After eight years of marriage, my husband, Robert, ignored my objections and brought his “cancer-stricken” first love, Chloe, home. “You wicked woman, you have no sympathy! You’re not even worth a single strand of Chloe’s hair!” My son, Caleb, echoed his words, threatening that if I didn’t let Chloe into the house, he wouldn’t acknowledge me as his mother. My heart completely broken, I initiated the divorce and accepted the design world’s invitation, making a triumphant return to the top. But they only started crying when they saw the fake cancer diagnosis. “Stella, my love, I was manipulated by her! You’re the only one I’ve ever loved!” “Mommy, are you abandoning Caleb? I’m your only child!” I didn’t even spare them a glance. What are these stray dogs doing? They’re blocking my path to the awards! … “Chloe’s health is very poor right now. I’ve decided to bring her home to care for her.” I lowered my gaze. Contrasting sharply with the steaming hot meal, lay a cancer diagnosis. This was Robert’s eight-year wedding anniversary gift to me. Seeing my expression, Chloe, leaning weakly in his arms, spoke delicately, “Robert, let’s not. I don’t think Stella wants me here.” “Besides, I’m practically dying. You shouldn’t worry about me.” “Don’t talk nonsense, Chloe. You’ll get better.” Then, Robert turned to me, yelling furiously, “Stella, are you even human?! You can’t even tolerate a sick person! How can you be such a cold-blooded example for Caleb?” As soon as Caleb heard his dad, he started hitting my leg with his tiny hands. “You’re mean! If you don’t let Pretty Auntie move in, I won’t want you as my mommy!” The hot soup on the table had long gone cold, just like my heart. Two similar faces, one big, one small, were righteously accusing me. One was the man I’d loved for eight years, the other the child I’d raised for seven. During Robert’s countless nights away, if I had one last glimmer of hope, it was Caleb. There was a time when he would hold my hand and sweetly call me “Mommy.” But now, for another woman, he declared he didn’t want me as his mom anymore. In an instant, disappointment outweighed anger. I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh and turned to go back to my room. But Robert called out to me: “Stella, Chloe is sick. Let her sleep in your room.” “You pack your things now; from now on, you’ll be living in the attic.” I took a deep breath, walked straight into my room, and with trembling hands, dialed that familiar number. “Linda, I’m willing to come back to work.” The voice on the other end of the line was ecstatic. “Really? Stella, you’ve finally come to your senses! Giving up your career for your family back then was a loss for the entire design world! I’ll arrange everything for you right now!” I agreed with a bitter smile, immediately booking a flight for the next month. Linda happily posted it on SnapChat, and right below her post, I saw Robert’s. His username was “Clouds Part, Revealing the Bright Moon.” He used to tell me that it symbolized meeting me. But it wasn’t until Chloe stood before me that I realized “Bright Moon” referred to Chloe. The SnapChat story photos were of him and Caleb with Chloe at a dessert shop that afternoon. The caption read: 【Sweet treats are best shared with sweet people.】 Yet, he and Caleb usually hated sweets. Chloe’s overly radiant smile pierced my eyes. It wasn’t that they didn’t eat sweets; it was just that I was never the “sweet person” they wanted to share them with. Someone commented below: 【Mr. Robert, aren’t you worried your wife will leave you?】 Robert replied with just three words. 【She wouldn’t dare.】 He was right. I wouldn’t dare. Back then, I fell for Robert’s “I’ll love you forever” nonsense, quitting my job without a second thought. I became a homemaker, and that’s what I was for eight long years. Now, apart from him and Caleb, I had nothing. Feeling lightheaded and dizzy, Robert walked over, offering me a box of cake. “Here, I remember you used to love strawberry.” The cake had been left out for too long; the strawberries on top had already sunk into the collapsed cream. What was this, Chloe’s leftovers? I raised my hand and threw the cake directly into the trash can. Robert was furious, gritting his teeth as he yelled at me, “Stella, what the hell is wrong with you!” “Trash.” Hearing my words, his anger intensified. “And here I was, thinking it was our anniversary, going out of my way to buy you a gift! You’re so ungrateful!” “Yes! I am ungrateful. From today on, you buy one, I’ll throw one!” Robert raised his hand, but his fist ultimately didn’t land on me. Instead, it slammed down fiercely on our wedding photo. As he stormed off, the frame crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. I knelt, silently picking up the mess. Amidst the shattered pieces, I realized something. When I cried, my tear-streaked face bore a disturbing 70% resemblance to Chloe’s. I didn’t try to pick up the photo. Instead, I simply tore it to shreds. 