Chapter 2
I was still faithfully listening to Dalbert's conversation with Mike. How stupid I was to have been fooled by Dalbert's attention and sweet demeanor all this time.
I should have suspected that since Dalbert was always on business trips, he would lie and meet Gloria. During my pregnancy, Dalbert never took care of me.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Dalbert, I'll keep quiet and keep this all a secret," Mike replied fearfully as Dalbert gave him a sharp look.
"Good, anyway, if you were me, you would do the same thing, Mike. Who would you care more about, your first wife or your second wife?" asked Dalbert as he tapped Mike on the shoulder.
"Of course, my first wife, Mr. Dalbert," Mike replied fearfully.
"That's what I do, I care more about my first wife, Gloria, than I do about Daisy, my second wife," Dalbert replied, leaving me shocked again.
My chest felt very tight when I heard that I was apparently a second wife. I cried, how could Gloria be Dalbert's first wife? I was the first woman he met and became his lover.
"Mr. Dalbert, you are so great to have two women in your life," Mike replied, complimenting Dalbert.
"Sure, I am. Back when Daisy was my girlfriend, she never took care of me, she was too busy with her work. Then Gloria came and made me fall in love, so I decided to marry Gloria," Dalbert replied.
It turned out that Dalbert's betrayal had apparently happened a long time ago, when our relationship began to be formalized.
"If you were already married to Mrs. Gloria, then why did you marry Mrs. Daisy?" asked Mike.
"Because I wanted to have it both ways. I married Daisy because of popularity. You know how popular Daisy was when she was an actress. I wanted love and popularity," Dalbert replied.
I closed my eyes, feeling my heart break. Now all was revealed, Gloria was not Dalbert's mistress but his first wife.
My marriage to Dalbert was a sham. Dalbert didn't love me, he was using my popularity.
I gave up my career to marry Dalbert. Now not only is my career ruined, but my life is.
I cried and swore as Dalbert was about to leave the room. I tried to calm myself down and follow where Dalbert was going.
I stopped when I saw Dalbert enter a room.
My mouth dropped open as I saw Dalbert hugging a woman I recognized. That woman was Gloria, my coworker. One year ago, she disappeared from the entertainment world.
I heard from someone that Gloria was pregnant, I thought she was living happily with the man she loved. And that man turned out to be my own husband.
My heart began to break when I felt this betrayal. Gloria was like a sister to me. I brought her into the entertainment world. She was like a thorny rose, silently pricking and wounding me.
I stared jealously at Gloria's luxurious-looking hospital room while I was in an ordinary-looking room.
My swollen eyes welled up with tears again when I saw Dalbert holding a baby, he was smiling so happily.
"Your son is handsome and looks just like you. I'll give you a name, Sean Louis Carter," Dalbert said to the baby.
"What a beautiful name, Dalbert. I love it. And there is something I want to talk to you about," Gloria said.
Dalbert smiled and looked at her so tenderly that I felt the water boiling over my body.
"Will your mother accept Sean? He's not like other children, he'll be a late bloomer. It doesn't show now because he's still a baby, but when he gets older, your mother will know, Dalbert," Gloria said sadly.
"My mother will not know Gloria. I accepted our son's shortcomings, I brought him into my family so that he would be happy despite his physical and brain deficiencies. You can rest assured, we will take good care of him," Dalbert replied, hugging and stroking Gloria's hair.
"What about Daisy? When are you going to divorce her? Isn't it all over? I want the two of us to be together without any hindrance," Gloria said.
"Now that Daisy is paralyzed, she also can't have children anymore because the accident damaged her uterus. I'm sure she'll ask for a divorce because she'll feel unworthy of me. I will make Daisy slowly give in," Dalbert replied and gave Gloria a quick peck on the lips.
Gloria smiled and pulled Dalbert into her arms, their faces were close to each other, and both of them started to get busy in their world.
As for me, I cried, I was devastated after learning everything. I was already paralyzed, my son was dead, and most shockingly, I couldn't have children forever.
Dalbert had ruined my beautiful life, he lied to me.
Chapter 3
I left in a wheelchair from Gloria's ward, I couldn't look at their intimacy.
All along the corridor I cried, the broken feeling in my heart was hard to express. Disappointed, sad, and devastated all mixed together.
I reached my ward, and I went inside. With my remaining strength, I tried to climb onto my bed. However, I fell along with my wheelchair until a glass accidentally fell and hit my leg.
Glass shards scattered everywhere, a little blood flowed down my right leg.
The wound from the broken glass was nothing compared to the pain of my heart. I cried, but I was surprised to see Dalbert arrive carrying the baby. He placed the baby in the bassinet beside my bed.
"Daisy, what happened?" Dalbert asked me, and he picked me up and laid me down on my bed.
I was silent, seeing his sweet face and demeanor made my heart ache even more.
"Daisy, why did you fall? Where are you going in that wheelchair?" Dalbert asked, making me nervous.
Dalbert can't know what I saw earlier. "I was going to go find you, Dalbert," I replied.
"What for?" asked Dalbert as he pressed the button to call the nurse to come.
