He Betrayed Me, I Left with Our Little Girl

Chapter 1

Grace White's POV:

On the day my fiancé got engaged to someone else, I crashed his engagement party with our daughter.

I told my daughter. "Go on, sweetie. Call him Daddy."

The microphone on the stage amplified my voice, sending a wave of shocked whispers through the guests below.

I let go of my daughter's hand and walked out the door, ignoring the eruption of gossip behind me.

"Grace, have you lost your mind?!" Arthur Miller shouted after me.

Behind me, my daughter sobbed, calling out for me.

I didn't want to leave her. But I was dying.

*****

My phone vibrated frantically in my pocket.

I didn't pull it out until I was completely out of the hotel. The screen was already flooded with messages.

Arthur: Didn't we agree to keep our relationship a secret, especially Lily's existence? Why did you bring Lily today?

Arthur: Today was my fault. I'll explain the engagement to you.

Arthur: Can't you be a little more understanding?

Arthur: I have my reasons!

I let out a bitter laugh, which quickly dissolved into a fit of coughing.

Arthur: Why aren't you replying? Are you giving me the silent treatment?

I instinctively started typing: I'm sick—but paused. Then I sent another text.

Grace: Come out now. I'm right outside.

Would he choose me, or the woman he just got engaged to?

Arthur: Grace, you're absolutely crazy!

Yes, I supposed I was.

I couldn't hold it in any longer. Bent double, I coughed violently until the spasm of pain finally subsided, leaving my palm stained a bright crimson.

Back home, I began to pack my bags.

Throughout my seven years with Arthur Miller, he had left surprisingly few traces in our home. We had moved into this place three years ago, and it seemed that was exactly when he had stopped coming home.

My daughter's toys were scattered everywhere. I stared at them blankly for a moment, then packed only a few changes of clothes into my backpack.

When you're about to die, there isn't much left to carry.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The front door was suddenly rattled by heavy pounding.

I opened it to find several burly men pushing their way inside. Looking around, one of them said, "You've got half an hour to clear out of this place."

I frowned. "Who are you?"

"We're with the moving company," the man replied. "This house has been sold. Didn't you know?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but then froze.

That's right. Even though I was the one who bought this house, it had been registered under Arthur Miller's name.

He was probably retaliating because I crashed his engagement party with Lily this morning.

A sudden laugh escaped my lips. The men stared at me in bewilderment, as if looking at a lunatic.

It seemed Arthur truly detested me now.

He actually sold our home.

But then again, while it was a home to me, to him it was probably nothing more than a convenient motel.

A place he could easily sell off just to punish me whenever he was angry.

I wonder if Arthur would still be this heartless if he knew I was dying?