Since I got pregnant, my husband's coworkers often teased me about turning ugly. I was rarely invited to go anywhere. That's also why I wasn't invited on the night of my husband's own birthday party. While they were having fun, a message from a strange number came to me.

[What a match. Orland and his true love, Emma. Celebrating Orland's birthday party at Emma's villa.]

It turned out that my husband had gone to the party to have an affair with his old love who looked innocent and sweet. I barged in to ask Orland for an explanation, but he just looked at me surprised and disgusted with his own wife.

"Get out of here, you're making me faceless in front of my coworkers!"

Orland told his half-brother to throw me out, but Emma secretly told him to make me miscarry. Orland never came home, busy taking care of Emma.

When my husband returned home, his face was pale at the sight of my flat stomach. There was no more of our baby that he expected.

***

That cold night, I saw Orland coming out of the bathroom in a fairly neat suit. He was handsome as always, only this time he smelled better. I thought he was going to take me out for a walk on his birthday. I stood up with difficulty with my growing belly every day.

"Happy birthday, Babe!"

My smile faded as my hand was easily swatted away by my husband. But I didn't give up. I love him so much.

"I have a gift for you-"

Orland cut me off. "No need. I'll get more from my friends at the party."

"What party?" My forehead wrinkled with a broken heart. "You... didn't invite me?"

Orland just gave me a flat look. "Take good care of the baby."

I was finally left alone in our room. I sighed. It happened again. My eyes fell on my stomach, then smiled bitterly.

"Orland was right, your father was right. I have to take care of you."

I understood and quickly composed myself.

Sitting bored for an hour, I suddenly got a message from an unfamiliar number that made my eyes bulge, my chest churning.

"She's... back?"

Emma Harlett. The beautiful model I knew as my husband's ex-lover had returned from overseas. I had mixed feelings. The message came with the full address and also an intimate photo of my husband holding the woman in the short red dress. Their love had blossomed. My heart was on fire.

Without thinking, I called Orland several times. But he didn't answer, busy with his bad party.

I desperately barged into the Villa. The first whiff of alcohol and cigarette smoke made me cough and feel dizzy. I managed to find them in a room, standing at the end of the door to peek in.

The one in the photo was one hundred percent real, not an edit. I could now see Orland gazing passionately at the girl in the red dress on his lap. The girl's shoulders were exposed. She was beautiful and seductive, a stark contrast to the current me. Their gazes were very warm, as if they didn't want to let go of each other.

"How do you feel about Emma, now?" Orland's friends, who also brought their respective partners, teased the two of them.

"Emma is like the most beautiful gift. I still love you. I miss you."

Emma laughed with her hand gently rubbing Orland's chest. "I missed you too."

They kissed passionately.

"Orland, you're too brave!" They laughed. "I thought for a moment that you had changed your wife's heart."

"Not since she was ugly. Her hair is disheveled, her skin rough, her body fat. Emma is better for everything."

"You're overreacting," Emma said shyly. Her cheeks were flushed. She was such an innocent girl but her actions were not. Emma had the nerve to bite Orland's ear to tease him.

Their laughter grew louder. "So you don't want your wife? Why did you get her pregnant?" The others asked curiously.

Orland answered without thinking. "I liked her because she was pretty, but after she got ugly my love was gone. I thought she could replace Emma, but she didn't. And I wanted a child too, so I let her get pregnant."

"You're cruel, Orland." It was a compliment from them. "Your wife will run away if she finds out about this."

Orland chuckled with them. "Run away? She wouldn't be able to even if she knew the truth. She's deathly in love with me, she loves only me, wouldn't dare leave me let alone carry my child. Don't forget that she's poor."

All the taunts were so suffocating that I could hardly breathe. It was more suffocating than me inhaling a puff of cigarette smoke.

The chaotic room was suddenly silent when I appeared. I couldn't take it anymore. My hands clenched at my sides, my eyes heated up. I stared at everyone there in turn, ending at Orland and the girl in the red dress who dared to sit on Orland's lap. I felt like I was losing oxygen looking at them. It was even more suffocating to see them up close.

"It's just a misunderstanding. We're just old friends." Emma stood nervously explaining while I focused on the red kiss marks on her neck. Everything was clear.

Orland stood up too. He looked at me sharply, surprised as well as judging me with disgust.

"What are you doing here?" Orland was embarrassed at my messy appearance. "Don't you dare show your face while it's still ugly."

Orland's words were like a bomb to my heart. I could hardly believe that the man who had talked about the nursery and everything with me for four years was now looking at me like trash with another woman beside him.

