Chapter 2

Back then, he used to have a strong sense of self-respect.

I wanted to keep arguing with Misael, but Estelle stepped in to calm me down. "Hana, don't be impulsive."

But I wasn't about to listen to her.

I snapped, "When your son pushed me, why didn't you tell him not to lose his cool?"

"There's a real kid standing right in front of me, calling my husband 'Dad.' How am I supposed to stay calm? Seriously, could you handle that if it were you?"

"Well..." Estelle looked at Misael, clearly torn.

She let out a long sigh. "Misael, she's your wife, after all. She deserves to know the truth. Just tell her."

But Misael didn't say a word. I could tell he knew he'd messed up.

But honestly, I felt utterly disillusioned.

"Misael, am I even still your wife? You can't even bother to explain yourself to me now?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Misael hesitated for a long moment, about to speak, when he suddenly noticed a delivery guy in the crowd, acting suspiciously and glancing around.

His face changed instantly, and right there in front of everyone, he blurted out loudly, "Sofie is my daughter with my ex-girlfriend!"

"What?!" I blurted out, completely stunned.

Estelle was visibly more frantic than me. She pounded her fists against Misael. "Misael, have you lost your mind? She obviously..."

Misael grabbed her hand tightly, enunciating every word.

"Mom, have you lost your mind? This child is my daughter with Caitlin Marshall." His tone was icy and resolute.

My heart hit rock bottom.

I knew all about Caitlin.

Back when I first started seeing Misael, Estelle told me they'd grown up as neighbors and classmates.

Later, Caitlin ended up at a military academy, while Misael just went to a regular college.

If Caitlin hadn't dumped him out of the blue, they probably would've been married ages ago.

Misael didn't even acknowledge how hurt I was. Instead, he looked at Joyce gently.

He said, "Joyce, sorry for all the trouble.

"Can you keep an eye on Sofie for a bit? I'll come get her soon."

Joyce sighed, took Sofie's hand, and walked away.

After they left, Misael looked straight at me, with no regret or avoidance, just cold indifference in his eyes.

"You want the truth, Hana? Here it is. Caitlin and I have always been in contact. It was never really over between us," he said, his voice icy and unapologetic.

"You bastard!" I slapped him hard, and he didn't even flinch.

Seeing that look on his face, like he'd just accepted it, and cheating meant nothing to him, made my heart freeze over.

I shouted, "How could you do this to me? Who was the one who spent twenty hours in the operating room, fighting to pull you back from the brink of death?

"Who sold their house and car to support your startup, no questions asked? Now that you're the boss, you think you can play around outside and keep me waiting at home like nothing's wrong?

"Let me tell you, you're dreaming!"

After my tearful outburst, the crowd around us erupted in anger again.

"Who would've thought? He looks all decent, but turns out he's not just a scumbag. He's a total monster!" someone shouted.

"His wife did everything for him, and this is how he repays her? If it were me, I'd stab him myself," another person said.

"He's got no morals at all. What a piece of trash, a disgrace to humanity!" someone else yelled.

Estelle, seeing everyone tearing into Misael so harshly, started stomping her foot and protested, "Don't just believe every rumor you hear! That's not how things really are! Please, give my son a break. Stop attacking him!"

Then she pulled me aside, pleading, "Hana, you know I'd never lie to you. You've got it all wrong about him."

I managed a bitter smile and said, "Estelle, he admitted it himself. How could I possibly be mistaken? I just hate myself for being so blind and naive, thinking I could ever compete with his precious white moonlight. What a joke!"

"I spent three years out in the sticks doing medical aid, working overtime just to finish early. Was it all just so I could rush home and watch you guys play happy family with the other woman's kid?"

Misael gritted his teeth and shouted, "Yeah, you really think you matter to me? Caitlin's the only one I've ever cared about. Satisfied now?"

"Hana, get this straight. If you want to be my wife, you'd better learn to put up with it. Otherwise, life's gonna be hell for you."

His words stabbed me right in the heart.

After he'd laid it all out like that, I knew there was no use dragging this out any longer.

I said, "If our relationship means nothing to you.

"Then let's just get it over with and file for divorce before the courthouse closes!"

When I said I wanted a divorce, everyone around us finally vented their anger, shouting out loud.

"Yeah, divorce him! Why keep a guy like that around? Seriously, what's the point?" someone yelled.

"It's rare to see someone admit to cheating so brazenly. He's got absolutely no shame!" another person shouted.