But Kate didn’t show up, and instead, Greg’s
secretary appeared, looking panicked: “Mr. Greg, I’m sorry, but your wife is gone!”
Chapter 2
Greg stared at the dress he’d had sent over
with his secretary, still neatly folded in the box. He didn’t get it. He frowned and said, “What do
<
11:05
you mean, she’s gone? Is she not at home?”
“I don’t think it’s just that…..” His secretary
handed him the divorce papers with an
awkward look.
Greg was stunned.
Before he could even speak, Ashley walked
over, rubbing her belly. She saw the papers and snorted, “Kate is being so dramatic, like she’s still a teenager. What a joke.”
“Honey, she’s just mad you defended me
yesterday. You know how she is, she wants you on your hands and knees, begging her to come back, like some prize to win. She’s been playing these games forever.”
“Seriously, she was the one who hit me first. The nerve of her. After you went through the trouble of planning that birthday party for her and designing that dress! She’s heartless.” “Don’t worry, honey. Ignore her. She’ll be back. She’s almost thirty, had all those miscarriages,
and can’t even have kids. Who’d want her? She
practically begs for your attention, like a little
puppy. She needs to be taught her place.”
Grog said nothing
staring at the divorco
47
Greg said nothing, staring at the divorce
papers. The “Kate” on the signature line was so
forcefully scrawled it almost tore through the
paper. He knew Kate well enough to know this
wasn’t a game.
Not long after they got married, Kate got
pregnant with their first child. He remembered
they were watching videos on the couch one
day, and a woman kept threatening her husband
with divorce, until the guy finally gave in. Greg
always thought that was weak, he hated being
threatened.
Kate told him, very seriously, “Greg, if I marry
you, I’m never gonna say the word ‘divorce.‘ But
if I ever do, you’ll know it’s serious.”
At the time, he was too focused on getting rid.
of the baby, because Ashley had come crying to
him about how Mark couldn’t have kids and if
he didn’t become the CEO, she was going to
suffer. He had brushed off her words, and now
his heart was racing.
When Ashley finished her spiel, he noticed
people around them were starting to snicker.
<
Not at him, but at Kate. Because of her
miscarriages, people had started calling her “The Baby Killer“. Greg had heard the rumors before and would just laugh it off.
But now, the looks felt intrusive, and he was
getting annoyed at Ashley. It was Kate’s
birthday. Why did she have to insult her in front
of all those people? Everyone knows Kate’s had
her miscarriages. What was her point?
Greg’s face fell. “Ashley, Kate is your aunt–in-
law. You shouldn’t be calling her by her first
name all the time. It’s disrespectful.”
Ashley looked shocked, and said, “Oh, right. I’m
just so used to it, we’re friends!”
“Friends?” Greg looked at her with a hard
edge. “I’ve known Kate since she was a kid.
She’s never been some puppy, begging for
attention, and she’s never chased after any guy.
You stole Mark and she just let it go. What you
just said, that’s what you call a friend?”
Greg looked around the room. “The party’s
over. I’m going to find my wife. Everyone can
leave.”
<
Greg, who would usually give in to her, wasn’t
having it this time. He always thought Ashley
was delicate and needed him to look after her.
But her words just now, had changed his mind.
She was fake.
Greg pulled away. “Go see a doctor, Mark
should be coming back today. You should have
your husband take care of you. I’m just your
uncle–in–law now.”
“I’ve done what I could do for you. From now
on, you’re on your own. I’m gonna go find Kate
now.”
“And don’t ever talk about her like that again.
Don’t take advantage of her then insult her at
the same time. You need to have some shame.”
Then he walked out, not looking back.
When he got home, his private doctor called.
“Mr. Greg, your fashion show for Ashley wasn’t
supposed to be public, so how is it all over the
internet? What if your wife sees it? She just had
a miscarriage.”
Greg realized someone had been taking
pictures of him and Ashley, posting them for
<
attention.
Had Kate seen it too?
His email pinged. It was the audio message
from Kate.
Greg opened it up, excited but when he heard
her words, his face went white. Kate knew
everything that night. That’s why she was
begging him not to let her drink that milk.
What had he done?
“Hello? Mr. Greg, you there? If you have the
time, please bring your wife in for a check up.” “She can’t go…”
