Chapter 4His Mistress’s Final Message Before Her Wedding

"Scarlett, you brought this on yourself. Let's see how you manage to raise our daughter alone once I'm gone."

Liam gave a cold, mocking smile, grabbed his suitcase, and left.

The living room finally fell silent. I collapsed to the floor, like all the strength had been sucked out of me, silently weeping into my arms.

Only when Lily started crying again did I pull myself up, shaking the half-mixed formula evenly, and carry it back to her room.

I held my daughter's tiny body, staying awake all night.

I was the one being pushed to my breaking point.

By him. And by Chloe.

In the year Liam had been back, our interactions seemed outwardly harmonious.

But I was slowly losing myself.

At night, I'd constantly dream of those naked bodies, entwined on the hotel bed.

I started to cry for no reason, trembling uncontrollably, screaming, throwing things, even cutting my own arm with a knife.

If Liam came home even a little late, I'd pick passive-aggressive fights with him.

Over and over, I suspected he was seeing another woman.

He'd patiently explain at first, but eventually, he just started sleeping in the guest room.

Our relationship slowly froze over.

It wasn't until one day, holding Lily, I considered jumping from the eighteenth floor, that I had a stark wake-up call.

I almost died.

I'd become the "overly dramatic" and "crazy" new mom Liam always complained about—I had depression.

I stood on the rooftop, the cold wind clearing my head.

I started fighting back, seeing doctors regularly, taking my medication.

But today, Liam, the root of all this, had pushed me back to the brink.

This disgusting marriage was finally over.

I stayed up all night until dawn. Liam still wasn't back, but his parents arrived first.

Mr. Hayes sized me up and started to lecture. "Fighting with Liam again? Scarlett, if Liam really loved Chloe, you wouldn't be our daughter-in-law, would you?"

"You have no foresight. If you'd just kept quiet back then, Liam wouldn't have been fired, and we'd all be living comfortably off his bonuses, instead of him working himself to death." Mrs. Hayes picked up her phone, feigning sympathy. "Scarlett, Liam is so exceptional, it's natural for a man like him to have… companions outside the home. You need to have a son to truly secure him, otherwise, you'll be crying for the rest of your life!"

With that, she held her phone in front of me.

It displayed Liam's Instagram post from last night, after he'd left.

In the photo, he was tightly embracing Chloe, wiping her tears, his face full of tenderness.

[Traveled a thousand miles, just to see you.]

I opened my phone, but Liam's post wasn't there.

That's when I realized he'd blocked me.

I called him several times, but he declined every single one.

Hanging up the last call, I quietly asked, "Are you sure he went to see Chloe?"

Mrs. Hayes, her face practically glowing with triumph, called Liam right in front of me on her own phone.

He picked up instantly. "Mom, what is it?"

Mrs. Hayes said sweetly, "Liam, where are you? Are you fighting with Scarlett again?"

Liam's flat tone carried a clear hint of disdain. "It's not really a fight, she's just having one of her episodes. Probably bored stuck at home."

"I'm in Manhattan, Mom. Don't tell Scarlett. I just needed to see Chloe one last time. I'll be back soon."

The call ended in just one minute.

So, he really had rushed there overnight.

My chest felt hollowed out, yet strangely relieved at the same time.

Seeing my lack of reaction, Mrs. Hayes smiled. "Hear that? Liam always complains that you're so dull and stupid, always fighting with him. If it weren't for Lily, he would have left you ages ago!"

"I actually think Chloe is quite good. I heard her parents are well-respected teachers; she's more than good enough for our Liam. Unlike some people who have no family, no roots, like an orphan!"

"If parents have bad character, their children will also turn out bad. Since someone likes this kind of trash, they can have him!" I retorted calmly, then walked away with Lily without a backward glance, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Hayes to curse me out.

I knew they didn't like me, so I'd always tolerated them after Liam and I got married. But not anymore.

Since Liam wasn't in town, I'd go find him myself.

I went to a lawyer's office, got a copy of divorce papers, and took a cab to Manhattan.

Following the photo Liam's mom had shown me, I went straight to the hotel where they were meeting.

In the lobby, Chloe was in a wedding dress, about to exchange rings with Daniel, her groom.

Liam watched, looking utterly heartbroken, as if his soul had been ripped right out of him.

He said, his voice full of aching, suppressed emotion, "Chloe, you have to be happy."

Chloe's eyes welled up.

One on the stage, one below it, they looked like star-crossed lovers tragically torn apart.

I walked into the lobby from outside, stopping in front of Liam, and called out loudly, "Since you and Chloe love each other so much, I'll grant you your wish!"

"Liam, we're getting a divorce!"