Embraced by My Ex's Uncle

Chapter 2 He Had Been Cheating All Along

Elizabeth's POV:

"Elizabeth! Have you had enough of this?"

Bradley’s emotions finally showed some sign of shifting.

"Monday morning, I'll have the divorce papers delivered to you. I expect you to sign them quickly, or we’ll settle this in court."

I yanked off my ring and threw it at him, turning on my heel and walking away, resolute.

The snow this year was heavier than usual. The cake I’d carefully made for him slipped from my hands as I stumbled on the icy ground, splattering into a messy, ruined heap.

The breath I’d been holding shattered, and I sank to my knees in the snow, staring at the wreck of the cake on the ground. All the emotions I’d been desperately keeping in check came flooding to the surface in an instant.

I tore open the package and clumsily stuffed a piece of cake into my mouth.

It made me want to gag, but I stubbornly couldn’t stop myself.

It was almost as if I were punishing myself, eating the entire cake while tears streamed down my face.

Along with the cake, I swallowed my bitterness and despair.

Maybe my life had been so dim and uneventful that I had foolishly fixated on Bradley, standing in the light.

Falling for him seemed so simple, really.

That Christmas Eve, he sat on the lawn, his expression aloof, but his long fingers gently tapping to the soft, romantic music in the air.

The way he occasionally lifted his brows, seemingly indifferent, was so striking under the bright moonlight. The way the moonlight reflected in his eyes—it felt like starlight, and in that moment, I lost myself.

And then, in a sudden, unexpected glance, my heart was completely captured.

But I wasn’t the only one. Everywhere around me, girls were screaming, throwing themselves at him, expressing their admiration for Bradley like it was some kind of frenzy.

I was probably the most insignificant one among all his admirers—average in every way, from my abilities to my work, and even the way I dressed was awkward.

Yet, he chose me.

Everyone else was envious, wondering what made me so special that the cold, distant, almost untouchable Bradley would fall for me.

But there was nothing special about me.

I was just naive enough to believe that love would be returned in kind.

Now, I realized—I was just a fake.

And he had the nerve to call me "obedient like a puppy."

What had eight years of love and three years of companionship meant in the end?

What was there left to fight for?

I returned to our wedding suite, staring at the home I had painstakingly decorated, the cozy setup now seeming to mock my foolishness.

The happiness I had once imagined had been completely shattered.

The room, dark and suffocating, pressed in on me, stealing my breath.

I hurried to the window, yanked the curtains aside, and let the moonlight pour in, cold and distant, casting an eerie chill over me.

'I don’t want this anymore.'

I packed up everything I had bought for this place and threw it all away, taking only a few clothes and some personal items with me. In the dead of night, I walked out, leaving with no regrets.

I had some money left, so I booked a hotel and stayed there, gathering my thoughts before heading to the coffee shop the next morning for work.

Since Bradley had never publicly acknowledged me, no one knew I was his wife.

For various reasons, I hadn’t graduated from college, which meant I couldn’t land a better job.

The nearby coffee shop was my best option.

Business was booming on my day off, and I worked non-stop, but my mind was still spinning.

With my current wages, I knew I couldn’t keep staying in the hotel for long.

Even though the hotel wasn’t that expensive.

But I wasn’t going to use a single cent of the money from the Barton family.

I glanced over at the storage room, then looked at the manager walking around the shop. I took a deep breath and approached her.

"Manager, would it be possible for me to stay in the storage room for a while?"

"I promise I won’t be here long. Just a few days until I can find a place. It won’t affect work at all."

When the manager didn’t immediately respond, I hurried to explain.

The manager paused, then shook her head with a soft smile.

"It’s fine. You can stay. But… weren’t you doing well before? What happened? If you need help, I’m happy to lend a hand."

Her gentle tone made my throat tighten, and I almost burst into tears.

I quickly looked down and then back up, forcing my voice to remain steady. "Something happened, but I can handle it."

"Okay. I hope things get better for you soon."

I swallowed hard, barely managing to say thank you, but those simple words warmed my cold heart.

Maybe it was just that I hadn’t heard anyone express simple care in so long.

As I watched her walk away, I threw myself back into work.

After that day, I moved into the storage room.

Days passed, and Bradley never called.

He didn’t care—or maybe he just never came home.

Then, one day, I happened to glance at a colleague’s phone.

The video showed a crowd cheering as two figures kissed.

I hadn’t meant to pay attention, but then I saw the man’s profile.

It was Bradley.

I watched as he kissed her deeper, casually taking off his watch and tossing it on the table.

It skidded across and crashed to the floor, the crystal face shattering into pieces.

I replayed the video over and over, zooming in on the details of the watch.

And then I recognized it—it was the watch I had personally picked out for him, spending every penny I had saved.

When I gave it to him, he had dismissed it as cheap, but still, he wore it.

Not long after, I noticed a small scratch on it.

He said it had happened by accident.

I had thought it was a shame… but now it just felt laughable.

All the memories came rushing back, each one like an ice-cold blade, cutting through my heart, freezing my blood, leaving me numb.

"How do you have that video on your phone?"

The words slipped out before I could stop them, uncontrolled.

My colleague, casually wiping down the counter, didn’t even look up. "Oh, well, our regulars are all wealthy people. With the snowstorm the other day, most of them had their deliveries sent to their homes."

"Just yesterday, Max and I delivered a huge order for a party—dozens of people. You wouldn’t believe how easy their lives are. They threw a party at a villa, and when they felt cold, they ordered dozens of cups of coffee. We were running around like crazy."

She suddenly perked up.

"But here’s the thing. I heard that the party was for a couple who’d reunited after years apart. The atmosphere was so romantic."

"Yeah, romantic—if you’re rich, I guess."

She paused and then added with a sly grin.

"But you know what? That couple really was perfect for each other."

At that moment, Max, who had just delivered coffee to a customer, leaned in closer and lowered his voice.

"It’s not that simple. I overheard someone saying the guy was already married. No idea who his wife is, but it’s gotta suck to be her."