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He Cut Her Steak While Our Son Needed Surgery
Novelix
Completed
My husband missed my labor, ignored my calls, and forgot our son even needed heart surgery. But for my best friend, he had all the time in the world, cutting her steak on livestream, defending her tears, and even stealing my son's surgery money to fund her restaurant. I was the wife in name, the outsider in every room, and the fool who trusted them both. So I stopped begging. I filed for divorce, took my son, and exposed every filthy secret they tried to bury. He thought I would come crawling back. He was wrong. This time, I chose revenge, freedom, and myself.
Chapters (4)
Chapter 1
I stood outside the restaurant with my son in my arms. He needed heart surgery. On the other side of the floor-to-ceiling window, my husband was cutting up my best friend's steak.
In seven years of marriage, Lucas Sterling had never done anything like that for me.
He never took my calls during work hours. Even when I was hemorrhaging in the delivery room, he hadn't answered, not when the hospital called his assistant, his office, or his private line.
When I woke up after surgery, I thought about divorce for the first time. Then I held our newborn son, Noah, in my arms.
I told myself Lucas was just busy with work.
Then, when Noah was eight months old, he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.
The doctor said he needed to see a pediatric cardiologist right away. It was urgent.
I rushed to Sterling Group with Noah in my arms.
When I asked for Lucas, the receptionist gave me a practiced smile.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Sterling isn't in the office."
"But he said he had a board meeting today."
She looked startled, then lowered her voice.
"Wednesday afternoons are Mr. Sterling's personal time. He never schedules meetings."
She gave me an address.
An upscale, reservation-only restaurant in Manhattan.
I took a cab there with Noah.
Through the restaurant window, I spotted Lucas sitting at a table by the window.
He was wearing a charcoal suit. His cuff links were the pair I'd given him for our anniversary.
Across from him sat my best friend, Chloe Whitman.
She held up her phone, livestreaming with a sweet smile.
On screen, Lucas cut her steak, pushed aside the broccoli she wouldn't eat, and moved the wine glass out of her reach.
Comments raced across the livestream.
"Three years! Are we finally getting a face reveal for Chloe's mystery husband?"
"He remembers every little thing she likes. If that's not true love, what is?"
"Just make it official already. You two are the muse couple."
Chloe glanced at Lucas and smiled.
"Don't get ahead of yourselves. He's not my husband."
She paused, then added slowly, "Not yet, anyway."
Lucas didn't correct her.
"For three years, he's never missed one of my livestreams. No matter how busy he is, even if it means pushing a multi-million-dollar deal to the next day. I'm so lucky."
Lucas looked at her with unmistakable tenderness.
Outside the restaurant, my fingers slowly went numb.
Three years.
I'd known Chloe was seeing someone.
She'd told me he was just a brand partner, that their chemistry was all for the cameras.
It had never crossed my mind that the man was my husband.
I pulled up her old livestream recordings and found the one from the day I'd given birth.
On screen, Lucas arranged her plate.
Chloe choked on a sip of coffee.
A second later, his low voice came through.
"Slow down. End the stream and have some warm water."
That same day, alone in the hospital, I'd signed consent forms twice warning that I might not survive.
Lucas had eventually shown up and stayed by my bed all night.
I'd thought that meant he still cared.
It turned out her livestream had just ended.
That evening, Lucas came home right on time.
He was carrying a box of cinnamon rolls.
"Picked these up on my way. I remembered you liked them."
I stared at the box without taking it.
"I'm allergic to cinnamon. Chloe's the one who likes cinnamon rolls."
He paused, then frowned.
"Evelyn, what are you overthinking this time?"
I set Noah's test results in front of him.
"Noah has a congenital heart defect. The doctor said he needs to see a pediatric cardiologist as soon as possible."
Lucas flipped through two pages, his voice even.
"These things can't be rushed. I'll go with you on Saturday."
"Lucas, he's your son. He's sick. He can't wait until Saturday."
My voice rose.
"I told you, I don't deal with personal matters during work hours," Lucas said impatiently.
I laughed.
"But livestreaming with Chloe counts as work?"
He stopped untying his shoes.
When he looked up, there wasn't a trace of panic in his eyes.
"Her channel gives Sterling's brands exposure. Of course it's work."
"You've been doing her livestreams for three years."
"It's a long-term partnership."
"Even your own employees think she's Mrs. Sterling."
His expression turned cold.
"Evelyn, stop projecting your insecurities onto Chloe."
Our voices woke Noah. He started crying in his crib.
Lucas shot me an irritated look.
"You're being emotional right now. I'm not having this conversation."
He walked into his study.
The moment the door closed, I picked Noah up.
His little body rested against my chest, his heartbeat faint.
I took out my phone and called a divorce attorney.
"Ms. Grande, I want a divorce."
"And I want everything involving my husband and Chloe documented."
Chapter 2
The next morning, Lucas took time off without being asked.
"I booked the specialist. I'll take you and Noah to the hospital today."
Holding Noah, I looked at him, surprised.
I thought he'd finally decided to make an exception. But we hadn't been on the road long before he took a detour.
He pulled up outside a high-rise apartment building.
