Chapter 1
They said if you wanted to learn the hottest, most blush–worthy moves, just head to the windows at Central Park Tower.
The cherished girl Matthew Hartoff kept on the top floor, had a habit of pressing up against the glass while they tangled.
Until half a month ago, they built another floor above.
The silhouette in the window changed.
It was only then that the onlookers realized: on every high floor, Matthew kept a new “favorite” he spoiled rotten.
After school one day, my daughter, Laura Hartoff, came to me with teary eyes. “Mommy, why doesn’t anyone want to play with me anymore?”
In that moment, years of obsession quietly melted away inside me.
When Matthew came home, I didn’t rush to get Laura to bed.
I also didn’t pull him into the bedroom to cry and beg.
He saw me spacing out and snapped, annoyed. “Shannon Tracy, even your dad agrees–it’s normal for men to cheat during pregnancy. When will you grow up? I give you a good life, the status of Mrs. Hartoff. You should be grateful! Acting like this only pushes me further away.”
This time, I didn’t argue. I quietly lit up my phone.
On the screen was the proof that his biggest rival had a vasectomy. And one simple promise.
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“If you let go, Laura will be the only child I’ll ever have.”
***
The day a new woman moved into the 100th floor, all the ladies at the poker table froze, staring at me in shock.
They’d always thought the top floor–sealed off like a crown–was Matthew’s grand gesture of love for me.
I just shuffled the poker chips with a loud clatter.
“What are you all gawking at? Deal in!”
They exchanged glances, muttered excuses, and quickly left.
I watched the room go quiet and smiled. “Clear it out. They’re not coming back.”
That night, when Matthew came home, the news was playing on TV.
A hundred fireworks burst in the sky, and my husband kissed Tiffany Logan’s forehead like she was his beloved.
He hummed, curved his lips, took off his suit jacket, and held it out to me.
I didn’t take it for the first time ever.
E
He finally looked at me, annoyed. “Shannon, I don’t like wasting time.”
He finally looked at me, a
I froze.
In five years of marriage, he’d rarely given me any.
the
Every anniversary, every occasion–I only received gifts sent by his assistant.
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Chapter 1
He missed all 19 of my prenatal appointments.
Even on the day I gave birth, he was nowhere to be found to sign the forms.
Later, I found out that day, he was tangled up with a pair of twin sisters, living his fantasy.
I hated him. I thought of divorce.
But then I saw our wrinkly newborn daughter, and I stayed.
I grew up without a father. I didn’t want Laura to suffer the same.
But I’d forgotten that even with a father who didn’t love her, she’d still cry.
So no, I wasn’t going to endure anymore.
Just as Matthew was about to explode, the doorbell rang.
When Tiffany appeared at the door, Matthew visibly panicked.
He’d promised never to bring his women to my face.
Five years ago, during my postpartum days, I caught him cheating for the first time.
I broke down, sobbing. All I got in return was a lecture wrapped in forced patience. “I thought we already had an understanding. You’re gentle, considerate, respect elders, and love kids–perfect wife material. But if you keep acting like this, I’ll have to rethink this marriage.”
I felt like I’d fallen into ice water.
I couldn’t speak, cry, or even think.
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Chapter 1
The day he confessed who he was and asked me to marry him, he looked like a lovestruck boy.
“Shannon, without you, I’m just a billionaire with nothing but money!”
In just five years, he’d matured and gone completely cold.
“You should learn from your mom. Your dad cheated, too, but she didn’t throw a fit. Think about Laura. Do you want her to have a stepmother?”
At that moment, I couldn’t breathe.
So this was what my love was worth–nothing.
Our marriage was just a trade, mutually beneficial.
So I “wised up.”
I turned a blind eye to all his affairs until Tiffany crossed the line.
She shoved my blood–covered daughter through the door. “Mr. Hartoff, your daughter let a cat attack the kids at Central Park Tower.”
Laura’s eyes were swollen. Her tiny hands fumbled to unzip her backpack.
Matthew didn’t even give her a second. “Laura! Don’t you have any manners?”
I rushed forward to check her wounds and saw what was in her bag–a mangled, bloody lump.
It was the stray kitten Matthew and I adopted together.
Its body was stiff. Those beautiful eyes were gone, lifeless.
My tongue went numb. I couldn’t say a word.
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Chapter 1
Then Tiffany suddenly raised her voice. “Shannon, you spoil Laura too much. You’re ruining her…”
“You vile!” Laura screamed and lunged at her.
Usually calm, Matthew snapped–he yanked Laura off her feet and shielded Tiffany.
“Shannon, I just think Mr. Hartoff works so hard. You don’t help him at work; you hold him back socially. If you don’t care about him, I do.”
She wiped away tears and walked out.
The air froze. Even the maids gave me strange looks.
Laura’s wound was bleeding from how hard he had grabbed her.
But Matthew kept staring after Tiffany, not noticing a thing.
“What kind of mother are you? Laura doesn’t act like she’s mine at all!”
Then he slammed the door.
He didn’t see the tears that Laura was choking back or the kitten that had been beaten to death.
It felt as if five years of being well–behaved and obedient meant nothing to him.
Only when Laura and I buried the kitten did I finally find my voice again. “Laura, do you want to leave this place with me?”
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