Five Years of Broken Dreams

Chapter 3

"Excuse me," he said, stepping back with a polite smile, his voice smooth and confident.

He was wearing a simple gray tracksuit, but there was something magnetic about him, his sharp, striking eyes, his tall frame, and that smile that made my heart skip a beat. And I'll admit it, his hands caught my attention. As someone who loved hands, I couldn't look away.

I saved his number that day, hoping that fate would lead us to bump into each other again. And it did. After we parted ways, I added him on SnapChat. When I told him my name, he replied almost immediately, "Miss Carter, I've heard so much about you."

From that moment, I couldn't get him out of my mind. I started hoping to run into him around campus, and honestly? I even considered joining the student council just to be closer to him. Love at first sight? Definitely. I willingly followed him around like a lovesick fool.

When we got married, Derek suggested he help me run my family's company so I could relax and focus on being his wife. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and I agreed right away. I always thought a couple should work together, and since Derek came from humble beginnings, I wanted to support him, help him build something of his own.

But my parents and Rachel, my best friend, both warned me to be cautious. They didn't trust Derek's motives completely. They said my family background played just as big a role in his interest as his feelings for me. But I brushed them off. I was sure that as long as Derek truly loved me, everything would be fine.

After the wedding, Derek's parents started living comfortably off the money he sent home. They stopped working their factory jobs and boasted about their son becoming a CEO. Derek's relatives, seeing his success, suddenly started asking him for favors, looking for connections to influential people in River City.

I didn't mind. I figured helping them out a little wouldn't hurt. My family had wealth, so what was the big deal?

What Derek didn't know, though, was that the night before our engagement, Alex came over to see me. He handed me a share transfer contract, asking me to sign it, just in case things went south with Derek.

He looked at me, his fists clenched. "You've got the Carter family behind you, but you've got me too. If Derek ever hurts you, I won't let him get away with it."

At the time, I laughed it off. I thought he was just overreacting. I was confident that Derek would treat me well. After all, I trusted my own judgment.

Now, looking back, I realize how wrong I was. I was blinded by love, ignoring all the signs that were right in front of me.

After we got married, I tried to be the perfect wife. I changed my habits, adjusted myself to fit what Derek wanted. But no matter what I did, he always found something to criticize. He said I wasn't domestic enough, that I had a bad temper, and that I wasn't as virtuous as the other wives in his circle.

I bent over backwards to please him, even learning new recipes and rearranging my schedule just to be around when he came home. But none of it was ever enough.

Rachel was the first to point out how much I'd changed. The girl who once loved shopping, who lived for selfies and carefree days, had completely shifted. Now, I was willing to change everything about myself just to make Derek happy.

Derek's parents were pleased with me. At family gatherings, they always praised me, "She's beautiful, kind, such a perfect daughter-in-law."

The only person who ever had a problem with me was Derek.

I thought I just needed to improve, to be better for him. But now it was obvious, he never truly cared. If he did, he would've appreciated me for who I was, but he didn't. Not even close.

And just like that, without asking for my opinion or permission, Chloe had moved into our home.

One evening, Chloe knocked on my door, asking me to join her for dinner. I refused her three times, and still, she didn't back down. Instead, she started crying right outside my door.

Her sobs were getting louder by the second, drawing Derek's attention. He came rushing over, looking frantic. Chloe sniffled and said, "Lily's got a huge problem with me. I invited her to dinner, but she yelled at me."

I opened the door, irritated, and found her sobbing dramatically. Derek immediately rushed to her side, comforting her, the picture of concern. "Don't cry, I'll handle this."

Then Chloe pulled out a hairpin, like it was some sort of peace offering, and handed it to me. "Lily, I made this for you. Can we be friends?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't kid yourself. Who do you think you're fooling?"

She buried her face in Derek's chest, and that was when Derek turned on me. His voice was harsh as he snapped, "Lily, I've told you, Chloe's pregnant. She needs to stay calm."

"You're cruel!" He glared at me, his words venomous. "Are you trying to make her lose the baby?"

The disgust in his voice hit harder than any slap ever could.

But then he slapped me. Hard. Right across the face.

I stared at him, shocked, but something inside me snapped. Without thinking, I stormed forward and slapped Derek twice, with everything I had. His cheeks flushed red instantly, and his expression turned to one of pure shock.