Chapter 2
Those words hit me hard, tightening my chest until tears nearly fell.
That was when Roger spotted me.
He frowned. "Now you're stooping to stalking us?"
I ignored him and turned to Martina instead.
She pretended to be annoyed. "How can you talk to Cathryn that way? Considering our situation, I'm sure she gets it. Why would she follow us?"
Her words boxed me into playing the gracious, forgiving wife, with no easy escape.
She likely figured I'd do what I always did—bite my tongue for Roger's sake and keep things from getting awkward.
But today, I just gave a faint smile. "Why would I stalk you two? If you're in love and gearing up for a baby, that's got nothing to do with me."
The second I said it, Roger's face went pale with rage.
"What are you talking about? I already told you—Martina and I are like siblings."
Still recovering from the procedure, I couldn't stand there much longer. A dull ache spread through my abdomen, and I had zero patience left for this, so I tried to sidestep them and leave.
But Martina stepped in my way.
"Hold on, Cathryn. Our checkup's basically done—why don't we all head out together?
"Otherwise, I'll just assume you're mad, and that'll eat at me."
Annoyed, I waved her off with a light push, but she theatrically crumpled to the floor and lay there for what seemed like forever.
Roger, freaking out that she might be hurt, shoved me aside hard and shouted, "What's wrong with you? If Martina's injured at all, I'll make sure you pay for it twice over."
Then he scooped her up in his arms and stormed away.
Watching him go, I felt more convinced than ever that letting go of the baby was the right call.
My marriage should have ended the moment Martina walked back into Roger's life.
When I got home, I noticed Martina had posted an update on her social media.
It was a close-up shot of Roger's face, taken from a girlfriend's perspective.
The caption: [It's amazing—after all these years, you're always right there when I get hurt.]
Several mutual friends had commented below.
[Ooh, our big-shot CEO has a seriously romantic side?]
[Special treatment for childhood friends, huh?]
[So you chose this guy to have your baby with? Congrats!]
Before long, Roger added his own comment.
[Don't talk like that—I'm afraid Cathryn will get upset. Martina and I are just doing IVF.]
Someone shot back: [You might be afraid, but I'm not!]
[Everyone knows how you two feel about each other. If a certain someone hadn't gotten in the way, you'd have been together forever ago.]
Roger's friends had always viewed it that way.
They figured I'd wrecked their meant-to-be romance.
But seven years back, it was clearly Martina who'd dumped Roger to head overseas.
During his lowest moments, I was the one who stood by him, no matter what.
I replied to the comment: [If they're meant to be, it'll happen sooner or later. Don't rush it—that day's coming fast.]
Then I uploaded a photo of my abortion confirmation to social media.
[Baby, don't blame me. Someone else is carrying your dad's second child.]
Likes and comments poured in nonstop.
But every single one was from people in my own circle—not one from Roger's friends.
A bit later, both my brother and father-in-law rang me up.
Roger tried calling multiple times too, but I let them all go to voicemail.
My brother shot me a message.
[Manual clued me in on everything. You're in no condition for a long trip right after the abortion, so crash at his place for now. He'll look after you in the meantime.]
I threw together a quick bag, and just as I was rolling my suitcase toward the door, Roger barged in.
His face was beet red with fury.
He clamped down on my wrist like a vice and snarled, "Cathryn, what's wrong with you? Just because I was planning to donate sperm to Martina, you snuck off and got an abortion behind my back?
"You didn't even bother telling me you were pregnant!
"Don't you get how long I've been dying for this kid?"
His words turned my stomach—I felt like puking. How could he seriously think I'd still carry his child after all this?
I blew him off and pushed past, making for the exit.
But he held on tight. "What gives, Cathryn? I already explained—once the baby's here, I'll cut ties with her completely. What else do you want from me?"
He just kept pushing my buttons, and for the first time, I realized how utterly shameless a person could be!
I couldn't hold back anymore and slapped him hard across the face. "I don't want a thing from you—I just want out! Divorce!
"So you two can finally be the tragic lovers fate kept apart for all these years!