Chloe came out and slid into the front passenger seat like she'd done it a hundred times.
"Lucas, thank God you got me that specialist. My stomach was killing me last night."
Only then did she look back, as if she'd just noticed me.
"Oh, Evelyn, you're here too."
I held Noah closer and said nothing.
Chloe took off her sunglasses. Something uneasy flickered in her eyes before she settled into a wounded look.
"Are you still reading into things with Lucas and me?"
She reached for my arm.
I pulled away.
Her voice softened.
"The livestreams are just for the cameras. You know how it works, our followers love that kind of chemistry. There's nothing going on."
I looked at her.
"Then why do you let them call you the future Mrs. Sterling?"
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
"I can't control what people say."
Lucas met my eyes in the rearview mirror.
"Evelyn, Chloe isn't feeling well. Don't upset her."
It was absurd.
"I asked her one question. That's upsetting her?"
"It's okay, Lucas," Chloe said quietly. "Evelyn's just worried about the baby."
She'd always been like this.
When she got in trouble at school, I was always the one begging her teachers to go easy on her.
When her business tanked after graduation, I lent her enough to cover the losses.
When she said she wanted to become an influencer, I even asked Lucas to help her make connections.
Back then, he'd said irritably, "You're basically at her beck and call."
I'd defended her.
Looking back, I was the biggest fool of all.
At the hospital, I went to the front desk to check Noah in.
The nurse searched for a long time.
"I'm sorry. There's no cardiology appointment for a Noah Sterling today."
I turned to Lucas.
He pulled out his phone. Both appointments on the screen were under the same name.
Chloe Whitman.
He hesitated.
"My assistant must have entered it wrong."
My hands shook with anger.
"Both appointments say Chloe Whitman? Lucas, do you even remember Noah is your son?"
He frowned.
"It was a scheduling mix-up. It has nothing to do with Chloe."
Chloe hurried forward.
"This is all my fault. I shouldn't have bothered Lucas last night."
"It's not your fault," he said immediately.
He paid extra to get Noah seen and handed me the receipt.
"There. It's taken care of. You didn't need to humiliate Chloe in public over something this small."
Right before Noah's turn, Chloe was called back for her appointment too.
"She can't handle this alone," Lucas said. "I'm going with her."
I held Noah, my voice tight.
"Neither can Noah."
Lucas looked at me.
"He has you. Chloe doesn't have anyone."
Then he walked down another hallway with her.
Suddenly, Noah went pale and started breathing fast.
I hit the call button for a nurse and rushed into the exam room with him.
After examining him, the doctor looked grim.
"Mrs. Sterling, we can't put this off any longer. He needs further evaluation as soon as possible."
I nodded, my palms slick with cold sweat.
By the time I came out with Noah, Lucas was already gone.
There was only one message on my phone.
"Chloe can't get caught in the rain. I'm taking her home first. Mother wants us at the estate for dinner tonight. Grab a cab."
The rain kept getting heavier. I wrapped Noah tightly, afraid to let even a drop touch him.
Downtown traffic had backed up in the storm. I waited in the cold wind for a long time before I finally caught a cab.
On the way, my attorney sent over the divorce agreement for me to review.
After signing it, I looked down at Noah sleeping in my arms and swallowed the grief and anger churning inside me.
All of this would be over soon.
Chapter 3
The Sterling estate was outside the city.
By the time I arrived with Noah, the hem of my dress was soaked.
Lucas's mother, Victoria Sterling, sat in the middle of the living room with a cup of black tea.
She glanced at me and frowned.
"Evelyn, can't you even manage to pull yourself together anymore?"
Her gaze dropped to Noah.
"He's supposed to be the Sterling heir. How is he supposed to take over the family business if he's this frail?"
Her words pierced me like nails.
Chloe came downstairs. She'd already changed into a cream-colored dress.
Victoria immediately smiled.
"Chloe always looks so put together. She understands that when a woman is on camera, she represents more than herself."
Our wedding portrait used to hang beside the stairs.
Now it had been replaced with a photo of Lucas and Chloe at a charity gala.
Chloe was clinging to his arm, looking every inch the real Mrs. Sterling.
I looked at Lucas.
"That photo works well for the family's publicity," he said evenly. "Mother had it put up."
Chloe came over to me.
"Don't read too much into it, Evelyn. Victoria just thought it suited the estate better."
Over dinner, she and Lucas discussed the opening of her restaurant.
"I want to call next week's launch party Muse Dinner."
Lucas nodded.
"Sterling Group can sponsor the drinks."
Victoria smiled approvingly.
"Now that's someone who actually contributes to this family."
I sat to one side with Noah, feeling like an unwanted guest.
The rain grew heavier.
Victoria told us to stay the night.
I opened the door to the room Lucas and I had always used and stopped short.
Chloe's evening gowns were hanging in the closet.
Her usual perfume was on the vanity.
There was even a photo of her and Victoria next to the bed.
"Is this my room or Chloe's?" I asked Lucas.
He frowned.
"She stays over sometimes. Mother had a few things put in here for her. Don't make a big deal out of it."
"My wedding portrait is gone. Someone else has taken over my room. And I'm not allowed to care?"
