After my husband's stepsister was widowed, he asked me for a divorce while I was five months pregnant. He looked earnest and guilty: "Her child is still young. Without someone to take care of them, the mother and son will be bullied. I can't just ignore them." I didn't make a big scene; I calmly agreed. Because in my previous life, I didn't agree. I even went to his military base with my heavy pregnant belly to make a fuss, just to save the marriage. In the end, because of her widow status, Jessica was bullied in the village. A local thug even sneaked into her house, forcing her to commit suicide. My husband, Ethan, resented me for this. He spread rumors that I used a past favor to force him to marry me, and that I wasn't a virgin beforehand. I was investigated by the organization, sent down to a labor farm, and finally died of difficult labor in a cowshed. This time, I determined to let go, abort the child, and continue my studies. 1 I put down my pen. Before I could even stand up, Ethan hastily snatched the divorce application from my side. His slender fingers held those thin pages and immediately handed them to the instructor. The instructor took the application, frowned slightly, and sighed: "This divorce matter... Sigh, what a pity. Come get the certificate when the approval comes down." Hearing this, a relaxed smile actually appeared on Ethan's face. I sat there without saying a word, staring blankly out the window. Today is the beginning of spring, but this blizzard came unexpectedly. Coming out of the office, the snow pressed down the color of the sky, and the stagnant air around was suffocating. Ethan stopped, turned his head slightly to look at me, with a serious face: "Sarah, thank you for understanding me." "Don't worry, on Jessica's side, when the child gets a little older, we can remarry." His tone was solemn, as if I should be shedding tears of gratitude. But his tone was more mixed with a vague warning: "By the way, don't tell everyone about our divorce. It will be very troublesome if outsiders know." I froze for a moment, and only said one word, "Okay." He's afraid that if my father, a military commander in Washington D.C., finds out, it will hinder his future career, right? As husband and wife for a while, I was willing to leave him the last shred of dignity. He nodded, as if finding peace of mind, and his steps quickened a bit. But when I walked towards the car, he suddenly stopped me. "I have to go pick up Jessica. You walk back yourself." After saying that, he started the car and drove away. The snowflakes beat against my face, it was very cold. So cold that my skin went numb, to the extent that even when I smiled bitterly, the corners of my lips were a bit stiff. As a pregnant woman, I really didn't dare to walk 5 miles in such snowy weather. I had to endure a whole day at the guesthouse, waiting for the ox cart the next day to get back to the village. Just arriving at the village entrance, I heard some rumors from my previous life about me demanding repayment for a favor and being promiscuous. The speaker was in high spirits, not noticing at all that the subject of discussion was walking right past her. I didn't stop to argue. As I continued walking forward, I only heard the last sentence: "Sigh, Ethan is just an honest man, planted for this life." When I got home, my chest felt heavy and tight, and my stomach ached faintly. I didn't understand why, even though I agreed to the divorce, such rumors still happened. Until early morning, Ethan still hadn't come back. I originally wanted to wait for him to have a good talk about these messy rumors, but the needle-like pain in my stomach made me unable to wait any longer. Just as I planned to go back to the room and lie down, the main door was finally pushed open. He didn't turn on the light. When he walked in with heavy steps, he brought a gust of freezing wind. He even carried the smell of rose perfume, obviously just coming back from Jessica's side. Seeing me leaning on the sofa, he looked indifferent and annoyed: "We are already divorced, don't tell me you still want to control where I go?" Before, whenever he came home late, I couldn't help asking where he went, worried about his safety. But he always found me annoying, saying I was too controlling. Now, he's actually acting self-righteous. I took a deep breath, trying hard to calm my emotions: "Do you know about those rumors about me in the village? Did you really not marry me voluntarily?" His eyes dodged, not daring to look at me, but he said toughly: "I don't have time to listen to that gossip, you shouldn't care either..." The more he dodged, the clearer it became in my heart. I'm afraid he was the one who spread those rumors. Anger and grievance intertwined. I fought back tears and said: "Ethan, you know clearly in your heart what happened back then wasn't like that. Why throw dirty water on me?" "I've already agreed to the divorce, what more do you want? Go explain clearly for me!" He turned his face, his eyes gloomy but carrying a bit of impatient indifference: "They're just rumors, what are you feeling wronged about?" "Right now everyone is staring at Jessica and gossiping. If there's nothing else to distract everyone's attention, how can Jessica stand it!" "Besides, I wanted to marry Jessica a long time ago." "If you hadn't