I didn't answer, I cried, and Dalbert took me into his arms.
It wasn't long before the nurse arrived with a medicine box.
"I know why you're crying, it's all fate, Daisy. No one wants to be paralyzed, Daisy," Dalbert replied as he stroked my hair.
"I'll do it," Dalbert replied to the nurse.
I looked at Dalbert, who was currently treating my wounds very carefully. It doesn't feel like the old days anymore, I'm not happy, instead, I'm sad. Dalbert's caring attitude made me feel even more that I was a stupid woman.
After the nurse left, Dalbert kissed my wound, which was wrapped in a bandage. "I hope you get well soon," Dalbert said and smiled at me.
That sweet, wide smile was obvious, but his gaze was blank. I realized there was no such thing as genuine love, it was all fake.
Dalbert holds the baby back.
"Look at how much he looks like you, Daisy, from the eyes to the eyebrows to the lips. Everything is just like you!" Dalbert said.
I smiled wryly, I clenched my fists. That baby doesn't look like me, not even one line. He is not my son, my son has died because of Dalbert.
"Yes, he looks a lot like me," I lied.
"But something terrible happened to our son," Dalbert said sadly.
"What?" I asked with a straight face.
"He suffers from a chromosomal defect or developmental delay," Dalbert replied.
"What do you mean, Dalbert? Isn't our baby fine? During my pregnancy check-ups, the doctor never spoke of it. How could that happen?" I asked irritably.
"I told you, Daisy, this is all fate. Your paralysis and our baby's illness are God's will. I hope you can accept it!" Replied Dalbert, handing the baby to me.
I held the baby, besides Dalbert's words disgusting me, I was also disgusted by the baby's face. The baby's face looked a lot like Gloria's.
"Besides that bad news, I also have other bad news. Because of the accident yesterday, your uterus was removed, Daisy. You can't have children anymore," Dalbert replied, bringing tears to my eyes.
Dalbert took the baby and placed it on the bed. Dalbert hugged me tightly, reassuring me that everything was okay.
"You just calm down. I promise I'll be with you forever."
"I'm paralyzed, Dalbert. I can't give you another child," I cried in his arms.
"I don't care, I will accept your flaws. I won't leave you, baby," Dalbert replied and kissed my forehead.
Dalbert ordered me to rest. Dalbert and I slept together on the hospital bed. He hugged me from behind.
I cried silently, the hug that once felt warm was now very hot and began to burn my heart. I quietly reach for my cell phone on the table. I started sending messages to my lawyer.
"Make me divorce papers, I'm going to separate from Dalbert. I hope it will be done by tomorrow!"
The next morning, I returned home. Since yesterday afternoon, Dalbert had gone home and brought the baby. He left me alone at the hospital, without coming back.
And now when I asked to go home, Dalbert ordered his driver to pick me up.
I arrived home and was greeted by my mother-in-law.
"What are you coming home for, Daisy?" My mother-in-law snapped sternly.
"What's wrong, Mom? This is my home, why can't I come back?" I asked irritably.
"Why would you come back if you're just giving your husband a hard time? Look at the condition you're in now, can you serve your husband well? My son doesn't have time for a lame woman like you, Daisy!" replied my mother-in-law, insulting me.
I was surprised to see my mother-in-law's attitude change. She used to flatter me as the perfect wife, but now she looked disgusted at me.
"Mom, I don't want to be paralyzed like this either," I replied with a sad face.
"That's your problem, Daisy. I'm asking you to divorce Dalbert immediately. And I heard that you can't have children anymore, because your uterus has been removed," my mother-in-law said, causing me to pause.
"How did you know about that?" I asked.
"Dalbert told me. See now what you would have given Dalbert? A child, you can never do that again. You've become trash, Daisy. My son is not a scavenger who keeps trash like you!" my mother-in-law snapped viciously.
My cheeks were now getting wet from the insults I'd never gotten in this family.
"Mom, I'm sorry about that. It all happened because of that car accident," I replied, sobbing.
"It's because you were too careless, Daisy. Even if you cry, I'll still ask Dalbert to divorce you. After all, I already have a replacement for you," my mother-in-law replied, smiling.
"What do you mean?" I asked with my heart beating fast.
"Just look inside!" replied my mother-in-law.
As I walked into my house, the sight again broke me. Gloria and Dalbert were sitting together on the sofa, they looked like a harmonious family.
So is this the reason why Dalbert hasn't visited me at the hospital since yesterday and today?
Chapter 4
Their close proximity brought tears to my eyes.
"What are you two doing?" I asked, startling both of them.
"Daisy, are you back?" asked Dalbert, walking up to me.
Meanwhile, I was still staring at Gloria giving the baby milk.
"Sorry I couldn't pick you up earlier, our baby needs me," Dalbert replied while pushing my wheelchair. He brought me closer to the baby.
"So why is Gloria here?" I asked, looking at Gloria.
"After hearing the news that you had given birth, Gloria has returned, she came to see you," Dalbert replied.
"Thank you for your kindness, Gloria, but why are you breastfeeding my baby? And how dare you dress like that in front of my husband?" I asked with a sharp look.
