Leaving was the Only War I Won
Marcella spent seven years and gave up a kidney just to make Grady Walquist turn back and look at her.
But his ex-girlfriend only needed seven days to win his heart all over again.
“Don’t be so greedy, Marcella. And don’t you dare compare yourself to Zeth!”
Even the son she cherished like a lifeline made a birthday wish. “I hope Aunt Zeth can be my new mom.”
Under the candlelight, Grady’s gaze was hazy as he kissed Zeth Beckinsale.
Quietly, Marcella walked out of the home she had painstakingly built and sent a confirmation message to a classified organization deep in a remote, deserted area.
[I’m willing to give up everything and join the mission of the organization. From now on, my life belongs to my country.]
——
Marcella spent the entire night by the river, letting the evening wind blow against her.
She couldn’t understand how her life had turned out this way.
When did it start?
Was it when Grady agreed to marry her?
Was it when she donated a kidney for him without hesitation?
Or was it when she gave up her career to stay home and take care of Seth?
Marcella’s mother had been a maid for the Walquists. Marcella had practically grown up with Grady, and from the very beginning, her heart had belonged to him.
But she always knew—there was an unbridgeable gap between them, one she could never cross in this lifetime.
And his ex-girlfriend Zeth had always been by his side.
To everyone else, they were a match made in heaven. It was only a matter of time before they got married.
But one day, Grady got into a car accident and suffered severe organ damage.
That was when everything changed.
While Grady lay in a coma, Zeth left the country.
The Walquists were furious but powerless, desperately searching for a compatible kidney donor.
Whether it was Zeth’s luck or misfortune, Marcella was a match.
She still remembered that afternoon when Henrietta, Grady’s mother, cried in front of their maid’s daughter for the first time, begging Marcella to save Grady.
Seeing Marcella not saying anything, the older woman even made a promise.
“I know you’ve always loved Grady. Dear, if you want, once he recovers, I will make sure you two get married!”
But what Henrietta didn’t know was that in those moments of silence, Marcella had no intention of using her organ to bargain.
She was simply happy—happy that she could save the man she loved.
Grady was silent for an entire month after waking up and learning about his girlfriend's departure.
He also ignored Marcella’s visits, acting as if she didn’t exist.
Everyone assumed he had agreed to be with her because she had forced him into it.
But what they didn’t know was that he was the one who brought it up first.
“At worst, just give her family some money. No need to marry her—I was just talking nonsense!
“Does she even know her own status? How could she have the guts to actually expect you to marry her?”
Henrietta’s voice came from inside the hospital room just as Marcella arrived, holding the soup her mother had just made.
Marcella had never thought of forcing Grady to marry her.
But hearing those words still made her heart clench in pain.
She could only act like nothing had happened as she walked into the room.
Before she could even set the soup down, Grady grabbed her wrist.
“Let’s get married. Do you want to?”
His words came so suddenly that even his mother was caught off guard.
Marcella knew she would never be accepted.
But when she saw the gentleness in Grady’s eyes at that moment…
She hesitated.
‘Just this once. Let me be selfish just this once.’
That thought filled her mind as she met his gaze and nodded.
But she never expected that after seven years, everything would turn out to be nothing but a fantasy.
Chapter 2
For seven years, Marcella and Grady treated each other with nothing but respect.
She always left a light on for him when he came home late, and when she was sick, he stayed by her bedside.
He even shed tears in front of her for the first time when their son Seth was born.
Marcella had thought that maybe, just maybe, Grady had feelings for her too.
But Zeth’s arrival finally made Marcella realize—it had all been a fantasy.
Grady’s heart had always belonged to Zeth.
With a ding, Marcella’s phone vibrated with a new message, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself, her heart still clenched when she saw the organization’s exact instructions.
[Mrs. Walquist, first of all, we appreciate your dedication. For security reasons, we will be relocating you to an uninhabited area in the country. Your identity will be erased—Marcella Westerman-Walquist will cease to exist in this world. Please be informed, too, that you will not be allowed to leave for the next 10 years.]
[Please consider this carefully before confirming.]
She clenched her fists, recalling the conversation she overheard outside the villa earlier that night.
Then, exhaling slowly, she let it go.
[I confirm.]
By the time she returned home, it was already early morning.
But the moment she opened the door, she noticed something—Zeth’s shoes were still at the entrance.
