When my husband David ckwell praised his “dead” student on TV, I took off my wedding ring,


    “Divorce. Your star pupil isn’t dead-she’s in London having your baby.”


    Hearing that, he flew to UK overnight. Two monthster, he came back with pregnant Emma Williams.


    “Rachel, you take care of her until the babyes. You owe her.”


    Even at my birthday party, my inws cooed:


    “Emma’s such a modern, independent woman! When the baby’s born, we’ll help raise it!”


    The soup steam she prepared for her stung my eyes.


    I rememberedst life, I’d uncovered their affair. To save his career, I sent her away.


    But she took some folk remedies and died giving birth overseas, left forever in Ennd.


    When he heard the news, David locked himself up for three days. <fnd289> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find{n}ovel</fnd289>


    By the time I broke in, his body was already rotting.


    Public opinion blew up, and I ended up being the one who ruined that love.


    I was eaten up with guilt, wasted away, and died all sad.


    This time, watching him talking with his eyes all soft and full of love on TV, I decided to let them have their way.


    David. Let’s see how your “perfect love story” goes when I’m not around to fix your problems.


    When David ckwell stormed through the front door, pissed as hell, the girl Emma Williams behind him was holding her belly and stayed back by the door, ooking timidly.


    She’s pretty far along. You’re gonna take care of her till she gives birth.”


    His voice was dead serious-no way he was budging on this.


    You owe her that much!”


    looked down, my past life shing back.


    All three of them died because of me. I clenched my teeth and nodded finally.


    mma just dropped to her knees right there, crying her eyes out, grabbing onto my clothes.


    Ms. ckwell, oh my God, I’m so sorry!


    This is all my fault. I never should’vee back…”


    fer young face had this desperate look-just like me back then, when I got on my knees begging Mom, saying David was the only guy I’d ever marry.


    My eyes stung and watered up in a sh.


    What the hell are you doing!”


    Javid rushed over, his hands going straight to protect Emma’s belly as he pulled her up.


    de stared at me like I was pure evil.


    You made her kneel down? You knew she’s pregnant, right?!“


    is words hit me like a punch. I stumbled backward.


    Chapter


    It felt like someone was squeezing my heart. Everything got blurry.


    The person doing the kneeling has changed.


    And the person he cares about protecting….


    That’s changed too.


    David picked Emma up and headed straight for our bedroom.


    Emma tried to push back weakly. “I can just sleep in the guest room…”


    David shut that down fast. “No way. You need proper rest.”


    The door mmed behind them.


    Twopletely different worlds now, with me stuck on the outside.


    Even though I’d already asked for the divorce, that scene still hurt like hell.


    Late that night, I was cleaning up the kitchen when Emma snuck in.


    “Rachel, when you make hangover soup, throw in two green plums to cut the grease. Just let it cook on low for twenty minutes.”


    I didn’t say anything, just made the soup like she told me.


    By morning, I’d finished grading thest paper.


    When I walked out of the study, the soup bowl on the table was empty.


    David was grinning at Emma, talking all sweet:


    I knew you made this the second I tasted it. The plum vor’s just right.”


    Emma gave him this shy little smile but didn’t deny it.


    He looked up and saw me, then spotted the empty bowl by the sink. His face got all pissed off:


    Just gonna leave dishes sitting there? Can’t even do simple stuff around the house? You’re gettingzier andzier!”


    Days of nonstop exhaustion hit, and everything just went ck. I grabbed the cold counter but my legs just gave out.


    Rachel!” Emma yelled and ran over to catch me.


    But right before she touched me, she suddenly got knocked backward like someone punched her.


    couldn’t even see what happened. My left cheek just exploded with pain.


    What the hell did you do to her?”


    Javid didn’t even look at me. Didn’t let me say a word. He picked Emma up and ran out without even turning around.


    Only me standing in the doorway.


    wiped my mouth and tasted blood. Barely staying on my feet, thest bit of hope in me just died.


    ime to get out of here.


    threw some stuff in a bag and went back to my dorm at school.


    A few dayster, David called. He was trying to sound all nice:


    ‘Rachel, it’s your birthday in a couple days… let’s do it right this time, okay?”