Chapter 3

3

Chase didn't leave until it was pitch black outside.

Bree tried to get him to stay, but he refused after a moment of thought.

"I'm not divorced yet. If the neighbors see me staying over, it'll look bad for you. Wait for me. Once I settle things over there, I'll come back and marry you."

I knew this man wasn't worth a single tear anymore, but hearing him plot a future with another woman still felt like a knife to the chest.

I followed him back to our house. The decor was exactly as I had left it, showing that I hadn't been home.

This was a first in our marriage.

No matter how bad the fight was, I would always be there waiting for him. I'd usually be the one to apologize first just to keep the peace.

Seeing the empty house, Chase's mood soured. He pulled out his phone and made several calls. No one picked up.

"She's really full of herself now, isn't she? Not even coming home?"

He fired off several messages. I leaned in to read them. Not a single one expressed concern.

【Are you done yet? What kind of stunt are you pulling now?】

【I'm telling you, don't push me. Get home now so we can sign the papers and end this cleanly. I won't sue you for slandering Bree if you cooperate.】

【If you don't show up, don't expect a single dime from the settlement!】

He threw his phone onto the sofa in a fit of rage.

I felt so pathetic. Even in death, I had to endure my husband's contempt. I wondered when I'd finally be free of him.

After waiting for a response that would never come, Chase called his mother.

My mother-in-law was one of the few people who were truly kind to me.

When she found out Chase was neglecting me for Bree, she had even come over to give me backup.

She had declared that there would only ever be one Mrs. Sterling in her house. As for Bree, she wasn't allowed to step foot inside.

The call connected. Hearing her tired voice made my eyes sting.

"You actually have the nerve to call? Stella is gone, and where the hell were you?!"

Chase frowned. "What do you mean 'gone'? I was about to ask if she ran to your place to tattle again."

"Mom, I don't care what you say this time. This divorce is happening. Tell Stella to get back here so we can finish the paperwork. Since she took care of me for a few years, I'll give her a decent payout."

My mother-in-law's voice trembled with rage. She let out a scream.

"Divorce?! You're going to divorce a corpse?! Stella was a saint. Marrying a bastard like you was the worst luck of her life!"

She didn't hold back, which only made Chase even angrier.

"Mom! Stop helping her tell these pathetic lies! Stella's attitude only got this bad because you spoiled her!"

"You forced me to break up with Bree back then. You used every dirty trick in the book to drive her away. Are you trying to use this fake death to blackmail me now?!"

"If Stella is dead, then good! I can marry Bree right away without having to argue about a divorce!"

A wave of coldness washed over my soul, shattering whatever was left of my heart.

I never imagined that the man I loved for three years would wish for my death.

He was actually celebrating it. He saw my passing as a convenience for his next wedding.

I struggled to pull away, wanting to run far from him, but an invisible force dragged me back to his side.

On the other end of the line, everything went chaotic. My mother-in-law, overwhelmed by his cruelty, suffered a heart attack and collapsed.