Chapter 4

Only after Phoebe and Hector left did Miles seem to notice I was still there.

He reached out, like he was going to help me up, but I stepped back, my expression cold.

There was a trace of panic in his voice.

"I was just worried about the kid. I'm sorry."

I looked at him without saying anything, then turned and walked away.

As soon as I got into a rideshare, my phone buzzed with a message from Phoebe.

[In Miles's world, Hector and I come first. You should know when to step aside.]

I took a screenshot and sent it to Miles.

For the rest of the day, he kept calling and texting, trying to explain himself.

I didn't answer once.

When I got home that evening, he was already sitting in the living room. The moment he saw me, he stood and walked straight over.

"Valerie, that woman's not right. Don't listen to anything she says. I don't even know her. You…"

I cut him off before he could finish.

"Why are you so nervous? I believe you. You'd never do anything to hurt me. You promised my mom, right there in her hospital bed, that you'd take care of me for the rest of my life. Remember? You swore on your life."

His expression stiffened.

I didn't wait for him to respond. I turned and went into the bedroom.

The next few days passed like any other.

Except Miles started staying late at work more and more often.

Every time he did, Phoebe sent me pictures of the three of them together, smiling, or Miles holding Hector and playing with him, or the two of them wrapped around each other.

I never replied. I saved every single one.

Evidence mattered. It would make sure he left with nothing.

That afternoon, I was heading home like usual.

When I got close to Maplecrest Apartments, I heard a child crying. Before I could even get closer, Hector ran up and stood in front of me.

He was crying so hard that his voice kept breaking.

"Please give my dad back! I don't want people saying I don't have a dad anymore. Please. I'm begging you!"

I frowned and looked down at him. "Where's your mom?"

He didn't answer. He just kept repeating the same words through tears.

The noise started drawing people in. They gathered around, whispering, glancing at me with judgment as they filled in the story for themselves.

Then, Phoebe and Miles pushed their way in from the edge of the crowd. The second she saw Hector, she snapped.

"What are you doing? Don't beg a woman like her! Your dad will always be your dad."

She shot me a look, full of satisfaction.

Hector scrambled and clung to Miles's leg, his voice small and desperate.

"Dad… Please don't leave me."

More people gathered. Some of them had their phones out, recording.

Miles stood there stiffly, caught in the middle. Phoebe had called him earlier, saying Hector was missing. He clearly hadn't expected this.

Between Hector's words and Phoebe's performance, the crowd turned on me almost instantly, calling me a shameless homewrecker.

I looked straight at Miles.

"Are you going to say anything?"

Guilt flashed across his face, but he forced himself to speak.

"You're the one who came after me. I turned you down plenty of times."

The moment he said it, Phoebe stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face. She looked shocked and hurt, like she had been wronged, but her eyes told a different story.

"You shameless wench! My kid's already three, and you're still trying to steal my man?"

I touched my cheek and let out a quiet laugh. Then, I walked straight toward Miles.

He avoided my eyes.

I reached into my bag, pulled out our marriage certificate, and threw it at him.

"I want a divorce."