My husbandwho had always claimed to hate childrensuddenly became obsessed with the neighbors baby. He stayed up with the infant every night, doting on him like he was the childs father.
Meanwhile, he ignored me completely.
He didnt show up during my car accident. He didnt visit after my surgery. Not even once.
So the night of the party celebrating my discharge from the hospital, I made my decision.
In front of everyonefamily, friends, well-wishersI stood up and said, I want a divorce.
Gasps rippled through the room.
Someone whispered, Has the accident messed with her brain?
My husband, Gavin Mercer, flung his wine in my face and barked, I ignored you because of the accident and recoveryand now youre jealous of a six-month-old baby?
I wiped the wine off my face slowly. My eyes dropped to the faint red mark on his necktoo high for a baby to have made. My voice came out cold.
Since you love her child so much, Ill give you both the freedom to be together after the divorce.
Gavins face twitched, the fake affection in his eyes replaced with panic. He pulled up his collar in a feeble attempt to hide the mark. His eyes burned red with fury.
Cassia, what the hell do you mean by that? he snapped.
Ive been taking care of Julia to learn how to be a better fatherfor our future children!
And now you want to throw away ten years of marriage over something this petty? Are you insane?
I didnt respond. I simply reached into my bag, pulled out the divorce papers I had prepared, and laid them calmly on the table in front of him.
Sign them. Well finalize it at the County Clerks Office tomorrow morning.
The entire room froze. My friends stared at me in shock. My family exchanged panicked glances.
They couldnt believe itwe were the couple everyone envied. The perfect love story. The unshakable bond.
But I wasnt playing along anymore.
Gavin gaped at the documents, stunned Id already come this far. Even my mother, usually silent, began to tremble.
She rushed forward. Cassia are you serious?
My father grabbed the papers and scowled. Ten years, Cassia. You and Gavin were always so good together. What happened?
Gavins brothers joined in, all desperate to change my mind.
Cassia, dont do this. Its just a misunderstanding.
The neighbors a single mom. Gavin was just being kind.
He didnt want a baby yet because he supported your career. How can you not see how much he loves you?
Their words pierced me like a thousand needlesbut I stayed silent.
I picked up the divorce agreement again and pressed it back into Gavins hands. This marriage is over. I cant do it anymore.
Just then, my father stormed forward. Before I could move, he slapped me so hard my head snapped to the side.
You ungrateful girl! he shouted. How dare you divorce a man like Gavin? I should beat some sense into you!
You think you can throw him away after all hes done for you? Do you have no shame?
My cheek throbbed. My mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood. I didnt flinch.
My mother clutched my arm, her voice shaking with desperation.
Please, talk it out, she begged. Dont make such a rash decision.
Youll never find a better man. And if this is because youve fallen for someone elsedont expect my blessing!
I slowly raised my head, my face stinging, my pride in pieces. Around me, voices murmured and judged.
And just like always, Gavin stepped in to play the hero.
He held me gently, wiping the blood from my lip, shielding me like I was his most cherished treasure.
To everyone watching, he looked like the perfect husband.
But only we knew the truth.
Only we knew the rot beneath the surface.
Cassia, he murmured, voice tender but full of manipulation. Even if youve fallen for someone else… no one will ever love you like I do.
Weve been together since we were kids, married for ten yearshow could you throw all that away over something so petty?
Gavin’s voice rang out, thick with disbelief.
I dont care about any other woman. As long as youre willing to come back, I wont hold anything against you.
Just a few carefully chosen words, and suddenly the blame shifted. The air in the room turned hostile.
All eyes fell on me, sharp and accusing.
And thenmy father’s fist connected with my shoulder. Hard.
So thats it, he shouted. Youre leaving him because youre having an affair! I raised a disgrace like you?
Ungrateful girl! Stop this nonsense before you send your father to the hospital, my mother cried, gripping my arm. Go home. Be a decent wife. Stay with Gavin.
Friends, familythey all tried to pull me back.
Even Gavin, now in tears, fell to his knees and begged.
But my heart had long gone cold. I shoved him away, my voice firm and steady.
Let go. I dont love you anymore.
He stared at me as if Id stabbed him.
What… what did you say? he whispered, his voice cracking.
The entire room went silent.
Gavin broke down sobbing, louder this time, desperate and messy. I turned to leave.
But he scrambled up and grabbed me again, crushing me in his arms.
