Chapter 2
I slammed the divorce papers onto the table.
I had drafted these papers the very first time he cheated.
Back then, Mia was only one, just learning to say Daddy. She could only fall asleep nestled between Ethan and me.
That was my first compromise. I told him back then that as long as he kept his hands off Mia, I didn't care what he did outside.
"You broke the rule. Sign it," I said, handing him a pen.
Ethan didn't sign. Instead, he ripped the divorce agreement to shreds with a few quick tears.
"Gia, Chloe was right. Women like you only know how to play nice until the wedding and the baby."
"Once the kid is born, you show your true colors, doing whatever you can to tie me down, threatening me with divorce over and over again."
He furrowed his brows, his eyes dripping with disgust.
Ever since our wedding day, I had grown all too accustomed to that look.
A wave of bitterness washed over my heart as I pulled out another copy.
"If you don't sign, we'll go through legal proceedings. I'm taking you to court."
Ethan's face darkened instantly. Before he could speak, the front door of the villa was pushed open from the outside.
Chloe stood in the doorway, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at him.
"Ethan... is this the kind of life you live at home...?"
Seeing Chloe standing there in only a nightgown, the tenderness and worry in Ethan's eyes weren't hidden in the slightest.
He rushed over, draped his jacket over Chloe's shoulders, and pulled her tightly into his arms.
At that moment, an invisible hand gripped my heart, squeezing until I couldn't breathe.
I never expected Chloe to track him all the way to our house.
One of Ethan's mistresses had shown up at our home once before. That time, Mia ended up covered in bruises and spent half a month in the hospital.
I knew Chloe held a special place in his heart, but I never imagined it was this special.
The sound of a door opening echoed from the second floor. Only Mia lived up there.
"Get out! Mia is awake! Get Chloe out of here right now!"
Snapping back to reality, I rushed forward to shove Chloe toward the door.
"Ethan, it's so cold outside, and I'm only wearing this..."
Chloe was wearing an ultra-short, skimpy slip dress.
"If you think showing up at a married man's house in the middle of the night dressed like that is normal, then you can handle the cold."
Seeing Mia walking down the stairs, I would have thrown Chloe out even if she were completely naked.
Before my hand could touch Chloe, a sharp, deafening slap landed across my face.
The blow was so hard it sent me staggering back until my waist slammed violently against the sharp corner of the table.
I had a blood clotting disorder. Even though the cut wasn't huge, within a single minute, blood had completely soaked through my clothes.
It was enough to shatter every last illusion I held about the pathetic crumbs of affection Ethan had thrown my way over the past five years.
Mia sprinted down the stairs, swinging her tiny fists against Chloe.
"You're a bad person! Stop hurting my mommy!"
Chloe curled into Ethan's arms like an alley cat. She raised her foot, and her high heel kicked Mia without an ounce of mercy.
Before Mia could even reach her, the kick sent her flying.
Her small body hit the floor with a dull, heavy thud.
"Mommy, you're bleeding so much... Please don't die!"
She crawled toward me on her hands and knees, sobbing hysterically.
"Mommy, I don't want the talking bear anymore! I just want you to stop bleeding!"
"Daddy is bad! I don't love Daddy anymore! You made Mommy bleed! Take Mommy to the hospital right now!"
Ethan froze for a second. Looking at Mia, a flicker of pain crossed his eyes.
Chloe turned and threw herself into his chest, whining piteously:
"Ethan, take me to the hospital, please... When I kicked her, my foot hit her wrong, and it hurts so bad..."
In the end, Ethan still chose Chloe.
No matter how desperately our daughter begged him, all that remained was Ethan's back as he carried Chloe into his car.
In the end, it was Mia who picked up my phone, crying hysterically as she dialed 911.