Chapter 2
Stephanie instead started crying first, tightly hugging Jack’s arm, and hid the little boy behind her.
It felt like they were the ones being beaten, not me.
J
This wasn’t the first time she’d twisted the narrative.
The year I was brought back, Stephanie acted like a confidante, asking about my past.
Then she spread those nude photos Bruce took while beating me.
I became a laughingstock, shunned by the Capital Elite Socialites.
When I confronted her in fury, she kicked me into a wardrobe.
Then dramatically burst into tears and ran out:
“I’ve given Katherine all my pretty clothes, yet she ruined them and told me to get out!”
Disgust flashed in Mother’s eyes-“Truly a child of lowly upbringing.”
Father stayed silent but wouldn’t hear of sending Stephanie back to the Ramirez family.
Jack paused mid–motion at the mention of the Ramirez family, his brow furrowing.
Tears welled in Mother’s eyes as she declared:
DCON
“Vito stays! He’s our Roberts family’s young master now! Let’s see who dares gossip!”
Satisfied, Stephanie shot me a provocative glance.
She then threw herself into Mother’s arms, sobbing dramatically.
I nearly laughed aloud.
After all, I was the one raised in that Ramirez household that was like a
devil’s den–I endured every torment.
“Jack… Sini is downstairs-”
My strained whisper drowned beneath a boy’s booming voice:
“Daddy! Make this bad woman get out! Mom and I never lived in such a huge house, yet she’s building such a huge house for a cat!”
Stephanie raised her hand at the boy, but Jack swiftly stopped her.
“What are you doing hitting him? Just teach him if he says something wrong!”
“Waaah!”
The little boy ran out wailing as if deeply wronged.
His mother chased after him urgently. “If it weren’t for Katherine, our family of five would’ve been fortunate—”
Before she finished, his father yanked her arm sharply. Only then did she seem to remember my presence.
Even the servants cast strange glances.
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I suddenly laughed.
Right. In their hearts, their only family never changed.
I’m just a blood–related outsider.
Clenching through abdominal pain, I took out my phone to summon a vet
for Sini.
Then I looked up at the only person remaining–Jack–and said:
“Let’s divorce.”
He froze momentarily before scoffing:
“Trying to compete with Stephanie? You’ll really say anything.”
“Another trick your gambler father taught you?”
My mind buzzed as I stared at him in disbelief.
Shortly after being taken back to the Roberts family, Bruce threatened to send my nude photos to new classmates and teachers.
Terrified, young me fearfully handed over all my meal money, eventually fainting from hunger by the roadside.
After Jack rescued me, he stormed into the Ramirez estate and broke Bruce’s nose, cursing him as scum.
He knew my most shameful secrets yet chose to reopen those wounds.
The pain in my abdomen grew more vicious.
Jack finally noticed my agonized expression.
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He hurriedly helped me onto the bed.
Seeing no blood on the floor, he curled his lips sarcastically.
“Learn some decency from Stephanie.”
As if convinced I’d stooped to faking misery just to manipulate his sympathy.
A special ringtone chimed.
Like countless times over seven years, it effortlessly called him away again.
But I was beyond caring.
My body seemed to have reached its limit. Everything went black as I collapsed unconscious onto the bed.
When I woke again, I felt a warm dampness on my face.
Jack Martinez was gently wiping my forehead with a damp towel.
“Why didn’t you say anything about being sick? You’re pregnant, how could you be so careless?”
I watched the focused lines of his brow, as if he truly loved me.