Can't Pay Me to Stay

The day after I lose my babies, my husband, Colin Fraser, tries to make it up to me with money, like he always does. "What's it going to be this time?" he asks. "Jewelry, company shares, or that plot of land in Easton?" I simply shake my head and slide the document from my nightstand toward him. As casually as he's signed countless checks before, Colin signs it without even looking. When he glances up and sees how calm I am, he lets out a soft laugh. "I thought you'd ask me to stay and keep you company," he says, shaking his head. "After all these years, you're still so materialistic. Money is all you care about." My hand freezes for a moment as I reach for the signed document. Just then, my son, Simon Fraser, breaks the silence with his innocent voice. "Dad, you're only realizing that now? You gave Mom money when she had me. Now that my little siblings are gone, you're giving her money again. Ava is much better. She says love can't be bought with money." Ava's right. Love isn't something you can buy with money. And that is why this document isn't another business contract. It's a divorce agreement. Chapter 1 Wendy's POV My fingertips brushed against the paper my husband, Colin Fraser, had just signed. "This is the last time," I said softly, looking at my five-year-old son, Simon Fraser. Simon tilted his face up at me, his lips curled in a pout. "You said the same thing when I was sick, and Dad bought you a handbag for taking care of me," he said. He paused, then mimicked a voice I knew all too well and had grown to hate. "Ava was right. Mom, people like you never change!" A dull, prickling pain spread through my chest. I had already made up my mind to leave before Colin walked through that door. However, I couldn't bring myself to let go of the child I'd brought into this world. Even though Simon no longer loved me the way he used to, I still swallowed my physical and emotional pain and nagged him one last time. "Simon, remember to dress warmly when it gets cold. You're allergic to mangoes, so don't sneak any. And always look both ways when you cross the street." He impatiently shoved my hands away, his little brows furrowing. "You're so annoying! Dad and the nanny can take care of all that!" he snapped. When I fell silent, he seemed to grow bolder. He planted his tiny hands on his hips and glared at me. "Mom, promise me!" he demanded. "Promise that today is the last time you'll ever cling to Dad. And promise you'll never use being my mom as an excuse to boss me around again." I looked at him and forced a faint, weak smile. "Of course. From now on, you can do whatever you want," I whispered. "I won't interfere with what you do anymore, and I won't cling to your dad, either." A heavy silence fell over the hospital room. Colin, who had been quietly standing by the door, finally spoke. "Stop throwing a fit," he said, frowning. His voice carried his usual impatience, along with a hint of suspicion. "Watch your mouth in front of our son," he warned. He always did this. Whenever I stopped acting like the meek, obedient wife he wanted, he dismissed it as nothing more than a tantrum or childish nonsense. "I'm not throwing a fit," I said calmly, lifting my gaze to meet his eyes. "I'm simply giving our son what he wants." Colin's frown deepened. He couldn't understand my calmness, and the feeling that things were slipping beyond his control made him uneasy. "That's great!" Simon cheered, his joyful voice breaking the tense silence. He wrapped both arms around Colin's leg. "Dad! That means you can take Ava and me to the parent-child sports day today!" he said excitedly. I froze for a second. Colin had always been strict about boundaries. In the past, he'd allowed Ava Levine to take Simon to amusement parks or movies. But when it came to events where a child's parents were clearly expected to attend, he'd never crossed that line. That was how he showed respect for our marriage and my status as his wife. Yet now, he glanced down at Simon's eager face before turning to my calm, unreadable expression. Any hesitation quickly faded. "You just had a miscarriage. You need to rest," Colin said, his tone measured. "I'm taking Ava this time because I don't want to let Simon down." He paused before adding, "Tell Ethan if there's anything you want to buy." It was a rare attempt at comforting me. Then again, he'd taken the time to patiently explain himself to a tool he'd bought with money. That counted as an act of mercy, didn't it? If not for the deal we'd made at the hospital seven years ago, someone from an ordinary background like mine would never have had a place in the Fraser family. Colin needed a child to comfort his grandfather, while I needed money to save my mother. Over the years, Colin had been fairly satisfied with my obedient, sensible nature. Whenever I showed