2. The next day, Robert woke up early. After eight years of never cooking, he uncharacteristically made a table full of breakfast. Chloe sat nearby, happily eating: “Robert, you’re so good to me.” “Silly girl, if I don’t treat you well, who will? I made your favorite shrimp omelet; you’re not feeling well, so you need to take care of yourself.” “Yes, Pretty Auntie, eat this, it’s delicious.” The three of them sat at the table, so perfectly harmonious, it was as if I were the outsider. Seeing me, Robert cleared his throat. “I made some shrimp dumplings. Have some.” “Yes, Robert’s dumplings are really good, you should try one!” Chloe said, then picked up a dumpling and placed it in my bowl. Expressionless, I dumped the dumpling into the trash. Chloe’s eyes instantly welled up. “Stella, even if you have a problem with me, you shouldn’t waste Robert’s kindness.” The moment she started crying, Robert’s heart broke into a million pieces, and he snapped at me coldly. “Stella, I tolerated it last night, but who are you pulling that miserable face for this morning? Can you stop acting out!” “I have stomach ulcers and can’t eat seafood, don’t you know that?” Robert froze. When Caleb was little, he was so fussy. To take care of him, my eating habits were always irregular. Over time, I developed stomach issues. Perhaps he didn’t even remember. There was a time when he would meticulously pick out every single piece of shrimp from my pizza for me. Chloe blinked. “Stomach ulcers are fine. I’d eat Robert’s homemade breakfast completely, even if I had to take stomach medicine.” Caleb chimed in with a sneer, “Exactly! Pretty Auntie isn’t high-maintenance like *some* people!” Robert was no longer lost in thought; he smiled, his expression full of doting affection. “Alright, my precious, your good intentions are enough. Your body can’t handle such stress right now.” I didn’t want to watch their melodramatic scene any longer, so I dropped my forks directly. “Then you’d better eat all of it. Don’t leave any of that garbage.” Back in my room, I began to focus on my old profession. After all, I’d been out of the design world for eight years, so I was bound to be a little rusty. But the laughter and noise from outside my door were so loud, I found it hard to concentrate. Chloe was outside, asking Caleb with a laugh: “What do you think of your mom?” “She’s so annoying! She’s always nagging, dresses like a beggar, and always restricts my snacks!” Chloe giggled from the side. “What about me?” “You take me out to play and buy me delicious things. You’re super nice.” “Then would you like to call me your godmother?” Caleb immediately called her “Godmother” sweetly. Inside my room, I felt a chill penetrate to my very core again. Caleb was born with a delicate constitution, requiring more meticulous care than a normal child. Robert never bothered with him due to company matters. For all these years, I had to quit my job and raise him little by little. But I never imagined that in his heart, I was worth far less than a stranger who took him out for fun and treats. The pitter-patter of rain outside the window brought me back to reality. It was raining. I suddenly remembered the flowers I’d placed on the balcony. I hurried out to bring them in, but the flowers on the balcony had already been maliciously destroyed, beyond recognition. Before I could even feel bad for them, I heard a click. The balcony door was locked from the outside. “Caleb, open the door!” I desperately pounded on the door. But I could only see Caleb outside, calling to Chloe, “Godmother, come look at the drowned rat!” Chloe laughed, tapping his head lightly. “You little rascal. Come on, Godmother will take you to buy snacks.” “Yay!” Caleb ignored me, bouncing happily as he took Chloe’s hand and left. Thunder flashed and roared in the sky, and I huddled in the corner, thoroughly chilled, from body to soul. It wasn’t until the last