Chapter 1

1

This was my sixth prenatal checkup since I got pregnant. Landon was still by his childhood sweetheart's side.

I was seven months along. This should have been a time when he was most attentive to me.

But every single time I went to the clinic, he was busy taking care of Skylar.

This time, I tried to make him stay.

"It's just one checkup, Landon. It won't take much of your time," I pleaded.

"Is it really that important to go and baby her just so she takes her meds?"

Landon turned to me, his face twisted with impatience as he roared.

"Jocelyn, can you stop being so damn selfish for once? You know she's been fragile since we were kids! She has to take her medication on time every month!"

"Besides, if I don't go with you, is the baby just going to stop being born?"

Once again, he abandoned me on the spot for his precious Skylar.

This time, my heart finally went cold.

We had been married for two years. This baby was supposed to be our miracle.

Everything was perfect until Skylar Shaw came back from London.

Mutual friends told me she was Landon's first love. They were childhood sweethearts who had a soul-crushing romance in college. They only broke up because she wanted to move abroad.

When Skylar first showed up at our door, I wasn't furious. I just felt a nagging discomfort.

After she left, I couldn't help but mention it to Landon.

"Your first love's first move after landing is to find you. You guys must be really close, huh?"

Instead of reassuring me, Landon lost his temper for the first time.

"Why is your mind so filthy? She's just an old friend I haven't seen in years. It was just a greeting. Jocelyn, stop making a scene over nothing."

At the time, I blamed it on my pregnancy hormones. I thought I was just being sensitive.

But Skylar didn't stop. She became a permanent shadow in our lives.

Landon drove her to work. She crashed our weekend dinners. He even brought her to business galas.

It seemed like everywhere Landon went, Skylar was there. His excuses were always the same.

They grew up together. Their families were close. It was all innocent.

I slowly realized that my silence only invited more disrespect.

I started fighting with him, but he responded with cold violence.

"Then let's just get a divorce! I don't even want this baby anymore!"

That was the only time I truly broke down. It was also the only time he didn't snap back.

"I'm sorry, Jocelyn. I'll make things clear with Skylar. Please, don't talk about divorce. The baby is innocent."

Because of the child, I softened my heart again.

I didn't realize that my forgiveness was just a green light for him to hurt me more.

Landon would drop everything for her. Any time, any place, all it took was one phone call from her.

Including right now.

I had endured it and fought it a thousand times.

But today, I was done.

As Landon reached for the door handle, I made one last attempt to stop him.

"She's just taking a pill. She's not a child. Do you really have a reason to go?"

Landon didn't even look back.

"She's sick, Jocelyn. Grow up," he said before slamming the door.

I sat alone in the quiet room. I didn't even feel disappointment anymore. It was just emptiness.

Thinking back, this wasn't the first time he had left me behind.

I hauled my heavy belly into the car and drove myself to the hospital.

"You're in your third trimester now. You need to be extra careful," the doctor said.

She looked at my chart and then at me with a hint of pity.

"Is your husband not here again?"

I forced a tight smile. "He's busy with a project at work."

I still wanted to keep a shred of dignity for both of us.

After the exam, I sat in my car and scrolled through my phone. I saw Landon's new post on Instagram.

It was a photo of Landon's profile.

He was leaning against the edge of a hospital bed, his eyes half-closed. He looked exhausted but devoted.

The caption read：Thankful to have you by my side.

I couldn't hold it back anymore. I collapsed over the steering wheel and sobbed.

Who was I kidding?

I should have known that betrayal isn't a one-time thing. It's a lifestyle.

He wasn't sorry, and he didn't love me.

Maybe the universe was giving me a warning from the start.

I shouldn't fight for something that isn't mine.

I took out my phone and typed a message.

"Let's get a divorce."