even the slightest hint of hurt, money was the only compensation he ever offered, as if it could erase every wound. "Okay," I murmured, lowering my eyes. Colin watched me closely, his gaze dark and unreadable. "Dad, hurry up!" Simon tugged impatiently at his hand. Colin swallowed hard but said nothing. He took Simon's hand and turned to leave. The door closed behind them, muffling their laughter as they met up with Ava outside. I forced myself to my feet and slowly made my way to the window. Down in the courtyard, Simon held Colin's hand in one of his and clutched Ava's tightly in the other. He bounced along happily as Ava beamed beside him. Sunlight outlined their figures as they walked side by side. They looked just like a real family of three. Chapter 2 Wendy's POV I returned to the gilded cage I had once called home. Despite the lingering pain in my body, I began packing. I opened the door to the massive walk-in closet. It was packed with the latest designer collections, while rows of jewelry gleamed from their velvet boxes. I'd worn these things like armor, putting them on with trembling hands just to make sure I didn't look too out of place beside Colin. However, in his eyes, they were nothing more than proof of my vanity. Now, I had no use for any of them. I'd already contacted a luxury resale service to sell everything, and every cent I earned would go to an anonymous scholarship foundation. Colin would probably never know how the money he considered so vulgar had quietly changed the lives of other young women. I reached into the back of the closet and pulled out an old suitcase with frayed edges. Seven years ago, I'd dragged it through the front door when I first arrived. Now, it seemed to be the only thing I wanted to take with me. As I pulled the expensive clothes out one by one, a colorful, slightly faded toy robot tumbled out from the back of the closet. I froze. It was the toy robot Simon had treasured most when he was three. Back then, he loved playing hide-and-seek with me. He would sneak the toy into my closet, look up at me, and whisper in his sweet, baby voice, "Mom, protect it for me, okay?" In those days, his eyes had sparkled like a sky full of stars. His whole world had revolved around me. My chest tightened with a heavy, suffocating ache. When had everything started to change? Was it when Colin's mother, Chloe Monroe, repeatedly mocked me in front of Simon, telling me I didn't belong in high society? Was it when Colin constantly bought me off with money, making Simon believe that I cared about nothing but money? Or was it when Ava came along? Next to her, I seemed boring and useless. I was just a housewife trapped in endless chores, a woman whose dreams had long since faded into dust. It felt as though a lump of waterlogged cotton had lodged itself in my chest, making every breath painful. I bent down to pick up the dusty toy robot. Just as my fingertips were about to touch its cold plastic surface, my phone buzzed in my purse. A message had come through in Simon's kindergarten class group chat. His teacher had shared a short video from that day's parent-child sports day. Without thinking, I tapped the video open. In the video, Simon sat high on Colin's shoulders, his face flushed with excitement. Beside them stood Ava, beaming just as brightly. There was a three-person relay race where parents had to team up with their child. Ava took the spot that should have been mine. Simon wrapped one arm tightly around Colin's neck while holding Ava's hand with the other. He laughed with a radiant joy I hadn't seen in so long. In the background, I could hear other parents teasing them good-naturedly. "Mr. Fraser, Ms. Levine, you three make such a great team! What a lovely family!" Colin didn't correct them. The cold glow of my phone screen fell across my face. In the end, I left the toy robot on the floor and slowly stood up. Just then, a sharp voice rang out from the doorway. "Putting on another show? Pretending to run away from home, huh?" Chloe stood there with her arms crossed, her face twisted in undisguised contempt. I didn't bother turning around. I simply continued folding my old clothes and placing them in the worn suitcase. "What? Cat got your tongue?" Chloe asked, sneering. "Didn't you pull the same stunt three years ago? You made a huge scene, only to come crawling back in the end." Three years ago, Simon was still a toddler. I had been suffocating under the weight of this gilded cage and the constant disdain of everyone around me. Finally, I'd gathered the courage to tell Colin, "I've given you a child. Our deal is complete. I want to leave." Colin, who was usually emotionally reserved, lost his temper in a rare outburst. With one sweep of his arm, he sent everything on his desk crashing to the floor. He grabbed my chin, his eyes filled with