But in the end, they couldn't talk me out of it.

That year, Nigel's father got sick, and Nigel had been running back and forth between the two cities.

I felt sorry for him, so I decided to follow Nigel back to his hometown, a small city barely on the map.

"I know your parents have been pushing you to come home, and you've been holding out in Seaview City for my sake without telling me."

"I'm willing to go back with you, Nigel."

Just like that, we got our marriage license.

I was pregnant the same year. The baby came the next.

Life felt like someone had hit fast-forward, and somewhere along the way, the marriage started dying too.

Only now did it dawn on me.

If Nigel had truly kept his parents' pressure a secret, I never would have found out.

"Fine, what happened today was my fault. I apologize."

"Stop making a fuss. I'm really tired."

Nigel tossed out the apology like he was swatting a fly.

And I couldn't hear a shred of sincerity in it.

"Nigel, I'm not bringing up divorce because I'm throwing a tantrum."

"I genuinely want a divorce."

I said it again, clearly and firmly.

Nigel snapped.

"Lorraine, is something wrong with your head?"

"I work myself to the bone every single day for this family, and you want a divorce because you didn't get a seat at the dinner table?"

"Eight years together, and you're throwing it all away over one meal? Don't you think you're blowing this way out of proportion?"

His brows knotted tight, every word laced with something cruel.

"Have you worked a single day since college?"

"Two years in Seaview City, two years married here. Every cent you've ever spent, I earned. How exactly have I mistreated you?"

"Lorraine, you don't know how good you have it!"

A crack of thunder split the sky outside the window.

I didn't respond. I scrambled off the bed and rushed into the bedroom to comfort the baby.

"Shh, it's okay, sweetie. Mommy's here."

"Mommy's right here..."

You don't know how good you have it. My mother had said the same thing to me once.

Back then I didn't understand. Now I did.

"Lorraine, stay home and cool off. I'm going out to sleep somewhere else tonight."

The words hung in the air for half a second before the front door shut behind him.

I knew the "cooling off" was a lie.

He was going to Leona's.

Because Leona was afraid of thunder.

There was a time, once, when Nigel and I were in bed together, laughing, tangled up in each other.

"Nigel, I'm scared."

He'd gotten a call from Leona. "I'll be right there."

I stared at him, confused. He explained, "Leona's parents died in an accident. Struck by lightning."

"Lorraine, I need to go check on her."

I went with him.

Back then, I felt genuinely sorry for Leona. Whenever something good came my way, I thought of her too.

Later, after Nigel's father recovered, Nigel and I started planning the wedding.

Leona naturally became my maid of honor, helping me pick out everything we needed for the ceremony.

She and I grew close.

She would tell me stories about Nigel as a kid, and I loved hearing every one.

She and Nigel were close. So close that even I had my moments of doubt and jealousy.

"I'd never go for her. She's basically one of the guys."

"I've got this sweet, soft little wife already. Why would I look at anyone else?"

Whenever Nigel sensed my unease, he'd explain, he'd reassure, he'd coax me back to calm.

Hearts change.

Now, even when I brought up divorce, he still couldn't wait to rush out and be with another woman.

Within minutes, I saw Leona's post on social media.

As long as you're here, I'm not afraid of anything.

The photo showed two hands clasped together.

I recognized the mole on the ring finger. It was Nigel's.

The comments below were all Nigel's friends, egging them on.

The little missus is living the good life!

Leona, happy again, huh?

When are we getting wedding candy? Little missus~

I stared at those three words until they burned. My throat ached like I'd swallowed needles.

I tapped "like" without thinking, then immediately took it back.

Sure enough, the next second Leona's message popped up.

Don't get the wrong idea.

There's nothing going on between me and Nigel.

I didn't bother replying.

After I got Zachery to sleep, I sat motionless on the bed until dawn.

When the clock hit six, I finally picked up my phone and called my father.

"Dad..."

My voice cracked the moment the word left my mouth.

All the hurt, all the grief, came flooding out. I couldn't stop crying.

On the other end, Dad panicked, asking me over and over what was wrong.

I sniffled and steadied my breathing. "Dad, I want to come home."

He didn't ask a single question. All he said was, "Okay."

"Mom and I are coming to get you."

I broke down all over again.

It wasn't long before I received the divorce agreement Dad had drafted. I forwarded it to Nigel without a second thought.

He didn't respond.

His parents beat the message home.

