Chapter 2
I didn’t have much to take with me-one suitcase was almost enough.
When I came downstairs, Damien was curled up on the sofa.
I went straight to pour a glass of water and grabbed stomach medicine to bring over.
As I approached him, he suddenly stood up and slapped me hard across the face.
“Elara, you’ve crossed the line!”
“Who gave you permission to show them our divorce agreement!”
“I’ve explained to you countless times that I’m only with them for fun, it won’t affect your position. When I’ve had enough fun, I’ll
naturally return to the family. What exactly are you jealous of?”
“People like us-who doesn’t have a few lovers? Even your father…”
My vision blurred with tears as I glared at him.
Damien’s voice softened as he stepped forward to embrace me, “But I’ve only ever loved you. Haven’t you felt that all these years?”
“Baby, I swear-after this time, I’ll only be with you for the rest of my life.”
Back then, Damien was New York’s notorious playboy who pursued me for three years.
He swore he would only ever have me as his woman.
He said he would protect me and my family with his life.
I believed him.
Now I’d heard these same words too many times.
When did trust completely wear away?
Maybe it was when his precious twins first played disappearing, and he used my company Slack account to confess to them-just to coax them back-making me the laughingstock of Manhattan’s entire social circle.
The next day, I was surrounded by media, facing the flashing lights alone and helpless.
Maybe it was on our anniversary when he abandoned me to go extreme sports with them “for love,” leaving me to be scolded by his family for not caring about my husband’s safety.
Or when he was partying with them at Disney and hung up on my 101 emergency calls.
Or because I shared the same blood type as them, he forced me to donate blood against my will, causing me to lose the baby in my belly, yet blamed me for not protecting the child.
Or maybe it was the day before he handed me the divorce papers, when he transferred away all the doctors for them, and my mother, whom I depended on, died because no one was there to save her…
I trembled all over, sweat soaking my clothes.
Damien still held me, my nose filled with the scent of perfume he’d never used before.
the anniversary of my mother’s death.
I remembered the last words my mother said to me before she died, and I silently struggled free from his embrace.
Damien pressed a check into my hand-eight million dollars.
“They like this manor. You should move out first.”
I took the check and said softly, “Okay.”
Then I handed him the medicine in my hand.
Damien’s expression softened as he reached out to hold my hand, “Elara…”
Just then, piercing screams came from outside.
My dog.
I rushed outside, my heart pounding.
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17
Lana and Lila were viciously kicking a dog lying on the ground, barely breathing.
I pushed them away forcefully, tears streaming down my face, “Coco, Coco!”
It lay limp on the concrete, barely breathing, yet still tried to wag its tail at me.
Lana and Lila stood aside with their arms crossed, watching.
“Oh, so it’s your dog. We thought it was a stray that wandered into our house.”
“Why haven’t you left yet? Didn’t Damien tell you?”
I stood up and slapped Lana hard across the face, and the next moment, a slap landed on my face…