icy anger and disappointment. "You're abandoning your own child, and you still call yourself a mother? I won't allow my son to grow up without a complete family!" he snapped. He even threatened to stop paying for my mother's medical bills. Back then, Simon toddled over to me and wrapped his little arms around my leg. "Mommy... Hold me..." Those simple words melted my heart. Eventually, I gave in and stayed. That only made Colin more certain that I could never bring myself to leave him. So this time, I'd gotten him to sign the divorce papers without telling him what they were. "Are you done?" I asked, zipping up my suitcase as I met Chloe's gaze. My calm response left her momentarily speechless. Without saying another word, I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door. Just then, I heard a noise at the entrance. The front door swung open. Simon stood there, his face flushed with excitement after the day's activities. He held Colin's hand in one hand and Ava's in the other. Ava stood beside him, smiling sweetly. The moment Simon saw the suitcase in my hand, his smile froze. Colin's gaze shifted past Simon and settled on the suitcase I was holding. Chapter 3 Wendy's POV Colin stepped forward and grabbed my wrist, his grip painfully tight. "Wendy, what's with this attitude?" he demanded, his voice heavy with irritation. "Just sorting through some old junk and getting rid of it," I replied coldly. I tried to pull my hand free, but his grip only tightened. Simon visibly relaxed. A moment later, he pouted and complained, "Mom! You're no fun! You were the one who agreed to let Ava come with me. So why are you giving everyone such an attitude now?" Ava stepped forward right on cue, her face a perfect mix of concern and innocence. "Wendy, are you upset with me? I was just helping out as a friend and keeping Simon company..." As usual, she used the word "friend" to justify everything she did, as if it were some kind of universal shield. Everyone turned a blind eye, silently giving her permission to cross every boundary imaginable. Yet whenever I questioned her, I was immediately accused of making a scene and dismissed as someone who didn't understand how high society worked. But this time, I wasn't going to play along. I yanked my wrist free from Colin's grasp, a faint, cold smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Ms. Levine, you're overthinking it," I said smoothly. "You love helping people take care of their children so much that you even volunteer to stand in for their mothers at sports days. If anything, I should be thanking you." The air in the room froze. Simon bristled with anger. "Mom! How can you say something like that?" he shrieked. Colin's expression darkened. "Wendy Sinclair! Watch your mouth and remember your place!" he warned. "Ava was only trying to help. Is this how you treat a guest?" Ava's eyes welled up with tears right on cue, making her look pitiful and completely helpless. Simon lost all restraint and screamed at me, "It's no wonder my younger brother and sister died before they were born! They must not have wanted a terrible mother like you!" The blood in my veins seemed to freeze, and a bone-chilling cold swept through my limbs. So, they were capable of standing up for someone after all. It was just never for me. The doctor's words echoed in my mind. "Your miscarriage was caused by your body never fully recovering after you gave birth to Simon, combined with years of emotional strain and depression..." And now, my own son spat such vicious words at me, all for the sake of another woman. Colin snapped, "Simon!" Then, he turned to me, his voice slipping into that familiar, dismissive tone he always used to smooth things over. "He's just a child. Don't take it to heart." Just a child? Was that all it took to brush aside all the hurt he'd caused? Just then, Colin's gaze drifted past me to the pile of expensive clothes I'd cleared out and dumped in the living room like trash. His eyes then fell on the half-empty closet. For the first time, genuine shock flickered across his face. Ava followed his gaze and immediately caught on. "Mr. Fraser, please don't blame Wendy," she said, feigning concern. "No wonder she was willing to let me come along to the sports day today. She must have wanted to clear out her old things to make room for all the new things you're going to buy her." At her words, the doubt on Colin's face vanished, replaced by a smug look of certainty. This was the Wendy he knew—the woman who spent her life chasing material possessions, using luxury goods to fill the emptiness inside her. Without a second thought, he pulled out his phone and called his assistant, Ethan Carter. "Send over a complete set of this season's new arrivals," he ordered smoothly before hanging up. Then he turned to me, his expression calm and indifferent, as