As I left, I saw a brief flicker of panic in Quentin's eyes.

However, just as he was about to chase after me, Kelly was suddenly howling in pain and clutching her belly. "Quentin, my stomach hurts…"

Quentin worriedly took her hands. "What's wrong?"

Kelly's face was pale, but she pretended to care more about us. "I'm alright, Quentin! You have to get Jolin back—I think she's really upset."

Quentin remained hesitant, but he soon shook his head. "She's just throwing a tantrum. Honestly, she doesn't know enough to read the room, trying to grab my attention when you're pregnant. Let's get you checked again—I'll talk to her later tonight."

And with that, he scooped her up in his arms and returned to the clinic.

As for me, I returned to my house alone.

It used to be a place of warmth and happiness, but now, it was cold and desolate.

Ever since Kelly returned to the country, Quentin rarely came home, leaving me alone in the huge house.

Still, I started to clean up.

I took my wedding photo of the wall and flung it violently into a garbage bag, and I packed all my belongings into a suitcase.

However, when I reached the door, I saw two figures approaching.

Quentin had actually taken Kelly home!

There was a hint of guilt on his face when he saw my suitcase, and he quickly said, "Kelly's sick. I brought her back so she can rest."

"Rest?" I snorted. "Is our house a hotel? Don't you know enough to send her to the hospital? This isn't the maternity ward!"

Rage appeared in Kelly's eyes for a moment, but she soon pouted miserably. "I knew you never liked me, but Quentin and I are innocent. I'm just alone and helpless, and he's the only one I can count on to take care of me. I'll be gone as soon as I deliver my baby—I swear I won't be a bother…"

It was a clear insult, and I glared at her coldly in turn. "I don't want to see your face right now. Leave."

Quentin frowned right then. "How can you be so cold?! Kelly's pregnant! Where should she stay, huh?! At least we can both take care of her if she stays with us!"

I took a deep breath and calmly said, "This is my house. I don't want her in it."

That left Quentin at a loss, but that was when Kelly grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly, sniffling, "My stomach's hurting again. Do you think the baby's really fine?"

Quentin's face dropped, and he wheeled on me, bellowing, "You're a woman too, Jolin! How can you be so cold?! Kelly's pregnant and has no one to count on, but you can't even sympathize! If you don't like it here, you can leave! I won't let Kelly's baby get hurt, one way or another!"

I felt myself dying inside even as I held his gaze, but I eventually nodded. "Fine, I'll leave. Tonight's the last night, and I'll be gone tomorrow."

And with that, I picked up the garbage bag and started out the door.

Kelly clearly saw the wedding photo in the bag and feigned surprise as she gasped, "Oh, Ms. Lester, please, calm down! How could you leave your own wedding photo in pieces?'

Quentin saw it too but snorted in disdain. "Don't bother—she's just bluffing like she always does. She won't ever leave me, and she'll calm down before long."

I trudged on silently into the cold winter night, the chill of the winds cutting into my bones.

Even so, I opened the trash chute and threw the wedding photo inside, and with it, all my love for Quentin.

I had just reached the doorway when I saw Kelly putting her things in the nursery, which Quentin had prepared for our baby after I got pregnant.

My rage flared right then—we had picked the decorations to the furniture in that room together, and everything in there was a symbol of our love for our baby.

But now, Quentin was letting Kelly sleep there?! Was he going to let her use everything in there for her baby too?!

I shook with rage as Kelly smiled at me smugly, lying flat on the small bed meant for my baby.

I rushed up, intent on dragging her off, but she was screaming as she suddenly fell out of the bed even before I reached her.

Quentin rushed into the room when he heard her and promptly grabbed my wrist and dragged me outside, glaring at me in rage as he growled, "What are you doing?!"

I glared at him in turn, tears of grief welling up in my eyes as my voice cracked in tears. "Are you letting Kelly have that room too?!"

Quentin appeared briefly apologetic but soon frowned. "What's the problem? She's just staying for a while anyway, and she likes it."

I gaped at him, incredulous. "You said it yourself! This is going to be our baby's room—"

He cut me off right then. "Just stop it! What's gotten into you lately?! Why are you being so unreasonable?! I told you she isn't staying here forever—she's just staying for a while!

"Hell, you're disappointing me so much that I'm beginning to wonder if it's a mistake marrying you! Or do you want our baby to live without a father?!"

My heart was in pieces even as I looked at him—he was threatening to leave me and my baby if I continued my antics.

