Chapter 2

2.

Faced with a barrage of angry comments ("OP is trash," "Hope karma hits you"), Cassandra seemed to thrive on the hate. She doubled down, posting a screenshot of a new Instagram Story.

[Keep it coming. The angrier you get, the more it proves how much they love me. I'm Daddy's and Mommy's little girl, and I'm the one Julian truly loves.]

Below it was a close-up photo.

A perfectly manicured hand, a unique diamond ring on the slender ring finger.

I knew that design. Because the matching men's band was on Julian's finger every single day.

Her new reply popped up, dripping with condescension:

[See this? I casually said, "It disgusts me when you wear a ring that another woman has touched," and he threw their cheap, original wedding rings into the Hudson River.]

[This new pair? We picked them out together on Fifth Avenue. They're Soulmate rings, with our names engraved inside.]

[In this world, the one who isn't loved is the third wheel. I'm the real Queen.]

A chill shot up my spine.

A memory from three years ago stabbed me in the gut.

Julian had come home that day, frantically searching his suit pockets, then pulling me into a hug full of regret. "Babe, the ring must have slipped off when I was golfing. I'm such an asshole."

He buried his head in my neck, his voice soft. "Punish me. Anything you want."

And I believed him. I gave him the unconditional trust a wife gives her husband.

A week later, a new ring appeared on his finger.

I had pursed my lips and asked him, "Where did this one come from?"

He held up his hand for me to see, his eyes a little helpless, but with that charming, pleading look that always made me melt.

"I was trying on samples at an auction house, and this one got stuck. Nora, if it bothers you, I'll chop this finger off to get it off, okay?"

My heart had skipped a beat. I took his hand in mine. "Don't be ridiculous… Wear it. If it gets uncomfortable, we'll figure something out. It actually looks nice."

So that was it.

It was their "Soulmate ring."

My wedding ring, tossed away like trash, and the unborn life about to be removed from my body, were nothing but laughable, inconvenient obstacles on their path to true love.

The Reddit comments were exploding.

u/JusticeWarrior: SOMEONE SHARE THIS! GET IT TO THE REAL WIFE! RUN!

u/Anon123: Why are you keeping a man like that? Sister, run!

Tears streamed silently down my face as the nurse called my name.

I signed the consent form for the procedure.

Julian Vance, you don't deserve to have a child with me.