Chapter 2

I didn't bother turning on the lights. I sat on the couch, numb and lost in thought for what felt like ages, until I finally heard the door open.

Jerome walked over to me, looking guilty and clearly ashamed, like he knew he was in the wrong.

"Kayla," he said, reaching out to hug me.

"Get away from me, Jerome. Get away!" I screamed, scrambling to the side. He made me sick.

I smashed everything I could reach in the living room, turning the place into a war zone.

Was I angry? Did I hate him? How could I not?

Jerome trailed behind me, letting me unleash all my rage. In the end, I collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, crying like my whole world had fallen apart.

"Let me explain, Kayla. It's not what you think. I lost control for a second," Jerome said, desperate.

I shot back, "Lost control? There's already a baby, Jerome. Was that just a mistake too?"

He froze, totally blindsided. "You know?"

I snapped, "Of course I know. Your side chick told me herself."

Jerome begged, "I swear, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I'll tell her to get an abortion, Kayla. Please forgive me."

He looked genuinely remorseful, humbling himself before me.

I looked him straight in the eye, calm and collected. "Jerome, that's not what you said in the office this afternoon.

"I made a stupid mistake, Kayla. Nothing could ever come close to what we've shared all these years."

I retorted, "Yeah, but your so-called responsibility trumps everything, doesn't it?"

Jerome's gaze faltered, pain and helplessness flickering across his face. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"Jerome," I called out softly. He looked up, and our eyes met.

I spat, "I never wanted to be your burden. Taking care of me was never your job. I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself. You shouldn't have lied to me, and you never should've married me. Jerome, I hate you!"

I ignored him after that and went back to my room. Maybe he was too scared to push me further, so he stood outside my door for a long time. Eventually, I heard the door to the next room close.

The next morning, I woke up early out of habit. I used to be the one making him a healthy breakfast every single day, but today, Jerome beat me to it. When I came downstairs, there he was, already in an apron, breakfast set out and waiting for me.

"Kayla, come on, have some breakfast, okay? Don't go hungry. It's not good for your stomach," Jerome said.

Funny, that used to be my thing. I was always the one up at dawn, making sure he had the most nutritious breakfast, waiting for him to finish, cleaning up, and then moving on with my day.

I had been doing that for so many years.

I didn't even glance at the breakfast. I turned and walked out the door. Jerome hurriedly took off his apron and chased after me. "Where are you going? Let me give you a ride."

I stopped in my tracks. "Jerome, do you really think this is worth it?"

He froze, clearly not expecting me to say that. He thought that after all these years together, I'd at least give him a chance to explain.

But I wasn't going to. I could forgive him for almost anything else, but not this. Just because of all these years, I couldn't forgive this.

I walked away without even looking back.

I was a mess all morning. How could I not be? How could I not be heartbroken?

Jerome and I both came from nothing. We worked our asses off for years before we finally built this company from the ground up.

Once things started to settle down, he said, "Kayla, I don't want you to work so hard anymore. Stay home and relax. I'll handle the company, I'll bring home the bacon, and you focus on being beautiful."

I fell for his sweet talk and gave up my spot as an executive, choosing to stay home and take care of everything for him.

There was a time I drank so much for the company, for him, that I ended up in the hospital with a perforated stomach because I didn't want him to have to drink so much himself.

Jerome held my hand, tears streaming down his face. "Kayla, I promise I'll give you a good life one day. I'll never let you down."

Our first baby was lost because I drank myself sick at those work parties for him. He held my hand, crying, and promised he'd never let me go out drinking for business again.

After the company finally settled down, he told me he didn't need me at work anymore. So I became a full-time housewife.

My whole life revolved around him. I lived for him, followed his lead in everything. I really thought we'd stay like that forever.

But I never imagined that two months after we got married, everything would come crashing down.

Diane called me, asking to meet at a café.

She sounded downright arrogant on the phone. "Hey, if you're too scared to face me, just say so."

What was I supposed to be afraid of? I was the real wife here, with the marriage certificate to prove it. Why would I be scared of some side chick?

I walked into the café with my head held high and sat down across from Diane. I'd seen her before. She was an intern who'd only been at the company for a few months.

She looked all innocent and petite, the kind of girl guys wanted to protect.