without looking back.
"Pick them up," Roger shouted. "Quit the act, you bitch!"
His curses followed me out the door.
"Miss, please," one of the bodyguards said respectfully.
A stretch Lincoln pulled up right in front of me.
More than a dozen bodyguards in black suits stood with their heads bowed, waiting for my orders.
"A custom Navigator?" Roger blurted out, his eyes widening in surprise.
He craned his neck, eyes wide with shock. "Isn't this the car only the Ames Group used?" he muttered. "Wait, did Samantha latch onto someone from the Ames Group?"
"Ugh! She's shameless. Even with her cheap clothes, she thinks she's hot stuff," Lainey scoffed.
Lainey stormed out, blocking my path.
"Samantha, you really think a bunch of wannabe bodyguards is enough to make you look respectable?" Lainey mocked. "No matter how you dress up, you're still low-class trash from the farmers' market."
She jabbed her finger into my shoulder, her sharp nails piercing my skin.
I winced, my brows furrowing.
The bodyguards saw her hurt me and immediately restrained Lainey.
"Let go of her!" Roger said, "Samantha, stop embarrassing yourself. So you hooked up with some nobody with cash, and you can't wait to flaunt it?"
He stepped closer, shooting me a cold glare.
He could never imagine the truth. People with dirty minds indeed saw filth everywhere
I gave a slight nod, gesturing for the bodyguards to release Lainey.
"I'm not in the mood to argue," I said. "Since we've got nothing to do with each other, quit disgusting me."
Those words really got under their skin.
Lainey scrambled to her feet, looking totally humiliated, and started cursing up a storm. "What kind of blind sugar daddy would ever go for a bottom-feeder like you?"
Roger's face darkened with rage, his voice dripping with venom.
He said, "You're just a woman I messed around with for three years before dumping you. You're nothing but used goods. Who'd be stupid enough to pick up my leftovers?"
I'd never heard him say anything so vicious before, and for a moment, my mind went blank.
On our wedding day, he gazed at me like I was his whole world.
He swore, "I'll never leave you, and I'd stay by your side through life and death. You're my most treasured one. I won't let anyone lay a finger on you."
My eyes brimmed with tears, but I waved for the bodyguards to restrain the maddened Lainey.
Without a second thought, I got into the car.
Soon, the car glided through the gates and into a villa.
The moment I stepped inside, I spotted my dad on the couch, looking worried. It was obvious he'd been waiting for me.
"Sandra, you're back." Dad looked up and hurried over to help me sit down.
"I heard Roger forced you to sign the divorce papers?" Dad asked. "Since when does someone get to bully my daughter?
"Who does Roger think he is? If it weren't for you helping him out, he'd still be an ordinary blue collar."
His face turned icy, and he spoke in a low, harsh voice.