"Daisy, don't be jealous! I helped breastfeed your baby because I heard you couldn't breastfeed," Gloria replied, leaving me speechless.
Gloria looked so innocent, she stabbed me in the back. They had both let me down.
"That's right, Daisy. The doctor said the medicine you're taking is making your milk not come out. So I asked Gloria for help because she happened to be here. She also just lost her baby," Dalbert replied.
"But that's not true, Dalbert. There is a formula, we can give it to you!" I said annoyed.
"You stupid woman, a mother would want the best milk for her child. Formula isn't that good, Daisy. What's wrong with it anyway? Gloria just wants to help you. Did you hear what Dalbert said? Gloria just lost her baby, where's your conscience, Daisy?" My mom snapped.
"I'm sorry, Daisy, if you're jealous. My intentions were good, I just came to see you and keep you company. I just wanted to experience what it's like to be a mom," Gloria replied.
"Never mind, Gloria, forgive Daisy. Maybe she's still shocked by her paralyzed legs!" My mother-in-law said, looking at me sharply. "Right, Daisy?" my mother-in-law asked again as she pinched my stomach right at the surgical site.
I nodded as I felt the pain.
"Oh yes, Daisy, I want to give Gloria some jewelry for helping look after our daughter since yesterday. Is that okay?" Dalbert asked me.
My heart aches when I realize that Gloria has been in this house since yesterday.
"No need, Dalbert. You just let me hold your baby, and I'm happy," Gloria replied.
"It's okay, just accept the jewelry. Thank you for looking after my baby. Dalbert I need to go to my room, my head hurts," I said and left them all.
Now that I was in my room, I burst into tears remembering Dalbert's tender gaze towards Gloria. Then my mother-in-law, who had started being rude to me. They didn't notice me at all.
I started packing the clothes in my room; maybe I should really leave this house. What did I expect? In this house I won't get genuine love, I'll only get torture.
As I was packing my clothes, a box suddenly fell, making my head throb. Some photos were scattered on the floor, I got off the wheelchair with all my might.
My heart was beating fast, and my breath was running short as I looked at the wedding photo of Gloria and Dalbert. On the back of the photo was a number.
"Is this their wedding date?" I muttered with my eyes already starting to tear up. Apparently the week I got married to Dalbert, Gloria and Dalbert had gotten married first.
I took the photo as evidence of their betrayal. Suddenly I heard a noise mixed with thunderous laughter. I curiously searched for the source of the noise.
My wheelchair stopped when I saw a disgusting scene in the guest room. They were touching each other so intimately that it made my body feel hot. I was jealous, Dalbert had hurt me so much.
I was suddenly startled when someone pulled my wheelchair away.
"What are you doing, Daisy? Do you want to disturb your husband?" my mother-in-law asked.
I was shocked by my mother-in-law's words, she seemed to support Gloria and Dalbert's relationship.
"I'm not going to stand by and watch my husband make out with another woman," I said irritably.
"Then what do you want to do? Stop them? You won't be able to, Daisy. Dalbert has loved Gloria for a long time," my mother-in-law replied, making my body freeze.
"Did you know that Gloria was my husband's first wife?" I asked, feeling devastated.
"Of course, I know that Gloria is the first wife, and Dalbert and you are the second wife."
I clenched my fist, apparently their relationship was kept very neat. Starting from the family, even to social media. Everyone only knew I was Dalbert's first wife and only wife.
"Why are you guys so mean?" I cried.
"We're not evil, it's you who are too gullible. Maybe I agreed to your marriage because you brought good luck to our family. You made Dalbert more famous, even though he was just a movie director who had just set his foot in the entertainment world," my mother-in-law said, stroking my cheek gently. "But that was then, now you are useless. You should leave this family and don't take your baby with you!" my mother-in-law said again and slapped my cheek hard.
The hot slap made my right cheek throb.
"I'm leaving, and I don't want to take that deformed baby with me either. I will never touch or take care of that baby!" I said angrily.
My mother-in-law pushed my body, causing me to fall off the wheelchair. I hit my forehead on the table and felt an intense throbbing.
"Watch what you say, Daisy!"
"I said it right, Mom, that baby is deformed. He has physical defects; he will develop slowly. Has Dalbert told you yet?" I asked with a wry smile. I saw a drop of blood fall to the floor. It looked like I had cut my forehead.
"If that's the case, take your baby away. You and your baby will only be a burden to my son!" My mother-in-law said, and left me alone.
Apparently my mother-in-law didn't know about the baby. She didn't know that the baby belonged to Dalbert and Gloria. She didn't know about Gloria's pregnancy.
Everything I saw was starting to spin, but I couldn't give up. I had to be a strong woman. It was time for me to end it all. I went to get the divorce papers that I had drawn up.
Once the divorce papers were in my hands. Now I was staring at the rushing water of the river.
The divorce papers are in my hands, so will I live happily after this? I'm already ruined, I'm useless because both my legs are paralyzed. Then I can't have any more children.
Maybe if I leave, they'll all be happy, it's useless for me to live in this world.
"Hey, what are you going to do?" Someone pulled my wheelchair so that I fell into his arms.