Chapter 4

After leaving the courthouse, I went home to pack. All my stuff had been dumped at the front door, with a snarky note from Winnie taped right on it.

Stone-faced, I ripped the note down and tore it to shreds. I sorted through my things, grabbed the essentials, packed them up, and got ready to drag my suitcase to the airport.

Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Jackson.

Jackson: [It's Andrew's birthday today. Even if you're set on getting divorced, you should at least be there for him.]

Something felt off the moment I read that message.

Then I thought of Andrew.

For five months straight, I had to get shots just to keep him safe before he was born. All these years, I'd poured all my love into him.

I thought after leaving him with some happy memories, I could finally start living for myself.

Therefore, I thought about it and decided to go.

I hopped in a cab and headed for the shore. The first thing I saw was Jackson's yacht.

I hauled my suitcase up onto the yacht, thinking I'd see Jackson and Andrew there, but Winnie was the only one waiting for me on deck.

I instinctively tried to turn and leave, but the yacht started moving at that exact moment.

Winnie stormed over in a flash, and before I could say a word, she grabbed me by the hair.

I had no idea where she got the strength, but she dragged me straight to the edge of the deck.

Half my body dangled over the side, panic surging through me. I screamed frantically, "Winnie, what the hell are you doing?"

Her eyes were wild with madness. "Lydia, once you're gone, I'll finally be Jackson's wife."

The next second, she hurled me into the sea with all her strength.

Fear flooded my mind, and I thrashed helplessly, screaming every name I could think of.

The yacht slowly drifted away. I saw Winnie covering her face as if she was crying, while Jackson pulled her into his arms.

Despair swallowed me along with the waves until pain finally pulled me back to consciousness.

*****

Three years later, I was on my way to pick up my kid from kindergarten.

Suddenly, Jackson rushed up and grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight that it felt like he might snap my wrist.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth as he growled, "If you're alive, why won't you come home?

"Do you even remember you've got a family? A kid? Do you have any clue what it's been like for us these past few years?"

Andrew, wiping away his tears, suddenly barreled into my arms, bawling his eyes out. "Mom, I missed you so much. I got you so many gifts. Why didn't you ever come back?"

Andrew had grown a lot since three years ago, already a tall, solid child.

My heart clenched at the sound of his gut-wrenching cries.

The last time I saw him was the day I was about to divorce Jackson.

He was grinning from ear to ear, looking at Jackson with that innocent excitement. "Dad, does this mean Ms. Thomas will be my mom now?"

I was so heartbroken that I could barely breathe. I took his hand and told him I'd always be his mom, no matter what.

However, he pushed me to the ground with a look of pure disgust and yelled right there in the street that he didn't want a mom like me.

I yanked my wrist out of Jackson's grip and pulled Andrew away from me, my gaze calm and detached as I stared at the two of them on the verge of breaking down. "Sorry. Who are you?"

Andrew looked completely lost, edging closer with caution. "Mom, don't you remember me? I'm Andrew, your beloved son."

Seeing his timid face, I instinctively wanted to comfort him, but the painful memories of the past froze me in place.

"I don't know you. You must have the wrong person," I said.

I turned to leave, but Jackson, who'd been silent for ages, suddenly lunged forward, grabbed my wrist, and roughly pushed my hair back.

When he saw that one of my ears was gone, he started shaking uncontrollably. "Lydia, what happened? Why is your ear missing?"

I shoved Jackson away with all my strength, instinctively yanking my hair down to cover the missing part of my body.

I watched him panic, and memories of that ear-death day came crashing back.

I got a message from Jackson that day, and I was eager to finally put an end to this mess.

I made it to the shore and climbed onto Jackson's yacht, but instead of Jackson, I found Winnie waiting for me.

In an instant, I decided to leave.

However, Winnie grabbed my hair and violently dragged me onto the deck.

I begged her to spare me, but all I got was her maniacal laughter echoing in the wind.

She said that after getting rid of me, she'd finally take my place as Jackson's wife, and without a second thought, she shoved me off the deck.

I thrashed around, screaming for help, but the salty seawater kept flooding my mouth and nose. Fear consumed me.

The waves dragged me so far out that all I could see was Jackson hugging Winnie, who was fake-crying in his arms while he comforted her like nothing had happened.

I drifted helplessly across the sea when a terrifying fin suddenly surfaced beside me.

My terrified scream seemed to enrage it even more. It leapt out of the water, jaws wide open toward my head. I dodged with every ounce of strength I had, but lost an ear in the process.

I screamed for help at the yacht not far away, but then out of nowhere, pain exploded in my leg; my calf just snapped.

Thinking about it, it was like I was reliving that hellish pain all over again.

I gathered my hair to hide the scar, then shot Jackson a cold look. "What do you want? I already told you I'm not who you think I am."

Jackson stared me down, his eyes sweeping over me from head to toe before he spoke in that condescending tone. "Lydia, I can tell you've had it rough out there. You look like a wreck.

"I get why you'd be too ashamed to come home, but now that I've found you, I'll just let that whole fake death stunt slide.

"However, what you did left Winnie with a trauma she'll never get rid of. She still blames herself for not pulling you back that day. You owe her an apology—one sincere enough for her to forgive you."

Jackson was still acting like he was king of the world, thinking I was still the old Lydia who'd crumble just because he tossed a few words my way.

I smirked, making no effort to hide the disgust on my face. "I'm not the one you're looking for. Besides, I'm married now."