Dont go, Cassia, please dont. Its all my fault, Ill change, I swear. Just give me another chancedont leave me.
Then his older brother blocked my way.
Cassia, are you out of your mind? he snapped. Apologize to Gavin!
Youve been together for over a decadehow can you be so heartless? From middle school to marriageit took eight years to build this life. Have you forgotten all of it?
And what about the baby? Youre really willing to let your child grow up without a father?
The room exploded again as the news of my pregnancy hit them.
My parents rushed to stop me, their faces pale.
Youre pregnant and still want a divorce? Wheres your conscience?
I wrestled free from their grip, my jaw clenched, my tone defiant.
Ill raise the baby myself. Were already divorced.
My mother recoiled like Id slapped her.
Youve wanted a child for years! And now, when you’re finally pregnant, this is how you act?
Her words struck something deep.
Yes, I had wanted a child. Desperately. From twenty to thirty, I dreamed of a familyof hearing a child call me “Mom.”
But every time I brought it up, Gavin shut me down. Or worsepretended to try, only to sabotage things behind my back.
We lost two pregnancies. Both in accidents.
And I finally understood: he never wanted a child with me.
Now I just wanted out. For good.
The noise must have drawn attentionbecause Sabrina Lowel, the single mother from next door, walked in holding her baby.
She didnt say a word about the chaos around us. She went straight to Gavin and handed him the child.
He took the baby automatically, gently, like it was his own.
The way he looked at her daughter it was a softness I had never seen in his eyes when he looked at me.
My chest tightened. I staggered slightly, dizzy with pain.
We had once had childrentwice. But they never made it.
Sabrina turned to me politely.
Cassia, I didnt mean to cause trouble. I heard everything just now.
If its awkward, I can find a new place today and take my daughter with me. I dont want to come between you two.
Gavin frowned, glancing at her in panic.
Notheres no need for that. Im just helping you out. Its nothing serious.
Then he turned to me, his voice laced with irritation and guilt.
Cassia, stop projecting your anger onto other people. You just got out of the hospitalcan you stop overreacting?
He cried bitterly, and everyone turned their rage toward me.
My fathers face was crimson with fury, his voice hoarse as he grabbed my wrist.
Listen to me, Cassia! Stop this nonsense. End things with whoever youre seeing. Living a stable life with Gavin is more important than anything!
You already have a child togetherif you dare go through with this divorce, dont blame me for breaking your legs!
But I stayed unmoved, my face cold and expressionless.
This marriage will end, I said calmly. Then I turned and walked away.
My father roared behind me, voice breaking. If you walk out that door, dont call me your father ever again!
Gavin didnt chase after me. Instead, his voice rang out cold and sharp behind me:
Since youre so determined to leave, dont even think about taking a penny! Ill make sure you walk out with nothing.
Youve got someone else now, right? Since youve chosen betrayal, dont blame me for being ruthless!
That very day, I filed for divorceand submitted the footage I had secretly taken at Sabrinas house.
I thought Id spend the night at a hotel and figure things out.
But when I tried to pay, I realized all my bank accounts had been frozen. Thats when it hit me: every cent Id earned over the years had gone to Gavin. Id trusted him. Kept nothing for myself.
For years, Id worked endlessly, thinking we were building a future togethera home, a family.
I didnt know that I was the only one holding on.
In the end, it had all been a lie. I had been alone from the beginning.
I borrowed money from a friend just to check into a hotel.
Later that night, I opened my phone. A video was already going viral.
Someone had recorded the argument from the partyand now it was all over the internet.
The comments section was a war zone. Full of venom.
Shes divorcing her husband over a baby? What kind of monster is she?
Shes clearly cheating. And now shes making up stories to play the victim. Disgusting.
Lets ruin her. Expose everything. Let her feel what its like to be humiliated.
Even the hotel staff began to look at me like I was filth.
I turned on my laptop. And thats when the real pain began.
There, stored in hidden folders and saved files, were hundreds of videoseach one gutting me more than the last.
Late at night, after putting Sabrinas daughter, Julia, to sleep, Gavin would slip into her room. Again. And again.
I had discovered it all by accident.
One evening, I noticed Gavins phone was connected to a nearby surveillance feed. When he wasnt looking, I mirrored the connection to my own device.
From then on, I watched it unfold every night.
The way he looked at Sabrinagentle, warm, loving.
