Chapter 28 I had understood .
Yet , I had still told him , If one day you want a child , just tell me directly , and well decide together .
And Charles had agreed without hesitation .
Seven years ago , Isaiah , his father , inexplicably stopped being angry .
Even his mother , Leah , had abandoned her under relentless pressure .
They had suggested moving to another city and embracing retirement .
At the same time , Charles would visit from time to time to check on them .
& I had believed them .
I had truly thought they had finally accepted our choice .
Then … I saw the picture .
It was a family photo on Leahs social media .
Charles .
Another woman .
A little boy .
Smiling .
Happy .
Complete .
The moment I saw it , something inside me shattered .
The illusion I had clung to crumbled like sand slipping through my fingers .
The truth cut through me like a blade , sharp and merciless .
His frequent trips to another city had never been about visiting aging parents .
They had been about them.§ His real family .
The joyful moments Leah had captured so fondly , so effortlessly , felt like knives tearing through me , robbing me of breath , leaving nothing but searing pain in their wake .
I parted my lips , but the escaped sound was hoarse , barely recognizable.§ And what about me ? Charles , when you treat me like this … isnt that just as heartless ? Just as cruel ? ! A flicker of guilt crossed his face , softening the steel in his voice .
Im sorry , Natalie .
I never wanted you to endure the pain of childbirth .
But if youre willing , I can bring them here .
We can all live together- I let out a bitter laugh , the sound sharp and hollow .
So let me get this straight .
My husband cheats on me , and not only am I expected to forgive him , but I also have to accept his mistresss child .
And now , Im supposed to share a home with her , bump into her in the hallways , and pretend this is normal ? } Charles fell silent .
He had no excuse left .
When he finally left , he was considerate enough to take all the lingering relatives with him as if granting me space to digest the unbearable truth .
Before stepping out , he turned back once more .
* Natalie , I know this is a lot to take in .
Its fine .
Take your time .
But my decision remains the same : I wont abandon Eleanor Kelley or our child .

Follow new episodes on the CrushnovelS.Com

I sat still as the hours bled into the night .
By the time dawn stretched its weary light across the room , I reached for my phone and dialed the company lawyer .
You know how to draft a divorce agreement , right ? Draft one for me .
I want a divorce .
And just as he had promised , Charles spent an entire week with them , never looking back .
My hands trembled when the high priced paparazzi finally sent over a stack of photos and videos .
I almost couldnt bring myself to open them .
[ Now that everything had blown up , Leah no longer bothered to keep up the facade .
She didnt even pretend to be civil .
Instead , she flooded social media with endless videos , at least eight hundred of them , showcasing Charless picture perfect little family .
Charles played with his son .
Charles taught the boy how to write .
Charles tenderly supported his pregnant mistress as they took a leisurely stroll .
And the captions , overflowing with joy , cut deeper than any blade .
[ Daddy took the little one out for another fun trip ! ] } [ My precious grandson is starting first grade this year ! He even pouted and begged his dad for help with homework ! ] }] [ My son and daughter in law .
] The content was no different from what the paparazzi had captured , just ordinary , heartwarming family moments .
Yet , to me , they burned like salt on an open wound .
After a long silence , I finally left a comment beneath one of the posts .
[ If shes your daughter in law , then who is the person listed as your sons spouse ? ] The comment vanished almost instantly .
Seconds later , a 60 second voice message arrived from Leah .
7:56 AM [ If shes your daughter in law , then who is the person listed as your sons spouse ? ] } The comment vanished almost instantly .
Seconds later , a 60 second voice message arrived from Leah .
What nonsense are you spewing under my video ? Do you even realize what people will think of my grandson if you say things like that ? Hes just a child ! Do you want him to be labeled a bastard ? How can you be so cruel ?! Let me tell you , I havent even begun to settle accounts with you ! You refused to give my son a child , fine ! But you even convinced him to get a vasectomy … Before I could react , more voice messages followed one after another , flooding my phone .
I thought I had cried all my tears in the past few days .
But hearing her gloat , twisting everything as if I were the villain , my eyes still burned , and the tears still fell.§ 2/2