Part 3: The Home He Gave HerThe Other Mrs. Hayes

I stood in the nursery for a while, and little by little, my mind cleared. "I didn't see any photos of his late wife."

Chloe gave a faint smile. "I asked him about that once. He said when someone's gone, they're gone. As long as they live in your heart, that's enough. He didn't see the point of keeping up appearances."

I lowered my eyes. 'As long as they live in your heart.'

What a beautiful thing to say. But my baby, the child I lost at seven months, where did that child live now?

I slowly unclenched my fist. Deep crescent marks covered my palm. "There's something else I wanted to ask."

"Hmm?"

"Your family's so wealthy. Why do you live in such an ordinary apartment?"

Chloe smiled. "Because I wanted to. My husband's so rich that his life barely felt real anymore. I asked him to buy a place in a regular neighborhood because I wanted to live like an ordinary person."

She pointed at the decorations on the walls. "See? I decorated everything myself. He wasn't used to it at first, but eventually he grew to love it too. He said this was what a real home felt like."

"So, your husband bought this place for you?"

"Yeah. He bought it as a gift." She lowered her voice. "I'll tell you a secret. I had my own selfish reason too. If he ever decided he didn't want me anymore, at least I wouldn't have nowhere to go. He promised me this apartment would always be mine."

As I listened, an icy chill spread through my chest. No wonder Hunter had asked me for the deed two years ago.

Back then, he told me he wanted to rent the apartment out for me. He said the rent would give me my own income, so I could be an independent woman instead of always asking him for money.

And the apartment he had supposedly rented out had become the home of his other wife.

"You're so lucky," I said, my voice trembling.

Chloe smiled and went back to playing with the baby.

I stood beside her, quietly watching her profile.

She couldn't have been more than twenty-two or twenty-three. She knew nothing. But even if she did, what difference would it make?