Chapter 2

1.

The day I got out of the hospital, I could hear the party from outside our front door.

"Lorelei, if you hate Silas so much, why don't you just divorce him?" one of her friends asked with a sly grin.

Lorelei just scoffed.

"My mother says he has to be the one to file. If I do it, she'll give the company away. I have no idea what kind of spell he's cast on her."

Her voice was thick with annoyance.

Jayden chimed in, "Ms. Blackwood, I think he's just after your family's money."

Everyone there murmured in agreement.

I didn't stand there feeling sorry for myself like I used to. Instead, I pushed the door open and walked right in.

The noisy living room fell silent.

Lorelei shot me a disgusted look. "What a buzzkill."

"It's Jayden's birthday today. Go stay at the house in the suburbs for a couple of days. Don't ruin our fun."

Everyone stared, waiting for me to lose it.

My meltdowns, triggered by Lorelei’s verbal jabs, were their favorite form of entertainment.

But this time, I was going to disappoint them.

After hearing her out, I just said flatly, "Okay."

Then I walked into our bedroom and shut the door.

Lying on the bed, I got a text from Lorelei’s mother.

"Silas, are you really sure you want to leave Lorelei?"

I glanced at the photo on her side of the bed. In it, she was smiling brilliantly, her arm linked with another man's.

That picture had been there since the day I moved in.

Once, while cleaning, I accidentally knocked it over, and she screamed at me for it.

"Mrs. Blackwood, you know I was only with Lorelei to repay you. She's moved on from what happened, so there's no need for me to stay."

She sighed, full of regret.

"Such a shame. I'll have the money I promised you transferred to your account shortly."

I stared blankly at the photograph.

"Okay," I finally said. "Thank you."

I'd put my life on hold for her for six years. It was time to start living for myself.

After hanging up, I was lost in thought for a long time.

The door suddenly swung open. Lorelei walked in, her arm around Jayden.

"Change the sheets. Jayden's staying the night."

Jayden glanced at me, then put on a pitiful act.

"Oh, you don't have to, Ms. Blackwood. I can go home. I wouldn't want to make Mr. Crane upset."

Lorelei glared at me.

"Well? Get to it. Stop dawdling."

I looked at his face, which bore a slight resemblance to the man in the photo, and let out a small, soft laugh.

If someone else could make her happy, then my job was done.

From now on, we would live our own separate lives.

Jayden leaned in and whispered something in Lorelei's ear.

A glint appeared in her eyes.

"Silas, you don't have to move out. You've served me for so many years, I'm not used to the idea of a replacement. You can stay."

Hearing the same old humiliating words, I felt nothing.

As they both watched, I walked over to the dresser.

I pulled open a drawer, took out a box of condoms, and handed it to them.

"We're not divorced yet. A pregnancy would be bad for the company's image."

Lorelei stared at the box in my hand, too stunned to react.

I pressed it into her palm, turned around, and walked out.