Chapter 2Sunshine and Rain

Even though we had once shared two children and a half-finished wedding, we hadn’t legally married, so it wasn’t technically a divorce.

Jensen, assuming I was merely being jealous of Kate, dismissed it with a wave. "Still using these old tricks? Aren't you tired?"

"You know you can't threaten me with your kids anymore, so now you're trying to leverage our engagement?"

Because of extreme emotional fluctuations during pregnancy, our twin boy and girl were born with illnesses. Two years ago, our son was diagnosed with ALS, and a year ago, our daughter was diagnosed with polio. The hospital issued one critical condition notice after another. I signed them until my hand went numb. But my children were so well-behaved, so considerate; they never cried out in pain in front of me and would even try to comfort me.

They envied other children who had fathers. They called Jensen constantly, just hoping their dad would spend time with them too. But Jensen… he never came, not once.

It turned out he thought I was using our children to gain sympathy and keep him tied down. I found it utterly absurd and laughable. We had known each other for over a decade; how could he possibly think that of me?

I wiped away my tears, unwilling to argue with him. "Think what you want. I'm leaving."

Kate spoke up, her voice laced with feigned innocence, "Jensen, honey, I heard you were planning to take the kids to see the ocean. Did you perhaps miss your date to celebrate my birthday, and now Summer is upset...?"

Jensen’s voice was soft. “How can I blame you? We can go to the ocean any day, but a birthday only comes once a year.”

At his words, I sneered. Ignoring them, I walked towards the door. Jensen, sensing something was truly amiss, stepped forward and blocked me, his anger rising. “Running away from home over such a trivial matter?”

He noticed my haggard, gaunt face and paused. “You’ve lost so much weight?”

Perhaps from recent insomnia, my head felt swimmy. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of concern in his eyes.

“I’ll have my assistant clear my schedule for next week. We’ll take the kids to see the ocean, alright?”

Next week? Leo and Luna wouldn’t have a next week! If he’d only shown a fraction of the thought he gave Kate to his own children, he wouldn’t utter such a foolish remark!

I slapped his outstretched hand away. "No need."

Jensen looked at the faint red mark on the back of his hand, startled. He couldn’t believe that the person who used to cling to him now avoided him like the plague. Snapping out of his daze, he tried to follow, but Kate held him back.

“Oh, Jensen, it’s all my fault. Even though I knew the kids were faking their illness, I insisted on you spending my birthday with me. Now Summer is angry with me. I really shouldn’t have.”

Faking… faking illness? My mind went blank. By the time I regained my senses, I had already slapped Kate.