Chapter 1Just a Baby? Is That Really Why He Divorced Me?

The night we got married, I passed out drunk, and my husband snuck off to spend the night in his childhood friend's room.

When I found out the next day, he brushed it off. "She just wanted to feel what it's like to be a bride for a night, it's not a big deal!"

We had a massive fight about it.

He stormed out, slamming the door.

The next time I saw him, he was gently helping his childhood friend—already heavily pregnant—shop for baby supplies at the hospital gift shop.

I confronted him, furious and loud.

He shot back, completely self-righteous, "She just wants a child with me to keep her company in her lonely years! It doesn't threaten your position as Mrs. Cole. What's the problem!"

Hearing that, I demanded a divorce right then and there.

He looked completely unfazed. "Fine. Just don't come crawling back!"

* * *

When Ethan Cole returned three months later, I handed him the divorce papers I’d already printed out.

"Sign them."

Ethan took them, flipped through a few pages casually, and snorted. "Claire, are you serious?"

"Jessica and I grew up together. She lost her family young, she’s had it rough."

"She asked me to give her a child, something to keep her company through the lonely years ahead. What's so wrong with that?"

"Claire, seriously, don't be so petty!"

I remained expressionless. "On this, I can't compromise my principles."

"You should find a wife who's okay with her husband having a baby with another woman."

I grabbed my single suitcase, packed with my few personal belongings, ready to leave.

Ethan stepped quickly in front of me.

"Claire, stop making a scene, okay?"

"Even if Jessica has the baby, it won't affect your standing as Mrs. Cole."

"If it bothers you that much, once the baby's born, I can bring him here for you to raise. Problem solved."

His tone was insistent, his face etched with irritation as he tried to force this 'solution' on me.

The old me would have seen that look and immediately agreed to anything, just to keep him happy.

But not anymore.

Forcing myself to ignore how I really felt was torture.

My voice was cold. "Sorry, if I want a child, I'll have my own."

Seeing I wouldn't budge, Ethan kicked over a display stand nearby.

The crystal rose sculpture sitting on it shattered instantly as it hit the floor.

I stared at the scattered fragments, feeling suffocated.

That crystal rose… Ethan had specially commissioned it from an artisan overseas to celebrate our fifth anniversary.

Now, it was just broken pieces.

Like us. Irreparable.

When exactly did the man who swore he loved only me turn into someone who would father a child with another woman?

Were all those promises of spending a lifetime together just empty words, forgotten so quickly?

Ethan froze for a second, looking at the crystal petal near his foot.

He pressed his lips together, seemingly forcing himself to calm down. "Claire, we've been together for so many years. Are you really going to throw it all away this easily?"

"I know Jessica’s always had feelings for me, but she never meant to upset you."

"Even wanting to be my bride… she just begged me to let her experience it for one night, our wedding night."

Hearing him say that, so matter-of-factly, I almost laughed out loud from sheer bitterness.

What bride on earth would be okay with her husband spending their wedding night with someone else?

It was the ultimate humiliation, like being trampled on!

I regretted so badly not slapping that bitch that day.

My voice dripped with sarcasm. "Oh, right, right. Poor little Jessica, the most pitiful girl in the world!"

"After we divorce, you can just bring her right here to take care of her. Wouldn't want the baby born without a dad, making poor Jessica's tragic life even worse."

"You can show off your boundless compassion then."

Hearing my words, Ethan's face darkened instantly.

"Claire, don't push it!"

"You need to understand something. If you divorce me, you lose all of this – the money, the status, everything!"

"Even if you get on your knees and beg me to take you back, I won't."

"Besides, who would want to marry a divorced woman with a back full of scars!"