I spent two hours walking home from the courthouse. As I approached my house, I noticed someone lurking suspiciously outside. A quick glance was enough to recognize him—Benicio Rice, that dubious character embroiled in a shady affair with Kolton Ferguson in a different time.

What was this scoundrel doing at my doorstep? What could he possibly want?

I remembered how, in my previous life, I often spotted Benicio sneaking around at night with Marceline Hart. At one point, I suspected the child Marceline carried was Benicio’s. I tried telling Kolton, but he brushed my concerns aside.

Later, after Marceline suffered a miscarriage and died from excessive bleeding, Benicio came to me, vowing revenge over what he called a blood debt. Shortly after, Kolton and Benicio framed me, catching us in a compromising situation. Those two had plotted to avenge Marceline’s demise by setting me up.

It’s baffling how smitten they were with Marceline. I wonder if they even knew about their tangled mess with her. Logic would suggest they were clueless.

A cold smile crept across my face. If Kolton and Benicio discovered they were both mere pawns in Marceline’s game, I’d love to see their reactions.

As I mulled this over, Benicio approached me with a sycophantic smile. “Hey, Alaina! What’s been happening?”

I sneered, “What else? Filing for divorce!”

Spotting the divorce papers in my hand, Benicio’s eyes lit up. “You really went through with it?”

“Yep, Kolton’s busy playing nursemaid to Marceline’s unborn child, so he pushed me to divorce him. He thinks I don’t see his little tricks, but I know exactly what’s going on.”

Benicio paused, confused. “What do you mean?”

“What else could it mean? Kolton and that tramp Marceline are living it up!” I laughed sharply. “Marceline isn’t just fooling around with Kolton—she’s also involved with the guys from the power plant, the boiler factory, and the machine shop..."

I ticked off names on my fingers. “That woman's got some nerve—she’s juggling at least seven or eight guys, and who knows whose kid she’s carrying!”

Watching Benicio’s face sour as I rattled off Marceline’s many lovers was almost comical. He’d always thought he was her one and only and that the child she carried was his.

Benicio had decent looks, but he was a slacker without a dime to his name. So, when Marceline got pregnant, he couldn’t afford to support her child. They’d planned for Kolton to be the unsuspecting provider.

Benicio assumed Marceline married Kolton to have him raise the baby. Now, discovering Marceline's double-cross with Kolton, he must be crushed.

In my past life, Benicio and Kolton blamed me for Marceline’s death and schemed against me. In this life, I'll let these wretched souls tear each other apart.

Benicio stormed off in a huff, leaving me smirking as I stepped back into the house. Now that the divorce from Kolton was finalized, it was time to think about my future. I needed to deal with the pregnancy soon; keeping Kolton's child wasn't part of my plan. Kolton and Marceline were nothing but treacherous villains, heartless to the core. I had to plan ahead to prevent history from repeating itself.

I went into the bedroom and opened the box where I kept my savings. Taking out the few hundred dollars I'd managed to save, I carefully stitched the bills into the lining of my jacket. Just as I finished, Kolton returned with Marceline draped over him like she couldn't stand on her own. She clung to him, her voice sickeningly sweet as she noticed me coming out. “I can't walk any further. You have to carry me to the bedroom!”

Kolton had completely abandoned any shred of dignity. Right there in front of me, he scooped Marceline up and carried her off to the bedroom. Soon, the room was filled with her giggling, which went on for quite a while. Eventually, Kolton emerged, shamelessly asking me, “Marceline's anemic and needs something nourishing. Go buy a turkey and make her some soup.”

Throughout our marriage, I hadn't spent a dime of Kolton's money. Everything he earned went to his mother and brother, and I foolishly thought he was just being a good son. Little did I know it was because he didn't care for me at all, treating me like free labor for his family. In what felt like a previous lifetime, I realized Kolton's cruelty only on my deathbed. Not this time. He wouldn't take advantage of me again.

“Alright,” I said calmly, extending my hand. “Give me the money, and I'll get a turkey to nourish Marceline.”

Kolton was used to barking orders and never paying a cent for what he demanded. My request for money took him by surprise, his expression souring. “Can't you pay and I'll reimburse you later?”

