The next morning, I was woken by the sound of soft knocking. My eyes were swollen from crying all night, my throat dry from screaming into the emptiness of the locked room. I didn’t even want to open the door—but then I heard her voice.
“Danica… it’s me.”
Ella.
My whole body stiffened.
The door creaked open, and there she was—my best friend, the woman who had betrayed me in the most unforgivable way. Her eyes were red as if she had been crying, but I didn’t buy it for a second. Without asking, she stepped inside and hugged me tightly.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered against my shoulder. “I didn’t mean to do it, I swear. You know how things just… got out of hand.”
I froze, my hands still at my sides. “Got out of hand?” I echoed bitterly, pulling back.
“Yes,” she rushed out. “I thought you were just talking about Brendon, that’s all. You told me once you remembered him—your first love. I thought maybe you reconciled, and that’s why you were asking Johan for a divorce.”
I stared at her, dumbfounded. “Seriously?” My voice rose. “That’s your excuse? You thought I was getting a divorce because of Brendon? Not because you’ve been sleeping with my husband for years?”
Her lips parted, pretending to be offended. “Of course not! You’re my best friend, Dani. I would never—”
The sting of my hand connecting with her cheek stopped her words cold.
Her head snapped to the side, her palm flying to her face. “What the—?”
“Do you think I’d be a fool not to know?” My voice trembled with rage and heartbreak. “You’re sleeping with my husband, Ella. And John—your son—is his son, isn’t he?”
For a moment, her face was a portrait of fake innocence. Then it cracked. Her lips curled into a faint, mocking smile, and a quiet laugh escaped her.
“Oh, God,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m so tired of acting.” She met my eyes, her tone dripping with venomous amusement. “Good to know you finally figured it out.”
My stomach twisted, but I stood my ground.
“So what now?” she continued, smirking. “Are you going to leave him?”
I swallowed hard, forcing the tears back. “He doesn’t want to divorce me,” I said, each word deliberate. “So you better do something about it.”
Ella tilted her head and chuckled. “Don’t worry. I will. Just make sure you actually go through with it.”
“Fine,” I said, taking off my wedding ring. The gold glinted under the morning light as I held it out to her. “Here. Wear it. Be happy. You’ve already taken everything else.”
She hesitated for a second before taking it, her smirk softening into a mock pout. “Well, thanks, Danica. Thank you for giving me your husbandi,” she murmured as I brushed past her.
I didn’t answer.
As I stepped out of the room, a small voice called from the living room. “Auntie Dani!”
It was John. He was clutching a toy car, his face lighting up the moment he saw me. “Look! Daddy fixed it!”
For a brief second, I froze. I used to adore this boy. I used to hold him, feed him, even read him bedtime stories when Ella was too busy pretending to work. He used to call me “Auntie” with such sweetness that I forgot the pain of losing my own son.
But now, every time I saw his face, all I could see was betrayal.
“I’m busy, John,” I said quietly.
He frowned. “No! Please, Auntie! Look, it can move now!” He pushed the toy toward me eagerly.
I stepped back, shaking my head. “Not now, John.”
But he followed me, tugging at my dress, insisting. “Please, Auntie! Just look!”
Something inside me snapped. My voice broke as I tried to pull away. “I said I’m busy!”
He stumbled, and before I could catch him, he fell to the floor, the toy shattering beside him. His small body shook as he started to cry—loud, heart-wrenching sobs that pierced the silence.
Within seconds, Ella rushed into the room, horror written on her face. “What did you do?!”
“It was an accident,” I said quickly, but she was already cradling her son, glaring at me like I was a monster.
“What’s going on here?” Johan’s voice boomed from the doorway. His gaze darted from me to the crying child, and his expression hardened.
“Seriously, Danica?” he hissed. “This is why you don’t deserve to be a mother. You can’t even take care of a child properly!”
I felt my throat tighten.
“This,” he said, gesturing toward John, “is why we’ll never have another child. I’m giving my heir to him. I’ll adopt him officially. He deserves it more than you ever will.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. My voice came out soft, almost calm. “Okay. Do whatever you want.”
He blinked, thrown off by my indifference. “That’s it? You don’t care?” His voice dropped. “Is it true then? Are you seeing another man?”
“What?” I whispered, incredulous.
He turned to Ella. “She said something about a guy. Who is it?”
Ella raised her hands again, feigning innocence. “Johan, enough. Please don’t hurt her. She’s my best friend, remember?”
He looked between us, jaw tight, then sighed. “Be thankful Ella’s kind, Danica. Now apologize to John.”
I clenched my fists, but I couldn’t bear another fight. I knelt down, my voice trembling. “I’m sorry, John. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
He sniffled, nodding. “It’s okay, Auntie. We can play later?”
“Sure,” I said softly. “We’ll play later.”
But I knew there would be no later.
As soon as I got to my room, I locked the door and sank onto the bed. My mind was spinning, my heart breaking all over again.
Brendon.
The name echoed in my head. The man I’d once loved. The one I’d left behind for Johan—because my father had begged me to marry into a powerful family that could “protect” me.
Maybe Ella’s gossip about him wasn’t so wrong after all. Maybe I could use it to my advantage.
My hands trembled as I picked up my phone and scrolled through my contacts. My heart raced when I saw his name—Brendon Castillo.
I hesitated for a moment, then pressed call.
The line rang once. Twice. Then—
“Hello?” His voice was deep, familiar, and gentle.
“It’s me,” I whispered. “Danica.”
There was a pause. “Danica?” He sounded stunned. “After all these years…”
I took a shaky breath. “Are you still a bachelor?”
He laughed softly, surprised. “I… yeah, I guess.”
“Good,” I said. My voice wavered, but I steadied it. “Because I need to ask you something important.”
“What is it?”
I closed my eyes, my heart hammering in my chest. “Do you want to marry me?”
