Chapter 1

Seven years into our marriage, Daniel dropped the bomb:

“Sarah, loving just one person for life is so boring, and frankly, unnatural. After we divorce, you can go find some young guy, start fresh.”

I pretended not to see the dozens of gorgeous women he'd "liked" on Tinder and signed the divorce papers.

After the divorce, I took my autistic son, Ian, and moved to Oceanview.

Daniel, meanwhile, immediately started dating a string of women, completely forgetting to send Ian's monthly child support.

I wasn’t desperate for that pittance, and to sever all ties, I blocked him on everything.

Two years later, he tracked me down, overflowing with regret:

“Sarah, let’s get back together. Life just feels so meaningless without you.”

But by then, I was already remarried and had my second child!

I stared at Daniel, utterly taken aback. Two years hadn’t been kind to him; he seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

His face was a sickly yellow.

“Mom, is Dad back?”

Ian, having just changed, burst out of his room, his face alight with excitement.

But the moment he saw Daniel, his excitement evaporated.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ian, you’re talking? You’re not… autistic anymore?”

Daniel’s eyes welled up with tears as he looked at our son, who had grown so much and changed dramatically. He immediately moved to pull him into a hug.

But Ian pushed him away.

Daniel looked confused:

“Ian, weren’t you just so excited, calling me Dad? Dad’s back! I came to see you and Mom.”

“You don’t know how much Dad has missed you and Mom these past two years…”

Ian and I exchanged a glance. We instantly understood Daniel had gotten the wrong idea.

I was about to explain, but Ian tugged at my sleeve:

“Mom, we’ll be late.”

Ian’s autism was cured, but he wasn’t foolish; he remembered everything.

I didn’t say a single word to Daniel, just got in the car with Ian and drove him to his art class.

Soon after, my current husband called:

“Honey, miss me? Just wired you ten thousand bucks. Go do some shopping first; I’ll find you after the baby’s check-up.”

Hunter was incredibly thoughtful, and I smiled sweetly.

After receiving the money, I went to a baby store.

To my surprise, when I was at the checkout, Daniel appeared.

He saw the pile of baby clothes I’d chosen and froze for a second.

Then, he started putting everything back on the shelves:

“Sarah, I knew you were waiting for me. But can we maybe hold off on having a second child for a bit…?”

“Who said I was having a second child with you?”

I glared at him as if he’d lost his mind.

His smile faltered, and he tried to take my hand, but I pulled away.

“Sarah, I know these past two years, raising Ian alone has been tough. It’s all my fault for not doing my part. I’ll make it up to you.”

He pulled out a card and pressed it into my hand.

I was about to refuse, but he said:

“This is Ian’s child support for the last two years.”

Compensation? That was just overdue child support!

I didn't hesitate; I took the card and put the baby items I'd chosen back on the counter.

He grabbed my arm again, saying:

“Sarah, listen to me. I really don’t want a second child right now.”

“Daniel, I’m already remarried! I have a new family and a new child! Please, stop harassing me!”

“I don’t believe it! A divorced woman with an autistic kid? Who would *ever* want you, besides me?”