"Mom, Dad, you're—"

"You want to divorce Nigel?"

They cut me off before I could finish, practically tripping over themselves to speak.

"Lorraine, sweetheart, tell me why you want a divorce," Joan Delgado said.

"If Nigel's really in the wrong, I won't take his side. I promise."

She took my hands and sat me down, her voice dripping with concern.

Every word out of her mouth circled back to the same point: divorce would only hurt me. I shouldn't act on impulse.

"You're a young woman who married so far from home. If you divorce, where will you even go?"

The same sentiment, dressed up in different words.

I'd heard it before.

I pulled my hands free. "Why wouldn't I have somewhere to go? Getting married doesn't mean I stopped having a family."

Percival Delgado and Joan exchanged a look.

"That's not what she meant," Percival said.

"She feels bad for you, coming all this way just to be treated like this."

"Lorraine, honey, couples fight. You make up. You don't file for divorce over one bad dinner!"

Joan smacked him on the shoulder, a silent warning to shut up.

That was when it clicked. They hadn't come for me. They'd come to do Nigel's talking for him.

"And what about the baby?" Percival pressed. "If you divorce, what happens to him?"

"You really want him growing up with a stepmother?"

I looked at the two of them, their faces arranged in practiced concern, and felt something go cold inside me.

"The baby comes with me."

"And this divorce is happening."

The moment they saw my resolve, their expressions shifted.

Percival glared at me, all pretense gone. "I told them not to go after some pampered city princess, but did anyone listen?"

"They made me fake being sick just to trick her into coming back here to marry and settle down!"

"We didn't pay a cent in bride price, and she didn't bring a cent in dowry either!"

The words hit me one after another, each more absurd than the last. My heart skipped a beat.

"You faked your illness?"

My whole body was shaking.

"Dad, I brought you here to help, not to make things worse!" Nigel's voice came from the doorway.

He stormed in, flushed and frantic.

Leona was right behind him.

After a few sharp words, Percival went quiet.

"Nigel." My voice was barely holding together. "Explain. Now."

"You made your father fake an illness to trick me into coming back here and marrying you?"

I jabbed my finger at his face, fury flooding every vein.

Back then, Nigel had promised my parents we'd stay in Seaview City. It was only because of his father's "illness" that we'd moved back here at all.

Because I was soft-hearted, I agreed to stay and settle down here.

But I never imagined all of it had been a lie.

"So what if it was!"

"Lorraine, did you really expect me to move in with your family like some kept man?"

...

"Lorraine, please don't be upset."

"Nigel didn't mean it like that. You two have only been married two years. Why let it get this bad..."

Leona reached for my hand with that practiced look of concern. I shook her off.

"Drop the act, Leona!"

"The second we divorce, you'll slide right into my spot, won't you?"

Two sentences. That was all it took for every face in the room to change.

"Don't you dare open your mouth just to smear people. You want a divorce, so you pin your dirty laundry on Leona and Nigel?"

Nigel grabbed my hand too, squaring up like he had something to prove.

"Lorraine, what the hell are you talking about!"

He clamped down on my wrist and wouldn't let go. The pressure was enough to grind bone.

"Let go!"

I ducked my head and sank my teeth into his hand. Nigel gritted his teeth and hurled me away.

My back slammed straight into the glass cabinet. The panel shattered on impact.

I reached behind me on instinct. My fingers came back slick with blood.

"Lorraine, you brought this on yourself!"

"Sit here and think about what you've done!"

Nigel left with Leona without a single glance back. His parents barged into the bedroom and carried out my wailing baby.

They didn't even call an ambulance.

They called it "reflection."

I lay on the floor and laughed. Tears slid from the corners of my eyes.

This was the man I'd loved for eight years. The man I'd defied my parents to marry.

Marrying far from home was a needle I'd swallowed willingly, and God, did it hurt going down.

"Lorraine, sweetie, we're at your complex..."

"Lorraine..."

My parents' voices came through the phone, but I no longer had the strength to answer.

Early the next morning, Nigel felt uneasy enough to head home and check.

The moment he stepped off the elevator, the front door was wide open.

He saw the dried bloodstains streaked across the floor, and the color drained from his face.

"Lorraine?"

"Lorraine!"

The living room was empty. The bedroom was empty. His brow knotted tight.

He pulled out his phone and dialed. The second the call connected, he exhaled.

"Babe, where are you?"