‘She… stayed the night? Which room did she sleep in?’
Just as the thought crossed Marcella’s mind, Grady stepped out of the master bedroom.
The second he saw her standing at the door, his eyes flickered toward the bedroom—his expression tense and unnatural.
Before she could even question him, he was already throwing accusations her way.
“Where were you last night? Did you forget it was Seth’s birthday? Seriously, Marcella, I don’t know what kind of mother you think you are!”
His brows furrowed tightly as if surprised his wife wasn’t immediately apologizing.
After all, in the past, no matter what he said—right or wrong—she was always the first to say sorry.
But now—now that she had finally seen things for what they were—his words only filled her with bitter amusement.
Without a word, she moved to push past him, heading straight for the bedroom—she had to see it with her own eyes.
But the moment her fingers touched the doorknob, Grady lunged forward and yanked her back, shoving her away.
With a bang, her back slammed against the edge of the table, a sharp pain shooting through her spine.
The force was enough to leave her struggling to straighten up.
Grady hadn’t expected her to lose her balance. He instinctively reached out to steady her, but she jerked away.
“Tch! This is why I keep telling you—you need to work out more. I barely pushed—”
“—Dee, I’m done taking a shower!”
Before he could finish speaking, the bedroom door swung open from the inside.
A sweet and delicate voice reached Marcella’s ears.
‘Zeth’s!’
“What? What exactly are you trying to hide from me?”
Marcella pointed a trembling finger at Zeth’s face.
Even though she had already decided to let go of her husband, Marcella still couldn’t stop the ache in her chest.
How could Grady let Zeth wear her nightgown?
How could he let her sleep on their bed?
“O-Oh. Marcella, you’re getting the wrong idea. I just borrowed the master bathroom. Guys, please don’t fight because of me. I’ll leave right away. I’m sorry. I—”
Before she could finish, Grady cut her off sharply. “What are you apologizing for? There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
He turned to Marcella, his gaze full of reproach and frustration.
Over his shoulder, Marcella saw Zeth’s tearful eyes, her lips quivering as if she were on the verge of breaking down.
A fragile and pitiful sight—painting Marcella as the cheap woman.
But she had seen it already.
Just moments ago, when Zeth hid behind Grady, Marcella had caught that fleeting look in her husband’s ex’s eyes—smug and taunting.
Chapter 3
No one knew what Grady said to Zeth, but she suddenly burst into laughter.
She even glanced in Marcella’s direction.
A wave of helplessness rose from the soles of Marcella’s feet. For the first time, she felt that the past seven years of her life had been utterly meaningless.
She averted her gaze from the ‘ex-lovers’ and was about to walk around the two and return to her room when a small hand grabbed her.
Before she could see Seth’s face clearly, she heard his reprimanding voice.
“You’re not allowed to go in until you apologize to Aunt Zeth!”
Seth shoved past his mother and ran to Zeth’s side, naturally wrapping his little arms around her waist.
When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with such intense disgust for Marcella that it was nearly overflowing.
“I was using the bathroom just now! That’s why Aunt Zeth went to the master bedroom’s bathroom instead! You barged in yelling without knowing the situation! What if you scared Aunt Zeth? You gotta apologize!”
Marcella stared at Seth’s aggressive stance, her hand clutching her lower back trembling uncontrollably.
She never imagined that the child she had painstakingly given birth to would one day turn against her.
It had only been seven days, and Seth was already desperate for Zeth to become his new mother.
Marcella closed her eyes, forcing back the tears welling up in them.
When she opened her eyes again, her gaze toward Seth was completely indifferent.
“Mind your own business. It’s not your place to tell me what to do.”
Seth hadn’t expected his mother to scold him like that, leaving him completely stunned.
Even Grady was taken aback. He felt that something about the Marcella before him was different.
But that feeling was quickly pushed aside, replaced by even greater dissatisfaction.
“Marcella! What’s wrong with you? Seth is just a kid!”
“So what? He’s not my son?”
With just one sentence, Marcella shut Grady up. Seth, too, widened his eyes and stared at her in shock.
Before Grady could respond, Marcella took a step forward.
With a bang, she shut the bedroom door, locking all three of them outside.
Through the door, she could still hear Seth’s choked and tearful voice.
“Aunt Zeth, when can you stay here forever and be my mom?”
