From Fake Wife to Final Goodbye

My body had always been different. The day I found out I was pregnant, Doug was over the moon. He fumbled around in the kitchen, trying to make me some kind of nourishing soup.

He pressed his warm cheek against my still-flat stomach, his voice soft. "Let me hear it. What's our kid saying?"

I laughed at him, called him childish. The baby wasn't even formed yet. How could it say anything?

Not long after I started showing, Lindsey shoved me down the stairs.

"You're pregnant and still hanging around Mr. Graham every day? You're just hired muscle! You really think you can sleep your way up?"

After that, Doug moved me into the maid's room on the ground floor. He kneeled in front of me, slapping himself again and again.

"I'm sorry! I didn't protect you or the baby. I won't let Lindsey get away with this. The more spoiled she is now, the worse it'll be when our enemies get their hands on her."

I swallowed the bitterness and disappointment and accepted it.

But now, I knew. Those so-called kidnappings were nothing but their twisted game.

The thought hit me so hard that I shoved him away with everything I had.

"We're not having a child. Ever."

Doug froze for a long moment, then something in him snapped. He raised his hand and slapped me across the face.

"I've had a long day. Who the hell are you giving attitude to? You've climbed way above your station just being with me! What more do you want?"

Lindsey's voice drifted in from outside, shaky and soft. "Doug, I'm back. I was so scared."

He pushed me aside without a second thought and walked out, leaving me standing there, one hand pressed to my burning cheek.

My left hand slammed into the corner of the bed. The old injury from taking a blade for him flared instantly, pain shooting straight through me.

Lindsey's sweet, clingy voice carried through the wall. Weren't they done with this kidnapping game yet?

My pillow was soaked with tears again. I cried without a sound, barely able to breathe.

On the other side of that door, Doug gave her a brand-new sports car, prime land, and even the gold bracelet his mother left him.

Every memory of loving him felt like a dull blade carving into me, over and over, slow and relentless.

I knew there was no way things between us would end on good terms.

Back then, plenty of men wanted me, but I never believed in love. To win me over, Doug had gone to insane lengths.

That kind of obsession wouldn't just disappear. He would never let me go easily.

The next morning, I placed the divorce papers in front of him.

"I'll take down the Chandlers for you. Sign it."

Doug was on the phone, speaking gently to Lindsey, not even glancing at the document as he signed his name.

"You must've been terrified of getting grabbed by the Chandlers yesterday, huh? I'll send people to deal with them right away."

My chest tightened anyway. There was no kidnapping. He lied like it was second nature.

After hanging up, Doug rubbed his temples, and the first thing out of his mouth was a scolding.