petal fell that Robert finally let me out of the balcony. Under the bright lights, my face was deathly pale, my hair soaked and disheveled from the rain, making me look like a ghost. Chloe covered her mouth, feigning innocence. “Oh, Stella, what happened to you?” Caleb, meanwhile, hid behind her, making mocking faces at me. And Robert, after learning what happened, merely frowned at me. “Stella, you’re a grown woman. How could you get locked on the balcony? Be more careful next time.” I didn’t speak; I just wanted to grab Caleb. Robert panicked and shoved me away. “What are you doing? Are you seriously going to argue with a child? He might not know better, but you’re an adult!” He pushed me, and I lost my balance, falling directly to the ground, utterly disgraced. Caleb instantly burst out laughing. In this twisted trial, I, the complete and utter victim, became the sole accused. 3. I looked at them, father and son, and let out a bitter laugh, then another. Then I stood up and walked towards them, expressionless. They must have thought I was coming to reconcile, because both of them, big and small, had an undeniable look of smug triumph on their faces. “Slap—slap—” I slapped each of them. Caleb’s eyes widened. He covered his face, crying and demanding to be held by Chloe. “I don’t want you! You mean mommy! You vicious woman! You deserve to be all alone!” Robert was even more furious now. He gasped for breath, glaring at me. Chloe, ever the master of playing the victim, grabbed Robert and immediately started criticizing me: “Stella, Caleb is just a child. How could you, his mother—” “Slap—” “Annoying.” I’d wanted to hit her for ages. Seeing Chloe conveniently faint, Caleb stopped his wailing in shock. Robert frantically picked her up, about to rush out, but not before giving me a warning. “If Chloe’s condition worsens, you’ll regret it!” Perhaps fearing I’d abuse Caleb at home, he dragged his son away with him. Good, they’re all gone. The house was finally quiet. After being drenched on the balcony all afternoon yesterday, I developed a fever in the middle of the night. I forced myself up, trying to find fever medicine. In a hazy, feverish state, I felt someone approaching me. I struggled to open my eyes and saw Chloe’s scornful, disdainful gaze. “Stella, you look pathetic, like a stray dog right now. If I hadn’t gone abroad, do you think Robert would have even looked at you?” As if remembering something, she giggled coquettishly. “But it doesn’t matter. Robert only loves me now, and your son only sees me as his mom.” “Honestly, a woman like you? You might as well just bash your head in and end it.” The sheer rage surged through me, and I shook my head, clearing my mind almost instantly. Seeing she was about to speak again, I raised my hand and slapped her once more. Chloe curled her lips into a smirk, then deliberately toppled backward, landing perfectly, *conveniently*, in Robert’s arms as he opened the door and walked in. In his arms, Chloe cried, tears streaming down her face like a tragic beauty. “Robert, I was just worried Stella was still angry, so I wanted to check on her, but she hit me again.” She clutched her chest. “Robert, I’m in so much pain. I’ve been hit twice in a row, I can’t bear it anymore. Am I going to die?” Robert’s face darkened, and he grabbed my throat. “Stella, do you have any idea Chloe is sick right now! You’ve hurt her again and again today, you’re trying to kill her!” Suddenly losing the ability to breathe, my head filled with a deafening buzz. Robert didn’t release me until I was on the verge of suffocation. He shot me a venomous glare. “I try to be kind, and this is what I get! Chloe just got back from the hospital, and you’re deliberately trying to make her miserable!” He finished speaking and was about to carry Chloe to the hospital again. This time, she stopped him, and after much coaxing and sweet-talking, she led him into the master bedroom. Before long, suggestive sounds began to emanate from the master bedroom. I wasn’t in the mood to care if they were having an affair. My body temperature soared, and both my heart and stomach burned with agonizing pain. I crouched down, recovering for a long time, before finally getting up to find and take the fever medicine. Fortunately, because of Chloe’s incident, Robert and Caleb didn’t come home for days, and I finally had some peace. But soon, a headache-inducing problem arose. Caleb’s school teacher called, saying he had gotten into a fight. I immediately called Robert, but he hung up on me instantly. I pursed my lips and sent a text message. 