Chapter 2
It took me a full week to crawl out of the grief. I barely had the energy to eat and move around.
The moment I got downstairs, I saw Gabriel walking in the front door with Clarissa Moore and her precious twins. He hadn’t been home once this week.
I glared at him, furious. He didn’t flinch. Went straight in like he owned the place. “Since you already know about them,” he said flatly, “there’s no. point hiding anymore. To take better care of both households, I’ve decided to move Clarissa and the twins in. I hope you and Nicho can get along with them. That way, I can finally enjoy the joy of having my whole family under one roof.”
Shameless. Absolutely shameless.
Nicho had just died. His body wasn’t even cold yet. And this man–he was already dreaming of a happy little life with his bastard kids!
The rage inside me twisted into something darker. Disgust.
“Gabriel, let’s get a divorce.”
His face darkened immediately. “Stephanie, what are you pulling now?”
What am I pulling?
Sure, I lost it when I first found out.
When I learned the man who once swore he loved me had a whole other family within two years, yes, I went crazy. I screamed, cried, and begged him to cut her off. I forced him to get rid of those kids. Even hid the twins.
sthood.
Chapter 2
And I paid for it. With my own son’s life.
I won’t lose my mind again.
My voice was hoarse, barely human. But my heart was numb. Hollow. “You already have children with Clarissa. So fine. I’ll step aside. You can
have her.”
“Stephanie Dolton!” He snapped, voice thunderous, eyes dark and dangerous. “All my rich friends have three to four wives! I’ve only kept two households. And you’re acting like it’s the end of the world?
“Even if Clarissa and her kids move in, I’ll never treat you or Nicho unfairly. You’re my legal wife. Nicho’s my eldest son. He’s the heir of the Marcy family. No one can take that away. You should be grateful!”
Grateful?
The word made me laugh, bitter and hollow. But the tears still came.
And suddenly, I remembered.
Back in college, Gabriel had been just a classmate. He said it was love at first sight. He chased me for three years before I finally gave in.
When he proposed, he swore unwaveringly that I’d be his only love. He said he’d never betray me.
Now look at him. He broke his vows. He broke us.
And our son–he let our son die. He was burned alive under the sun.
And now he told me to be grateful?
How am I supposed to be grateful?!
That was when Clarissa put on her little act. “Gabriel, if I’m such an eyesore to Stephanie, then I’ll take the kids and leave. I don’t want to
Chapter2
cause trouble…”
“Clarissa, don’t go!” Gabriel grabbed her arm, his voice dripping with tenderness. “You and the kids stay right here. I bought this house. No one kicks you out without my say–so.”
As he finished, he shot me a look full of meaning.
I turned away, cold and silent, only to catch sight of the twins reaching for the three bisque dolls on the shelf.
My heart jumped. I snapped, “Put those down!”
Startled, the twins froze. Then–crash the dolls hit the floor, shattering into pieces.
Both kids burst into tears.
Clarissa’s eyes turned red instantly. She choked up, pointing at me. “Stephanie, if you hate me, fine–I’ll leave. But why yell at the kids? What did they do wrong? Why are you always coming at them?”
Gabriel looked furious. His face darkened. Then–smack–he slapped me hard across the face.
“Stephanie, can’t you show a little decency? They were born prematurely. You already scared them once. If anything happens again, can you live with that?”
