Chapter 6

The living room was silent. Not wanting Carter to see her like this, Serena quickly walked into the bedroom.

She lay on the custom luxury mattress but couldn't stop shivering.

Just as she had calmed down, Carter came in.

He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her, his voice soft and patient, like he was calming a child throwing a tantrum.

"Refusing to talk to me? Really want to fight? You're cruel, sweetheart."

For a moment, Serena felt like she was back in the days when he had loved her with everything he had.

A sharp pain lodged in her throat. She gripped the high-thread-count sheets and forced herself to sound calm. "It's late. Go to sleep."

Carter heard the roughness in her voice. His expression immediately softened, and he pulled her into his arms. "You've been crying?"

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. Don't be upset. It won't happen again."

His simple apology broke down the walls Serena had been holding up.

She thought bitterly, how could someone so gentle betray their marriage? How could he be so cruel as to strip away every shred of her dignity?

Feeling the warmth of Carter's body, Serena let the sadness and despair consume her.

Cry, she told herself. Cry one last time for the man she had promised to spend her life with.

That night, she sobbed until she was raw, releasing all the hurt, the resentment, the anger at his betrayal.

More than once, she wanted to scream at him and ask why.

Why was their decade-long marriage so easily shattered by temptation? Why couldn't he give her a clean ending?

Carter panicked at her tears, rubbing her back gently.

"Serena, sweetheart, I'm sorry."

"Please don't cry. It's breaking my heart."

He held her for what felt like hours until her crying finally subsided and she drifted off from exhaustion.

Carter looked down at her tear-streaked face and let out a breath, pulling her closer.

Just then, his phone buzzed. He reached over and glanced at the screen.

A small smile crossed his face as he typed back.

"Go to sleep early. You're pregnant now. No staying up late."

He set the phone down and pulled Serena back into his arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

But in the darkness, he didn't see the tears silently streaming down Serena's closed eyes.

......

Serena wasn't sure when she finally fell asleep.

When she woke, her eyes felt puffy.

As soon as she stirred, Carter's voice came through, amused.

"Don't move. Your eyes are swollen. I'm putting an ice pack on them."

Serena instinctively asked, "What time is it? Why aren't you at Wall Street?"

Carter chuckled.

"With you like this? How could I leave? I already told the executive VP I'm working from home this week."

Serena's heart tightened.

The day Daniel had confirmed for filing the divorce petition and requesting a court injunction was this Friday.

After about half an hour, Carter finally moved the ice pack away.

When Serena opened her eyes, she saw him dressed casually.

Carter smiled at her. "You've always wanted to go to Orlando, right? Let's go to Disney or Universal. Just the two of us."

Orlando?

Serena looked down. She had asked him that during their second year of marriage.

But Carter always said he was too busy with Wall Street. Now, after she had the divorce papers ready, he suddenly wanted to go.

After a moment, Serena looked up and smiled. "Okay."

Consider it a final farewell celebration.

When Serena came downstairs ready to go, she heard Carter on the phone in his study.

"Low progesterone? What did the doctor say? I'll come right now."

When Carter emerged from the study and saw Serena sitting on the couch, pale, he felt a flash of guilt.

Still, he spoke. "Honey, I have to go out. Something urgent came up. Wait for me, okay?"

In that moment, any small hope Serena had left evaporated.

She forced a small smile. "Okay."

Watching Carter hurry down the hallway, Serena turned to her phone.

Vivian: "Serena, Carter doesn't love you anymore. Your marriage is an empty shell. Have some dignity and stop clinging to him."

He had never followed through on his promises. And he never would.