【Caleb got into trouble at school, they need you to go check it out.】 【I’m busy.】 After that, there was complete silence. Just like every time before, whenever Caleb got into trouble, his father was always expertly invisible. This time, if he wasn’t going, then neither would I. 4. But I miscalculated one thing: it was *my* phone number that the elementary school teacher had. The constant calls bombarded me to the point where I couldn’t even work on my designs, so I finally had to leave. But as soon as I arrived, I saw Chloe beside Caleb. Suddenly, two “moms” appeared, leaving the teacher looking utterly bewildered. Caleb pointed at me, loudly proclaiming in front of everyone: “She’s not my mom, she’s just our housekeeper!” Then he affectionately clung to Chloe. “This is my mom!” Chloe smiled, stroking his head, her eyes flashing with unconcealed triumph as she looked at me. “Stella, why don’t you go home? I’ll handle things here.” I stood rooted to the spot, almost numb, watching these two, so intimately close. Fine. Since he’s made his choice. From now on, Chloe would be his mother. “Caleb, you’re right. From now on, Chloe is your mom. As far as I’m concerned, I never gave birth to you.” After that, I lived like a ghost in the house, indifferent to everything. I locked myself in my room, immersing myself in design day and night. And from Linda, I received a piece of shocking news: Chloe’s medical records were fake. I closed my eyes and thought back to her behavior during this period. Her lies were actually quite clumsy, but Robert’s love had covered for her, choosing to turn a blind eye to every loophole. I quietly collected the evidence, intending to give it to Robert as a parting gift. Perhaps accustomed to my previous anger and coldness, Robert seemed unsettled by my current indifference. He uncharacteristically spared some time away from Chloe for me. He started sending me flowers and gifts, just like when we were dating. Back then, he’d sworn he’d love Stella forever. But “forever” was too short; it hadn’t even lasted eight years. And now, I no longer anticipated that ridiculous love. On my birthday, Robert said he had a surprise for me. And his gift truly was a surprise. It was a divorce agreement. Robert’s face was ashen. “Chloe’s condition has worsened. For her treatment, we need someone to make decisions. Stella, let’s get a divorce first.” “I promise you, as soon as Chloe gets through this, we’ll remarry immediately!” Afraid I wouldn’t agree, he pleaded, explained, and swore solemn oaths. But he didn’t need to do any of that. I would definitely sign those divorce papers. Of course, before I did, I demanded that all assets be transferred to my name. Robert, uncharacteristically, frowned, but fearing I might change my mind, he said nothing more and signed the papers with a flourish. I glanced at Caleb. “Who do you want to live with?” Caleb snorted, looking at me with undisguised contempt. “My last name is Robert’s, so of course I’ll stay with Dad. We’re the real family.” After saying that, he made a few mocking faces at me, then ran to Robert’s side and took his hand. I nodded. “You said at school last time that Chloe was your mom. Indeed, you finally got what you wished for. Congratulations.” I didn’t care about their reactions behind me. I put the divorce agreement in my bag and went back to pack my things. Since our marriage, I had poured all my energy into them, father and son, leaving me with very few personal belongings. In less than ten minutes, I had finished packing and left the place I had lived for eight years. Meanwhile, Robert looked at the divorce certificate in his hand, a dull ache in his chest. He felt as if he had lost something important. But as he looked at Chloe’s smiling, crescent-shaped eyes on his phone screen, he forcibly reassured himself. “She loves me so much, she’ll tolerate whatever idiotic things I do.” “This time, it’ll surely be like before. It’s just a few arguments; there’s no way she’d actually leave me.” But when he arrived home and saw the obviously cleared-out house, Robert’s face went deathly pale, his blood turning to ice in his veins. He frantically rushed into my room, only to find the divorce gift I’d left for him on the desk. The fake cancer evidence.
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