A look Id never seen directed at me.
To the outside world, Gavin was a model husband: soft-spoken, responsible, caring.
But behind closed doors, I knew better.
After we married, he told me he didnt want childrenand ordered me never to bring it up again.
When I became pregnant by accident, I begged him to let me keep the baby.
He forced an abortion without hesitation.
That loss still haunts me. A grief I carry in silence.
From that day on, he never touched me again.
And now, he was raising another womans child right in front of me.
Atty. Laurence, I said, steadying my voice as I called my lawyer, The court hearing is scheduled in three days. All the evidence has been submitted.
The next morning, my phone rang. It was my secretary.
Miss Cassia, several investors have pulled out. The backlash from the online video is serious.
I headed straight to the office.
But Gavin was already there, waiting outside the building.
Cassia, dont go in, he said urgently. The reporters are everywhere. Just waitlet me handle this.
I didnt even look at him.
I shoved him aside.
He stumbled and fell to the ground, stunned.
All eyes turned to us. People gasped.
He stared up at me in disbelief, his voice cracking.
Cassia… are you really this cruel? Cant you at least show me a little compassion?
Sabrina rushed over and helped Gavin to his feet.
The commotion instantly drew a crowd of reporters and furious netizens. Cameras flashed. Microphones shoved in my face.
Shes heartless.
Cold-blooded witch.
How could anyone treat their husband like this?
Dont blame her, Gavin said to the cameras, voice trembling, eyes glassy with false humility. Its my fault for not being a better husband. Dont blame her…
Watching him play the victim made my stomach turn. I almost laughed from disgust.
If you dont want a divorce, I said, my voice low and even, then dont blame me for suing.
The mask fell off in an instant.
In front of the flashing lights, Gavins expression twisted with rage.
Fine! You want to play dirty? Then dont blame me for kicking you out with nothing! he snapped.
My child doesnt need a father like you, I shot back. Divorce it is. Ill see you in court.
He thought I was still in the dark. He had no idea I knew everything.
I didnt waste another word. I left, handled company affairs, and began preparing for the trial.
The next day, the story exploded across the internet.
Every platform. Every comment section. I had become public enemy number one.
They called me a cheater.
Said Id forced abortions to fund my so-called lover.
Claimed I was mentally unstable since the accidentdelusional and attention-seeking.
Even my own parents turned their backs on me.
Youve gone too far! my father roared over the phone. From now on, I have no daughter!
You filthy disgrace, my mother spat. I cant even bear to hear your name anymore.
I said nothing. I let them say their piece. I didnt explain, didnt defend myself.
I would wait.
Three days later, the courtroom was packed.
Friends. Family. Curious strangers. Even netizens who had traveled just to watch me fall.
They all came to see a spectacle.
Gavin leaned close and whispered with mock pity, Are you really going through with this?
For the sake of everything we had, Ill give you one last chance. Apologize. Ill pretend none of this ever happened.
He smiled like a man convinced hed already won.
Youve already lost, he murmured. The whole country saw what you did. Do you still even have the nerve to keep living?
Sabrina sat beside him, smirking, satisfied.
Even my parents, seated a few rows back, looked at me like I was a criminal awaiting sentence.
But I stood tall, expression unreadable. I waited for the judge to begin.
Gavin had spared no expense, bringing in one of the top lawyers from Boston.
They came prepared with a script, painting me as a selfish, reckless woman.
If all he did was help babysit the neighbors child at night, the lawyer said smoothly, that doesnt constitute infidelity.
In fact, based on the evidence presented, the petitionerhe looked straight at meis the one who bears primary responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage.
If no new evidence is submitted, this court will grant the divorce in favor of the defendant and find the petitioner at fault.
The courtroom erupted.
Cheers. Applause.
Gavin and Sabrina embraced, visibly giddy with premature victory.
People sneered and whispered behind me.
She deserves it.
Shes finally getting whats coming.
Shameless woman.
I raised my hand. Your Honor, I said, my voice clear and steady. I have new evidence to submit.
The judge nodded. Proceed.
I present surveillance footage from Sabrinas home, I said. And a DNA paternity reportproving Gavin is the biological father of her daughter.
A deafening silence fell over the courtroom.
The room went still. The smirks vanished.
↓ ↓ Download the NovelShort app, Search 【 589341 】reads the whole book. ↓ ↓
NovelShort
