Chapter 2

2.

You really do laugh when you're completely speechless.

"Save it," I said coldly. "Looking at your two faces every day would make me sick."

Both Julian and Chloe's expressions soured.

I ignored the two eyesores and turned, walking briskly into the auditorium.

The ceremony hadn't started yet, so I planned to head backstage and wait for my husband, who was running a little late.

Halfway there, I saw a little boy, who still had some baby fat on his cheeks, wobbling on a high ledge near the edge of the stage, looking like he could fall at any second.

My expression hardened, and I sprinted over to get him down.

But before I could reach him, Chloe shot out from nowhere and shoved me aside.

"Stay away from my child!"

Chloe stood in front of me, her eyes filled with rage and grief.

"Clara, I know I wronged you with Julian."

"You have every right to be angry and resentful. Blame it all on me, I'll take it."

"But you can't take it out on a four-year-old boy!"

I was stunned.

The kid didn't look anything like Julian, but I guess he was their son.

Before I could process it, Julian rushed over and slapped me hard across the face, glaring at me viciously.

"Clara! I thought five years apart would have mellowed you out!"

"Instead, you've gotten worse! Now you're even going after a child!"

With Julian there to back her up, Chloe’s crying grew louder and more dramatic.

"Clara, I've already backed down again and again! I even offered to let you live with us!"

"Why won't you let it go? Do you really want to see me dead before you'll finally stop?"

Julian's glare intensified, as if he wanted to eat me alive.

We were making such a scene that people were starting to stare.

My husband's identity and mine were classified until today's ceremony.

No one here knew me, so most of them believed Chloe, their eyes judging me.

I quickly scanned the area, saw the child teetering on the very edge, and without a second thought, I pushed Julian and Chloe aside, used a nearby support beam to launch myself up, and snatched the boy to safety.

Then I turned and slapped both Julian and Chloe across the face.

"If I wanted to hurt your kid, why the hell would I save him?!"

Chloe clutched her red, swollen cheek, biting her lip hard.

"Who knows if you didn't stage this whole thing! My son is too small to climb that high!"

"You must have put him up there on purpose, so you could play the hero and use it as an excuse to drive me away!"