"Sweetheart, you're carrying a baby now. Try not to cry so much, okay? It's not good for the little one."

I looked up in disbelief. My face turned pale as I stared at Harrison in shock.

With tears still shimmering on her cheeks, Kate's lips lifted and formed a subtle, knowing smile. Out of Harrison's sight, she shot me a smug glance.

Harrison gently took her hand, his palm resting on her stomach.

"Kate, the baby wouldn't want to see you upset over someone else."

Of course, that "someone else" was me.

I watched as Harrison gently coaxed Kate back into the bedroom.

My stomach turned at the sight.

Standing up, I took the cake and leftover food and tossed them into the trash. By the time I finished washing the dishes, my phone was buzzing nonstop with notifications.

When I checked, I saw Harrison had posted a photo—something he almost never did.

The image was a profile shot of Kate.

At first glance, she bore a slight resemblance to me.

Many thought Harrison was showing his love for me to the world. The comment thread was flooded with endless well wishes.

I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity. Even on our seventh wedding anniversary, my husband was openly flaunting his affair with his mistress.

It was clear this was Harrison's revenge for my refusal to take down that comment.

He spoiled Kate without hesitation, but at the same time, he knew exactly how to shatter my pride.

As I scrolled through the endless stream of comments, a heavy sigh escaped me.

I couldn't even remember when our love morphed into a game. What had once been a relationship between two had evolved into a jealous conflict involving three.

I couldn't sleep a wink that night.

Resting in new beds has always been difficult for me.

When we were younger, Harrison had even gone so far as to order a bed identical to mine from home, just to help me sleep more comfortably.

Maybe it was the fact that I hadn't eaten anything the night before, but my stomach acted up again.

Clutching my stomach, I stumbled into the kitchen and made myself a bowl of instant noodles.

After a quick trip to the bathroom, I returned to find Kate sitting in my spot, digging into my noodles.

Harrison was beside her, carefully wiping the corners of her mouth.

"Is it really that good? If you like it, I can have Daisy make you another bowl."

Kate glanced at my pale face, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Really? I don't think Ms. Kershaw would be too happy about that."

Harrison followed her gaze, his eyes landing on me. He couldn't help but notice the cold sweat forming on my forehead.

His expression shifted with concern as he hurried over to me. "What's wrong, Daisy? Why do you look so pale?"

I didn't want to appear vulnerable in front of him or Kate, so I shoved him aside.

"Why should you care?"

Kate's eyes welled with tears. "Ms. Kershaw, if you're upset, please take it out on me. Don't take it out on Harrison!"

I turned toward the kitchen, trying to find something else to eat.

As I passed Kate, she suddenly pretended to offer me the bowl of noodles.

In that brief moment when we brushed past each other, Kate collapsed to the ground. The hot soup splashed all over both of us.

I cried out in pain, stumbling back from the burn.

Harrison's gaze instantly hardened. He rushed forward and shoved me out of the way.

The moment my forehead struck the wall's edge, everything around me spiraled into a blur.

Warm blood trickled down my temple, but Harrison didn't glance my way. His eyes were fixed on Kate, sprawled on the floor beneath me.

She clutched her stomach, crying out in agony. "Harrison, it hurts so much! Is our baby going to make it?

"Ms. Kershaw, if I'm the one you despise, take it out on me. Please, don't harm my child. He's innocent!"

At her accusation, Harrison shot me a sharp glare.

"Daisy, I must have spoiled you too much. How could you bring yourself to go after an innocent baby?"

I slumped against the wall, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "You and Kate really do deserve each other. One's a liar, and the other's too blind to see it."

My words landed hard, igniting Harrison's rage. He lunged at me, his hand whipping across my face.

A burning heat spread across my cheek.

Clutching my face, I steeled myself against the stabbing pain in my abdomen and the tears threatening to fall.

Through the haze of my blurred vision, his face slowly dissolved into a vague silhouette.

