Chapter 2
“Mommy, does this mean you and Daddy are divorced now?” Ian looked up at Noelle while holding the signed divorce agreement.
She crouched and caressed his head. “We still have to wait for a month for the cooling-off period to pass. When the time comes, I’ll take you away from here. We’ll never come back.”
Ian nodded, his eyes gleaming expectantly.
Hector didn’t come home for the next few days. Noelle saw from Lindsey’s social media that he was busy bringing her and Micah on trips and to expensive restaurants. He even attended Micah’s parent-teacher conference.
He smiled tenderly in each photo—it was a look Noelle had never seen. She looked through each post, feeling like she was being stabbed repeatedly.
She remembered the day she’d married Hector five years ago. She hadn’t had a wedding, a wedding dress, or even a proper ceremony.
She’d worked five jobs a day over the past five years, and she hadn’t dared to go to the hospital even after passing out by the roadside while making food deliveries.
As for Ian, he’d started collecting bottles and handing out flyers with her since he could walk—all so they could help Hector repay his debt after “going bankrupt”.
How ridiculous.
…
Hector returned over a week later. The first thing he said when he entered their home was, “Get Ian ready. I’m taking him out for some fun.”
Noelle was taken aback. He’d clearly stated that he would only spend his money on Lindsey, so what was with this change? Why did he suddenly want to take Ian out?
“Don’t bother,” she instinctively said.
Hector’s expression darkened at that. He was about to say something when their landlady, Jane Norton, knocked on the door. She wanted to discuss terminating the tenancy with them.
Hector frowned. “Why are you suddenly terminating the tenancy when we’re fine here?”
Noelle didn’t want him to know that she was planning on leaving with Ian, so she said, “I wanted a change of environment.”
Hector didn’t think much of it. He thought she felt the rental was too expensive, so he nodded and said, “You should step outside to talk to Jane, then. I’ll watch Ian.”
Noelle hesitated before nodding. He was Ian’s father, after all.
Jane was a kind woman who was always willing to help. She pulled Noelle to the stairwell and said, “Noelle, you guys have stayed here for years. If you think it’s too expensive, I can reduce the rental by a hundred dollars. What do you think?”
“Thanks, but you don’t need to do that.” Noelle shook her head. “I’m going through a divorce, and I’ll soon leave this city.”
Jane’s jaw dropped in shock. “What? A divorce? Did you ask for it, or did your husband?”
After a pause, she said, “It must’ve been your husband—you love him so much, after all. How could you possibly leave him?”
Noelle lowered her eyes, feeling bitter. Even outsiders could tell how much she’d loved Hector.
Jane stopped pressing for more information at her silence, not wanting to rub salt in her wounds. She said, “Well, we’ll do as you say since you’ve made up your mind. Don’t be sad, alright? I’m sure he’ll regret missing out on someone as wonderful as you.”
The apartment was empty when Noelle returned. Surprised, she called Hector. However, no one answered. Her heart clenched in fear when she still couldn’t get through to him after 30 calls. She ran out and caught anyone she could find, asking them hysterically whether they’d seen Hector and Ian.
Finally, the owner of a nearby convenience store told her what she wanted to know. “Your husband? I saw him get into a car with your boy. He said he was going to the hospital.”
The hospital?
Noelle felt cold all over as she hurried to the hospital. It was outside the operating theater that she heard Hector’s voice. “They’re perfect matches. Micah will be fine after the operation.”
Lindsey asked tearfully, “Will Noelle cause a scene if she finds out you brought Ian here for a bone marrow donation?”
Hector sounded so calm that he was almost cruel. “I’m his father, so it’s perfectly legal for me to sign the consent form on his behalf. Causing a scene and kicking up a fuss is all she can do now.”
He paused, and his voice turned colder. “The operation has already started. I won’t let her get in the way of saving Micah.”