though he were doing a favor for someone beneath him. "There," he said. "Are you happy now?" Chapter 4 Wendy's POV Ava had left. Simon came running up to me, his chin held high as he made his announcement. "Ava has a fashion show overseas in a few days, and Dad is taking me with him for a whole month!" He looked at me expectantly. "Mom, hurry up and pack my bags!" In the past, I would have carefully sorted and packed all his belongings, making sure not to leave anything behind. This time, I simply turned to the nanny, Stella Parker, who was standing nearby. "Stella, could you take care of that for me?" I asked calmly. Simon froze, clearly caught off guard by my reaction. Colin came downstairs. He slowed for a moment before walking over to me, then went silent. When he finally spoke, there was an unusual note of reassurance in his voice. "You haven't really gone anywhere in a long time." He hesitated before adding, "Why don't you... come with us?" Simon immediately tensed and stared at me with obvious reluctance. I shook my head slowly. "No, thanks," I replied, my voice flat and emotionless. Simon let out a sigh of relief. "Exactly. Mom, why would you even come with us? It's not like you understand fashion anyway. All you know is laundry, cleaning, and cooking. How boring." Colin frowned at Simon's harsh words. He turned to leave, but stopped short after taking just one step. With his back still turned to me, he lowered his voice and said, "Come to think of it, I haven't seen you paint in a long time." My heart shuddered, as if something had struck me out of nowhere. So, he still remembered. In the first few years of our marriage, even this cold, empty house had seen a few moments of warmth. On sunny afternoons, I would set up my easel by the window. Sometimes, Colin would pass by and stop to look at my paintings. "It's full of life," he once said. On rare occasions, he would even bend down, point to a particular patch of color, and discuss it with me. Those moments were among the precious few slivers of light in my otherwise bleak and suffocating marriage. One day, I excitedly told him that my design portfolio had passed the initial screening at a prestigious fashion house. For the first time in years, I dared to hope that I could pick up the pieces of my abandoned dream and start over. However, Colin was unusually exhausted that day. He rubbed his temple and asked flatly, "Wendy, what's the point of all this?" He continued, "Isn't the life I give you good enough? Why put yourself through all that hard work just to earn a little money?" He paused, his voice turning cold. "You could work yourself to the bone for a year and still earn less than what I make from signing a single deal in one day." The words I'd been so eager to say caught in my throat. All my bright hopes for the future vanished in an instant. He was right. In the business empire he controlled, and by his standards for measuring the worth of everything in the world, my dreams and talents meant little. They weren't even worth a second thought. I quickly packed away my art supplies and hid all my design drafts. I locked them away in a forgotten corner, right alongside the version of myself who had once dared to dream. "I stopped painting a long time ago," I said, lowering my gaze as I tried to hide the tangled emotions churning inside me. ... Three days later, I went along to the airport to see them off. "Alright. This is far enough," Colin said casually, turning to me. Simon gave me a halfhearted wave. "Bye, Mom!" I stood anchored to the spot, watching them turn and blend into the bustling crowd. Colin had only taken a few steps when, for some reason, he glanced back over his shoulder at me. I waved calmly, forcing a faint, polite smile. Only after they had vanished completely into the crowd did I walk toward the parking lot and pop the trunk. Inside, my old suitcase sat waiting. "Mrs. Fraser, what are you doing?" our household manager, Victoria Reed, asked, looking puzzled. "I'm going on a trip to clear my head," I replied. I grabbed my suitcase and walked into the bustling terminal. The massive departure screen flickered as it updated every few seconds. I looked up and found the flight number for Colin and Simon's flight. They were headed to warm Novaria, where the three of them would enjoy a family getaway. As for me, I calmly headed toward a completely different gate. As the plane sped down the runway, lifted off, and soared into the sky, I looked down at the familiar city shrinking beneath me. I felt no sadness about leaving. Instead, I felt a sense of clarity, as if everything inside me had finally been washed clean. Goodbye, Colin Fraser. The plane adjusted its course and carried me steadily toward a distant future that was mine alone—far away from the happiness he would share with Ava and Simon.