No matter how much I tried, I couldn't reconcile the hateful man in front of me with the one who once pledged a lifetime of love.

"What's the point of crying now? Where was all that when you were hurting others and throwing harsh words around? Daisy, you've really disappointed me!"

I watched as Harrison swept Kate up into his arms. Without a single glance my way, he rushed out the door toward the hospital.

I was left alone, my stomach twisting with pain. As I watched his retreating figure, memories of the day I ran away with him came flooding back.

Back then, Harrison had been unwavering, promising he would stay by my side forever.

But now, that same resolve was directed at hurting me, all for someone else's sake.

Gathering every bit of strength I had left, I managed to call for an ambulance.

When I finally opened my eyes again, it was already afternoon.

The doctor told me I had suffered acute gastric bleeding. If I had arrived any later, I might not have survived.

Fortunately, the condition subsided just as quickly.

The doctor carefully cleaned the wound on my forehead and covered it with gauze.

I was told I could be discharged by the afternoon and would only need to come back for a follow-up appointment.

As I went downstairs to handle the discharge paperwork, I saw Harrison in the maternity ward.

He was wheeling Kate out.

As soon as Kate saw me, she immediately put on a pitiful act, clutching her stomach.

Harrison's brow furrowed in irritation.

"What are you doing here at the hospital? What trouble are you trying to cause this time? Because of you, the doctor says Kate has to be on bed rest!"

His eyes flickered to the cut on my forehead, and for a brief instant, a touch of tenderness softened his expression.

"What happened to your forehead?"

I met his gaze steadily. "Kate's injuries have nothing to do with me. I accidentally fell and hit my head."

Just as Harrison seemed about to ask more, Kate tugged on his sleeve.

"Harrison, I'm not feeling well. Let's go home." With that, he swallowed his concern and said nothing.

I turned and walked away, not sparing him another glance.

At home, the mess remained just as I had left it. After arranging for a cleaning service, I made my way to the master bedroom.

In the span of a single night, Kate had already rearranged everything.

My clothes and cosmetics were crammed into the walk-in closet.

She had spent the night in my bed, lying beside my husband.

I swallowed the ache in my chest, determined not to cry. I had already shed too many tears for Harrison. I didn't want to waste any more.

I left everything Harrison had ever given me behind in the master bedroom.

Taking only the belongings I'd brought the year we eloped, I packed a suitcase and moved it to the guest room.

Just as I finished, Harrison came back.

After carefully unpacking Kate's luggage, he finally spared me the faintest glance.

I kept scrolling on my phone, pretending he wasn't there. Just then, he brought a cigarette to his lips. The sudden wave of smoke overwhelmed me, sending me into a coughing fit.

Noticing this, Harrison swiftly stubbed out the cigarette.

He sat across from me, speaking as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Kate's due in seven months. I'm not going to let my child be considered illegitimate. Let's get a divorce now. After the baby is born, we can remarry."

After a long pause, I gathered myself and met his gaze.

Harrison fell silent, a flicker of guilt flashing across his eyes.

He tried to explain, "Daisy, I swear this is a one-time thing. Don't forget, Kate's carrying my child out of wedlock. She's already given up so much for me. If I don't take responsibility, I won't feel at ease."

He watched me closely, as if expecting me to lose my temper.

But to his surprise, I remained calm. A faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

"Alright."

Harrison sighed in relief, his eyes briefly lighting up. It was the same look he wore the day I agreed to marry him.

Back then, his youthful face shone with pure happiness. But unfortunately, times had changed.

Now, all he wanted was to end our marriage.

I lowered my gaze.

"Then let's get it over with now. We still have time."

Thanks to the efficient courthouse staff, we received our divorce certificate the same day.

By the time we stepped outside, night had already fallen. Harrison offered to drive me home. Just after passing a traffic light, his phone buzzed with a message from Kate. Without hesitation, he pulled up at a nearby bus stop.

