Chapter 1

The moment I said that, Chloe fainted right into Alexander's arms. 

Her arms were still clinging to his shoulders, refusing to let go. 

And without missing a beat, he scooped her up like she was the bride, 

rushing her to the hospital like some kind of tragic hero. 

Before leaving, he made sure to scold me in front of everyone— 

called me petty, selfish, dramatic. 

Said I couldn't even handle three minutes, 

and that I'd ruined the wedding on purpose. 

We'd been together ten years. 

His parents only agreed to this wedding because I was pregnant. 

Just ten minutes ago, I really thought once we were married, 

he'd finally grow up. 

We'd finally have a happy family. 

But now? 

My mom slapped the food off the table and into my face, 

crying, begging me to chase after the runaway groom. 

My dad just glared at me, 

ripped off the corsage I'd pinned to his jacket, 

and stomped it into the ground. 

My mother-in-law, who never liked me to begin with, 

looked at me with pure disgust and said, 

"You've always been classless. Today just proved it." 

She dug her nails into my arm, leaned in, and hissed, 

"If you want to marry into the Montgomery family, 

you better learn to shut up and suffer like a good wife. 

You ruined this wedding? 

Don't expect a second chance." 

Looking at her twisted expression, 

I finally understood— 

love doesn't guarantee love in return. 

Ten years. 

I was done chasing the title of ‘Mrs. Montgomery.' 

Before I could even speak, 

she yanked me by the wrist and shoved me out of the chapel. 

"Unless you get Alexander back, 

don't bother coming home." 

The heavy chapel doors slammed shut behind me. 

In front of me was a sudden downpour. 

Behind me, music and laughter. 

I was standing there in my flawless wedding dress, 

looking like a woman the world had just thrown away. 

Before the tears could fall, the doors opened again. 

My parents came out. 

The moment I saw them, 

all the pain bubbled up and spilled over. 

In a small, broken voice, 

I whispered, "Mom…" 

But her face hardened. 

"I'm not your mom right now." 

"I told you not to throw tantrums." 

"Now look what you've done. Alexander's gone. 

The wedding's a disaster. 

What are people going to think of your father and me?" 

Her voice was cold. 

Every word stabbed deeper than the last. 

"Do what your in-laws told you. 

Go find him and apologize. 

If he doesn't want you anymore, 

what happens to that baby of yours?" 

They didn't wait for my response. 

They turned around and walked back inside. 

The heavy doors slammed shut again. 

I just stood there. 

Finally, the tears fell.

Chapter 2

The wedding was held at an estate on the outskirts of town. 

There was no signal. 

No way to call an Uber. 

I grabbed an umbrella and started walking through the storm. 

The rain soaked my dress. 

White turned to brown. 

Mud and filth clung to the fabric— 

just like how betrayal had stained my heart. 

I had no idea how far I walked. 

My feet were bleeding, my heels raw and torn. 

I looked down and let out a bitter laugh. 

What a perfect wedding. 

Then my phone buzzed— 

finally got a signal. 

Over a dozen messages from Alexander. 

"Emily Thompson, are you seriously trying to ruin my life?" 

"I told you—Chloe is just my sister! 

Why are you so jealous?" 

Not one word of concern. 

Not one apology. 

Just blame. 

I was about to shove the phone in my purse when a call came in. 

Unknown number. 

I picked up. 

It was Chloe. 

"Alexander… you just left Emily like that? 

She's pregnant, she'll be heartbroken…" 

Alexander's voice came next, 

gentle as ever—when talking to her. 

"Chloe, you're too kind. 

That baby's just her ticket into the family. 

She'll never compare to you." 

The phone slipped from my hand. 

Thudded against the wet pavement. 

Of course. 

How could I ever compare? 

Two months ago, I'd fallen down the stairs late at night. 

Just wanted a glass of water. 

Broke my tailbone. 

Started bleeding. 

I screamed for Alexander—he was about to head out. 

But he just barked at me: 

"Emily, what's wrong with your hands and feet? 

Call the damn ambulance yourself. 

I've got something urgent." 

I passed out before the paramedics got there. 

Almost lost the baby. 

Spent an entire month in the hospital. 

Alexander never showed. 

Not once. 

And yesterday, I finally found out— 

the urgent matter? 

Chloe was scared of thunder. 

He had to comfort her. 

My hand clenched into my skirt. 

One of my custom wedding nails snapped off. 

It stung. 

But not as much as my heart did. 

By the time I made it down the hill, 

a cab finally arrived. 

Right then, Alexander called again. 

"Emily, Chloe's anxiety kicked in because of you! 

You better get your ass to the hospital and apologize!" 

I held my umbrella against the wind and said I was still near the estate. 

Suddenly, hail started falling. 

Huge, heavy ice stones thudded against the ground. 

Alexander heard it. 

His voice turned anxious. 

"It's hailing? You're not at the hotel? Then I'll—" 

But before he could finish, 

I heard Chloe crying in the background. 

