Chapter 1
At the law firm, Emma Corsie finished signing all the documents. She glanced at the blank space where the husband’s signature was supposed to go, then looked up and asked the attorney, “Is it okay if I sign for him?”
The lawyer hesitated, pushing up his glasses. “Only if you have his explicit consent.‘
She paused, then pulled out her phone and dialed Braydon’s number. A woman’s voice answered–Caitlin, sweetly whining, “Braydon, I’m craving dessert from the west side of the city…”
Emma felt a sharp pain in her chest but forced herself to stay calm. “There’s something I want to discuss with you.”
Soon, Braydon’s deep voice came through. “What is it, Emma? I’m really busy right now. Whatever it is, just handle it.”
“You’re saying I can decide on your behalf?”
He chuckled softly. “Of course. We’ve been married for years. Haven’t you always handled everything at home?”
“In that case, I’ll take care of it.”
After ending the call, Emma lowered her gaze and carefully signed Braydon’s name in the space.
As she was leaving, the lawyer reminded her, “Mrs. Lederer, the divorce will take effect in a month. You can still withdraw it if you
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change your mind.”
She smiled, the sound barely audible. “No. I won’t regret this.”
This marriage was over.
From the law firm, she got in a cab and headed straight to the hospital.
“Hi, I’m here for an abortion.”
“Are you sure?” the doctor asked after glancing at her chart. “The baby is perfectly healthy.”
“I’m sure.”
The cold clatter of surgical instruments sent chills down her spine as she lay on the operating table.
She closed her eyes, remembering the way Braydon used to chase after
her.
Back in college, during the welcome ceremony, he was giving a speech as student council president–but the moment he saw her, he forgot all
his lines.
Everyone said the heartthrob of the finance department had finally fallen hard.
The guy who’d never shown interest in women pursued her relentlessly for a full year.
On the first snowfall of the year, he stood outside her dorm with 999 roses, waiting all night in the snow.
One stormy night, she casually mentioned craving cake from the west
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side, and he drove across half the city in pouring rain to get it for her.
But what moved her most was the school anniversary gala.
She was performing a piano solo when a key jammed, freezing her in place in front of the entire crowd.
Then Braydon walked right onto the stage and sat beside her.
“I’ll play with you,” he whispered.
His long fingers touched the keys, and together, they finished “Dream Wedding.”
The audience erupted in cheers, but he only looked at her and said softly, “Emma, I can’t imagine a life without you.”
That was when she fell for him.
And he kept his word. From dating to marriage, he treated her like a
treasure.
The only thing she couldn’t quite get over was Caitlin, who was always lingering in the background.
“I only see Caitlin as a sister,” he’d say. “Her grandfather once saved mine. Now that the Ritchie family has fallen on hard times, I can’t turn my back on her.”
Emma believed him.
But little by little, Caitlin became a shadow between them.
She lost count of how many times she had to make way for her.
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Last year on her birthday, Braydon had promised to take Emma to see the Northern Lights, but canceled last minute because Caitlin had a fever.
On their anniversary, Emma had prepared a whole night of surprises- only for Braydon to ditch her after Caitlin called, scared of thunder.
Even when Emma had a 39–degree Celsius fever, Braydon was off riding a Ferris wheel with Caitlin, happily helping her post stories on social media.
She put up with it. Over and over. Until now, when he even denied
their child for Caitlin’s sake.
If that’s how it was going to be, then she didn’t want the child.
And she didn’t want Braydon either.
When the operating room lights went out, Emma felt like a piece of her soul had been taken away with them.
She leaned against the wall as she walked out, her legs still shaking, a dull ache radiating from her abdomen.
But then, as she turned the corner, she froze, staring at the scene in front of her like she’d stepped into a nightmare.
There, on a bench, Braydon was kneeling with one car pressed to Caitlin’s gently rounded belly.
“The baby just kicked me!” Caitlin’s eyes lit up as she giggled. “Braydon, they say babies who kick a lot are smarter!”
Braydon smiled and gently caressed her belly. “I just want the baby to be safe and healthy.”
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Emma’s grip on her medical records tightened.
The paper crumpled in her palm with a strained rustle, like the sound of her heart breaking into pieces.
She should’ve stormed over, should’ve demanded to know if he realized that while he was doting on another woman’s child, their child was being torn from her body by cold steel instruments.
She should’ve asked if he remembered how thrilled he’d been when he
first found out she was pregnant, how he’d lifted her and spun her around with joy.
But Emma did none of that.
She just stood there in silence, watching them bask in the sunlight like the perfect couple.
All her anger, pain, and resentment slowly dissolved into one overwhelming emotion–exhaustion.
She turned to leave. And just then, Braydon’s voice called out behind
her.
“Emma?” He sounded surprised. “What are you doing at the hospital?”
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