Men? No Kidding

Chapter 2

Chloe clenched her fists. "A boy or a girl?"

"A girl! Called Ava!" Madison's smile lit up her face. "Just a month old, and she's absolutely adorable—so plump and sweet, you just can't help but love her!"

Chloe's face turned pale. "Didn't you always say that if you were going to adopt, it had to be a boy?"

"We'll adopt a boy later if the right one comes along." Madison was practically glowing with excitement. "The more kids in the house, the merrier it is."

Chloe turned to Daniel, her gaze steady. "Is this what you want too? A child?"

Daniel looked away, avoiding her eyes. He slipped a packet of medicine into her hand and said gently, "Chloe, whatever you say goes."

Bitterness surged in Chloe's chest.

Not long after their wedding, a devastating car accident had shattered her life. She'd been over five months pregnant at the time, but the baby hadn't survived. Worse, she had to have a hysterectomy, which meant she'd never be able to have children again.

It had been a girl.

Over the years, she'd wanted to adopt a child, but her mother-in-law had always been vague and noncommittal. And as for him? He'd said he was worried that seeing a child would only make her relive her pain. He'd promised her that as long as they could grow old together, that was enough for him.

Chloe's voice was calm, her gaze fixed on Daniel. "Adopting a child isn't fair to you. Let's get a divorce. That way—"

Before she could finish, Daniel pulled her into a tight embrace. "Chloe, don't say such crazy things! I don't care what happens—I'll never leave you. Never!"

Madison's expression darkened. "Chloe, what's the meaning of this? Weren't you the one who wanted to adopt in the first place? Or have you been stringing us along this whole time? Just because you can't have kids, does that mean you want to drag our Murphy family down with you and leave us without heirs?"

"Mom, that's enough!" Daniel snapped, his frustration clear.

Chloe pushed him away and looked at him as though he were a stranger. Her voice was cold. "Adopt? Daniel, that child—is she yours?"

The room fell silent.

Daniel stared at her, stunned, before stepping forward again. "Chloe, how could you even think that? The child… the child can't be mine."

"Where were you last night?" Chloe sidestepped his reach, her voice sharp and demanding. "Do you think I'm stupid, Daniel?"

"You're not stupid, but my poor Daniel is!" Madison cut in with a sneer. "Since you've already figured it out, there's no point in keeping up the act anymore."

"Mom!"

"The child is his," Madison said calmly. "I pushed him into it. You might be able to live with him never having kids, but I can't."

Chloe turned back to Daniel, her tone cutting. "So, what? Did your mom force you into bed with her too?"

Daniel's face was a mask of panic. "Chloe, I only went to check on the baby last night! I didn't… I didn't do anything with her!"

"Then how, pray tell, did the baby get here?"

Daniel's eyes darted away.

Chloe didn't wait for an answer. She turned and began packing her things. Daniel lunged forward and held her tightly from behind. "Chloe, I was drunk, okay? It was just that one time—I swear! Please, just give me a chance. Believe me. Can you do that?"

"Let me go!" Chloe struggled fiercely.

Just then, Madison's phone rang. She picked up quickly and her expression changed. "Daniel, the baby's running a fever and just passed out!"

The grip on Chloe's arm slackened immediately.

"Chloe, you're the only one I love. I know I messed up, and I'm begging you—please, wait for me to come back. Just… wait for me, okay?"

His voice faded as the door slammed shut behind him. The room fell into a suffocating silence.

Chloe looked around the bedroom she'd poured so much love into. Every detail, every corner was a memory of their once-happy life together. It felt like someone was slicing her heart apart piece by piece.

Without hesitation, she stuffed a few belongings into a suitcase and left for her parents' villa.

Her mother, Elizabeth Davis, opened the door and looked behind her. "Where's Daniel? Why are you alone?"