Stephanie, my wife, is worth billions. Money flows like water for her, and she's never been shy about using it.
She had no problem throwing millions at an art graduation exhibition for a male college student she'd been supporting for two years.
But when it came to spending just $20,000 to save her daughter's life, she flat-out refused.
After my daughter died in front of me from severe diarrhea and dehydration, I handed Stephanie a divorce agreement with a sinking heart, unable to understand how things had come to this.
When Stephanie saw the death certificate attached to the agreement, she actually chuckled.
"Sorry, I didn't think diarrhea could kill someone."
I didn't have the strength to fight it anymore. My heart was broken, but hers seemed untouched.
"I know you're heartbroken," she added, her voice unnervingly calm, "but it's okay. In three days, my baby with Landon will be born."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Eddie's POV
"I've already agreed with Landon that after the baby is born, he'll bring the child to you to raise," Stephanie pointed out, "You just need to be a good son-in-law to the Thomas family. But there's one condition: you have to let Landon visit the child regularly."
"There is no need for that, Stephanie. I just want a divorce," I said, forcing a smile, though it felt more like a grimace.
——
I'd tried to get money from her, and when that didn't work, I sold the engagement ring she'd spent a fortune creating for me.
I rushed back to the hospital with the money. As I passed the long corridor, I could hear the harsh beeping of machines from the room at the end of the hall.
Then, in a split second, everything went silent like someone had hit a pause button on the world.
"Sorry, Mr. Hayes, please accept our condolences," the nurse said, "If you had paid the medical fees a few days earlier, your child wouldn't have passed away. Our hospital policy is strict: if the patient or family doesn't pay the fees on time, we can't administer medication. We're truly sorry. We did everything we could."
I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
My throat felt like it was being crushed, like a blade wrapped in cotton.
I couldn't make a sound.
With heavy, unsteady steps, I walked to my daughter's bedside, not knowing how to face her death.
Just this morning, my dear daughter Thea had still managed to smile at me, still had the energy to call out for me.
The television on the white wall flickered for a moment.
When the signal returned, Stephanie's face appeared on the screen.
She was smiling.
In front of her, Landon Murphy, the male student she'd funded, was standing, greeting every guest at the art exhibition with a warmth that was as fake as it was forced. It was a sharp contrast to the coldness she usually wore.
A bold audience, too eager to hide their curiosity, couldn't resist speaking up in front of the cameras:
"With my years of experience as a strategist, it seems that Ms. Stephanie Thomas, the president of Thomas Group, and our painter, Landon Murphy, aren't just in a sponsor-sponsee relationship, right?"
"Come on, spill it! Are you two getting together soon?"
Landon's face turned red with embarrassment, and he couldn't keep his eyes from lingering on her with a tenderness that was all too obvious.
Stephanie didn't refute it. The smile at the corner of her mouth told me everything. She was enjoying this.
"But isn't Stephanie already married?" someone continued. "Her first child is five years old, and she's pregnant with another one. Did she and her husband get divorced while she was pregnant, but just haven't made it public yet?"
The crowd fell silent for a few moments.
The person who had asked the question immediately retreated into the crowd, not daring to speak again.
Landon awkwardly smiled in front of the camera, then turned to Stephanie.
"Stephanie, why hasn't Eddie come to the exhibition?" he cautiously asked. "Is he still upset about the auction last time? Should I go and apologize to him?"
Without missing a beat, Stephanie dismissed him with a quick response.
"No need. He's been spoiled by me and is so petty. It's just a pair of precious cufflinks, and he actually got into a fight with you over them. Since he's so obsessed with money and things like that, I won't give him a single penny. I won't let you take that slap in vain."
She exhaled in frustration and kept going, "Seeing him vent his anger on you just annoys me."
Stephanie's protective tone only reinforced the rumors that our marriage was falling apart.
It caused most people to think I was the one who ruined everything.