‘Oh, perfect! I don’t want to be your mom anymore either!’
Marcella thought bitterly, but as she turned her head, her eyes caught sight of a few strands of red hair on her pillow.
The same color as Zeth’s.
Marcella’s gaze drifted to the messy bed sheets and the trash bin, where used tissues wrapped around discarded condoms lay in plain sight.
It was then that she collapsed onto the bed, drained of all strength.
The moment the memories of last night flooded her mind, her stomach lurched.
She barely had time to react before she threw up all over the floor.
‘So it’s not just Grady who’s been lying to me, huh?! Even my own son knows everything but plays dumb to deceive me!’
Hearing the sound, Grady hurried in, his face filled with concern that didn’t seem fake.
But as soon as his hand reached out to her, Marcella flinched away.
“You’re like this, and you’re still being stubborn…”
Grady trailed off, momentarily stunned when he met Marcella’s icy gaze.
He had never seen her like this before.
For the first time, a strange sense of panic crept into his heart.
Before he could think any further, the sound of shattering glass echoed from the living room.
Seth rushed into the bedroom, his brows tightly furrowed.
Grabbing his father’s hand, the boy tugged anxiously.
“Dad, Aunt Zeth burned her hand! Come and check on her!”
From beginning to end, Seth never once checked on his mother.
He even covered his nose in disgust as he stood near Marcella.
Chapter 4
“I’m going to check on Zeth first. You take a moment to drink some water and calm down.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Grady threw the bottle of water from the table at Marcella.
Even when the bottle hit her forehead, he only spared it a glance before heading straight for the door, his pace completely unaffected.
Marcella couldn’t help but find it ironic.
She had no choice but to steady herself against the bed, get up, and head to the bathroom to freshen up.
When she came out, she saw Grady carefully applying ointment to Zeth’s hand.
Standing beside him, Seth was blowing on Zeth’s hand with a distressed expression, glancing at her face every so often as if afraid his father might be hurting her.
From a distance, Marcella noticed the burn on Zeth’s hand.
It was nothing but a few faint red spots—give it a little time, and the redness would probably fade.
As soon as Marcella stepped out, Seth immediately raised his hands in front of Zeth as if shielding her from harm.
As ir Marcella was some kind of threat.
“Sorry, Marcella, he’s just a kid. Please don’t take it to heart,” Zeth said with a gentle smile.
She reached out and patted Seth’s head, a fleeting glint of satisfaction flashing through her eyes.
It was as if to say, “See? So what if you carried him for 10 months and raised him for five years? In the end, it’s me he wants to protect.”
Grady glanced at Marcella briefly, his brows furrowed.
Then, siding with Zeth and Seth, he said, “Seth was scared by you just now. Don’t hold it against him.”
At that, Seth let out a huff and turned to bury himself in Zeth’s arms.
But within seconds, he lifted his head again.
“Aunt Zeth got burned, Mom. Hurry up! Make us breakfast! Aunt Zeth wants mac and cheese, and Dad and I want—”
Before the boy could finish, Marcella cut him off. “Then make it yourself. Don’t you have hands?”
Five years of devoted care had only earned her disdain and rejection.
This time, she had no intention of giving another ounce of herself to her husband and her son.
Hearing this, Grady frowned, looking at Marcella in confusion.
To him, household chores had always been her responsibility.
Making breakfast was just expected.
Sensing his gaze, Marcella turned to him, her expression unreadable.
It was as if… she were looking at a stranger.
The realization made Grady’s hand tremble slightly as he applied the ointment.
A strange unease settled in his chest, an involuntary urge rising within him to get up and go to her.
Even the slightest movement did not escape Zeth’s notice.
She immediately spoke in a pitiful voice, “It’s nothing, just a little burn. I can make my own food. Seth, Dee, don’t blame Marcella. She probably just isn’t feeling well after throwing up earlier.”
The moment the words left her lips, nausea surged in Marcella’s stomach once again.
She almost wanted to peel off Zeth’s face and see what was really hiding underneath.
Just then, Marcella’s phone rang.
An unfamiliar number was calling.
“Hi, Mrs. Walquist. For ID verification, may we request your household registration book? In addition to that, since you are married and have a child, we also require your marriage certificate.
“We will come to pick you up in a week. Please make the necessary arrangements to say goodbye to your family.”
