Chapter 2
“That’s it!”
Skylar’s fingers trembled as she signed the last page of the divorce papers. The ink had barely dried when she pushed the documents across the table, not sparing a glance at the man she once loved–no, the man she once though she loved. The same man who had crushed her heart into
dust
“Mrs. Lawrence, you c—”
“My name is not Lawrence now” Skylar interrupted quickly.
The lawyer swallowed, a little surprised by Skylar’s firm and cold attitude, as did David.
She rose from her chair, her movements mechanical, as if someone else were controlling her body.
“Skylar, where are you going?” David asked softly. “You can stay home until you find a new place”
Skylar stared at David blankly. He smiled sarcastically. “Do you expect me to beg for your help, David! Don’t expect that, because I can go anywhere I want and you don’t have to presend to care”
Why are you so sarcastic, Skylar, I just want to
Skylar walked out of the lawyer’s office with her chin up, leaving David and the lawyer staring at each other.
She had nothing but a small suitcase packed with only what truly belonged to her–clothes, her wallet, a few sentimental items. Everything else— furniture, jewelry, even the house she once called home–was never truly hers.
David had owned the house before they got married and in some arguments, he often insinuated that the house was actually intended for Jenna, because the interior and even some of the fumiture were Jenna’s Evorite models.
In fact, Skylar only realized that she didn’t know where she was going, after David asked.
Skylar didn’t want to go back to her f father’s house. She had stopped thinking of that place as a “home” years ago. It was just a grand building with no warmth, no meaning that was enjoyable for Skylar.
Gerry Carter, her father, never loved her. Not once. Not even as a child, when she had longed for a warm embrace or a kind word. His indifference toward her had solidified the moment her mother died.
Skylar still remembered the funeral–how her father stood at the gravesite like a stranger, not a grieving husband. And how, just months later, Lilian Monroe and her perfect, whiny daughter, Jenna, had moved in to their mansion, acting as if they had been waiting for the moment to replace Skylar’s lane mother.
Gerry slapped Skylar when she protested their presence and questioned why Jenna was a year older than her. That slap gave Skylar an understanding of who Lilian and Jenna Monroe were.
Lilian had despised her from the very start, treating her as an unwanted burden. If Jenna to much as frowned in Skylar’s direction, Lilian was quick to retaliate.
A slap on the wrist. A cruel temark. A meal withheld. Her father never intervened. Instead, he looked at Skylar with cold regret, as if she were a mistake he wished he could erase.
Skylar had grown used to swallowing pain in silence. The only person who ever showed her true kindness was grandfather Aaron Carter
Lilian hates Skylar even more because grandfather Aaron forbids her and Jenna froin adding the name Curter after their names.
Aaron Carter doesn’t like Lilian and Jenna and he shows it, by threatening to throw Gery and his new family out on the street if he dares to object
Aaron has let Gery bring Lilian and Jenna into the Carter family uninvited and it caused a scandal that he had to quell with a lot of money and connections. He didn’t want them to take his name too.
Gerry knew his father wouldn’t play along with his threats, so he asked Lilian and Jenna to keep Lilian’s maiden name, Monroe.
Grandfather Aaron only recognizes Annie Rose Carter as his daughter–in–law, and after she died, for Aaron, his granddaughter is only Skylar.
The old man had treated her as beloved granddaughter, offering warmth she had never known in her own home. But Aaron had lived far away, and when illness took him over, Skylar had been left to fend for herself
And now,
here she was again. Alone.
At the Airport
The airport was bustling with travelers. Skylar stood in the middle of the terminal, staring blankly at the departure board, her mind a storm of
115 PM
Chapter 2
uncertainty.
Where should she go?
She had no destination, but she had to get as far as possible.
Skylar sighed and nimed toward the nearest restroom to freshen up. She pushed open the door to the pristine white–tiled space, barely noticing the women coming and going. As she reached for the sink, a flash of movement caught her eye.
A woman next to her, pulled a sanitary pad from her purse.
Suddenly, her breath hitched. Her pulse quickened. A terrible realization clawed its way into her thoughts.
When was the last time she had her period?
Her hands gripped the edge of the sink as she tried to count the weeks, One Two Three. Almost two months.
She remembered, almost two months ago, David had f*cked her while he was drunk and he had not used protection
During the two years of marriage, David rarely touched her. Skylar still had a lot of fingers left from the ten fingers she has, if she counted
ΕΠ
Even when David touched her, he only did it quickly, without feeling, without care, let alone affection. Just sex. Really quick sex
Skylar had felt a glimmer of hope that David might have started to feel something for her. She had responded enthusiastically to him, but before she could enjoy the moment, David had called Jenna’s name and had an orgasm.
That was the last time David had touched her and he didn’t even remember Peking Skylar while thinking about Jenna, sobering up.
the
next morning after
Her feet carried her out of the restroom in a daze. She walked straight to a small pharmacy tucked in the corner of the terminal, her fingers gripping two pregnancy test packs, She paid for it in silence, her mind an empty void.
Back in the restroom, she locked herself in a stall, tore open the package, and followed the instructions with shaking hands.
Minutes passed in unbearable stillness.
Then, two red lines appeared.
Positive.
Skylar held back tears as she ripped open the second test, hoping the first one might have been inaccurate.
Again. Two very clear red lines.
The test chartered to the floor as her breath left her in a shuddering sob.
She pressed a hand to her stomach, her mind racing. She was pregnant. David’s child was growing inside her
Tears streamed down her face as a surge of emotions crashed over her–fear, confusion, heartbreak. What was she supposed to do now!
For several long minutes, she remained there, trying to collect herself. Finally, she wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and walked out.
When she reached the ticket counter, she spoke with newfound resolve
“One ticket to Australia. One way. Give me the earliest flight available”
It was time to leave everything behind.
