CHAPTER 2: Dishonest

"What's so surprising about this? Successful men often have a few women on the side."

As Alain spoke, he slowly took a cigarette out of his pocket and took a deep drag. One of his hands was still resting on the bare waist of the woman next to him.

My ears buzzed as if the wind were rushing through them, and my head throbbed like it was being pounded by a hammer. My heart felt as if someone was squeezing it tightly. It was like falling from the highest mountain peak—full of pain and despair. Is this the love I once worshipped so much? The love I tried so hard to protect? Were all these years nothing but lies?

"Alain, do you have some unspoken suffering? Tell me, and I'll believe you! Please, just explain! As long as you say it, I will believe you."

I don't even know how much pain I was in at that moment. I only know that I collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Not because I was weak, nor because of the wealth he brought. It was all because of the word "love." Yes, I loved the man in front of me, loved him deeply. But the rule of love has always been the same—the one who loves more loses. And it seems this time, I've truly lost!

"What's the matter? Regretful? Regretful of your title as the chairman's wife?"

Alain spoke as he lifted my chin, showing not a hint of gentleness. The man in front of me now was nothing like the husband who had once loved me so much. At that moment, I silently wished he would treat me gently and that if he just explained, I would forgive him. It might be selfish, but at least it would be good for both me and my child. I'm pregnant. Unfortunately, reality is always cruel. He didn't do that.

"Why are you crying? You know everything now. I believe a proud person like you would never accept sharing a husband, right?"

"Right."

"Then it's simple, let's get a divorce!"

As Alain finished speaking, he forcefully pushed my chin away, causing me to fall heavily to the ground.

"Over the years, I've grown sick of your face! Tell me, what makes you worthy of me? You've been married to me for three years, how much of my money have you spent? Tell me, in these three years, did a stay-at-home woman like you earn a single cent? At twenty-four, what do you have to show for it? Let me tell you, if it weren't for the title of the chairman's wife, you would be nothing! You're not even worth as much as the cleaning staff in the company."

"Alain, do you really think that?"

Tears streamed down my face as my already wounded heart was once again salted. It was him who told me to stay home, him who said he would take care of me, him who said he would give me everything. The money I spent was willingly given by him; in three years of marriage, I never once asked for anything. I thought I had fulfilled my duties as a wife, but it seems that was just my illusion. The man before me didn't acknowledge me at all.

"What do you want me to say? Praise a stay-at-home leech like you for being competent?"

"Fine, then let's get a divorce!"

As soon as I uttered the word "divorce," my head buzzed, and everything started to spin. I don't even know how much pain I was in, only that at that moment, it felt like my heart had stopped beating, and it was extremely difficult to breathe.

Three years—three years I regarded the man in front of me as my husband. I poured all my feelings into him. The more I loved, the more I got hurt. I thought today would be a wonderful day for us, but everything turned out to be the complete opposite of what I had imagined. That "perfection" was just my own one-sided delusion!

"Fine, I'll let you and her be together! I wish you both happiness!"

With that, I staggered out of the room. I had no strength left to care about the gazes of others. I knew that as I walked out of that despicable man's office, tears streaming down my face, hundreds or thousands of eyes were staring at me. A once noble wife now crying so hard she could barely walk—isn't that just ridiculous? Even I found myself laughable!

I don't even know how I managed to get home that day. All I know is that after returning to the place I once called "home," the first thing I did was prepare the divorce papers and place them on the table. Alain was right; I am an incredibly proud woman, and I will never accept my husband cheating on me. If I tried to hold on to Alain for the sake of the child in my belly, our future together would not be happy.

"Yes, this place never belonged to you, so there's no need to hold on!"

As I said those words, my hand unconsciously touched my belly. No mother wants her child to be without a father, and of course, I was no different. It's an instinct of women. At that moment, I even considered holding on for the sake of the child, but in the end, I couldn't do it. Letting go seemed to be the only choice that was best for both of us.

That very night, I packed my bags and left the house. The house where that despicable man had lived, Elwyn couldn't bear to stay in it for even one more second.

I left without even looking back at the house I had once cherished. Perhaps it was because I had grown to despise its owner, or maybe I was afraid that if I looked back, I would burst into tears.

My home was gone.

Today, it's raining. An unexpected rain during the cold winter.

I sat in the car, aimlessly driving forward. It was dark, and I didn't know where I was going. I had no direction, no plan.

"Find a hotel to stay in for the night. I'll figure things out tomorrow."

I talked to myself. Perhaps the dark, cold night forced me to speak aloud. Only by doing so could I feel the breath, the sound of a human. Only then would I know that I was still alive, not dead.

So I sped through the rain, searching for a hotel or inn to take refuge in. The night grew darker, and I had driven more than ten kilometers since deciding to find a place to stay. However, fate seemed to be mocking me—there wasn't a single hotel or inn in sight.

Just as I was about to speed up and keep going, a sharp pain suddenly shot through my lower abdomen. I was in so much pain that I couldn't think of anything else, only clutching my belly.

"No, no! Baby, you can't be in danger, baby, please!"

Using the last bit of clarity, I slammed on the brakes. I knew that if I kept driving, both the baby and I would be in danger. I could die, but the baby couldn't. A mother's instinct commanded me to stop.

"My baby, you can't let anything happen to you."