Chapter 2

2

The next day, I went to the company to process my resignation.

As soon as I walked in, I heard the employees whispering excitedly.

"Did you see Mr. Sterling's private post last night? Serena had cramps, and he went to take care of her personally. So romantic!"

"I know! I saw her getting out of his car this morning. He literally carried her to the office like a princess. Their office romance is goals."

An older employee tried to quiet them down.

"Shh, stop it. Mr. Sterling has a wife. He loves her. Serena just looks a bit like her, that's all."

The woman jumped when she saw me. The gossip stopped instantly.

I pretended I hadn't heard a thing. I kept my head high and walked straight past them.

Behind me, I heard a sigh of relief.

"Thank God she didn't hear... But honestly, the boss's wife has way more class. Why would he cheat?"

When I reached HR, the manager looked at my resignation and froze. He told me I had to get Sterling to sign it himself.

I had no choice but to head to the CEO's office.

I pushed the door open. Sterling was leaning against his desk with a look of pure bliss. Serena was kneeling between his legs.

Sterling shoved her away the second he saw me. He fumbled with his clothes, trying to look professional.

"My belt was stuck," he stammered. "Serena was just helping me fix it..."

I wasn't an innocent girl. I knew exactly what they were doing.

But I didn't care. I flipped my resignation to the last page and held it out.

"Sterling, just sign it."

He thought he had fooled me and relaxed. Then his eyes drifted to the paper, and he frowned.

"What is this?" He tried to flip the pages back.

My heart hammered against my ribs. If he realized I was resigning and leaving him, he'd know something was up.

But then, Serena grabbed his hand.

She slid his fingers under the hem of her skirt.

"Just sign it, Sterling," she purred. "Don't keep your wife waiting. We have more important things to discuss... about your belt."

Sterling pulled his hand away like he'd been burned. He gave me a guilty look.

He signed the paper quickly and practically ran out of the room with Serena.

Once the HR paperwork was done, I went home to book a flight out of the country.

My research mission wouldn't start for a few days, but I couldn't stay in that house for another minute.

I left the divorce papers in his study and grabbed my suitcase.

I planned to go to the clinic for the procedure, then go straight to the airport.

The clinic was packed. I stood in line with my QR code from the online booking.

Suddenly, I saw Sterling's tall figure in the hallway.

He walked over and grabbed my hand with that same old doting look.

But I saw it. His neck was covered in fresh hickeys. They must have had a wild session after I left the office.

"Valerie, you've been acting strange lately. Since you're already at the hospital, let's get you checked out."

My heart skipped a beat. "No."

I looked him in the eyes, searching for a shred of guilt. There was none.

Sterling, who usually did whatever I wanted, suddenly gripped my wrist hard.

"I'm worried about you. You're getting that exam."

Panic surged. I kicked and struggled, but he was too strong. He practically threw me into his car.

"Sterling, what the hell are you doing?" I screamed.

I couldn't keep the peace anymore. "I know about you and Serena! I'm your wife! How could you try to take my uterus for her?"

Sterling froze. He hadn't expected me to know the truth.

But he recovered quickly. He wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb, his voice sickeningly sweet.

"Valerie, your health is poor. We haven't been able to have a child in five years. I'm just letting Serena carry one for us. Isn't that better?"

"Besides, pregnancy is so painful. It ruins your body. You're my delicate little princess. How could I let you go through that?"

Lies. All of it was lies.

I shook my head, my tears falling fast. "I'm already pregnant..."

Sterling's grip on me tightened. A flash of mockery crossed his eyes.

"Valerie, don't lie about something like that."

"The doctors said you have a hard time conceiving. We've tried for five years with nothing. Why would it happen now?"

He suddenly pressed a cloth over my mouth.

A strange, sweet scent filled my nose. My vision began to blur.

"It won't hurt, Valerie," he whispered. "Just go to sleep."

My strength faded. I couldn't even cry. I fought to keep one last spark of consciousness.