Chapter 2

2

In my previous life, Logan had saved me first. Because of that, the baby had been fine.

But after our son was born, Logan never held him. He paid the bills, but he never gave the boy a second of his time.

He even threw away the handmade gifts our son worked so hard on.

My son used to cry and ask why other kids had dads who bought them treats, while Logan wouldn't even look at him.

I never understood why he was so cruel until I overheard him talking to our son one afternoon.

"Don't call me Dad," he had said. "I will never acknowledge you as my son."

As our son sobbed, Logan pulled out a tuft of yellow fur he'd kept for years.

"Because you were sick, everyone was too busy rushing you to the hospital to notice Lucky had run away. I failed Cynthia, and I couldn't even protect her dog."

"If I could go back, I'd save them both. Even if the price was losing you."

I pulled myself back from those bitter memories and wiped my tears.

From the moment I woke up in this timeline, I knew I was leaving him. This baby wouldn't have had a father anyway.

I finished writing my divorce petition in the hospital bed. Just as I tucked it away, Logan walked in. He was carrying a bag of expensive toys.

"I saw these at the new department store," he said, a rare smile on his face. "I figured I'd get some for the baby later."

He showed off the toys, looking almost excited.

"How is Lucky?" I asked softly.

Logan's smile stiffened. He nodded awkwardly.

"The vet said he'll be fine. Look, let's not tell my parents about today. I don't want them jumping down Cynthia's throat again. If you keep quiet, I'll give you whatever you want."

My heart turned to lead. He didn't buy those toys for our child. He bought them as a bribe to protect his mistress.

Then I saw the tag on one of the plushies. It said "Durable Dog Chew."

A wave of nausea hit me. He hadn't gone shopping for a baby. He'd gone shopping for a dog and grabbed a few extra things to pacify me.

"Whatever I want?" I asked, looking away so he wouldn't see the tears.

He nodded. I pulled out the divorce papers, covering the top part so he could only see the signature line.

"Sign this, then."

"What is it?"

"A list of rules. A promise that you'll never fall for anyone else."

Logan always thought I was childish and clingy. I'd made him sign "contracts" like this before in the past. He didn't even hesitate before scribbling his name.

Watching his signature hit the paper, I felt a massive weight lift.

He had saved me once when we were kids. Now, I was paying him back with his freedom.

Our mothers had been best friends, so we grew up together. My life was perfect until my mother died and my father remarried a monster.

My stepmother convinced my father to cut me off. I didn't even have proper clothes.

My classmates laughed at me for wearing my father's oversized, tattered hand-me-downs.

It was Logan who stood up for me. He blocked the ink they tried to throw at me and beat up the bullies.

He even lied and told everyone his clothes were hand-me-downs too, just to make me feel less ashamed.

He picked up my shattered dignity that day. Later, when my stepmother tried to drown me in the lake, Logan was the one who pulled me out.

He convinced his parents to take me in and pay for my school. He was my hero.