Better Brother, Better Life

At the very moment Phoebe Stanton miscarries, her husband, Connor Russell, is celebrating the return of his first love.

To him, her three years of devotion and companionship mean nothing more than being a live-in maid and cook.

Phoebe gives up on him and decides to divorce.

Everyone in their circle knows that Phoebe is clingy and impossible to shake off.

"I bet she'll come crawling in a day."

Connor sneers. "A day? That's too long—half a day at most."

But the moment Phoebe signs the divorce papers, she decides never to look back. She throws herself into a new life. She revives her career, which she once abandoned, builds new connections, and meets new people.

As time goes on, Connor no longer sees even a trace of Phoebe at home.

He begins to panic. At an industry summit, he finally spots her, surrounded by admirers.

Desperate, he pushes forward. "Phoebe, haven't you had enough of this tantrum?"

But Gideon Blackwood suddenly steps in front of her, shoving Connor aside, his very demeanor chilling the air. "Don't touch my woman."

Connor has never loved Phoebe. But now that he does, it's already too late. There's no longer a place for him in her world.

Phoebe Stanton had never considered getting a divorce since marrying Connor Russell. After all, she loved him deeply. She loved him so much that she would have died for him.

Then, his first love returned.

…

Phoebe was at the hospital when it happened.

The doctor's voice was detached as she said, "Ms. Stanton, this miscarriage has caused irreparable damage to your body, and your chances of conceiving again are low. You'll have to prepare yourself for that."

Phoebe's mind went blank, and her ears rang. She'd spent the past three years preparing for the conception of this child, and it had only happened two months ago.

That afternoon, when she'd been out and about, a car had suddenly hurtled toward her, making her lose her balance and fall.

The doctor frowned. "Ms. Stanton?"

"I understand. Thanks, doctor." Phoebe didn't like being vulnerable in front of others. She blinked rapidly and forced her tears back before getting up and turning to leave.

Behind her, the nurses whispered among themselves.

"This is such a big deal, and her husband's nowhere to be seen?"

"Don't even get me started. Before the uterine evacuation procedure, she was bawling her eyes out as she called him and begged him to come to the hospital. Yet, there's no sign of him anywhere."

"God. It's clear as day that he doesn't love her, isn't it? Why aren't they getting divorced? What's the point of keeping him around?"

Phoebe walked away, not hearing the words that followed. Connor hadn't just refused to come to the hospital. He'd even said over the phone, "If the baby's gone, it's gone. What's the point of crying? I'm busy now, so stop disturbing me!"

She had called him a few more times after that, but he hadn't