Upon hearing this, Marcella looked toward her husband and their son.
One on the left and one on the right—both standing beside Zeth… as if they were the real family.
“Thank you. I’ll have everything ready.”
Hanging up, Marcella didn’t spare the three another glance.
She turned and walked straight to the study.
Their marriage certificate was there.
Chapter 5
There was a time when Marcella, like any newlywed, wanted to frame her marriage certificate.
But the moment Grady heard about it, his face twisted with distaste.
Right in front of her parents, he declared that if she dared to frame it, he’d tear it up on the spot.
Thinking back to that moment, Marcella shook her head, finding her past self almost laughable.
Now, the off-white marriage certificate just sat on the bookshelf.
When she opened it, her hand froze midair.
Her face in the wedding photo had been covered with a sticker—Zeth’s oversized headshot.
Next to it, in scribbled handwriting, were the words: [My dad and my mom]
The sun blazed outside, yet a cold chill crept up from the soles of her feet.
She had no idea what she’d done wrong. Why was Seth so desperate to make Zeth his new mother?
Marcella shut the marriage certificate and took a deep breath, eyes closed.
‘It’s fine, Marcella. It doesn’t matter anymore. None of it matters anymore.’
When she opened her eyes again, clarity had returned.
As she turned around, she saw Grady standing in the study, though she had no idea when he’d arrived.
“What are you looking for? On the phone just now, I heard someone say they were coming to pick you up. Where are you going?”
His gaze landed on the marriage certificate and household registration book, suspicion written all over his face.
She couldn’t let him find out—so she lied.
“I scheduled a check-up. The driver’s coming to get me.”
Grady stayed silent as if weighing the truth of her words.
Just as she was about to walk past him, he grabbed her wrist.
“I’ll go with you.”
“There’s no need. I can handle it myself.”
The moment she refused, Grady’s brows knitted together.
In their marriage, the mere mention of him accompanying her anywhere would have sent her over the moon. From the second he spoke, she would’ve been anticipating it eagerly.
But now, there wasn’t a trace of excitement on her face. She remained indifferent.
Sensing her rejection, Grady tightened his grip.
“What’s really wrong with you? All I did was let Zeth use the bathroom! Is that really such a big deal?”
Marcella turned to glare at him, her eyes cold.
“Just the bathroom?”
The sudden confrontation stunned him.
Something flickered in his gaze—guilt.
For the first time, he avoided looking at her.
“This is ridiculous! I try to be nice, and you act like I’ve done something terrible! Fine, if you’re so eager to go to the hospital without me, suit yourself!”
Grady suddenly yanked his hand away, spitting out the words like she was the one being unreasonable.
Marcella let out a mocking laugh. ‘He’s guilty, all right.’
Not long after she handed her documents to the staff, she received a message.
[Miss Westerman, your marriage has been officially dissolved. To ensure your child’s safety, his status will be updated to adoption.]
The moment she read it, a weight lifted from her chest.
She no longer had to live under the fear of Grady leaving her.
This time, she was the one who left him.
Just as she put her phone away, it rang again.
It was Grady’s mother.
“Come to the family estate.”
That was all she said before hanging up.
She didn’t even give Marcella a chance to refuse.
His family had always been like this—looking down on her.
Yet Grady was the one who insisted on marrying her in the first place.
Later, right as Marcella reached the family estate, a woman’s playful laughter rang out from inside.
Chapter 6
The moment Marcella stepped in, the smile on Henrietta's face vanished.
“Good grief, you’re really getting more arrogant by the day. Calling you back for something this important, and you still made me wait. You really don’t know your place, do you?”
Marcella had lost count of how many times she’d heard these words.
The woman beside Henrietta eyed Marcella from head to toe, her gaze filled with contempt.
Marcella had seen her once—from a distance—at an auction. The woman was the Churchills’ heiress.
In Henrietta's eyes, Grady should’ve married someone from a family like Arizona’s.
Arizona smiled faintly, her gaze occasionally landing on the stack of documents on the coffee table.
“Come here and sign.”
Henrietta tossed the words at Marcella, cold and indifferent.
On the table, bolded on the first page, were two words: [Divorce Agreement].
Marcella’s lips curled slightly, almost imperceptibly. ‘So that’s how it is.’
“This is Grady’s decision too?”
Henrietta raised an eyebrow, unsurprised by the question.
