Chapter 2

As I exited the hospital, a car screeched to a halt in front of me.

The door opened, and a woman in a white dress hurried out, her face etched with anxiety.

It was Chloe.

She saw me, paused, then asked urgently. "Scarlett, how's Leo? David called me, said something happened to the baby."

I looked at her, the woman who had hovered around David for ten years. "He'll live."

I spat out the three words, moving to walk around her.

Chloe seized my wrist, her eyes rimmed with red. "Scarlett, I know you've always misunderstood the bond between David and me. But right now, Leo is all that matters. Please don't blame David. He's just so worried about you."

Her voice was soft, yet perfectly pitched to reach every onlooker.

An elderly woman immediately began to berate me.

"What kind of wife are you? She's speaking reason to you, and you stand there with such darkness in your eyes. To abandon your own son-have you no conscience?"

Chloe quickly turned to the woman, pleading. "Please, don't say that. Scarlett is just very tired."

The more she played the role of the compassionate one, the more wicked I appeared.

I yanked my hand free. "Don't touch me."

Chloe stumbled, tears welling up. "I'm sorry, Scarlett, I didn't mean to."

David rushed out of the hospital at that moment, saw the scene, and immediately pushed Chloe behind him. He glared at me, furious. "Scarlett! Haven't you caused enough trouble? Chloe came here out of kindness for Leo, why are you taking your rage out on her?"

My mother-in-law followed him out, and seeing Chloe, she seemed to find her savior, grasping Chloe's hand. "Oh, you good girl, you're finally here! Go see Leo, that venomous woman has abandoned him! We only have you now!"

Chloe, while comforting my mother-in-law, spoke to David. "David, don't blame Scarlett. She must just be overwhelmed."

The three of them stood together, a picture of a loving family.

And I, I was the unwanted villain, the cruel outsider.

I looked at them, and my ten-year marriage felt like a cruel joke.

I said nothing more, hailed a taxi, and left. Even after the car drove a long distance, I could still see David holding Chloe, and my mother-in-law wiping away tears in the rearview mirror.

Back home, I started packing my things. This house was mine, bought before marriage, registered in my name.

For ten years, I had turned it into a home, but in the end, there wasn't an ounce of warmth here that belonged to me.

That evening, I received a call from my mom. The moment I answered, a barrage of scolding erupted.

"Scarlett! Have you gone mad? Leo was in such a terrible car accident, and you chose to divorce his father at the hospital? You and your dad have brought such shame upon us!"

"Mom, I-"

"Don't call me Mom! I don't have such a heartless daughter!" My mom's voice was shrill.

"David told me everything. He didn't want you to donate blood because he cares about you. You nearly bled to death when you gave birth to Leo, and your health has never been the same since. How ungrateful can you be!"

I clutched my phone, unable to utter a single word.

"You go to the hospital right now! Apologize to David, and go see Leo! If you still recognize me as your mother, then go!"

The call ended. I stared at the dark screen of my phone, my heart clutched as if by an unseen hand.

When I gave birth to Leo, I truly almost died.

But none of them knew why I had hemorrhaged so badly.