Chapter 8

Six months later, I returned for the court hearing as scheduled. The night before, I was having dinner with a friend when I ran into Marcus and Sierra.

Marcus walked ahead with a hurried pace. Sierra, looking slightly swollen and struggling to keep up, seemed exhausted. She was nothing like the proud woman she had been six months ago. The host seated them near us. I had lost forty pounds, and Marcus didn't even recognize me at first.

"Ugh, of all places to see them," my friend Jade muttered, stabbing her steak.

Jade was fierce—a capable, successful woman from a wealthy family. When she first found out about Marcus and Sierra, she immediately refused to do business with him. She had told him directly, "Marcus, I'm picky about my partners. I have three strict dealbreakers: cheaters, men with bad taste, and incompetent idiots." She had looked him up and down before adding, "Guess what? You check all three boxes."

Apparently, that had left him completely speechless.

From where I sat, I couldn't see them directly. As our food arrived, Jade glanced over their way.

"Wow, Marcus is having an extra spicy steak and smoking," she said. "Sierra is at least five months pregnant, and he clearly doesn't care at all."

I remembered when I was pregnant. He had smoked at home constantly. I had begged him, "The doctor said secondhand smoke isn't good for the baby. Could you please smoke outside?"

He had just been dismissive. "What, does being pregnant make you a queen? No successful man lets his wife control him! Besides, only the strong survive."

I used to think he would treat Sierra better, but it seemed she was just walking down the exact same path I had. Marcus's supposed true love was nothing but an illusion; he would eventually turn any idealized romance into just another bitter disappointment.

I shook my head. "He never changes. He only cares about himself."

If it hadn't been for the medical risks, I might have terminated my own pregnancy back then.

Jade kept watching them, offering a nonstop stream of commentary. She was brutally honest, and every word she said resonated with me.

After dinner, as we asked for the check, Marcus finally noticed me. He saw that I had regained my figure, and even my face looked younger and more vibrant. He looked genuinely surprised.

As he started to approach, Sierra quickly stepped up, interlacing her fingers with his and subtly showing off her belly. "I'm pregnant," she said. "He treats me so well. You must really regret it now, don't you?"

She searched my face, desperate to find any trace of regret. She found absolutely none.

Jade snorted. "No wonder you're the other woman. You even lie to yourself."

Sierra's smug smile instantly froze.

I chuckled, genuinely amused by the whole display. "Congratulations. I hope you two stay together forever—just so you don't go bothering anyone else."

I turned and left with Jade. Marcus looked absolutely furious. He had probably convinced himself that I would fall apart without him. Instead, I was thriving.