Chapter 2 

The moment I mentioned clearing my name, guilt flashed through Hektor’s eyes before quickly disappearing behind irritation. 

Jesus, Yunifer, why are you so fucking obsessed with the past?” he snapped, running his hand through his hair. 

The server given a shit that you were in prison or that your body isn’t perfect. Can’t you just move the hell on?” 

He paced in front of me, frustration radiating from every movement. 

love you so damn much, and you won’t even take care of yourself. It’s honestly pathetic.” 

Realizing his tone was too harsh, he softened his voice. 

“Baby, I just hate seeing you torture yourself over things we can’t change,” he paused, changing the subject. 

Hey, the care home called–your mom’s doing better. Your birthday’s coming up, right? I’ll bring her home to stay with us.” 

I stared at him through my tears, saying nothing. 

Avoiding my gaze, he backed toward the door. “I’ll make dinner. Get some rest.” 

Before I could respond, he disappeared, the door clicking shut behind him. 

Since quitting art for business, Hektor had become the stereotypical exec who couldn’t find the kitchen in his own house. 

No one would believe he’d cook for his damaged, disgraced wife. 

But of course, everything Hektor did was ultimately for Laria. 

Once his footsteps faded, I grabbed my phone and called 

my 

mother–in–law. 

“I want out,” I said flatly. “T’ll sign the divorce papers whenever you want. Just make it quick.” 

After a stunned pause, her venomous voice hissed through the speaker. 

“Who the fuck do you think you are, demanding a divorce from my son?” she spat. 

“If it weren’t for Hektor’s misplaced charity in marrying you, trash like you wouldn’t qualify to scrub our toilets.” 

“Without him, you’d be turning tricks under a bridge somewhere.” 

I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood, my hand shaking around the phone. 

Eventually, as if granting me a royal pardon, she said. 

“Fine. Five days. When you sign those papers, take your crazy mother and disappear from our lives forever.” 

For a whole year, my mother–in–law had threatened divorce weekly. Yet when I finally asked for it myself, you’d think I’d insulted 

the queen. 

I must have passed out from exhaustion. Through the fog of sleep, I heard someone call my name. A hand touched my forehead, and I 

What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Sto 

0.8% 

Chapter 2 

instinctively recoiled, though I couldn’t escape completely. 

When I woke again, sunlight flooded the room. The space beside me was cold and empty. 

I barely made it downstairs when I heard Laria’s theatrical sobbing. 

“God, Hektor, when will I ever get pregnant? Julian’s been trying for months. What if there’s something wrong with me?” 

You’re young and healthy,” Hektor soothed, using that gentle voice he never used with me. “When the time’s right, it’ll happen. Don’t cry, sweetheart–it’s not good for you.” 

When Laria spotted me, her sobbing ceased. Her expertly swollen eyes locked on mine. “Yunifer!” 

After her greeting, she shifted closer to Hektor, widening those innocent doe eyes as If I might attack her at any moment, 

Ever since she’d married Julian–the man who was supposed to be my husband–she’d perfected the role of victim whenever I was 

around. 

Before I could speak, Laria rushed to explain. 

“Please don’t be upset with Hektor! Coming here was all my idea.” 

She reached for her purse on the sofa, making a show of leaving. 

Hektor stepped between us, annoyance flickering across his face before he turned to me. 

“Yunifer, Laria’s going through a really rough patch. I invited her to stay for a few days. As her sister–in–law, I’d appreciate if you 

could make her feel welcome.” 

Pain stabbed through my chest, but I forced myself to say. “Stay as long as you need.” 

It didn’t matter anyway. In five days, I’d be gone. 

Hektor shot me an approving look, like I was a dog who’d performed a trick correctly. 

I grabbed my bag from the armchair and mumbled. “I’m going to visit my mother.” 

Laria immediately perked up. 

“Visiting your mom? Can I tag along? I haven’t seen her in ages!” 

Both Laria and Hektor had been my father’s star pupils before his death. 

After Hektor took over his family business, I became my father’s most accomplished student, with Laria as the second–best. 

Afraid I might refuse, Laria grabbed my arm with surprising force, shaking it eagerly. 

The sudden movement sent my bag tumbling to the floor, its contents scattering across the hardwood. 

Among the spilled items–a prenatal checkup report. 

Hektor snatched up the ultrasound form, his eyes widening at the words “8 weeks pregnant.” 

While, Laria, spotting the report, immediately burst into perfectly–timed tears.