I hung my head to hide my disappointment and turned to leave in silence.

I could see the hint of guilt on Quentin's face, but he quickly hid it as he spoke again behind me, his tone gentler this time. "I can just make a better room for the baby later anyway…"

A better room?

No, I wasn't giving him the chance.

I was going to take my baby away from her father who clearly didn't love her.

I continued ahead, smiling wryly.

Soon, Kelly called out meekly, "Quentin…"

Quentin stopped talking right then, and I turned to see him hurrying to her.

As it turned out, my absence didn't even matter to him.

Later, Kelly started sending me many voice messages, and Quentins's voice was ever so affectionate in them.

"Don't worry about Jolin. She's always so petty—she'll be fine in a couple of days.

"You can stay here with no worries. I'll also arrange for renovations if there's anything in your room that doesn't suit your tastes."

As I listened to all those recordings of Quention's tender voice, that was when I realized that yes, he was good to me and cared so much about our unborn child before, but it was all practice, for the sake of Kelly and her baby.

Even the nursery was made for her sake.

Tears of misery streamed down my cheeks, and my heart hurt so much I couldn't even breathe.

The love I prided myself with was a joke all along.

That was when I felt a kick in my belly—my baby seemed to sense my mood.

I quickly assured her, "It's alright, baby. You won't have to stay with a daddy who doesn't love us."

Quentin doted on Kelly even more after she moved in, while I became virtually invisible.

With that, what last vestiges of hope I had for Quentin went up in smoke.

One night, I was going downstairs to get some water when I suddenly heard Kelly's voice from the guest room. "Quen, I can't sleep."

Quentin asked in concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"

Kelly sighed. "Oh, it's just the baby… she always starts kicking when it gets late. But I heard that the necklace your family passed down can help soothe one's nerves… May I borrow it?"

Quentin was silent for a moment, but he soon said quietly, "No problem. I'll get it from her—she can have it back after you deliver your baby."

I felt a pang of pain on my chest as I listened.

That necklace wasn't just priceless—it was a symbol of status, passed down among the ladies of the Smith household across generations.

Quentin himself had given it to me when we got married, telling me that it would only belong to me.

That I was the only one he loved.

That I was now the lady of her house.

But now, he was taking it away, so he could give it to another woman just because she asked.

I covered my mouth, refusing to cry out, but that was when the floorboards beneath my feet suddenly creaked softly.

The next second, the door opened, and Quentin appeared.

He was stunned for a moment when he saw me, and a look of guilt showed as he asked, "What are you doing staying up so late?"

I looked up into his eyes, fighting back my grief as I replied, "I needed a drink. Kelly wants my necklace?"

Quentin appeared a little embarrassed. "She's not sleeping well, and the necklace really soothes one's nerves. Don't worry, she's just borrowing it for a while—she'll return it to you after her baby is born."

I nodded and said readily, "Okay, but on one condition."

Quentin's face lit up, and he took a step forward, wanting to hug me. "Oh, Jolin! You're such a considerate person. Don't worry, after Kelly delivers her baby, I'll definitely—"

I quickly stepped back, avoiding his touch—the scent of Kelly's perfume was clinging to him, and it repulsed me.

That cut Quentin off mid-sentence, but he quickly recovered and continued, "Once Kelly gives birth, I'll definitely make it up to you… Look, Jolin—you'll always be my wife and the lady of this house. No one will ever change that."

I nodded, impassive as I said, "Like I said, on one condition."

Turning, I went upstairs to pick up the divorce papers I had prepared, flipped to the signature page, and handed them to him.

Quentin, assuming it was just a matter of his name, signing it without thinking twice. "It's alright—you can buy anything you want. I'll pay."

With that, I unfastened the necklace from my neck and handed it to him, calmly saying, "Here, take it—in fact, Kelly can keep it as long as she wants."

Quentin took the necklace, his fingers trembling a little, and clearly intent on correcting me.

However, all he ended up saying was, "Don't worry, Jo. I'll make it up to you after Kelly gives birth."

I nodded and started back upstairs, when he suddenly reached out to hug me again.

I avoided his touch once more, and this time, I could see a brief flicker of pain in his eyes.

But he said nothing else and returned into Kelly's room with the necklace right away, and she was squealing in delight at the very next second. "Quen, you really got it? Oh, you really spoil me too much!"

I stared outside the window, my heart cold as ice.

Tomorrow.

Once tomorrow ended, I would be gone from this place.