Chapter 3

3

I walked out of the Caldwell building feeling like a ghost.

Then my phone rang. It was my parents.

I knew exactly what they wanted.

The moment I picked up, a torrent of abuse flooded my ears.

"Elara Sterling, have you lost your mind? You got yourself kicked out of the company? You ungrateful brat! Have you thought about what will happen to the Sterlings if you piss Gideon off? What about your brother's future?"

"It's not like that. Lyla and Gideon are―" My weak explanation was cut short.

My brother's voice came on the line.

"Elara, what are you even thinking? Lyla told me a long time ago that you hated her. I didn't believe her then, but now I see it. We already know about you and that Miller guy at the office. You're the one cheating, yet you're blaming Lyla? She would never be like you!"

"Unbelievable. You want a divorce because you're having an affair? I can't believe I have a daughter like you. You are a disgrace to this family!"

They told me that if I didn't go back and apologize to Gideon, they would freeze all my accounts.

Suddenly, I felt so alone in this world. My family didn't love me. My husband had betrayed me.

I had been kicked out of the company and had nowhere to go.

I had no money on me. I couldn't even afford a bus ticket.

As night fell, I realized I had been sitting by the side of the road for hours. I checked my phone. There were dozens of missed calls and over a hundred messages.

Most were insults from Gideon and his mother.

I saw a new post on Lyla's social media.

The location was my own home.

The photo showed her holding a bowl of soup, with the corner of Gideon's tie visible in the frame. It was a tie I had never seen in his closet.

The caption read: "Being understood is the greatest happiness."

I saw a comment from a colleague: "Lyla, is something happening?"

Lyla replied with a blushing emoji, saying nothing but implying everything.

Then Lyla sent me several private photos. One showed Gideon sleeping, his clothes slightly disheveled.

The two of them were holding hands tightly.

I knew this was her declaring war.

I liked the post and commented: "Wishing you two a long and happy life together."

Even though I had given up on this relationship, my heart still stung.

I couldn't hold on any longer. My face went pale, and my body began to sway.

Suddenly, someone caught me. I looked up and saw a familiar face. It was Silas Brooks, a senior from my college.

Seeing how ill I looked, he insisted on taking me to the hospital.

The doctor checked my vitals and frowned at me.

"Do you have any idea that you are about to become a mother? Why are you being so careless with your body?"

Tears streamed down my face.

Baby, you really chose the wrong time to come.

I didn't know if I should keep this child.

But very soon, the decision was made for me.