chapter 2

Brandon looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just sighed and nodded in understanding.

Back home, I slumped over my baby’s crib. The whole room was filled with his favorite toys, plus this music box on the nightstand.

Elliott had brought it back for the baby’s last birthday. The baby loved it—played with it every single day.

Seeing all that familiar stuff in the room, that lump in my throat came back.

Baby, my baby, I’d lost you for good.

Elliott and I met in college—a proper match, family-wise.

I liked Elliott from the very first day I met him—this handsome but somewhat cold man.

Later, our families pushed for a marriage alliance.

The Holloway Group was just as powerful as the Caldwell Group, so our marriage was meant to be a powerful union. Everything fell into place.

The first six months of our marriage, Elliott was ice-cold with me. Even in bed, it felt like he was just going through the motions. At first, I thought that was just how he was, so I never made a fuss.

I tried my best to be a good wife. Then I got pregnant, and both families were over the moon.

Elliott’s parents even gave the unborn baby 5% of the company’s shares.

When I happily went to show Elliott the pregnancy test results, I found him on the phone with someone, smiling with tenderness.

God, that smile was so beautiful.

That was the first time I saw he could actually smile so softly.

He was softly calling the girl on the other end Claire.

He gently reminded her that Dunhaven’s weather had turned cold and she should wear more clothes.

He tenderly told her to take care of her health.

So he did have a tender side after all.

Funny thing was he never showed me an ounce of gentleness.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t a smiler by nature. He just couldn’t be bothered to smile at me.

At first, I was just curious, so I looked into that girl’s background.

Turned out her name was Claire Sheppard, and she’d grown up with Elliott. They were childhood sweethearts.

They would’ve been a perfect match too, except her family went bankrupt, her parents died, and Elliott even paid for her studies abroad.

When Elliott found out I’d dug into Claire, he flew into a rage with me.

First time that ice-cold man ever showed me any real emotion—yet it was pure rage.

All these years, I watched Elliott bend over backwards for Claire, while I—his actual wife—might as well have been invisible.

No, maybe to Elliott, I was just a prop to keep his family off his back.

After the baby was born, he never touched me again.

We’d barely shared a meal alone in years.

He loathed me and made it obvious.

And stupid me kept thinking if I tried hard enough, I’d win his heart back someday.

Now I was just wiped.

Elliott, I was setting you free.

My baby wasn’t even four yet, so we kept the funeral small—just family from both sides.

Mom had her arm around my shoulders, crying nonstop. Dad and Elliott’s father Ryan were talking nearby, their faces grim.

Elliott’s mother Daphne stood to the side sighing quietly, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

Daphne said, “Elliott must be... stuck in traffic. He’ll be here soon.”

Mom said, “Missing his own child’s funeral? That’s too much.”

Mom was furious. In the past I would’ve made excuses for Elliott, but now? I couldn’t be bothered.

“Ophelia, maybe you should try calling Elliott again,” Daphne suggested hesitantly.

I handed my phone to Daphne and said, “He won’t answer if I call.”

Daphne looked even more awkward but took the phone in my hand anyway, dialing Elliott’s number.

It rang forever. She tried four times before we finally heard Elliott’s irritated voice.

He said, “Ophelia, what the hell do you want now?”

The anger in his voice froze everyone in place. All eyes turned to the phone.