Chapter 1
Before I turned thirty, I got thrown out of my house twice.
The first time was when I married Edward Hawthorne, a big shot from Rivermouth. On the day of my pregnancy checkup, I caught him getting cozy with a college girl right by the window of our 100th-floor apartment.
He said I was childish and kicked me out.
My dad always said, "No rich guy is ever faithful."
To prove myself, I married Charles Fletcher, my childhood sweetheart who'd been chasing me for ten years. He was gentle and understanding.
He didn't mind that my ex-husband sent me apology gifts every year.
He didn't care that after three years of marriage, my belly was still empty.
Whenever things got passionate between us, Charles would playfully bite my ear and tease, "If you don't want kids, then we won't have any. As long as I have you, that's all I need."
But on our anniversary, he suddenly brought home a woman I'd never seen before and ordered the butler to move my things out of the master bedroom.
I clutched the pregnancy test I hadn't gotten the chance to give him, my voice trembling as I asked, "What are you doing?"
Charles held a cigarette between his fingers, looking at me like he was amused by something ridiculous.
He said, "Isabelle, stop pretending. It's getting old.
"Didn't you learn anything the last time Edward threw you out?"
*****
The pregnancy test felt like it was on fire in my palm.
It kept scorching me, again and again.
I looked at him, but I didn't stubbornly demand an answer like last time.
Because the woman's smug expression and her pregnant belly said everything I needed to know.
I grabbed my bag and was about to leave.
Charles crushed out his cigarette and blocked my way, a look of vindictive satisfaction in his eyes. "You're still tangled up with Edward, and I never said a harsh word. You wouldn't have kids with me because of him, and I never really blamed you.
"Now I'm having a child with someone else, and I'm not asking you to have one. So why do you look like I've wronged you?"
His smile grew even more smug, as if he were completely justified. "We might be childhood sweethearts, but we still have to follow the rules of our circle.
"Some people are meant to have heirs, some are meant to keep mistresses. You have your heir, I keep my mistress. Your position won't be threatened."
That familiar dull ache washed over my heart.
Charles was right.
Been there, done that.
So this time, I didn't waste my breath. I just slapped him across the face. "Charles, you disgust me."
Gasps rippled through the room.
Charles's smile faded. He seized my wrist, his gaze turning icy. "You've got the nerve to call me disgusting? You've been married twice already, so why should I stay faithful for you?"
The pregnancy test finally gave way in my grip.
It snapped in half with a crack, the jagged edge biting into my palm.
I didn't feel a thing, but tears still slipped down my face.
Charles's eyes widened in panic, and for a moment, he faltered, his tone softening. "Alright, I promise. Once the baby's born, I'll send her away."
I looked at the face I'd seen for more than ten years.
Yet all I felt was a sense of unfamiliarity.
Charles touched my palm, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "What are you holding?"
I pulled my hand away and threw the broken test stick into the trash.
I lowered my eyes, my voice barely a whisper. "It doesn't matter. Unwanted trash."
I meant the baby.
But I also meant myself, someone thrown away for the second time.
Charles frowned, about to say something else.
But a cry of pain from behind drew his attention away.
The woman was caressing her belly as she slowly pulled down her mask.
Only one glance, and I was dumbstruck.
She was the same girl I'd caught with Edward at the window years ago, the very girl I'd been supporting all this time.
It had been three years.
Lily Quinn was still as fresh-faced as ever, her skin as soft and perfect as a peeled egg.
Those were Edward's words about her back then.
He said he was addicted to her, that he couldn't quit.
He said that even when he was in my bed, his heart and dreams were all about Lily.
Last time, I left and gave them my blessing.
And what did I get in return? Lily ended up wrapping herself around my second man.
She even beat me to having a baby.
From the look of her pregnancy, they'd been together for quite a while.
I bit my lip, my nails digging into my palm as I slowly walked over.
"Isabelle," Lily acted as if she had only recognized me.
Her eyes went wide with surprise and joy as she took my hand. "After we split up in Rivermouth, I never expected you'd end up back in Northbridge. Guess we're really fated; our taste in men is practically identical..."
I didn't say a word and swung my hand for a slap.
But the slap landed on Charles, not Lily.
He stepped in front of her, covering his face, and his expression darkened. "Isabelle, you need to know when to stop. Two slaps are more than enough!
"She's fragile, and she's pregnant. Don't take your anger out on her. You really want to go back to being that weak, broken version of yourself from three years ago?"
My body suddenly trembled.
It felt like I was right back on that snowy night, right after I caught Edward with that girl.
Edward dropped the act and called me out, totally shameless. "Women only stay fresh with me for three months, but you got a whole year. I made an exception for you; what else do you want?
"Even if I love you, I'm not giving up the whole forest for just one tree."
To make me surrender, Edward pulled every dirty business move he had, froze my bank accounts, snatched all my cash, and kicked me out like a stray dog.
It was deep winter, snow piling up everywhere. I was covered in marks, forcefully pinned down in the snow by a bunch of homeless guys.
The snow beneath me was stained bright red, and my face was as pale as a ghost.
Charles swooped in like a hero, driving those men away. His eyes were bloodshot as he wrapped me tightly in his arms. "Don't be afraid, Isabelle. I'll protect you, even if it costs me my life."
What a joke.
Back then, Lily was begging at my feet, swearing she'd repay me with her life. In the end, she repaid me in bed.
And Charles, who swore he'd protect me with his life, ended up, no exception, falling for the same ungrateful snake three years later.
The snow was light.
But it felt colder than it ever did back then.
I wiped away my tears, grabbed my phone, and didn't look back.
I was going to crash in the guest room for the night.
"Hold on," Lily suddenly called out, and right in front of me, she slid her arms around Charles's neck.
"Didn't you say the south-facing bedroom was mine, and that doing it by the window makes things even hotter?" Lily glanced at me, drawling out the last part of her sentence.
Charles chuckled softly, locking eyes with me as he picked her up and carried her into the room.
That room was originally our wedding bedroom, with a skylight overhead. Charles said he wanted to hold me and fall asleep together, watching the stars.
Later, he turned it into a nursery, saying he wanted our baby to wake up to sunlight every morning.
But now...
Our baby wasn't even here yet, and this place that was meant to hold our love was about to become their tangled love nest.
The carpet, the couch, even the balcony outside...
Charles would be all over her, like Edward was back then.
They'd be panting, moaning...
I closed my eyes.
The door slammed shut like a blade, splitting me open. I leaned against the wall, barely on my feet. But I couldn't hold back the tears anymore.