My husband Ethan Shaw and his childhood friend Chloe got pregnant at the same time. To protect Chloe's reputation, Ethan said her child was his. And my child? The bastard I conceived from an affair. He even used AI to generate photos of me having sex with different men and sent them to friends and family. Faced with my breakdown, he only said indifferently: "Chloe's family has always been strict with her. She can't handle gossip." What about me? I'm his wife! I looked at the man I'd loved for seven years and decided I would never love him again. Learning that Ethan planned to go abroad with Chloe in three days to rest during her pregnancy, I called my mother-in-law Margaret. "I want a divorce." My mother-in-law on the other end of the line just sighed. "It's Ethan's fault. He's wronged you." Ever since Ethan publicly claimed that my child was a bastard, we had the worst fight of our seven years together. But after he learned I wanted a divorce, he had people lock me in the villa. Even when I went for prenatal checkups, a dozen bodyguards followed behind me. He said, "I still love you, and our child must be healthy." So he still knew this was his child. His hypocritical, casual words could ruin my life and our child's. Even though he knew our child was his own flesh and blood. And Chloe's child was the real bastard of unknown paternity. Gently stroking my already swollen belly, I couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness. As if sensing the warmth of my palm, my belly moved. It was like a telepathic connection between the child and me. Knowing I was sad, as if comforting me. Tears instantly flowed down. I withdrew my hand, covered my face, and cried. The villa door opened from outside. Ethan walked up to me, looked at my swollen red eyes, and said flatly: "For the baby's sake, you need to take care of yourself. Don't always cry." Easy for him to say. If I could control my emotions, I wouldn't have fallen in love with the man in front of me in the first place. I knew he had always kept a place for Chloe in his heart. I knew his feelings for me weren't true love. The person I loved deeply was also the one who hurt me the most. "You've done so many things to wrong me, trapped me, taken away my freedom." "What, don't I even have the right to cry anymore?" He just looked at me, his eyes slightly red, with a trace of guilt, but he couldn't say a word. Just like a few months ago, when I first suspected I was pregnant. When I went to the hospital to confirm, I happened to run into Ethan accompanying Chloe for her checkup. He was considerate and attentive, afraid she might bump into something. "Ethan, feel our baby, I think he just moved." Ethan's face showed a tender light. He let Chloe pull his hand and place it on her flat belly. The next second, he looked up and saw me standing at the corner. Not a word of explanation, just standing there in a daze. What a loving couple. If I weren't Ethan's wife, I would definitely say such envious words sincerely. Unfortunately, I couldn't say it. And he didn't deserve it. The man in front of me was silent for a while before seeming to remember something. He said perfunctorily: "Tomorrow is your birthday. I'll throw you a birthday party." "Oh, and Mom just told me she's coming back to the country to take care of you. With Mom taking care of you, I can feel more at ease." He could certainly feel at ease. At ease going abroad with his Chloe to rest during her pregnancy. Not having to come back for months. But he didn't know why his parents, who had been enjoying their retirement abroad, would suddenly return home. Nor did he know that his parents already knew about the despicable things he'd done to me. I sneered coldly and didn't object. I was the one who asked his mother to come back. Because I knew that with just my current self, I couldn't escape from Ethan's grasp. Seeing I had no reaction, he crouched down and looked at me with a somewhat affectionate gaze. "Joanna, I do love you." "After Chloe gives birth, I'll definitely come back to you." I treated such words as air. Even if he really thought that way now, with just one word from Chloe, he would mercilessly break his promise to me. So I would never believe his words again. Three more days. Then he could completely get rid of me. And focus wholeheartedly on being the father of Chloe's child.
