Chapter 2

"Please sign."

Liam Roland clung desperately to my legs, his voice hoarse.

My mother-in-law trembled with rage nearby, barely able to stand.

"Liam, get up! This is disgraceful!"

We had been married for three years.

We had argued and fought.

He had never knelt before me.

They say a man's pride is his dignity.

Yet he bent his knee for a stranger's child.

Liam Roland, do you love her that much?

I turned to look at the girl hiding in Isabella Roland's arms.

She had delicate features.

She was quiet and well-behaved.

She looked exactly like her.

I forced a bitter smile.

I bent down and pried his fingers away one by one.

"Stop this."

Liam's eyes were red.

Tears fell onto the floor.

"Darling, please don't do this..."

I scanned the room.

The understanding child.

The furious mother-in-law.

The silent relatives.

My kneeling husband.

It made me look cold and heartless.

Like a monster.

All over a small birthmark.

Pushing us to divorce.

"Divorce."

I turned and walked away.

I returned home alone.

I immediately contacted my lawyer to draft the divorce papers.

They didn't come back until late at night.

Laughter and cheerful voices echoed from outside the door.

Everyone carried bags of gifts.

Olivia was surrounded in the center, adored by all.

Liam's smile vanished the moment he saw me sitting in the living room.

"Darling, the director agreed to let her stay for a few days..."

"Don't worry, I'll send her back soon."

He watched my expression carefully.

I turned my face away.

"Don't send her away. Let her stay."

Liam's eyes lit up.

"You've changed your mind?"

I slammed the divorce papers on the table.

"Sign."

He stumbled backward, shaking his head wildly.

"Darling, I was wrong. We won't keep her. Please don't leave..."

"I can't live without you. Why does it have to come to this?"

My mother-in-law pulled him aside.

She pointed at my face and shouted.

"Are you seeing someone else? Is this your scheme to abandon the Roland family?"

"Have I ever treated you poorly? I never said a harsh word when you couldn't have children!"

"I just want to hear a child call me grandma. Is that wrong?"

She grew more emotional, tears streaming down her face.

Isabella suddenly knelt before me, holding Olivia.

"Sister-in-law, I know you look down on poor people like us."

"You've never experienced life on the streets. I have... It was worse than death."

"Please keep her. I'll leave this house immediately!"

She cried pitifully, her tears evoking sympathy.

I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.

"You know exactly why I don't want this child."

Liam sprang to his feet.

He struck me back, sending me crashing to the floor.

My head hit the corner of the table.

A sharp pain shot through me.

Warm blood trickled down from my temple.

"Darling, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"

He panicked, trying to press on my wound.

I pushed him away.

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

My father-in-law roared behind me.

"If you step out that door, never come back!"

"You won't get a single cent from the divorce!"