His expression darkened.
"Every time you come here, you act like you're judging everyone. Of course Mother prefers someone who makes her feel comfortable."
Suddenly, I didn't see the point anymore.
"Then let's get divorced."
Lucas gave a cold laugh.
"Don't throw the word divorce around to threaten me, Evelyn."
"We've been married seven years. You really think you could walk away?"
I didn't say anything else and turned to check on Noah.
His cheeks were flushed. His forehead was hot.
Chloe came into the room with her phone.
"Noah wouldn't stop crying, so I did a quick video asking my followers how to soothe a baby."
My ears started ringing.
"What did you give him?"
She held up a small, fancy bottle.
"Just some natural calming drops. Lots of moms swear by them. They said these would settle him down."
"The doctor said Noah can't have any supplements without approval."
Her eyes immediately welled up.
"I didn't know. I was just trying to help you get him to stop crying."
I snatched the bottle from her.
"You used my son for content, and you're calling that helping me?"
Lucas stepped in front of her.
"That's enough. She's not a doctor. You can't expect her to know these things."
Victoria came over when she heard the commotion.
"It's just a child. Is there really a need to make such a fuss? A woman in this family should have more self-control."
I didn't look at them anymore.
I picked Noah up and rushed out.
Rain battered the car windows in the dark.
After examining him, the doctor told me, "Mrs. Sterling, watchful waiting is no longer an option. Noah needs surgery as soon as possible."
I sat in the hospital hallway, gripping the diagnosis.
In that moment, I knew I couldn't stay with Lucas any longer.
Chapter 4
Early the next morning, I left Noah with a neighbor for a little while and went to the bank alone.
His surgery would cost a fortune. I had prepared for it: my premarital savings, the inheritance my parents had left me, and the separate account I'd opened in Noah's name.
I hadn't touched a cent in seven years.
The account manager entered my name and account number. The screen lit her face as her smile slowly faded.
"Mrs. Sterling, these funds were transferred out two months ago."
"Transferred out?" I heard myself ask.
"Yes. In two transactions."
"To whom?"
She hesitated, then read the name aloud.
"Chloe Whitman. The memo says, 'restaurant investment.'"
I braced myself against the edge of her desk and stared at the numbers until they blurred into gray.
"How many people," I asked, "are authorized to access this account?"
She checked.
"Two. You and your spouse, Mr. Lucas Sterling."
Two months ago.
Noah had just turned seven months old. He hadn't been diagnosed yet.
Back then, I spent my days in the kitchen making baby cereal and texting Lucas to ask when he'd be home.
He hadn't answered a single message.
I took a cab to Sterling Group.
The receptionist smiled brightly at me.
"Do you have an appointment, ma'am?"
"No. I'm here to see Lucas Sterling."
"Mr. Sterling's schedule is fully booked today."
"I'm his wife."
Surprise crossed her face. She looked me up and down, her eyes full of doubt.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," she said. "We've already met Mr. Sterling's partner."
Two people in the lobby turned to look at me.
I stood there, remembering Chloe's words on the livestream.
"Not yet, anyway."
I remembered the photo beside the stairs, Victoria saying Chloe was more elegant.
It wasn't just them.
Even a receptionist I'd never met had already decided who belonged beside my husband.
"I'll wait here," I said.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
After politely turning me away, she pressed something beneath the desk.
Two security guards came over from the elevators.
They were courteous. They didn't touch me.
They simply stood on either side of me and escorted me toward the revolving doors.
I didn't resist. As I passed the glass wall, I caught my reflection, a woman who looked utterly defeated.
I sat down at the cafe across the street.
Through the window, I could see the lights in the lobby.
At 11:40, a black car pulled up outside the main entrance.
Chloe got out.
She was wearing a beige coat, her sunglasses pushed up on her head, a paper bag dangling from her hand.
The receptionist hurried out to greet her, then ushered her toward the private elevator on the left.
That elevator only served Sterling Group's executive floors. It required a key card.
When the doors opened, Lucas stepped out.
He'd come down himself to meet her.
He took the sunglasses off her head and slipped them into her purse. Then they stepped into the elevator side by side, and the doors closed.
I held my stone-cold coffee and let out a bitter little smile.
Seven years. I'd never once seen Lucas come downstairs to greet anyone.
He didn't return my call until that evening.
"What is it?"
"Why did you give Noah's surgery money to Chloe?"
A brief silence.
"She needed startup capital for the restaurant," he said. "It's part of the Sterling brand too."
"That was the money my parents left me."
"Aren't you and Chloe best friends?" His voice stayed calm. "It's only right that you'd help her."
I almost laughed.
"Lucas, Noah needs that money."
"He's still little," Lucas said. "Don't go making decisions on your own just because of something a doctor said."
"Put my money back."
He was quiet for a few seconds.
"Fine."
I didn't relax. Seven years of marriage had taught me one thing: Lucas Sterling never gave in easily.
He always wanted something in return.
Sure enough, he kept going.
"But you'll need to sign a settlement agreement. You'll agree not to pursue what happened with Chloe that night or release anything that could damage her reputation."
