Chapter 1

Jerome Greene cheated on me. It was only two months after we got married.

When I saw the pregnancy test results Diane Landry sent me, she was even pregnant before I was, and those sickening videos, I froze.

They were happily wrapped up in each other's arms, acting so in love, just like a pair of newlyweds.

So where did that leave me?

As I gently touched the tiny life growing inside me, the one I'd suffered so much to have. I went ahead and booked an abortion.

But when Jerome found out I'd gotten rid of his baby, he grabbed me, his eyes bloodshot and his hands trembling with fury.

He snapped, "Kayla, how could you! How could you throw away our baby like that?"

*****

Just moments ago, I got my test report from the hospital. I hadn't even had a chance to share my joy with Jerome yet.

After being together for over a decade, we finally had a baby on the way. No one knew how much I'd suffered for this child, or how much I'd been longing for it.

But in the very next moment, an even earlier test report and those sickening videos showed up on my phone. My heart plummeted into an endless abyss.

A minute later, I doubled over in pain, feeling like a thousand tiny needles were stabbing all over my body.

Jerome, the man I'd known for twenty-five years and loved for seven, had already cheated on me before we tied the knot.

With my heart aching and my stomach in knots, I shakily walked into Jerome's office. I needed to find out if this was really happening.

I couldn't believe it. Jerome always promised he'd love me and take care of me for a lifetime. How could he betray me like this, especially when we'd only been married for two months?

Standing at the office door, I realized I shouldn't have come.

"Jerome, when are you going to come clean to her? I'm already two months pregnant. I can wait, but the baby can't," Diane said.

Jerome replied, "Hey, you little devil. Do you really need that piece of paper? I'm already yours, isn't that enough?"

Jerome's voice was so gentle. Even if I were dead, I'd never forget it.

An agonizing pain spread from my heart to every inch of my body. I nearly lost my balance, holding my belly as my tears fell without a sound.

"You never should've married her. Why did you even marry her?" Diane asked.

Yeah, why did you, Jerome?

Jerome, if you already had someone else, if you stopped loving me, then why did you marry me?

Soon, I heard Jerome's answer. He said thoughtfully, "Because of responsibility. I promised my grandma I'd take care of her. Even if I don't love her anymore, I still have to take care of her for a lifetime."

So that was all I was to him, just a responsibility.

I stumbled out, my mind a mess, and before I knew it, I'd bumped straight into Sid Moses, Jerome's secretary.

"Mrs. Greene, you're here. Why are you standing out here?" Sid asked.

The office door suddenly burst open, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jerome rushing out. I bolted, not wanting him to see just how broken I was.

Back at the new house Jerome and I shared, I looked around. It was a two-story home, and we did everything together, from buying it to decorating it. This was our first place after getting married, the fruit of years of struggle.

Jerome and I were both abandoned kids, taken in by our grandma. She scrimped and saved, making sure we had enough to eat and wear.

We grew up side by side, and at eighteen, we finally became a couple.

When we were twenty, Grandma passed away. Before she left, she held our hands and said, "You two, always stick together, support each other, and make it safely through life."

Back then, Jerome swore in front of Grandma that he'd love me forever and treat me well for a lifetime. Or he would get punished if he broke that promise.

For the following years, he really did treat me well. Honestly, for more than twenty years before I found out he cheated, I always thought he was good to me, ever since we were kids.

When we were broke, Jerome would spend every last dollar he had on my favorite spaghetti, and he'd eat instant noodles himself.

When it was cold, and we couldn't afford a place with heating, he'd hold me tight in his arms to keep me warm. He'd buy two hot water bottles, one for my feet, one for my hands.

Once we had a little more money, Jerome would buy me the gold jewelry I had always hesitated to buy for myself, saying it was my safety net.

Even this house was registered solely under my name.

But it had only been a few years since Grandma passed away.

Jerome's promises still echoed in my ears, but now he's changed beyond recognition.

I used to think things would stay like this forever, but now, all he has for me is just responsibility.