Chapter 2

1.

“Liam, do you have any idea what you’re saying?”

I stared in disbelief at Liam, the man I’d loved for five years, the man I had just married today.

Standing next to him was his first love, Luna, and a little girl.

He had just told me this girl was his and Luna’s daughter.

She looked to be about four years old, which meant his ex-girlfriend was already pregnant when he and I first got together.

My hands gripped the wheels of my chair so tightly my knuckles turned white. My whole body was trembling.

“Are you deaf? How many times do I have to say it?” Liam glared at me, his patience already gone.

“I’m telling you now, so just learn to get along.”

“You should be grateful,” he added with a sneer. “A cripple like you finally has a full-time caretaker.”

“Don’t worry, Clara, I’ll take good care of you,” Luna said, her voice dripping with fake kindness.

“Oh, and my daughter’s name is Lily. She’ll help take care of you too.”

This was insane. Did he think we were living in some historical drama with multiple wives?

Anger and grief churned in my chest, a firestorm of betrayal.

This was our wedding night, and this was the “surprise” he brought home for me.

It was fucking unbelievable.

“Liam, I want a divorce!”

I never would have imagined that just hours after saying “I do,” I’d be demanding a divorce.

But who could possibly tolerate this?

My brand-new husband, showing up with a secret child and the baby’s mother, expecting us all to live under one roof.

“A divorce?”

Liam laughed out loud.

“Clara, have you forgotten you’re disabled? Where would you go without me?”

“I suggest you wise up. Just stay home, cook, do the laundry. Now you even have someone to help with the chores and look after you. You should be happy!”

Happy? My ass!

I nearly screamed it at him, but I held my tongue.

“Liam, I will never accept this.”

“We’re going to the courthouse tomorrow and we’re getting a divorce.”

For years, I had been his loyal puppy.

I never would have dared to speak to him so coldly.

And asking for a divorce? Unthinkable.

“You’re nothing without me!”

Liam bent down, his face close to mine, and slapped my cheek. It wasn't hard, more of a condescending pat.

“Don’t think you can threaten me with a divorce.”

“If you have the guts, then get the hell out of this house right now and never come back.”

“Fine.”

The old me would have clung to him, begging him not to make me leave.

I loved him too much; I couldn’t imagine life without him.

But now, he had shattered my heart into a million pieces.

I looked around the room at the festive wedding decorations, the red paper cutouts symbolizing joy.

I had begged him for this wedding. He never would have married me otherwise.

And now, all I felt was a deep, gut-wrenching regret.

I turned my wheelchair and headed for the door.

Behind me, I heard Luna’s worried voice. “Liam, her legs… will she be okay on her own?”

Liam just scoffed. “She’ll be back in an hour. She’s a pathetic lapdog. She can’t live without me.”