Jemima Swanson pulled out her phone with a theatrical sigh. "Roberta, a man as successful as Kevin is bound to attract attention. That's just how it is. You need to give him a son—lock down his heart. Otherwise, you'll really have something to cry about."

She shoved the screen in my face.

Kevin had posted on social media last night, after he left.

In the photo, he had his arm wrapped tight around Adela, wiping her tears, his face soft with tenderness.

Traveled a thousand miles, just to see you one more time.

I opened my phone, but I couldn't find Kevin's post anywhere.

Then it hit me—he'd blocked me.

I called him again and again. Every single one went unanswered.

After the last rejected call, I asked quietly, "Are you sure he went to see Adela?"

Jemima's face lit up with smug satisfaction. Right in front of me, she pulled out her own phone and dialed Kevin.

He picked up instantly. "Mom, what's up?"

Her voice turned honeyed. "Sweetheart, where are you? Did you and Roberta have another fight?"

Through the speaker, Kevin's flat tone carried a hint of disdain. "Wouldn't call it that. She just went crazy on her own. Probably bored out of her mind sitting at home all day."

"I'm in Harbor City, Mom. Don't tell Roberta. I'm seeing Adela one last time, then I'll be back soon."

The call lasted less than a minute.

So he really had rushed there overnight.

My chest felt hollow, carved out—and yet, strangely, something loosened.

When I didn't react, Jemima clicked her tongue. "Did you hear that? Kevin's always complaining to me about how dull and stupid you are. All you do is pick fights with him. If it weren't for the baby, he'd have left you ages ago!"

"This Adela girl seems quite nice, actually. I heard both her parents are teachers—more than good enough for my Kevin. Unlike some people, with no mother, no father. Who knows, maybe you're just bad luck walking!"

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If someone has a taste for rotten cucumbers, let them have it."

I delivered that line without flinching, then picked up Poppy and walked out without looking back. The old couple's curses faded behind me.

I'd always known they didn't like me. That's why I'd bent over backward for them after marrying Kevin. But not anymore.

Since Kevin wasn't in town, I'd go to him myself.

I stopped by a law office first and picked up divorce papers, then caught a cab to Harbor City.