"I shouldn't have come back… 

I should've just died out there…" 

Alexander immediately switched to soft, comforting tones. 

When he came back on, 

he was cold again. 

"Emily, I'm giving you thirty minutes. 

Get your ass to the hospital and apologize." 

His voice was like ice. 

And that was it. 

That was the moment the last bit of love I had for him 

shattered. 

"No, Alexander. 

I'm not the one who needs to apologize." 

"I want a divorce." 

There was silence. 

Then laughter. 

"You think anyone in Riverdale doesn't know you're used goods? 

You're pregnant, and no one else is gonna want you." 

My umbrella gave out and collapsed. 

I stood up in the hail and wind. 

Let it beat against me. 

But in my heart, things were finally clear. 

I ended the call. 

The cab pulled up. 

I brushed the tears off my face, 

rested a hand on my belly, 

and told the driver— 

"To the hospital, please." 

Chapter 3

The moment I laid on the operating table, I suddenly felt the baby's heartbeat—steady and strong. 

Like he was begging me not to give up on him. 

I hesitated for a long time, but eventually, I dialed Alexander's number. 

"Alexander, I'm at the hospital, and you—" 

He cut me off with a scoff. 

"You're already there? Then hurry the hell up!" 

"I'm telling you, this time you'd better get on your knees and apologize to Chloe, or don't even think about getting my forgiveness." 

I swallowed the words that were about to leave my lips and ended the call. 

I nodded to the doctor to begin. 

"You're sure about this?" the doctor asked.

"The baby's healthy. Maybe talk to the father?" 

"No need. He doesn't care." 

I left the hospital and went back home to pack. 

The place was still covered in wedding decorations. 

Even the oversized "Mr. & Mrs." banner was still taped to the wall. 

Clearly, Alexander hadn't been home since.

Otherwise, how could he stand to look at any of this? 

While I was packing, my mom called. 

"Emily, did you smooth things over with Alexander? Has he forgiven you?" 

Her voice was filled with worry—but none of it was for me. 

I told her I wanted a divorce. 

The line went silent.

Then came the usual rant—crying, blaming me for being immature. 

Telling me to swallow my pride and hold the marriage together. 

My tears fell on the screen, blurring everything until I ended the call. 

I pulled myself together and returned to work. 

Filed my resignation that same day. 

When I got off work, Alexander was waiting outside. 

In the ten years we'd been together, that was a first. 

I tried to walk past him, but he blocked my way and shoved me into his car. 

"It was just a wedding, Emily."

"Did you really have to blow things up like this?" 

"You're not some naive twenty-something anymore."

"Stop using divorce like it's some kind of game to win attention." 

He reached into the glove compartment and tossed me a gift box. 

Inside were a pair of wedding bands. 

"What is this?" 

He kept his eyes on the road as he spoke, as if nothing was wrong. 

"Chloe didn't like the original rings. She threw them out."

"These are new—she picked them out for you." 

Then, as if he'd just given me the world, he added, 

"They're way more expensive than the last set. You should be happy." 

I laughed, tossed the rings back at him. 

"Then give them to Chloe."

"I'm not interested in hand-me-downs." 

His face turned dark in an instant. 

"Don't be ungrateful, Emily." 

"If you weren't pregnant with a Montgomery heir, do you really think you'd have ever made it into this family?" 

He wasn't wrong. 

This marriage was nothing more than a pity arrangement because of the baby. 

So why was I still clinging to something so hollow, just to let him stomp all over my heart? 

I held back the tears welling up and turned my head toward the window. 

"Then take it that I am ungrateful."

"Let's get the divorce paperwork done."

"Tell me when you're free." 

He slammed on the brakes. 

The tires screeched against the pavement, and the car jerked to a stop. 

"You wanna talk about ungrateful?" he snapped. 

"You were the one begging at my parents' feet like a stray dog, begging them to let you marry into this family." 

"Who the hell are you performing for now?" 

Once upon a time, his words would've gutted me. 

I would've cried and apologized just to keep the peace. 

But now? 

Now I didn't even have the strength to fight. 

Silence filled the car—until Chloe's name popped up on his screen. 

"Alexander, I've got a headache… Can you come be with me?" 

I cleared my throat and said quietly, 

"Let me out at the next corner." 

He looked stunned. 

"You're not mad?" 

I shook my head. 

I used to be, when I loved him. 

Now? 

There was nothing left to feel angry about. 

He stopped the car, but the door wouldn't open—it was still locked. 

He grabbed my hand, something unreadable in his eyes. 

"I'll just check on her and come right back. Wait for me here." 

I smiled politely and pulled my hand free. 

"No need. I can get my own ride." 

He hesitated, then finally unlocked the doors. 

"You're pregnant. Don't take a cab—I'll come back for you." 

I shook my head again. 

He clenched his jaw. 

"Do you really have to be like this?" 

I actually laughed. 

To him, I was the one who betrayed him. 

"Yeah." 

He stared at me hard, like he was trying to memorize my face. 

"Emily… you better wait and see."