When Life Has Been Kind

Adeline didn't deserve to be the mother of my son. If it hadn't been for that forced premature birth, Noel wouldn't have a heart condition. His tiny heart was a curse born from her selfish choice.

Suddenly, Adeline slammed on the brakes.

The tires screeched, jolting us forward. My body hit the seatbelt and Isabella's head nearly hit the dashboard. She scoffed, more annoyed than scared.

"Ms. Penna, the kid's already dead. What's the point of pretending to be a good mom now?" she sneered, her voice cold.

Silence followed. I turned, expecting Adeline to react, but she didn't speak.

She stepped out of the car, walked around and yanked Isabella out with surprising force. Isabella stumbled and fell onto the asphalt.

Adeline didn't look at her. She returned to the driver's seat, shut the door and drove off.

Now it was just the two of us.

The silence inside the car felt heavier than before. Outside, shadows slid past the windows, the world blurred and distant.

Thankfully, we reached the hospital quickly. After seeing the doctor, I didn't wait for Adeline to return with the medicine. I stepped outside and called a ride.

As the car pulled up and I reached for the door, it slammed shut.

Startled, I looked up to see Adeline standing beside me, waving the driver off. He left without a word.

"Are you in that much of a rush to go back to Isabella?" Her voice was sharp. "Gavin, how low are you willing to go?"

I stared at her.

How low?

I didn't know anymore. After the wedding ruined me, I stopped keeping track. I lost my job, my reputation and my future. Everyone I knew turned on me. Friends vanished. Strangers mocked me.

My parents' life savings vanished within a year. I sold everything just to keep up with the bills.

There was a time I stood on a rooftop, Noel in one arm, my mother's bills in the other. I thought about jumping. One fall and everything would end.

Isabella found me. She pulled me back and slapped me.

"Only the living can have hope," she said.

I didn't believe her. Still don't. But Noel was just a child. My mother didn't deserve to die just because I couldn't take it.

So I endured.

When Isabella offered to keep me, I only hesitated for three seconds before agreeing. I sold what was left of my pride.

I looked at Adeline and forced a smile. "Didn't you already know? I've always been this cheap."

I had once been foolish enough to fall in love with her. Later, I became a man who sold himself for money. But if that could save two lives, I didn't care.

Isabella humiliated me, yes, but she never withheld money. For that, I was grateful.

Whatever she wanted—lust, revenge—I no longer cared. Every insult, every night, I took it all. I called it penance.

Sometimes she laughed and said, "If your dad knew what you became, he'd crawl out of his grave just to die again." I'd laugh with her, but deep down, I wondered—if I gave up everything, would they come back?

Adeline's revenge after the wedding never stopped. One blow after another. If my father hadn't had that heart attack, maybe he could've cleared my name. But life wasn't kind enough for maybes.

Adeline stared at me now. Her face was calm, but her eyes weren't.

Then she said, "Get lost."

I turned around without a word, got into the next cab and went home.

As soon as I stepped inside, I heard Noel whimpering. My heart stopped.

I rushed to his room.

His face was red, his breath shallow, his body hot to the touch.

"Daddy... I feel awful..."

I picked him up, hands trembling and called for an ambulance. I rocked him gently, whispering whatever comfort I could manage.

The ambulance arrived quickly. I didn't even notice the black sedan parked down the street.

Inside, Adeline sat motionless, watching as the flashing lights faded into the distance.

Hours later, Noel was out of immediate danger. But the doctor's words hit hard.

"He needs surgery as soon as possible."

The estimate? Seventy thousand dollars.

I stepped out into the hallway, fingers numb as I pulled out my phone.

Then I called Isabella.

"Can I... get an advance of seventy grand?"