been promiscuous and gotten into trouble, I wouldn't have married you out of gratitude!" His voice was like a whip lashing my heart, making me feel embarrassed and chilled. I gritted my teeth, but still let my emotions collapse: "It was Jessica's brother who almost assaulted me! It was you who hugged me saying you wanted to marry me, it was you who stopped me from calling the police!" Mentioning this again, it still feels like a nightmare. When this happened, he coveted my father's power in the military, and also wanted to protect Jessica's brother. He came to me immediately to comfort me and make promises. "Don't be afraid, no one will know about this. Marry me, I will love you." "If you call the police, your life is over." He kept assuring me that he would definitely love me and care for me after marriage. I believed him, because marrying him, I had to interrupt my studies and get pregnant. He quickly got promoted because of my father's convenience, immensely proud of himself. But it's only been a year, and he has gone back on his word. Now, for Jessica, he casts me aside like a worn-out shoe. He froze for a moment, his thin lips pressed tightly together. He was clearly exposed by me momentarily. But the next second, his face returned to coldness, and he even squeezed out a sneer: "That was my kindness, not wanting your whole life to be ruined by that kind of thing." "Besides, if you weren't slutty, who would want to assault you." I stared blankly at him, only feeling that the man in front of me was incredibly unfamiliar. How could he say such mean and heartless words. "Ethan, you are indeed not wrong. All this is my fault..." It was my failure to judge character. To actually mistake a jackal for a benefactor. "Enough," He interrupted impatiently, not even willing to give a glance out of the corner of his eye. "Don't bring up old things anymore. Jessica and her son will move over in a few days. You better pack up early." "Don't make any more fuss, and you are not allowed to bully them! Otherwise, get out!" After saying that, he turned and went upstairs with an indifferent face, too lazy to even look at me again. At the moment he left, a spasm of pain pierced my abdomen like an ice pick. Beads of cold sweat the size of beans popped out on my forehead, my back went numb into a stiff block of ice. I tried to call out to him, "Ethan!" "I... my stomach hurts so much..." He stopped, glanced back, but showed no intention of approaching: "If it hurts, go find a doctor. I'm not a doctor, what are you calling me for?" "Ethan, I might be miscarrying..." My voice was mixed with a faint tremble, my legs so weak I could barely stand. "What are you trying to do? Trying to use the child to threaten me?" His tone became even colder, "I advise you to be rational, don't play these little tricks, it's boring!" He watched coldly from the sidelines for a few seconds, then turned and walked towards his room. "Don't forget, you should move your things out of the bedroom, this is my last tolerance." Finally, he disappeared at the end of my sight. I held onto the trembling sofa wanting to prop myself up, but the abdominal pain gradually spread to my whole body. "It hurts... hurts..." I tried to save myself, looking down and hugging my violently twitching abdomen. But ultimately powerless, I fell to my knees, a dark tide surging before my eyes... 2 I was rudely awakened by a splash of cold water. Opening my eyes, I saw a little boy holding a water gun, standing in front of me with a disgusted look on his face. "Hey, who are you?" "Why are you sleeping in my house?" Water droplets slid down my temple, the chill piercing to the bone. I tried to prop up my sore body, but soon felt a dull ache in my abdomen again, and could only lean against the sofa and gasp for air. "Leo, don't be impolite." A familiar and soft voice came. I turned and saw Jessica. She stood not far away, gently pulling the child's hand. "Sorry, Sarah. The child is still young and doesn't know better." She seemed to be apologizing for her son, but the topic suddenly changed. "But why are you still here? If you want to stay here, it's not impossible, it's just that Ethan and I have decided to get married." "Then your identity would be a bit too awkward." I suppressed the anger that surged up instantly and stared at her coldly: "With a mother who has no morals, no wonder you raised such an uneducated son." "You!" Before she could speak, the child named Leo started shouting. "You're not allowed to talk about my mom! She is the best person!" "What are you guys chatting about?" Ethan came down from upstairs. When his gaze fell on Jessica's face, it softened. He stood steadily in front of her, quickly glanced at me, his eyes carrying a warning. Jessica lowered her head, her gentle expression deliberately mixed with a bit of pitiful grievance. "Nothing, I saw Sarah hasn't left yet, so I came to say hi." "But she didn't seem too happy, and... scolded us." Ethan frowned, obviously feeling sorry for her: "Didn't I warn you not to bully them?" As soon as his voice fell, he raised his hand and slapped me across the face. My head roared, and my ears were even buzzing. The force was so great that I almost couldn't stand, and staggered backward. The cabinet behind me was knocked over by my movement, and the vase on the cabinet fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. Broken porcelain shards splashed everywhere, several of them piercing into my calf. The pain made me break out in cold sweat instantly. However, before I could catch my breath, I heard a soft cry from Jessica. "Ah—" I subconsciously turned my head and saw a fine bloody scratch on her calf made by the shards. It didn't look deep, but it attracted everyone's attention. "Mom, you're hurt!" Ethan's expression became tense in an instant. He walked over without a second thought, picked Jessica up and carried her sideways in his arms. He asked softly if it hurt, his movements so skilled it made me dazed and want to laugh. He had never cared for me like this, even when I went through the discomfort of pregnancy, even when I was just slapped down by him. "I'll take you to the clinic. Don't be afraid." He said this and carried her out, not even leaving a glance for me. I held onto the sofa wanting to stand up, but the abdominal pain made my legs weak several times. The wound on my leg was oozing blood. I looked down, only feeling my miserable state was ridiculously funny. I staggered out, but heard whispers from the doorway. Villagers were gathered there in twos and threes, the content of their whispers crystal clear. Someone saw Ethan carrying Jessica and immediately called out: "Hey, the daughter-in-law of the Carter family, what's wrong? What happened to Jessica?" Ethan stopped, raised his head, and answered without any evasion, "Jessica is my wife. Her business is my business. From today on, no one can bully her, much less gossip about her." Such a loud voice, completely an intentional declaration. "What about Sarah?" Someone couldn't help asking. Ethan's steps paused, but he didn't look back. "She doesn't deserve to be my wife. I have already divorced her." Jessica's nested head rested on his chest. The shy and triumphant expression on her face couldn't even be hidden. I looked up at the watching crowd. Their eyes were either astonished or sarcastic, but there was not a trace of pity. At that moment, I remembered Ethan's solemn vow at our wedding. "From now on, whether in sickness or in health, I am willing to accompany you and protect you..." And now, these words have become the deepest nail piercing my heart. 3 I dragged my bloodstained body to the health clinic. The doctor was startled when he saw my appearance. "Quick, somebody come! A pregnant woman is having a miscarriage!" He shouted loudly, turning to get tools. In my blurred vision, I saw my own blood dripping and spreading on the floor. My head was extremely dizzy, but I desperately protected my bulging abdomen with my hands. There was my child, the child I originally wanted to abort myself. Now leaving the world in such a way. Several nurses lifted me onto a gurney and rushed me into the operating room. I vaguely saw Ethan standing at the end of the corridor, talking to a nurse. He frowned slightly, his tone carrying a gentleness I had never heard before: "Will it leave a scar? Use the best medicine for the wound, don't let her feel pain." At this moment, a violent contraction came from my lower abdomen, the pain seemingly tearing me apart from my internal organs to my soul. As the world spun, I seemed to hear the sound of firecrackers outside. Faintly, there was also Ethan's low voice: "Today is the Lantern Festival. I'll make sweet dumplings for you mother and son when we go home..." In my ears was the doctor's anxious voice: "Quick! She's lost too much blood. Where are the family members? Who is willing to donate blood?" "She... she came in alone, it seems no one followed." My world gradually blurred, as if my soul briefly detached from my body. From a bystander's perspective, I watched the nurses outside running in the corridor, asking anxiously: "Does anyone have Type B blood? Does anyone have Type B blood?" Ethan was holding Jessica in his arms, she nestled weakly against his chest. A nurse grabbed him: "Excuse me, are you Type B blood? We have a pregnant woman hemorrhaging and urgently need a blood transfusion." Ethan shook his head, "Sorry, I'm not." He then frowned and added: "Whose family member is so irresponsible? How can they let a pregnant woman come over by herself?" My heart felt like it had been viciously slashed by something. Yes, how irresponsible. The doctors and nurses were in a flurry of activity. Through the small transparent window, I saw someone finally rolling up their sleeves to start donating blood. While Ethan had already turned and left, his tone relaxed: "Jessica, let's go, don't waste time." I was finally saved, but the child couldn't be kept. It's better this way. Being born into such a family wouldn't be a good thing for him. During the few days in the hospital, I didn't receive any visitors. After being discharged, I carried a small luggage bag and didn't return to the village. Instead, I went straight to the instructor and got my divorce certificate. "Ethan is hosting a wedding banquet tomorrow. Do you know it's spread all over the village recently?" My tone was indifferent: "It has nothing to do with me anymore." "Does he know you're leaving?" "No." "Could you please not tell him where I went?" The instructor was silent for a long time, and finally nodded.
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