Chapter 4

I didn’t take Eric’s strangely confident words to heart. I blocked him on my phone, every social media account, and every messaging app I had. I never expected to run into the last person I wanted to see at a charity gala. Diane Carter sat in her wheelchair, still looking regal and refined. When she saw me, her maid pushed her right over. We stood alone in a quiet corner. She leaned in, her voice so low no one else could hear—just like when she used to humiliate me at twenty, she was ready to do it all over again. “Still playing hard to get, are you? What a joke!” She sneered. “Stop pretending. You only came here to get my son’s attention!” She looked me up and down with nothing but disdain. “I’ll say it again. Someone like you will never be more than a plaything for my son!” Her next words were knives. “Don’t forget, years ago, Eric made you take an entire bottle of that stuff—forced you to drink it all, didn’t he!” “That drug means you’ll never have kids. Now I just let him be obsessed with you—once he’s bored, he’ll see a useless woman like you isn’t worth anything!” Ten years ago, I didn’t just almost lose my chance to ever have children—I nearly died. When he found out I was pregnant with his rival’s child, he was frantic—crying, desperate—and forced me to swallow those pills that would end the pregnancy. Back then, he said, “As long as you don’t have this baby, I’ll make myself keep loving you.” “I’m giving you a chance to fix this. Just listen to me, be good and take the pills.” What he didn’t know was, I wanted this child gone even more than he did. I refused the pills—not because I wanted to keep the baby, but because his mother had switched them out and doubled the dose. Eric saw me resist and decided I must have cheated on him and fallen for his rival—that’s why I didn’t want the pills. That’s what he thought. That day, I lay on the floor, writhing in agony as blood slowly spread across the carpet. And when Angela called Eric to take her for a pregnancy check, he left me alone in that room. He’ll never know I almost died because of him. Diane’s mocking laugh snapped me back to reality. Anger burned in my throat—I couldn’t swallow it down. I raised my hand and slapped her, right there for everyone to see. “Having a mother like you is a disgrace for Eric Carter!” Diane’s furious expression changed in a heartbeat. She covered her cheek, tears springing to her eyes as she wailed, “I know I was wrong to stand in your way before.” “I’m truly sorry. I hope you and Eric can be together.” “If it’ll make you feel better, hit me as much as you want.” Her crying and my slap drew everyone’s attention, just as Eric rushed over. He reached for me, trying to hold me close. “You came here to see me—that’s all I could ever want.” “Vivian, can you just give me and my mom a little respect in front of all these people? Do whatever you want once we’re home.” His voice was soft, just for me. I stepped away, cold and distant. “Eric Carter, keep your mother on a leash!” “If this happens again, it won’t just be a slap!” My words annoyed the onlookers. “That girl sure talks tough—she even hit and scolded an elder. She must have no manners at all!” The one speaking didn’t know me, but I recognized him—a hanger-on for the Carter family, always trying to win favor, hoping to get scraps from their business. A balding man in his forties, all fake smiles, looking like a loyal lapdog. But then— “Who said my wife doesn’t know how to behave?!” “My mommy is the best—you’re the one with no manners!” My three-year-old son and husband’s voices boomed out at the same time. The crowd parted and I saw them—my husband and our son, striding over with confidence and strength. The look on Eric’s face changed instantly.