“Of course! He only married you for your kidney. We’ll compensate you more than enough to keep you comfortable for life, so you’d better not be ungrateful—”
She barely finished speaking when Marcella picked up the pen and signed her name.
She didn’t even glance at the contents.
Lifting her head, her eyes landed not on Henrietta, but on Arizona.
“Congratulations to you both in advance.”
For a moment, both Arizona and Henrietta were stunned.
Their faces turned pale and then red, clearly not expecting Marcella to agree so easily.
Without another word, Marcella turned to leave.
She had already chosen to let go of Grady. There was no reason for her to keep up appearances for his mother anymore.
“Your son only has one kidney left. Don’t hold up a young woman’s future for him. Besides, in his heart, there’s only Zeth.”
As expected, the moment Marcella said that, Arizona’s face drained of color.
The Walquists had been tight-lipped about Grady’s accident all these years. No one knew his true condition.
All anyone knew was that he had married a woman he didn’t love—out of obligation.
Marcella let out a soft laugh and shot a glance at Henrietta, whose face was now flushed with anger. Then, the younger woman turned and walked away.
Suddenly, with a crash, a porcelain vase shattered against the doorframe behind her.
“Without the Walquists, what do you think you are?! All these years, haven’t you and that kid been living off Grady’s money? Divorcing you is the greatest mercy we could show you!”
“What divorce?” A deep voice cut through the air.
Grady suddenly appeared in the doorway, his gaze shifting between Marcella and his mother.
Before Marcella could speak, Henrietta quickly reacted, putting on a pitiful act as she grabbed Seth’s hand.
“Marcella heard rumors about you and Zeth and came crying to me, demanding a divorce. No matter how much I tried to talk her out of it, she wouldn’t listen.”
She hadn’t expected Seth’s eyes to light up at that.
His gaze kept flickering toward the car parked outside.
The moment he heard they were getting a divorce, all he could think about was rushing out to tell Zeth.
Grady stood in front of Marcella, his expression unreadable.
“I’m leaving. The papers are signed.”
To her, the agreement didn’t really matter anymore—she was already set on heading into the wilderness. But since Henrietta had asked her to sign, Marcella figured she might as well get it over with.
But just as she stepped out, Grady grabbed the papers from the table and ripped them to shreds.
The pieces fluttered to the ground at her feet.
Chapter 7
“I never agreed to a divorce! Don’t even think about leaving me in this lifetime!”
The light that had just flickered in Seth’s eyes instantly dimmed.
Seeing this, Marcella couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness in her heart.
Did he really hate her that much?
But Zeth had only been around for 10 days.
Grady’s gaze remained fixed on Marcella’s face as he spoke those words.
But she stayed indifferent, not even showing a hint of surprise.
She was nothing like the woman who once had eyes only for him.
For some reason, Grady felt as if something was slipping away—something beyond his control.
Just as Marcella turned to leave, Grady stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her out of the family estate.
But the moment they stepped out into the garden, Zeth was already standing there.
Her eyes were red as if she’d just been crying.
Her phone was still connected to a call, and from a distance, Marcella could see the contact name on the screen—Seth, the boy she had raised for seven years.
The man who had just been gripping her wrist so tightly instantly let go the moment Zeth turned her head.
All Marcella was left with was his retreating.
“Mom, if you want a divorce, why don’t you just be straightforward about it? You keep saying you want to leave, but then you cling to Dad. I hate you! I want Aunt Zeth to be my mom!”
With that, Seth shoved Marcella aside and ran off, chasing after Zeth without hesitation.
Standing outside the villa, Marcella couldn’t hear what Grady said to Zeth.
She only saw that one moment, Zeth was still angry, but in the next, her lips curled up slightly.
Then, Seth threw himself into her arms.
[I’m going to the office. Figure out how to get home yourself.]
It was a text message from Grady that popped up on her screen.
By the time Marcella looked up, the three of them were already in the car, ready to leave.
The scorching sun beat down, drenching her shirt in sweat.
The Walquists’ family estate was built up in the mountains, surrounded by nothing but wilderness for the sake of privacy.
Marcella walked alone along the mountain path, unable to get a cab no matter how hard she tried.
Her head was starting to feel dizzy. She took out her phone, thinking of calling for help.
But after scrolling through her contacts, she realized there wasn’t a single person she could call.
