"Laura Thompson, don't try to threaten me with divorce. It won't work," he sulked.

Hearing him mention Anna's death made it hard for me to breathe.

I clutched my chest, taking deep breaths, and then started dry heaving.

Eugene frowned. "What kind of trick are you pulling?"

I couldn't hold back any longer. My eyes red, I yelled at him, "Anna is only three years old. How could you let her walk a large hunting dog alone? Do you know that she..."

I couldn't finish my words.

Eugene cut me off. "What's the big deal? Kids need to be toughened up. You spoil Anna too much.

"Get Anna out here and call Jessica to apologize. That dog you mentioned is like family to her."

My face was flushed with anger, but my veins bulged. "Anna did nothing wrong!"

Eugene threw the half-eaten mango cake he brought into the trash.

"Jessica told me not to blame her and gave her a cake. You and Anna are just taking advantage of Jessica's kindness," he said.

Anna was three years old, but he didn't even know she was allergic to mangoes.

I took the cake out of the trash and stomped on it. "Don't bring this garbage to disgust Anna."

In all the time I'd known Eugene, I rarely confronted him like this.

I grabbed the suitcase with Anna's belongings and started to leave.

Eugene was furious. "If you leave now, don't ever come back."

He thought this was just a way for me to get his attention, but this time, it was truly over between us.

I met Eugene through work.

I started a small company, and he was one of the employees.

We dated and eventually got married.

Once, while on a business trip, he had a car accident.

I was busy with work and didn't have much time to take care of him.

By the time he recovered, he had Jessica Barnes by his side.

Eugene and I had a fierce fight.

He accused me of caring only about money, not him.

During his most vulnerable time, only Jessica was there for him.

In the end, I proposed divorce but unexpectedly found out I was pregnant for a month and a half.

Eugene apologized, explaining that there was nothing between him and Jessica, and promised to keep his distance from her.

I softened.

Having grown up in an orphanage, I had no family.

The life growing inside me, connected by blood, made me reluctant to let go.

After Anna was born, I stayed home full-time to take care of her.

The company was left in Eugene's care.

Later, he became increasingly blatant in his relationship with Jessica.