Chapter 2

The moment I finished speaking, everyone in the private room froze, their eyes wide with shock. Then, a roar of laughter erupted.

"Oh, come on, Chloe! Everyone knows you loved Daniel with your life! When Daniel had kidney failure, you gave him one of your own kidneys! Would someone like you really marry someone else?"

"Seriously, can you at least think before you speak when you're saying things out of spite?"

I scoffed internally at their chatter.

It wasn was no wonder they were shocked; I truly did love Daniel back then.

After he was diagnosed with kidney failure, I didn't hesitate to donate a kidney to him. To this day, my left kidney aches whenever it's cloudy or rainy.

I’d always give him the sweetest part of my watermelon, and because he hated dragon fruit seeds, I'd pick out every single one with a toothpick.

Because I loved him, I even tolerated him going on dates with Ashley, my childhood sweetheart, again and again. I tolerated him braiding Ashley's hair right in front of me, gently wiping her mouth.

As long as he came home, as long as he still remembered me, his wife, that was enough.

Everyone knew I was hopelessly devoted, and they all instinctively assumed I was just talking out of anger.

Snapping back to reality, Ashley, who was standing nearby, picked up a bottle of wine from the table and approached me. She said, subtly, "Chloe, I know you're still upset about what happened two years ago."

"It's all my fault. If I hadn't been diagnosed with a terminal illness, Daniel wouldn't have tried to have a child with me to fulfill my dying wish. If not for that, you wouldn't have had that severe bleeding and lost your baby."

"Since everyone's here today, I'll punish myself with a bottle as a public apology!"

She grabbed the bottle and gulped it down, the harsh alcohol making her cough violently.

Daniel couldn't sit still. He handed Ethan to a colleague and rushed forward, snatching the bottle from her. He looked angry and heartbroken.

"Ashley, are you crazy? How dare you drink so much? Even though your condition has been stable these past few years, you're still a patient!"

After comforting Ashley, Daniel shot me a haughty glance. His voice was cold.

"Chloe, you've been throwing a tantrum for two years. That's enough!"

"Ashley and I only did IVF; there was no physical intimacy. You're still holding a grudge over something so minor after all this time. Is it really worth it?"

Everyone started murmuring.

"Chloe is so stubborn. Honestly, she scored big by getting a kid for free!"

"Daniel has been looking for her all these years. She left for two years, and he searched for two years. It's time to move on from the past."

So, leaving me, eight months pregnant, to go have a child with Ashley was just a "minor thing" in Daniel's eyes?

But what surprised me was that Daniel had actually been looking for me? What did he want?

Lost in thought, I heard Daniel continue, self-importantly, "Alright, Chloe, Ethan needs someone to take care of him right now. Since you're back, you can take care of him from now on. Even though Ethan isn't your biological child, you're his nominal mother, and you should be responsible for him."

I actually laughed.

Daniel wanted me to be a nanny?

But I was no longer the Chloe he could manipulate so easily two years ago.

Ever since he abandoned me and our unborn child to go have a baby with Ashley, my heart died for him. I decisively moved abroad.

And I wasn't just talking out of anger earlier; I really was married with a child.

After moving abroad, I found a new job and soon met my husband, Julian.

He helped me through that dark period. Not long after, we got married and had an adorable son.

Just thinking about my husband and son filled my heart with warmth.

Snapping back to reality, I coldly refused, "No, thanks. I have my own child to take care of. As for your Ethan, let his biological mother take care of him."

Hearing that, Ashley's eyes immediately reddened.

"Chloe, I know you resent me for causing you to lose your baby, which is why you refuse to take care of my child."

"I want to take care of Ethan myself, but my body just won't allow it..."

"It's because I trust you that I'm entrusting my child to you. Ethan is very well-behaved; he doesn't cry or fuss, so he won't be much trouble. I'm begging you, please take pity on a mother like me and take care of Ethan..."

Ashley made a show of trying to kneel down before me. Daniel quickly helped her up and comforted her.

Then he turned and shot me a cold glare.

"It's an honor for you to take care of Ethan. Don't be ungrateful!"

His gaze landed on my clothes, and Daniel sneered.

"Chloe, you must not have had it easy these past two years abroad, huh? You didn't even bother to wear decent clothes to the alumni gathering."

"If you take good care of Ethan, I can give you ten thousand a month in pocket money. That's a lot more than you'd make working."

Ashley, acting like the lady of the house, added, "Yes, if you take good care of Ethan, Daniel and I won't treat you badly. With us, you at least won't be wearing no-name brands."

It was only then that everyone noticed I was wearing casual clothes. Instantly, snickers filled the room.

"How did Chloe fall so low? She doesn't even have decent clothes!"

"If only she knew this would happen, why did she act so stubbornly back then? I heard Daniel's company boomed right after she left. If she hadn't left the country in a fit of pique, she'd be living a life of luxury right now."

I simply smirked coldly.

They had no idea. I wasn't wearing no-name brands; my outfit was custom-made by a famous designer, silk fabric, each piece costing hundreds of thousands.

Seeing me smile, Daniel assumed I had agreed to take care of Ethan. He pulled out his phone, ready to transfer money to me.

"I'll transfer ten thousand to you. Go buy some nice clothes later, so Ethan doesn't pick up your cheapness."

But as soon as he sent the message, he received a stark red exclamation mark!