Chapter 2

When I got home, I started packing up my things.

A photo album fell out of the closet.

I opened it.

There were pictures of Lucas's first month, his first birthday, and Christmas.

In every photo, Charles and Emily were holding Lucas, with Clara and Damon standing on either side. On the back of each photo, someone had written Family Portrait.

There were a dozen or so photos, one for every season.

I was the only one in this family left in the dark.

My vision blurred, and I bit my lip, refusing to let the tears fall.

At the very bottom of the album, I found a USB drive. My hands shook as I plugged it into my computer and hit play.

The wedding march began to play, and I froze. My mind went numb.

On the screen, Charles stood in front of my family's villa, holding Emily's hand.

My parents stepped up to the stage to give a speech. "We've watched Emily grow up. We hope she and Charles will be happy together."

The scene cut to the dressing room.

Emily was visibly anxious as she glanced at Charles. "Charles, do you think Olivia will come back?"

Charles gently placed the veil on her head. He was so gentle with her. "No, she's at the cemetery today. She'll be there all day."

I slammed the pause button, and my eyes landed on the wedding date. It was the anniversary of our child's death last year. I'd left the house early that morning.

It turns out, while I spent the whole day crying at our child's grave, they were celebrating their wedding.

The photo album crashed to the floor, and the door swung open.

Charles stormed in, his face twisted with anger as he saw the mess everywhere. "Olivia, what the hell are you doing, freaking out because of Lucas's photos?"

I stared at him, hatred blazing in my eyes. "Why? Why would you do this to me? Why did you have to trample on my pain to be happy?"

Charles's anger vanished the moment he saw the computer screen. "I..."

He raked his hand through his hair, then stepped forward and grabbed my arm. "What's done is done. Can't you act like you never saw it?

"I want to help Emily fulfill her dream of being a bride. You're the only one I truly love. Let Emily have Lucas, we'll have our own kids someday."

As he spoke, he lifted me up and laid me on the bed, then pressed down over me.

"Slap."

He covered his face, staring at me in disbelief. "Did you hit me?"

I shoved him away, and the last bit of hope inside me shattered completely. "Charles, let's get a divorce."

He covered his face, repeating "divorce" under his breath, then sneered. "Don't say things because you're angry. Emily and I, it's really not what you think."

As he started to speak, his phone rang urgently. "Mr. Bennett? This is Central General Hospital. Ms. Carter is here at the hospital..."

Before the caller could finish, Charles had already rushed out the door.

I watched him walk away, my gaze cold and distant.

The System pinged. "Separation countdown: 48 hours left."

Charles didn't come home that night.

I was half-asleep when thick smoke jolted me awake. The room was already engulfed in flames.

I rushed to the door, but it wouldn't move. I started pounding on it frantically. "Help! Damon, Clara, Lucas, are you guys okay?"

Suddenly, Lucas's voice came from outside the door. "Why do you take me away? Why do you make Mom so miserable? I'm going to burn you to ashes, you monster. This is payback for what you did to Mom."

Through the crack in the door, I saw Lucas standing there, his face burning with hatred.

My eyes widened in shock. "Is it you? Do you set this fire?"

Lucas smirked, clearly proud of himself. "Nobody cares about you. Go ahead and burn. It's what you deserved."

The smoke choked my throat, and I collapsed to my knees, coughing uncontrollably.

The System was flashing like crazy. "Host, hang in there. Charles is back."

Moments later, the door was kicked open.

Charles rushed in, the fire extinguisher clattering to the floor as he wrapped his arms around me, his hands shaking uncontrollably.

When I opened my eyes again, everything was white.

Charles was slumped by my hospital bed, pressing his fingers to his forehead, his face full of exhaustion. "You're awake? The doctor already checked you out, said there's nothing serious."

He handed me a glass of water. "Don't blame Lucas. He doesn't do it on purpose. He is terrified you'd take him away."

I croaked out, my throat raw. "Not on purpose? He tries to set me on fire. Emily raise him to be like this. Shouldn't she answer for that?"

Charles's expression turned cold in a flash. "Enough. So that's what this is about, huh? You're blaming Emily for messing up Lucas?"

He jumped up from his seat. "If you hadn't asked him today if he wanted to come with you, Lucas won't have freaked out like this."

I stared at him, suddenly feeling too exhausted to argue anymore.

No matter what I say, Charles never listens.

I closed my eyes, trying to get him to leave. "Go. I'm tired."

But Charles stood there, not moving.

Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist. "Emily has acute leukemia."

He looked at me, his eyes pleading. "While you are unconscious, I have the doctors run a compatibility test. You're a perfect match for her. Olivia, please, can you save her?"

I yanked my hand back, staring at him in utter disbelief. "So you want me to save the homewrecker who ruin everything for me? You want me to give her a second shot at life?"

He lowered his head, his hair falling over his eyes, his voice rough and broken. "I know I've hurt you, but Emily's still so young. Lucas needs his mom. If you help her, I'll do anything you want."

My nose stung. I'd never seen Charles so humble, so desperate.

He could only humble himself like this and it was all for Emily.