chapter 2
The day I was discharged, no one came to pick me up.
My lower abdomen still hurts.
While hailing a cab at the hospital entrance, I got splashed with dirty water by a passing car.
As soon as I got home, I saw a harmonious scene.
Matthew was holding Mia, looking at her tenderly.
Leo sat on the other side of Mia, curiously touching her slightly rounded belly.
He asked, "Ms. Price, don't babies kick inside their mom's belly? Why didn't she kick me?"
Mia pinched Leo's cheek and said with a smile, "She's still tiny and can't kick yet. Leo, just wait a little longer."
The three of them looked like a happy family, while I, standing at the door, felt completely out of place.
Seeing me return, Leo said disdainfully, "Did you come back from the dump? Why are you so dirty and smelly?"
He exaggeratedly pinched his nose, while Mia covered her mouth, giggling.
Matthew frowned and asked, "How did you end up like this?"
I clenched my fingers tightly until my nails dug deep into my flesh, and the pain brought me back to my senses.
I looked at the man I had loved for nearly 10 years, with no emotion left in my eyes.
I said, "Matthew, let's get a divorce."
As if he thought he misheard, Matthew asked me, "What did you say?"
I firmly repeated, "I said, let's get a divorce. I'll make way for Mia so she and the baby won't suffer anymore."
A hint of mockery flashed in Matthew's eyes.
He sneered and said, "Chloe, since when did you learn these cheap tricks? Let me tell you, they don't work on me."
At this moment, Mia stood up, then walked over to me and grabbed my hand.
She gently persuaded me, "Chloe, don't misunderstand. I never thought of breaking you two apart. I have no relatives or friends in New York, and Matthew is the only one I know, so I asked him for help. If you don't like it, I won't ask him anymore."
I gently pulled my hand back, but Mia suddenly fell backward, as if I had pushed her.
Matthew immediately became furious.
He supported Mia and yelled at me, "Chloe, Mia is pregnant. How could you push her?"
Leo also ran up to me and punched me hard.
He said, "Bad mommy, you can't bully Ms. Price. Just because you lost your baby doesn't mean you can bully Ms. Price."
A 7-year-old child used all his strength to hit me. My already aching stomach hurt even more from his punches.
But this pain was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.
I pushed Leo away and sneered, "Don't worry. No one will ever hurt your beloved woman again."
After saying that, I went straight upstairs.
Matthew and Leo only had Mia in their eyes and hearts, completely ignoring me.
In the 7 years of marriage, I almost only bought things for Matthew and Leo.
There are very few things in this house that belong to me.
I can pack all of them into a 28-inch suitcase.
I threw the signed divorce agreement and the letter severing mother-son ties on the bed.
Then, I took off the plain ring from my left ring finger and placed it on that pile of papers.
This plain ring is the only piece of jewelry Matthew bought me in our 7 years of marriage.
It was something he casually bought at the counter just to get through the wedding when we first got married.
But even such a simple ring, I cherished it for 7 years.
The moment I took off the ring, the last bit of attachment I had for Matthew was completely gone.
At this moment, my phone received a message.
It was Amelia who sent a photo in the family group chat of four hands playing the piano together.
On the black and white piano keys, the two pairs of hands both had couple rings on their left ring fingers.
This was a photo of Matthew and Mia at a concert while I was hospitalized.
After posting the photo, Amelia even praised: [Look at Matthew and Mia. They are just perfect for each other!]
Matthew's other family members also joined in the teasing.
I watched coldly, then sent a thumbs-up emoji in the group chat.
In an instant, the lively group chat fell silent.
Amelia even deleted all the previous messages she had sent.
I didnt want to deal with them anymore, so I left the group chat.
When I came downstairs with my luggage, Matthew was staring at me coldly.
He said, "My mom just posted a photo. Did you really need to leave the group chat?"
Mia's eyes were red too, pretending to look pitiful.
She said, "Chloe, Matthew and I have always been piano partners. This time, I'm just a special guest for him. Don't be mad."
I let out a cold snort and walked out resolutely.
I said coldly, "Matthew, remember to sign the divorce papers."
At that moment, a "thud" sounded at my feet.
I looked down and saw a cracked ruby pendant.
I turned around and saw Leo's eyes cold and full of disgust.
I could hardly imagine this was the look my own child gave me.
Leo said, "It's best if you, this bad woman, leave and never come back. I don't want your trash anymore."
I gave a bitter smile, looking at the ruby pendant on the ground.
Back then, I had a difficult labor giving birth to Leo. As a result, Leo often fell ill as a child.
To bless him with safety and health, I went to the church locals said was most favored by the divine and went through great effort to buy this ruby pendant.
But now, Leo treats it like trash and throws it away.
I nodded and said, "Alright, I don't like you anymore either."
A son like this doesn't deserve my love.