Chapter 2Just a Baby? Is That Really Why He Divorced Me?

Those few simple words from Ethan felt like a knife twisting in my heart.

It's true. The people closest to you always know exactly where to strike to cause the most pain.

Ethan was right.

Most men wouldn't want a wife whose back was covered in scars.

But Ethan Cole was the last person on earth who had the right to say that.

In high school, some criminals targeted the Cole family's immense wealth.

They ambushed Ethan after school, trying to bundle him into an unmarked car as he walked home alone.

I saw him struggling.

I grabbed his arm, trying desperately to pull him out of the sedan.

Instead, they dragged me in too, taking us both to an abandoned warehouse.

Even after they got the ransom money, they didn't let us go.

They set the warehouse on fire and fled.

Ethan was unconscious. While trying to drag him out, a burning beam fell, hitting me squarely on the back.

That incident sparked something different between Ethan and me.

Even though it was just me and my grandma, barely scraping by, I refused the Cole family's help after getting into college. I worked my ass off to pay my own tuition.

I wanted to marry him without anyone whispering that I was just after his money.

But now I realized Ethan wasn't worth my effort. Not one bit.

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably as I dragged my suitcase out of the Cole mansion.

It was strange.

I'd already decided I didn't love him anymore.

So why did it still hurt so damn much?

I took my few belongings and went back to the old house in the small town where I grew up.

The town isn't big, not many people live here.

But every single one of them watched me grow up.

When Grandma saw me, she instinctively looked behind me.

I knew she was looking for Ethan.

My lips trembled. I couldn't bring myself to tell her I was getting divorced right after getting married.

But Grandma saw something was wrong anyway.

Her eyes reddened as she took my hand. "It's okay, child. It's okay. You're home now."

That night, lying on the creaky old wooden bed, I picked up my phone and saw a notification from Jessica.

It was four wedding photos of her and Ethan.

Then, within three minutes, she unsent them.

Followed by a text: "Oops, sorry Claire! Meant to send these wedding pics with Ethan to him, accidentally sent them to you."

"You're not mad, are you? 😉"

The fake sweetness, the 'oopsie' vibe… it made me sick to my stomach.

Lying there, a thought clicked in my mind.

So, after Ethan stormed out from our fight, he and Jessica clearly did everything they shouldn't have.

Less than a minute later.

Jessica posted those same photos to her social media feed.

The main picture showed Ethan, smiling down tenderly, holding a heavily pregnant Jessica in his arms.

Her caption read: 【Thank you, Ethan, for making my dream of a happy family come true! 】

I let out a cold laugh, immediately liked the post, and commented: 【Congrats on your happy family reunion! 】

Just as I was about to turn off my phone, it rang. Ethan.

"Claire, what the hell was that comment on Jessica's post?"

"We just took a few pictures, that's all! Did you have to leave such a nasty comment?"

"Jessica saw it and got totally hysterical, now her stomach hurts!"

"She's right here next to me. You need to apologize to her, right now! If something happens to the baby because of this, you can't afford to take responsibility!"

My voice was sharp. "Who the hell does she think she is? Why should I apologize to her?"

"The second I left, she threw herself at you, sleeping with a man who isn't even divorced yet."

"Ethan, my advice? Finalize this divorce ASAP. That way, when people see you together, you can flaunt your love openly."

"It'll be much better for the precious Cole Industries reputation too."

Ethan laughed coldly. "Claire, I already ripped up those divorce papers. I'm giving you one last chance to come back to me."

"Wait until I really don't want you anymore. Then it'll be too late for regrets!"

I replied calmly, "Wow, thanks so much for the chance. Too bad I'm the one who doesn't want you anymore!"

"Right now, all I want is to get this divorce over with!" With that, I hung up.

Ethan, Ethan, Ethan. How can you be so damn confident I'd actually want you back after you cheated?