"Kate needs me. I have to go. You can find your own way back."

With that, he left me standing alone by the roadside.

All at once, memories of my happiest year with Harrison came rushing back.

Back then, my parents had tried to send me abroad against my will. At the airport, Harrison held my hand tightly, refusing to let go. His touch was warm, and his words rang with sincerity.

I believed every one of them. For him, I cut ties with my parents without looking back.

Harrison and I were like a fire. He lit the match, but I was the one left burning long after he was gone.

Staring at the divorce certificate in my hand, I let out a long breath. Tears flowed freely down my face.

The summer I gave up everything for love belonged to the past. Along with it, the decade I had shared with Harrison drew to a close.

I unlocked my phone and booked a plane ticket. Before long, it was noon the following day.

Just as I was preparing to leave, Kate and Harrison arrived home.

The moment Kate walked in, her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Cradling her barely noticeable belly, she looked at me with a smug smile.

"Thank you for your generosity, Ms. Kershaw. Harrison and our child will always be grateful that you stepped aside."

A smirk crept onto my lips.

"Have you forgotten you're just a mistress? Do you really believe your child has a future worth hoping for?"

With Harrison out of the picture, Kate dropped every mask she wore.

No longer hiding behind a veil of innocence, her eyes blazed into mine.

"So what if I'm the mistress? Even if you stayed with Harrison through his struggles, he ended up falling for me. In this game, you're the one who lost."

She was right.

I was defeated in every way.

After ten years of loving Harrison, all I got was the painful news that another woman was carrying his child.

"So what if I'm the loser?" I retorted sharply. "That doesn't make you the winner."

A sly smile curved Kate's lips. "Then I suppose I'll have to wipe away the last bit of love Harrison still holds for you."

Before I could react, she crumpled to the floor.

Her white dress darkened as blood seeped through the fabric.

Lifting her gaze to mine, she begged, "Ms. Kershaw, please don't hit me. I'm still pregnant!"

Behind me, Harrison hurried over, alarmed by the sudden commotion.

Before I could brace myself, his kick landed squarely in my stomach. "You witch, Daisy! I've given you more chances than anyone should. When you agreed to the divorce, I thought you'd finally owned up to your mistakes.

"I never imagined you were capable of such cruelty. How could you stoop so low just to deceive me? Mark my words. If anything happens to Kate, I will never forgive you!"

Harrison's kick came without mercy, hurling me against the edge of the coffee table.

The blazing pain in my stomach drowned out everything else. Blood sprang from my lips. I curled on the floor, clutching my stomach in agony.

Harrison didn't even look at me. Panic took over as he fumbled for his phone and called an ambulance.

Without a word, he lifted Kate into his arms, holding her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

The ambulance arrived in no time.

Without a second thought, he carried her away, acting as if I wasn't even there.

He didn't notice my frail body lying on the floor, barely clinging to life.

Summoning what little strength I had left, I forced myself to sit up and reach for my phone.

I no longer had the energy to move my fingers properly. All I could manage was to press the emergency call button.

It was the number Harrison had set up himself long ago.

He had told me back then that I would always be his only emergency contact.

The phone rang on and on until someone finally answered.

Before I could get a word out, a barrage of accusations rained down on me.

My voice was lost in Harrison's furious rant.

He didn't hear a single word I said.

When I tried to speak again, the line suddenly went dead.

A faint smile appeared as relief swept through me.

From the moment we first met until now, the past kept cycling endlessly through my thoughts.

Through countless days and nights, our lives had been intertwined. I once truly believed we could last forever. But in the end, we couldn't be happy.

All those beautiful memories had vanished like smoke.

All that was left was the image of Harrison's back as he carried Kate away.

I had once followed my heart without question, even at the cost of my relationship with my parents.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I reflected on the past.

Harrison had once asked me if I ever regretted being with him.

Back then, I always said no.

But now, regret was all I felt.