That night, Ethan didn't stay home. Because Chloe said her baby was moving a lot and her stomach hurt, he immediately found an excuse to go keep her company. Four years of dating, three years of marriage—I had always thought Ethan loved me. Until Chloe came back. Until she got pregnant with someone else's child. It seemed like everything suddenly changed. My husband, who had loved me reasonably well, devoted himself to caring for another woman. I was locked in this dark prison. Slowly wearing down all my love for him. Disappointment accumulated until it disappeared completely. So it was time for me to leave. The next day for my birthday party, Ethan said he'd pick me up himself and called several times to urge me. But when I went out, only the bodyguard's car was at the door. "Joanna, I have something to deal with here." "You go ahead first, I'll be right there." I had no hope to begin with, so how could there be disappointment? The biting winter wind cut across my cheeks like a sickle. But I couldn't feel any pain. Just like my feelings for Ethan. From disappointment to despair—no pain could hurt me anymore. The car stopped in front of a club. I frowned but still got out. Led by the bodyguard, I walked into a private room. But I didn't recognize a single person inside. Their strange looks seemed to see right through me, full of mockery and disdain. As if I were trash, they kept their distance. "She cheated on Ethan and still has the nerve to let him throw her a birthday party." "Ethan is so pathetic, and he's even allowing her to keep that bastard child." "I don't know what Ethan sees in her. She can't even compare to Chloe's little toe." They spoke loudly enough, deliberately saying it for me to hear. See? This was Ethan's masterpiece. He couldn't bear to watch Chloe face her parents' criticism. But he never thought about how the harm I suffered because of them was a thousand times worse than what Chloe faced. I could not care about myself, but I couldn't bear for my child to be condemned by everyone like this. I stood up, planning to leave. This birthday party didn't seem to welcome me anyway. But when I pulled open the door, I saw Ethan and Chloe standing outside. One looked away guiltily, the other showed a triumphant smile. I knew they had been at the door listening. Listening to how the people in the room insulted me. Listening to how the people in the room mocked me. But he said nothing, just let Chloe pull me back inside. "So the birthday girl arrived first. It's all my fault—I'm clumsy moving around with this belly." "Ethan was worried I'd be uncomfortable in another car, so he insisted on picking me up." Chloe proudly stroked her own belly, then looked at mine. As if saying, so what if you're pregnant too? Because of her words, jeering sounds erupted around us. "Since childhood, Ethan has always doted on Chloe exclusively." "When your baby is born, will there be good news soon?" "Don't forget to invite us to the wedding." Amid the congratulations, they seemed to forget I was still Ethan's wife. They also seemed to forget this wasn't some engagement party. But rather a birthday party Ethan was throwing for me to make up for his guilt. Watching their faces, I couldn't control a wave of nausea. I had just stood up to leave when somehow I caught Ethan's attention. He frowned at me and said coldly: "This is your birthday party. What would it look like if you left?" "It's just morning sickness. Endure it and it'll pass." But the next second, Chloe also retched. He immediately nervously helped her sit down and pulled a sour lemon candy from his pocket. Personally tore open the wrapper, personally fed it into her mouth. Jeering sounds erupted around us again. I closed my eyes. My birthday party had become part of their public display of affection. They acted like a real married couple, chatting and laughing with their mutual friends. While I was just forgotten in the corner. They hadn't even prepared a birthday cake. How absurd and laughable. This was the birthday party Ethan prepared for me. I held back my tears and swallowed all the bitterness. I should really say congratulations, Ethan. Because in two more days, I would completely leave him. He could give the position of Mrs. Shaw to the person he cared about.
That night I didn't leave. I just sat alone in the corner and watched this absurd birthday party to the end. It wasn't until everyone was leaving that Ethan finally noticed me in the corner and offered to drive me home. Even though he was my husband, it was as if he wasn't going to his own home. But just as he finished speaking, Chloe came over and grabbed his arm. "Ethan, I'm tired. I want to go home and rest." Ethan affectionately touched her hair. "Is the baby bothering you again? Let's go home first." He put his arm around Chloe and left, while I could only get in the bodyguard's car again. I felt like a clown. I touched my cheeks. The tears I thought would fall didn't appear. So it was true—when pain reached its extreme, you really couldn't feel it anymore. I really couldn't understand. If he cared so much about his childhood friend, why did he marry me and have a child with me? If he wanted so badly to prove to the world how much he cherished Chloe, why wouldn't he divorce me? Why insist on keeping our child, letting us be cursed and mocked together? That night, I didn't sleep well. It wasn't until late morning that I was awakened by the doorbell. Chloe brought her parents and suddenly showed up. As soon as Chloe's mother saw me, she mocked coldly: "Pregnant with someone else's bastard, and you still have the face to occupy the position of Mrs. Shaw." "I don't know how your parents raised such a shameless daughter." Chloe's father also looked at me with contempt. "Enough, why waste words on this kind of person?" "Even looking at her makes me feel dirty." With that, he and Chloe's mother carried several large suitcases upstairs. Watching their backs going upstairs, I didn't understand either. How, as parents, could they raise such a shameless daughter? Seeing only me left in the living room, Chloe walked closer with a mocking smile at the corner of her mouth. "So what if you're married to him? So what if you're carrying his child?" "You still can't compare to me and my child." "Oh, and Ethan said after the baby is born, he'll make my child the eldest son with the Shaw surname." "And your bastard—he'll only adopt him as a foster son with your surname." Looking at Chloe's glaring smile, I just felt a bit bored. I'd seen this kind of trick from her too many times. I moved aside to let her pass and planned to leave. Chloe suddenly fell to the ground crying, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault." Chloe's crying brought her parents running. Her mother lunged at me like a madwoman. Just then, the villa door opened and Ethan rushed in. I was about to explain to him when Chloe's mother knocked me down, slapping my face while cursing with filthy, crude words. As Ethan stopped her, a flash of heartache crossed his eyes. He was about to speak when Chloe threw herself crying into his arms. "Ethan, you promised that after our baby is born, you'd let my parents come take care of us." "My place is small, there's no room for all five of us." "I just wanted to ask Miss Carter if she minded us living together, but she suddenly hit me..." She covered her own face, then her own belly. And cried even louder. I was getting dizzy from the noise. Where I'd been hit felt numb with pain, probably already swollen. And under Chloe's palm, her skin was white as ever. Nothing there at all. Feeling Ethan's conflicted gaze, I wiped away my tears and silently stood up. The husband who once said he'd protect me and cherish me for life had become the confidence that allowed another woman to act shamelessly when I needed protection most. Perhaps our marriage was wrong from the start. If he couldn't let go of his childhood friend, he could only let go of our marriage. Because in one more day, I would leave him.
