Chapter 4

It was the same kind of pain I felt when my parents caused a scene at my wedding, the pain that made me nauseous.

Back then, Lucas was my knight in shining armor. But now, he was off to save someone else.

Some things just weren't meant to be shared.

So, I looked Lucas straight in the eye. "Lucas, if you want to be Benji's dad, do you also want to be Claire's husband? You'd make a perfect little family then."

It was a double-occupancy ward. The other couple, who were there with their sick child, started whispering and casting sideways glances at Claire.

It was clear they were passing judgment.

Claire's face went as pale as a ghost. Tears streamed down her face, and she grabbed my hand. "Emily, how could you say such a thing? I only asked Lucas for help because I was at my wits' end."

Her tears landed on my dress, the one I'd splurged on with a whole month's salary for our anniversary. Now it was ruined.

I yanked my hand back. Taking advantage of the movement, she tumbled backward.

Her hand swept across the table, knocking over a glass. The glass shattered on the floor, and she landed on the shards.

Blood started seeping through her fingers right away.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

Claire sat on the floor, clutching her hand and wailing like a banshee, looking as helpless as ever.

Lucas quickly placed Benji on the bed, shouldered past me roughly, and rushed to help Claire up.

"Emily, how could you be so heartless?" he exclaimed, looking up at me with disappointment written all over his face.

His eyes were bloodshot with anger as he pointed at me and snapped, "No wonder your parents don't like you!"

There was a time when, no matter how let-down I felt, I never sank into utter despair.

The warmth Lucas had once bestowed upon me made me believe he was my salvation for life.

That was why I always cut him so much slack, thinking I could pay him back for saving me.

But boy, was I wrong. Dead wrong. The moment Lucas uttered those words, a sharp pain shot through my chest.

I felt like I was drowning in a sea of suffocation, struggling to get a word out.

There was nothing more tragic than a broken heart. All I could sense at that moment was a bottomless well of sorrow.

Lucas quickly realized his blunder. He stammered, trying to make amends, but his words only made things worse.

"Em... Emily, it wasn't what I meant. I was just all worked up," he pleaded.

He was well aware of my messed-up family background. Whenever the subject of my parents came up, I'd be filled with shame and self-loathing.

I'd laid my wounds bare to him, and he'd sworn to shield me forever. Yet here he was, ripping those wounds wide open. That was the final nail in the coffin.

I gave a bitter laugh and stepped back. "People usually spill their true thoughts when they're mad as hell," I retorted.

So, deep down, the Lucas I'd adored thought I deserved my parents' cold shoulder.

How sickeningly ironic. He used to be so sympathetic about my parents' abuse and promised to love me unconditionally.

But after just three years of marriage, he said I had it coming.

The pain in my chest was excruciating. It was hard to draw a breath, and I felt like I was on the verge of passing out from the agony.

"No, I-I just shot my mouth off," Lucas insisted, his eyes wide with panic.

Just then, Benji started wailing. Lucas had no choice but to turn his attention to the baby.

Claire scurried over, draping her arm around Lucas and cooing at the child in his arms.

It was a sight that stabbed me in the heart. Maybe I would've been heartbroken before, but after his cruel words, the pain had reached its peak, and then, I just went numb.

I'd had enough of the disappointments, and his words were the last straw that broke the camel's back. All the love I'd had for Lucas just evaporated into thin air.

Without a second thought, I headed for the door.

"Emily, I really didn't mean it!" Lucas called out, chasing after me with the baby in his arms.

He grabbed my arm, his eyes a mix of guilt and irritation.

I yanked my arm free. "Lucas, let's get divorced."

Honestly, months ago, the seed of divorce was sown in my mind.

However, years of togetherness had woven a complex web of emotions, making it impossible for me to be decisive.

The love Lucas showed and the vows and protection he offered at our wedding made me believe that without Claire, our relationship would be smooth-sailing.

But reality was a harsh teacher. The unrequited love always held a special place.

Despite getting married and having a child, Claire remained the most precious thing in Lucas' heart.

She was the unforgettable past, and Benji, his brother's posthumous son, added a layer of responsibility that intertwined with his lingering affection for Claire.

I was aware of this from the beginning, yet I was addicted to the sense of being saved he provided.

That was how I found myself in this difficult situation.

Now, clarity had dawned on me. When Lucas uttered those words, the shield of his protection and the warmth of his salvation crumbled.

Without that comfort, what was I still holding onto?

It was as if Lucas had taken a dagger and stabbed at my heart again. The pain was unbearable.

So, there was no reason to persevere. Divorce seemed like the best way out.

Word of my decision to divorce reached Sophie Reed, my good friend. She was so thrilled that she immediately took a day off work and came over with a six-pack to celebrate.

Sophie said, giving me a can of beer, "See, I've always said Lucas isn't up to par. He's such a wimp, always sitting on the fence.

"It's easy for me, looking from the outside, to tell you to end it.

"But you're the one in the relationship. It's great that you've finally woken up."

After taking a big gulp of her beer, Sophie wrinkled her nose in disgust. "There are so many people in the world, and yet I have to share a last name with a woman like Claire. Talk about bad luck."

Her comment made me laugh. "Well, we can't choose our last names. We just have to make sure we're nothing like her."

Even as I laughed, there was a pang of sadness.

Hooking up with her husband's married brother while still cradling her own kid? No ordinary person would stoop so low.