A distant honk broke the silence. When Marcella turned around, Arizona had already pulled up beside her.
“Playing hard to get a little too much, aren’t you? I almost believed you were serious about that divorce. So… it was all just an act, huh?”
Marcella never expected that signing the divorce papers without hesitation would be seen as nothing more than a ploy.
Of course. Everyone knew Grady had a wife who loved him to the bone—a wife who didn't even hesitate to donate her kidney for him.
‘So that’s what Grady thinks too, huh?’
Marcella didn’t bother explaining. She didn’t spare Arizona another glance.
Having just been ignored by Grady at the family estate, now being treated as air by someone she looked down on made Arizona’s blood boil.
As she watched Marcella’s retreating figure, an idea flashed through her mind.
The car suddenly sped up, brushing past Marcella.
Caught off guard, she stumbled and crashed to the ground.
“Oh my! So sorry about that! Maybe next time, watch where you’re going?”
Arizona leaned out of the car window, grinning at the sight of Marcella struggling to get up from the dirt.
Then, with a flick of her hair, she stepped on the gas, leaving nothing behind but a trail of exhaust.
Chapter 8
Marcella struggled to get up, even though she only had a scrape on her leg.
But the dull ache in her belly was getting worse. When she looked down, she saw herself lying in a pool of blood.
Her face turned deathly pale. There was no time for fear—she hurriedly dialed Grady.
“Grady, I—”
“Dee is in the shower. He doesn’t have time to answer your call. If you have any self-respect, you should step aside and give up your position as Mrs. Walquist. Playing hard to get won’t work, you know. It’ll only make him hate you more.”
Before Marcella could finish her sentence, Zeth hung up on her.
Marcella called again, but all she got was the beeping sound of a powered-off phone.
The pain in her belly became unbearable, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
‘Grady, I will never forgive you! You will never be happy in this lifetime!’
That was the last thought in her fading consciousness before everything went dark.
When she woke up, she was in a hospital bed.
A security guard on patrol had found her. By the time she was brought in, she had already lost consciousness.
She instinctively placed a hand on her belly. A nurse who had just walked in sighed at the sight.
“You’re still so young. You’ll have another child in the future.
“Try calling your family. They should be here to take care of you.”
The memory of that phone call before she passed out nearly crushed her.
Even a stranger could offer her comfort and concern, yet Grady was as cold as ice—completely unaffected no matter what she did.
Marcella couldn’t help but wonder, ‘In those seven years, how many moments had been real?’ Or had I been nothing more than a way to pass the time whenever Zeth wasn’t around?’
“I don’t have any family. Thank you, but I’ll be fine on my own.”
Her voice was soft, but the nurse still caught the loneliness in it. She looked at the patient with sympathy but didn’t press further.
As soon as the nurse left, Marcella finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
She never expected to find out she was already two months pregnant.
And now, before she even had the chance to process it, the baby was gone.
She wondered how Grady would react when he found out they lost their second child because of him.
‘Would he feel relieved? Or would there be even a flicker of sadness?’
Marcella let out a bitter laugh.
‘He’ll probably be thrilled—one less tie between us.’
Just then, her phone buzzed with a message from Grady.
[I’m on a business trip. Go home and take care of Seth.]
Marcella gripped her phone tightly, an overwhelming sense of exhaustion washing over her.
‘Business trip? Is that what he called lying in bed with Zeth?’
But she didn’t reply. Instead, she blocked him on Telegram.
There wasn’t much time left, anyway.
As she stepped out of the hospital room, she suddenly froze.
Standing by the OB-GYN’s office, where she never should have been, was Zeth—leaning into Grady’s arms, gently cradling her belly.
Marcella’s mind went blank. Her whole body started shaking.
“Dee, since I’m pregnant now, why don’t we let Seth stay with Marcella?”
From a distance, Marcella heard Zeth’s voice.
At that moment, everything around Marcella seemed to fall silent.
She stared at Grady, waiting for his answer.
“You know I’ve never liked Seth.”
Grady’s response made Zeth smile. She was still smiling when the elevator doors closed behind her.
Chapter 9
“I knew it! Love and hate work the same way, right?”
This time, Grady didn’t respond.
But the slight curve of his lips seemed to acknowledge Zeth’s words.
Marcella leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down until she sat on the floor.
