Chapter 2
I cried all the way home in the taxi. Every part of my body felt like it was screaming with grief.
The female driver was named Abby, and she could tell right away what I was going through.
"Your husband cheated on you, right?" Abby asked.
She glanced at my belly and sighed. "I've seen plenty of women like you. Just last month, there was a woman in her forties who bent over backwards to give her husband a son, but the moment she gave birth, her husband filed for divorce.
"She couldn't take her child with her, didn't get a penny, and the other woman moved in with her three daughters and threw her out."
She wanted me to know I wasn't alone and that there were plenty of women who'd been betrayed by their husbands. Even if I cried my heart out, life would still have to go on.
I finally stopped crying and stared out the window.
"I'm going to get a divorce," I said.
Abby gave me a curious look in the rearview mirror and chuckled.
"You're more decisive than most women I've met. Let's hope you can hold onto that resolve when your husband comes back and pleads for your forgiveness," she said.
I knew exactly what she meant.
There were so many women out there who, for their kids, their parents, or something they truly cared about, just kept enduring, no matter how much it hurt.
They only found the courage to leave it all behind when they were pushed right to the edge, about to lose their minds.
My mom endured my dad seeing other women for ten years, just so I wouldn't get mistreated by a stepmother when I was little.
She went from a bright, beautiful girl to a woman full of resentment, snapping over the smallest things.
Soon, the car pulled up to the upscale villa. Xavier was leaning against his car, smoking.
He had taken the same route as me, but somehow cut the time in half just to get there before I did.
When Xavier saw me, he flicked away his cigarette, quickly came over to open the door for me, and paid the bills.
It was as if everything I'd just witnessed had never happened at all.
Abby sent the money right back to him.
Xavier looked up, confused.
I took the chance to dodge his hand and got out of the car.
Abby said coldly, "I don't want money from a man who cheats on his wife while she's pregnant. It makes me sick."
Xavier's face turned stormy, and I couldn't help but snicker. The knot in my chest loosened up a bit.
Divorce wasn't a big deal. There were countless men in this world, and I could always get myself another one.
Abby shot me a mischievous wink, then stepped on the gas and sped away.
When we got home, Xavier put my slippers out for me and offered me a towel for my hands.
Then he headed straight to the kitchen to cook for me himself.
The nanny, whom he'd just sent out, shot me an envious look. "Mrs. Pierce, men like Mr. Pierce who truly love their wives and take care of their families are really rare these days."
I just kept quiet.
Honestly, I used to believe that until today.
After I instructed my lawyer to start the divorce proceedings in the evening, I sent Xavier packing to the guest room.
Xavier wanted to say something, but when he saw my dismissive glare, he flinched and quietly left the room.
Late at night, my swollen legs started cramping up nonstop.
A muffled groan slipped out of my mouth.
The next second, the door burst open, and Xavier rushed in.
He picked up my leg and started massaging it, just like he always did every night.
By the time the pain finally faded, he bowed his head, and his tears fell onto my leg.
His voice was hoarse. "Leah, I don't want a divorce."