I had just finished sending all the data to my colleagues through my communication bracelet when the door suddenly slammed open.
Rocco rushed in, his arms enveloping me tightly. His voice wavered with guilt.
"Valerie, I’m so sorry. I didn’t protect you, and I let them bully you."
"Don’t listen to their nonsense. I don’t care about having kids at all. Please, don’t leave me. Don’t divorce me."
I could feel his body trembling, his grip so tight I could barely breathe. Struggling to break free, I finally managed to loosen his hold, offering him a soft, reassuring smile.
"Don’t worry," I said, my voice calm, almost too calm. "I won’t divorce you."
But in my heart, I already knew I was leaving him forever.
Rocco let out a deep sigh, his shoulders easing as if a heavy weight had been lifted from him. Grateful for the brief respite, he gently took my hand, his voice soft but filled with sincerity.
"Valerie, I know my family has made you suffer over the years because of me," he said, his tone laced with regret.
"Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to shut them up."
"My team detected an abnormal magnetic field near Liora Cliff these past few days. After analyzing it, it seems our theory about parallel worlds might actually hold water."
"This is huge. If we can prove it, I can ask my boss for a large sum of funding. With that, I’ll retire early and stay home to take care of you."
The Space-Time Transportation Bureau always made sure to prepare in advance for a spaceship's departure. I hadn’t expected Rocco’s team to get caught up in this.
His phone rang again. He glanced at me, his eyes briefly meeting mine, before he walked into the kitchen to answer.
"Rocco, when are you coming back? My stomach’s been sore, and I’m not sure if it’s from the fall earlier," the voice on the other end whined.
"I’m scared. Come keep me company, okay? I bought some new lingerie, the wild kind... just for us."
When he returned, his face wore that familiar apologetic look as if it could fix everything.
"Valerie, to gather more data, I need to go on a field trip with my team for a few days."
So much for claiming he didn’t care about children.
I was tired of the act.
"Go ahead. I hope you succeed," I replied, my tone flat.
Before he left, he kissed my forehead gently.
"Valerie, be good and wait for me at home. When I come back, I have something to tell you."
But I was done with his words.
I smiled faintly, my eyes cold.
"Alright."
As soon as he left, my phone buzzed with a friend request on WhatsApp from an unknown contact.
After I accepted the request, my phone was bombarded with a flood of photos. Most of them showed Rocco and Avery in compromising positions, some taken on his office desk, others in the bathroom, and the most chilling ones in my own kitchen.
The last two images were the most telling: a pregnancy report and a wall of luxury handbags, including the one Rocco had bought for Avery at the mall that day.
Then, Avery sent a voice message.
"Valerie, did you see this wall of handbags? Every time I sleep with Rocco, he buys me a bag. Do you have any idea how much all these are worth? Has he ever bought you one?"
"You're just a barren hen, being used for free while I can give him a child. Do you have any idea how much he cares about me and the baby?"
"When I mentioned our little house, he risked his life collecting data in the wilderness just to get enough funding to buy me and the baby a villa."
"Honestly, being a woman like you… you might as well die. But anyway, I’ll stop here. Rocco's here with me now, keeping me company."
To add salt to the wound, she sent a secretly recorded video of Rocco entering and passionately kissing her.
I ignored her, glancing at the time instead.
Only three days left.
In the next two days, Rocco sent me a series of photos showcasing the mountain scenery.
"Valerie, it's breathtaking here. Let’s come together next time, okay?"