‘Grady, soon… Soon, you’ll get what you want.’
The next second, her phone rang.
“Miss Westerman, your identity erasure will be finalized the day after tomorrow. We will come to escort you to the organization’s base. Would you like more time with your family before then?”
“No need. Please get here on time.”
When Marcella requested to be discharged, even the nurse couldn’t help but advise her to stay and recover longer.
But she insisted on leaving.
She had unfinished business in these last two days.
As soon as she stepped into the villa, a stuffed toy came flying from the living room—smacking her right on the head.
Seth didn’t apologize. Instead, he sneered.
“You deserve it, Mom! That’s what you get for staying away so long! Hurry up and make me something to eat. I’m starving! If Dad finds out, he’ll be mad!”
At those words, Marcella was reminded of what Grady had said at the hospital.
He hated her.
So, of course, he didn’t care about the child she had given birth to either.
And Seth—he had chosen their side.
‘How pathetic!’
From the corner of her eye, Marcella noticed her son munching on junk food, the kind she never allowed him to have.
‘Zeth must’ve bought it for him.’
Sensing her gaze, Seth clutched his snacks and tablet close, staring at his mother like a little wolf pup baring its fangs.
“Aunt Zeth gave these to me. Dad didn’t say anything about it, so you don’t get to have an opinion!”
Marcella walked up to him, looking down at the boy she had raised for so many years.
She thought she’d feel reluctant when the time came to leave.
But standing here now, gazing at Seth… she felt nothing.
“Hey, look, I won’t care about you anymore. Hope you stay this happy forever.”
With that, she turned and walked into her bedroom.
Seth was stunned.
He had always hated how Marcella controlled him, always nagging and restricting him.
But just now, the way she looked at him—something felt different.
A strange emptiness welled up inside him, though he couldn’t quite place why.
So he brushed it off.
He figured she was just acting like that because he liked Zeth.
When Marcella entered the master bedroom, her wedding photos with Grady were still there.
In every picture, his face was cold, devoid of any joy.
Even the photographer had urged him to smile.
But what did he say back then?
“It’s just a wedding. No need to look so happy.”
Over the years, he started smiling more and more.
She had once thought—just maybe—he had finally turned around.
But no.
She had only been fooling herself.
A sudden ding snapped her out of her thoughts.
A message.
An unknown number.
It was a picture.
Two people standing by the seaside at sunset, holding an ultrasound result.
[I’m pregnant. Dee said he’ll divorce you as soon as we get back from our trip. If you know what’s good for you, leave before we return.]
Marcella glanced at the message and ignored it.
She took all the wedding photos down and tore them to pieces.
But Zeth wasn’t done yet.
Marcella’s phone kept buzzing with messages.
[Grady never loved you. If it weren’t for the fact that you saved his life, he would’ve divorced you years ago!]
Chapter 10
[You know, I kept getting messages from him while I was in Paris. He begged me to come back! He said that if I returned, everything in the Walquists would be mine!]
[You’ve seen what was left in the trash can of the villa, right? Seriously, Grady is just as impressive in bed as ever!]
Zeth sent message after message, but Marcella didn’t check any of them.
It wasn’t until her peripheral vision caught the last notification that her hands, mid-way through packing, froze in the air.
For a moment, she didn’t know what to do.
[Do you know why he named your son Seth? You don’t seriously think it means chosen for a purpose, do you? I mean, that’s just hilarious!]
[Seth, Seth—it’s actually a masculine variation of my name! Grady’s actually been saying “I love you, Zeth!” all this time!]
[Grady said that once you gave birth to the child, he would have repaid you. After that, well, he wouldn’t owe you anything for the rest of his life!]
Zeth was right. That was exactly what Grady had told Marcella back then.
So when he shed those tears—was it because he was worried about her, or because he was finally free to go back to Zeth without any hesitation?
Marcella knew Zeth was trying to provoke her on purpose.
But when Marcella read those messages, she still couldn’t stop the tears from falling.
She didn’t want to dwell on it any longer. Taking a deep breath, she packed everything in the room that belonged to her.
From books to pillows—seven years of her life, yet everything had fit into just four suitcases.
When she stepped out, dragging her luggage and waiting for the movers, Seth stood by the door.
His expression was filled with irritation.
