Chapter 3

3 Maybe because I'd been planning this for a while, I didn't feel much of anything as Justin dove headfirst into daddy duty.

Two days later, I went back to the house to get the things I'd left behind.

Ashley was sitting in the living room, wearing my silk robe. "Willow's back?"

She patted the baby in her arms, showing him off like a trophy.

I went straight upstairs. I didn't want to waste my breath on her.

But the second I opened the bedroom door, I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

She'd changed the sheets to some ugly shade of brown. The dresser was covered in her cheap-ass beauty products.

The designer dresses I'd worn to all those business dinners with Justin... were shoved into a corner of the closet.

Replaced by Ashley's bargain-bin crap.

Even the wedding picture hanging over the bed had been swapped out for a family portrait:

Justin holding the baby, that bitch leaning on his shoulder, smiling like she'd won the freaking lottery.

I bit down hard on my lip, trying to stop the tears from welling up.

That's when I realized that saying goodbye to a relationship didn't have to be some dramatic scene...

Once I'd calmed down, I went into the panic room and took out my mom's urn.

As I went downstairs, I overheard Ashley on the phone.

"Justin, baby misses you..." she cooed, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Yeah, Willow's back to get her stuff. Me and baby will be nice to her..."

I snorted. She'd been living here for three days, and she already thought she was the lady of the house more than I had been in three years of marriage.

No wonder she'd managed to sink her claws into Justin.

As I was walking out, Ashley suddenly called out to me: "Willow!"

Then she came trotting over, holding the baby out to me.

Smiling all innocent: "Do you want to hold the baby? Get a feel for what it's like to be a mom..."

I know the baby was innocent, but just looking at the freaking little monster made me want to hurl.

"No, thanks." I turned to leave.

Behind me, she suddenly stumbled, screaming as she fell backwards―

"Agh!"

I spun around instinctively, reaching out to catch her.

But she deliberately used her shoulder to knock the urn out of my hand.

The ceramic urn smashed against the marble floor with a sickening crack, scattering my mother's ashes everywhere.

I stood there, frozen, as I heard Justin roar:

"Willow! What the hell are you doing?!"

Justin charged in, shoving me out of the way.

He rushed over to Ashley, all concern: "Are you okay?"

Ashley shook her head, her eyes red-rimmed: "I'm fine... I managed to protect the baby. Justin, I know I'm intruding, but there was no need for Willow to throw a fit at me..."

Justin turned to me, his face a mask of anger and confusion: "Throw a fit? Willow, how many times do I have to tell you, it was my idea to let Ashley stay here..."

I stood there, staring at my mother's ashes spread across the floor.

I dropped to my knees, my eyes burning: "Mom..."

He just assumed I was trying to justify what I'd done, loosening his tie in frustration: "Every time we argue, you run to your mom. Have you ever thought that your mom would want you to be a decent wife and mother?"

Ashley put on a fake-concerned expression. "Willow, I'm so sorry I ruined your baby formula, I'll pay you back for the damage..."

"Forget it!" Justin snapped, glaring at me. "I wouldn't trust anything she bought to go near the baby!"

"More to the point, did she do anything to you when I wasn't around?"

Watching him cradle Ashley like she was made of glass, I suddenly felt exhausted.

I didn't even have the energy to explain myself.

"Justin," I said softly, "let's get a divorce."

His face darkened. "What the hell are you talking about?"

I pulled out the divorce papers I'd prepared, and put them on the coffee table.

"Sign them," I said. "You already made your choice."

He grabbed my wrist. "I told you, there's nothing going on between me and Ashley. I love you!"

Watching him freak out, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Then make her move out," I said, each word clear. "Right now."

He froze.

Ashley's tears started right on cue: "Justin, don't fight with Willow... baby just got scared, he threw up..."

Justin let go of my arm. "Willow! You can be mad at me, but you shouldn't have pushed a woman holding a baby!"

His words were like a knife, tearing through the last shreds of my hope.

I watched him turn and rush to Ashley's side.

I finally had to admit that in Justin's heart, I would always come second to that mother and child.

Standing on the sidewalk, I suddenly remembered our wedding day, when Justin swore before God:

"I'll love you and only you for the rest of my life."

Looking back, I guess his "forever" wasn't very long.

My phone vibrated. It was a text from Justin: 【As long as you behave, you'll always be Mrs. Foster.】

I smiled sadly and blocked him on everything.

Forever?

The moment he hid Ashley's pregnancy from me, there was no such thing as forever.