Chapter 2

Once the IV was finished, I paid the bill and walked out of the hospital.

The coastal wind was still biting, making me shiver uncontrollably.

Just as I was about to call an Uber, a Maserati pulled up in front of me.

It was bright red, Hudson's favorite color.

The passenger window rolled down slowly, revealing Shelby's innocent, doll-like face.

She smiled and waved at me. "Hey Avery, Hudson's mom wanted me to go shopping with her, so Hudson came to pick me up."

Shelby's godmother was Hudson's mother.

Mrs. Thorne adored Shelby. Even after I'd been married to Hudson for eight years, she still treated Shelby like the daughter-in-law she actually wanted.

In the Thorne family, no one liked me except for Grandpa.

It used to hurt, but now, I didn't care anymore.

Hudson looked at me with a sour expression. "Get in. Don't waste our time."

Shelby made no move to get out and move to the back seat.

I stood my ground and didn't budge.

Seeing me still, Shelby blinked her eyes and spoke with fake sweetness.

"Avery, would you mind sitting in the back? Hudson and I need to discuss some company business on the way. Hope you don't mind!"

I glanced at her coldly. "As the Vice President of the company, I don't even understand the current projections. What would a model like you know about it?"

Shelby's face instantly darkened.

Hudson was clearly pissed. He took off his sunglasses and glared at me. "Avery, what's with the attitude? The fact that we came to pick you up is a huge favor. Don't push your luck."

Shelby, however, forced a generous smile.

"Avery, we've known each other for so long. Why are you still so hostile? If I really wanted to be with Hudson, there wouldn't have been a place for you years ago, right?"

I stared at her without saying a word.

The reason Shelby and Hudson broke up back then was because of her manipulative nature.

And Grandpa hated people like her the most.

Both Grandpa and I knew exactly who Shelby was.

Unfortunately, Hudson was blind to it.

I took a step back to create some distance. "No thanks. I'll take a cab."

Hudson knitted his brows. "Avery, are you seriously doing this? If Grandpa finds out I let you take a cab back, he'll blow a fuse again."

"That sounds like your problem, not mine."

With that, I didn't give them another glance and hailed a passing taxi.

When I arrived at the Thorne estate, Hudson's mother was coming out with my son, Chase.

Chase didn't even look at me. He ran straight to Hudson and Shelby.

"Dad! Auntie Shelby! You're finally back! I was so bored!"

I frowned at my son and spoke firmly. "Chase, I'm your mother."

Chase turned to look at me, but he only let out a dismissive huff.

"I don't want you to be my mom. Once Dad divorces you and marries Auntie Shelby, she'll be my real mom."

I felt like the air had been knocked out of my lungs.

Ever since Chase was born, he had been raised by the Thorne family. I rarely got to see him.

It wasn't that I didn't want to; it was because my mother-in-law blocked me at every turn.

Hudson always told me it was just their way of raising an elite heir.

But I later realized she just didn't want Chase to bond with me.

Instead, she constantly encouraged Shelby and Hudson to take Chase out to play.

She whispered poison in Chase's ear, painting me as a cold, heartless mother.

Now, Chase was closer to Shelby than he ever was to me.

I had carried him for nine months and nearly died during labor, only for it to end like this.

My heart was cold, but I felt powerless.

Mrs. Thorne glanced at me lazily. "That's enough. Don't come home and take your anger out on the kid. Shelby's been the one raising him all these years. Have you ever fulfilled your duties as a mother?"

I felt like I was being buried alive by their lies.

They had stolen my child from me, and now they blamed me for not being there.

Shelby chimed in quickly. "Avery is just busy. She doesn't have time for Chase. My schedule is flexible, so it's really no big deal."

Mrs. Thorne took Shelby's hand affectionately. "Shelby is a top model, yet she still finds time for him. Avery, you should be thanking her."

Shelby leaned against her and acted spoiled. "I've always treated Chase like my own son. It's what I should do."

I looked at the four of them standing there.

They looked like a perfect family, and I was just an outsider looking in.

I ignored them and walked straight into the house.

Behind me, I could hear Mrs. Thorne shouting insults at my back while Shelby pretended to calm her down.

I went straight to Hudson's room and pulled out the divorce papers his mother had prepared long ago.

I always knew she kept them ready in his desk.

The division of assets was surprisingly fair, but there was one catch: Hudson would get full custody of Chase.