“Mom, what are you throwing a fit about this time? Even if you’re divorcing Dad, can’t you at least make me dinner first? Seriously, Mom! Ugh! If only Aunt Zeth were here!”
Marcella turned back and shot him a cold look.
Whatever else Seth had been about to say got stuck in his throat.
When she returned, he let out a sarcastic laugh.
“I thought you weren’t coming back. Guess you couldn’t bring yourself to leave, huh?”
He had this smug look on his face as his eyes fixed on her phone—as if he was waiting for something.
Sure enough, the next second, a message from Grady popped up.
But the first thing he said wasn’t to ask her where she was.
It was to question why she had blocked him.
She didn’t reply.
Another message immediately followed.
[If you can’t even take care of our son properly, then I think I need to reconsider our relationship.]
‘So what? Is he saying he’s going to divorce me? Welp, our marriage has already been annulled by the authorities before he even knew it.’
Marcella smirked at the thought.
Beside her, Seth chuckled as he walked over with the snacks Zeth had bought him.
“Mom, why are you still standing around? Go make dinner already! It’s not like your hands are delicate like Aunt Zeth’s, needing to play the piano or something!”
He looked at her hands with clear disdain.
Just as he lifted his head—a slap landed hard across his face.
“My hands can cook, and they can hit people too. I think I’ve been way too lenient with you, my dear.”
With that slap, whatever mother-son bond they had was severed completely.
Seth stared in shock, his cheek burning from the sting.
He immediately grabbed his phone, ready to call his father and his grandmother to complain.
But Marcella snatched his device and smashed it into pieces.
“What’s the rush? Your dad will be back tomorrow. And the woman you adore so much—Zeth—will be coming with him.”
With that, she walked straight to her room, not even sparing a glance at the boy’s pale face.
Chapter 11
Outside the door, Seth was still crying.
Marcella’s actions and words earlier had truly startled him.
For the first time, he felt like his mom was different from before.
He had to tell his dad what happened tonight. That thought lingered in his mind as he slowly drifted off to sleep.
Marcella didn’t know how long her son cried. She only knew that, eventually, the sound outside faded into silence.
She sat there all night, and early the next morning, she received a message from the organization.
[Good morning, Ms. Westerman. The car is already waiting outside.]
When she stepped out of the bedroom, she saw Seth curled up on the couch.
Such a small figure, not even covered with a blanket.
But she only glanced at him before silently leaving.
In the car, as she watched her home and the familiar streets fade into the distance, she felt lighter and lighter.
[I’ll be home tonight for dinner. I have a surprise for you.]
[There’s something I’ve been keeping from you for a long time. Tonight, I’ll finally tell you everything.]
Grady’s messages popped up on her phone.
Only then did Marcella remember—today was their wedding anniversary.
She smiled but didn’t reply. Instead, she rolled down the window and tossed her phone out.
‘Grady, we will never see each other again in this lifetime…’
On the way back from dropping Zeth off, Grady felt unsettled.
It had been over an hour since he sent those texts, yet there was still no reply.
Today was their anniversary.
He had carefully prepared a gift for Marcella, and it now sat on the front seat’s shelf.
Just as he was lost in thought, Zeth suddenly let out a gasp of delight.
“Dee, is this for me? Woah! This is so beautiful! I love it!”
Inside the box lay the latest masterpiece from a world-renowned designer—something Zeth had been dreaming of for ages.
Her eyes were fixed on the necklace, her excitement barely contained.
She didn’t even notice the fleeting look of disdain in the man beside her.
Zeth picked up the necklace, wanting Grady to put it on her himself.
But the next second, he calmly placed it back into the box.
“This is for Marcella. After all, she’s still my wife.”
Zeth’s face instantly paled, her eyes turning red and her lips trembling.
“Dee… What about me? I’m pregnant. Are you still not going to divorce her? Is it because you’re still holding onto what happened when I left for Paris? But you know I had no choice! If I hadn’t gone, my parents would’ve forced me to marry someone else! I thought… I thought you’d wait for me.”
Tears streamed down her face, one after another.
Grady sighed and wiped them away.
He had heard those words too many times before.
Full of holes, yet he had never exposed her.
“Zeth, Marcella saved my life. And besides…”
He paused for two seconds, staring straight at her before continuing, his tone almost pitiful.
“Besides, your ‘friend’ Zeth doesn’t seem too willing to let you go either.”
