Chapter 1
On our eighteenth attempt at divorce, Edward Sterling stood me up. Again.
I waited outside the courthouse, phone in hand, already knowing what was coming.
[Something came up. Let's reschedule.]
I stared at the message, then at the red countdown timer on my screen.
I was done wasting my life on this joke of a marriage.
After a long while, I calmly replied.
[Is she pregnant again?]
[Edward, for our kids' sake, just let me go.]
On our nineteenth attempt, the divorce finally went through.
*****
Edward and I used to be deeply in love.
We'd dreamed of the perfect family—the happy home, the adorable baby.
Now Edward had a three-year-old son he'd been raising with another woman.
And he still wouldn't divorce me.
"Charlotte?" Someone pulled me from my thoughts.
A woman gave me a pitying look. "Charlotte, just let it go. The kid's already here. Fighting it won't change anything.
"Edward still loves you, you know."
I just turned away without any response.
Edward stood by the door in a sharp suit. I couldn't tell how long he'd been listening.
When our eyes met, he turned and walked off.
Today was the day Edward's son would be officially registered into the Sterling family.
Halfway through the ceremony, the Sterling elders hit a snag—whose name would go down as the mother?
I'd made it clear beforehand: not mine.
The awkward silence stretched until someone finally spoke up.
"Edward, just put someone else's name."
Edward stayed quiet, his eyes locked on me.
Everyone was staring at me.
"That's fine. I have no objections," I said.
Afterwards, I thought I heard someone laugh—bitter and self-mocking.
They called the woman in. When everything was done and she started to leave, Edward stopped her. "Wait. Come stand next to me."
I could feel his eyes on me, waiting for my reaction.
I kept my head down.
Even after I looked away, I found myself glancing back.
The woman leaned into Edward, clutching his sleeve, her attention on their child.
A numb, dull ache lingered in my heart.
Once the ceremony ended, I slipped out the back door first.
Behind me, the little boy held Edward's hand on one side and Vivian Shaw's on the other, skipping between them.
Edward's parents watched the trio ahead, their faces glowing with contentment.
Funny that they used to be on my side.
I remembered when Vivian gave birth—she stood at the Sterling family's front door for a full day and night, newborn in her arms, trying to get him recognized.
They refused.
They told me I'd always be their daughter-in-law, no matter what.
Good thing I didn't believe them back then.
I called out to Edward as he walked over. He looked over at me, his face clouded with gloom.
"Don't forget—we're getting divorced tomorrow."
After years of pushing for this divorce, I'd worn out his patience.
Everyone assumed I was being dramatic, too bitter to accept reality.
Three years of fighting—wasn't that enough?
The kid's already three. What was the point holding a grudge?
But I was the only one who knew the truth—I just couldn't stomach wasting another second of my life on this broken marriage.
Vivian's eyes welled up with tears.
"Mrs. Sterling, did I do something to upset you? If I did, I'm so sorry.
"Please don't be so hard on Edward."
Edward stared at me, then scoffed, "We're getting divorced. What right does she have to be upset?"
My eyes stung. I blinked hard.
Suddenly, someone shoved me.
The little boy had planted himself in front of Vivian, hands on his hips, cheeks puffed out, glaring up at me.
I landed hard on the floor, my palm scraped and bleeding.
Edward took a step forward, then stopped. Something flickered in his eyes.
Then came the sound of someone retching.
Vivian clutched her chest and collapsed, her face going deathly pale.
I stood slowly, clenching my raw, bleeding palm, and walked out.
Edward was stunned. He didn't follow.
Behind me, I caught whispers.
"Is Vivian pregnant again?"