“I don't have any money,” I replied.

“What about your salary?”

“I've spent it all. We've been married for three years without me seeing a penny from you. Do you think I don't need to eat or drink? Besides, your mother constantly demands money and food from me. I'm not a magician.”

I leveled my gaze at Kolton, reminding him slowly, “You promised me five hundred dollars for the divorce to support me and the baby. Give me the money now.”

Kolton's face darkened. “I don't have that much right now.”

“Are you trying to back out? Kolton, I've been more than generous by letting you take care of Marceline, but you have to be fair. I'm carrying your child, so you have to pay up, or else…”

I let the sentence hang, knowing Kolton was fully aware of the consequences. If news got out about his affair with Marceline, it wouldn't bode well for his career or reputation. To keep his comforts, he needed to keep me quiet.

Reluctantly, Kolton handed me five hundred dollars, his jaw clenched as he decided to buy the turkey himself. Once Marceline heard about Kolton giving me the money to silence me, she was livid. She dropped her weak act and stormed over to confront me, “Alaina, what makes you think you have the right to Kolton's money?”

"Why should you pretend you don't know?" I sneered at Marceline Hart. "Kolton owes me, and if he doesn't want his secret out, he better pay for my silence."

Marceline hadn't expected me to breach this forbidden topic, and she was briefly taken aback before letting out a dismissive laugh. "Oh, so you've found out, have you? Well, since you're in the loop now, there's no point in playing coy."

Marceline bragged, "Kolton adores me, you know. I'm not ashamed to admit I spent my wedding night with Jayceon beside him."

"Disgusting!" I was appalled by their shamelessness.

My fury only seemed to delight Marceline further, and she went on to spill more details about her illicit relationship with Kolton Ferguson.

"Jayceon was passed out drunk, so I was done with waiting around. His mom, Liliana, called Kolton over to help, and right there next to Jayceon, Kolton and I hooked up..."

No wonder Kolton was so adamant about divorcing me to give Marceline and her unborn child a home. He'd been involved with her all along, probably thinking he was Marceline’s one and only. His dedication ran so deep that even when I told him Marceline was also mixed up with Benicio Rice and some shady characters, he didn't believe me.

I hoped that in this lifetime, he could realize his dreams and be eternally tied to Marceline.

As these thoughts flitted through my mind, Marceline's gaze zeroed in on my belly.

"Alaina Harvey, since everything's out in the open now, stop fantasizing about getting back with Kolton and get rid of the baby," she ordered.

"And why would I do that?" I locked eyes coldly with Marceline. "Kolton said he would remarry me. Why would I terminate the pregnancy?"

"So you're still holding onto that fantasy of having the baby?" Marceline laughed scornfully. "Listen, Alaina, Kolton has already told me he won't let your child be born. In three days, he'll make sure your baby never sees the light of day."

I believed Marceline's threat, recalling how Kolton had shown no mercy to me or my unborn child before. If he planned to repeat his ruthless behavior, I wouldn't back down either.

Old scores and grievances needed settling, and I'd repay them with interest.

Kolton came home with a whole chicken and brought his mother, Liliana Vargas. While he prepped the roast in the kitchen, Liliana waltzed into my room, casting a sideways glance with her beady eyes.

"I’m not well and need to go to the city for treatment—give me five hundred dollars right now," she demanded.

Ever since I married Kolton, Liliana Vargas never showed me any kindness. She felt I was too plain and unworthy of her son. No amount of money I gave her or meals I treated her to changed that; she always saw me as an inconvenience.

Liliana adored Marceline, who buttered her up without handing over a single cent or lifting a finger for chores. Marceline had a way with words, calling Liliana 'Mom' in a sugary tone and massaging her shoulders, and Liliana would bask in pride, singing praises of Marceline's supposed filial devotion.

Liliana still thought she could bully me, that I'd be the same naïve Alaina Harvey who allowed herself to be exploited.

I replied icily, "Mrs. Vargas, ask your son Kolton for money, or your daughter-in-law Marceline. Now that Kolton and I are divorced, your demands have nothing to do with me. I owe you nothing!"