Chloe was afraid something had happened to the baby and insisted on going to the hospital for a checkup. Chloe's mother insisted I apologize. Ethan was caught in the middle, looking at my already swollen face. In the end, he still had to choose the childhood friend he couldn't let go of. "Joanna, I'll take Chloe to the hospital first." "Mom's back from abroad. When I get back, I'll take you to her place." "I promised Chloe. You need to understand—I don't want to be someone who breaks his word." Looking at this man who had shared my bed for three years, speaking of promises to someone else. He had long forgotten that when he married me, he also said he would love me forever. And every single thing he had solemnly promised me. Things he could have done, things he had done halfway and then abandoned. After Chloe came back, he hadn't kept any of them. I put away the desolation in my heart, just wanting to end this farce quickly. "Joanna, I do love you." Seeing my expressionless face, Ethan added urgently: "No matter what you've done to wrong me, my love for you has never changed." Hearing his words, I found them truly laughable. "What have I done to wrong you?" I moved closer and asked him softly, "Has Mr. Shaw told so many lies that he's forgotten whose belly his child is really in?" Ethan froze, then remembering Chloe's family was still there, was about to question me. But I waved my hand, cutting him off. "Don't worry, I'm leaving right now. I won't disturb your family reunion." Hearing that Ethan was sending me away, Chloe's stomach suddenly didn't hurt anymore. She didn't insist on going to the hospital either. She even 'warmly' urged Ethan to help me pack. I sneered and pointed toward the bedroom. "My luggage is already packed. Just bring it down and I can leave now." Ethan looked at me in shock. But I had already put on my coat and walked outside. "I was planning to stay at Mom's for a few days anyway." He breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly ran upstairs to bring down my luggage, even thoughtfully calling a car for me. Because I knew his car was already filled with Chloe's personal belongings. There was no room for me. I sat in the taxi, watching the villa where I'd lived for three years grow farther and farther away. I felt no attachment. The car was quiet. I closed my eyes, feeling utterly exhausted. I seemed to have had a very long dream. Long enough that I relived the first half of my life. Loving him took up a third of my life. Seeing him clearly took me only three months. Once I saw clearly, I stopped loving. The car slowly stopped in front of his mother's house. When I pushed open the car door to get out, my slightly swollen belly and heavy coat made my movements somewhat clumsy. Ethan sent a message: "Joanna, wait for me a few more months. I'll definitely come for you." "Once Chloe's matter is resolved, I'll clear your name and our child's." "Then our family of three will never be separated again." Looking at his solemn assurance, I smiled and didn't reply. I pulled my suitcase and walked toward his mother's house. No more disappointment and compromise. Only relief. Goodbye, Ethan Shaw. This is the last time we'll see each other. From now on, you and I have nothing to do with each other. The next day, crossing the street, I was hit by a car running a red light. Sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen. I could feel blood flowing from below. As they lifted me into the ambulance, I knew that as soon as I closed my eyes and opened them again, this child would leave me forever. That was fine. This way, I would never have any blood connection to that scumbag for the rest of my life. In the hospital operating room, as consciousness gradually faded, I slowly closed my eyes. Tears still couldn't help but fall. At the same time, Ethan, who was about to board a plane, suddenly received a phone call. It was from a friend. "Ethan, congratulations! You can finally get rid of that burden at home." Ethan's expression shifted, and he frowned. "What do you mean?" His friend was stunned, clearly not expecting him to ask. "You don't know? I just saw Joanna at the hospital." "She was in a car accident and miscarried. She's already in the operating room." Ethan's whole body went cold, as if a basin of cold water had been poured over him from head to toe. He hung up the phone with trembling hands. Without time to think, he left Chloe, who was still urging him to board, and ran madly toward the airport exit.
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