Even though my bad appearance happened after I got pregnant. Pregnant for my child, our child. Orland wanted this baby too. I was willing to sacrifice for Orland and my baby, but look at how that cruel man replies now.

"That's right. Fat people like you aren't invited." Juna replied, a long-haired man who was Orland's half-brother who had never liked me to begin with.

"You're having an affair... Orland?" My tears flowed unbidden. The pain was insurmountable.

"Don't make drama, Oliv. Emma explained that you just misunderstood. Go home and take care of our baby!"

I held my stomach and looked at my husband angrily. "I'm pregnant, Orland. Pregnant with your child! But you're having an affair with your past! You said you'd moved on!"

"Just because you wanted to be at my party, you threw a tantrum like this?" Orland gave me a dismissive and lazy look.

My heart was broken. Pain throbbing, I could only mumble a little. "It's not about the party, Orland. It's not at all…."

"What kind of drama is this?" said Orland's coworkers.

"It's not a drama!" I glared angrily, about to walk up to all of them who had mocked me, but accidentally nudged the table of drinks behind me. They all fell over.

"Well, look at that. She easily ruined the party. Orland, it seems your wife doesn't want to see you happy." Juna provoked this heated atmosphere.

Orland massaged his dizzy temples. He really felt ashamed to have a wife like me.

"You're the problem now. Ugly, overly dramatic and annoying. I'll sentence you to sleep in the barn!" Orland was about to drag me away angrily, but Emma restrained him.

She gave a gentle look and even touched Orland's chin, kissing him softly. "Don't be angry with Oliv."

I knew her concern for me was just an act. I could see the smirk on that sweet face.

"How dare you touch my husband!"

By the time I came towards Emma, she was already shouting dramatically. Before I could touch her, she pushed my body hard and took refuge in Orland's arms.

"I'm scared, Orland! I'm scared!"

Falling to the floor made my stomach cramp, but the pain was nothing compared to seeing my husband busy soothing another woman right now.

"My stomach hurts, Orland. I might miscarry!" My tears broke out at that moment.

Orland rounded his eyes. He cared about me, the man approached me frantically.

"You like to pretend, don't you? You're using your pregnancy as a shield to your husband? You're the one who's acting up, that's not how you get Orland's attention." Emma's words made Orland think twice as he approached me.

"Is that so?" Orland turned his caring expression flat and disgusted. "Just want my attention?" He looked down at me in disgust.

Juna nodded. "Your party is ruined because of this ugly monster."

The others chimed in at my expense.

"What she did was so stupid and shameful. I can't believe Orland chose such a woman to marry."

Their scorn affected Orland who gently released Emma and approached me with a lopsided smile.

"You've never let me calm down since you got pregnant. You always humiliate me, then pretend to have a miscarriage now." Orland's cold voice choked me. "I think I need to send you away. It's for your own good."

I still looked up, staring at Orland in disbelief. For my own good? Which good? I was even humiliated here, expelled. Sadly, my husband would rather have fun with his colleagues and former lovers than care about me.

"I'll help you out." Juna extended his hand to me.

"No!" I refused. I caught a glimpse of Juna giving me a horrible look. I never liked Juna to begin with.

I tried to stand up, but it was difficult. Orland clucked roughly when he saw me.

"Come on, Oliv. Since when did you become this arrogant?"

"That's right. Juna just wants to help you not be more embarrassed here." I could feel the mocking tone of Emma's words just now.

The taunts made me strong enough to stand up. But just as my broken body was about to fall again, Juna held it back. I had to be helped out of the Villa by the man, leaving behind those who were cheering me like an enemy.

I spoke frankly as Juna drove me to order a taxi. "Why do you want to help me? I've realized you don't like me for a long time, though I don't know what your reasons are."

He chuckled, a horrible laugh. His gaze darkened. Juna let go of me, but I managed to stand on my own feet. I was already anticipating. Juna seemed to have bad intentions toward me.

"Don't want any help, huh?" Juna smirked. I immediately felt bad as he approached again. "Then you want me to get hurt you like this?" Juna shoved my body suddenly into the street.

I staggered toward the speeding cars. My heart seemed out of place. I closed my eyes in fear, thinking I was going to die now.

But that didn't happen. A horn sounded, I opened my eyes and found a white car braking. It was only a few steps away from me.

I didn't get hit, but my head was quite dizzy and I was too shocked. My body relaxed, falling down before finally losing consciousness.

An all-white room came into view when I opened my eyes. This is a hospital. What's going on? As the memory of Juna pushing me into the street came to me, my whole body was immediately attacked by panic and fear. My baby-to-be and I were about to die.

"Oliv, are you awake?"

Someone's familiar voice rang out. Orland was by my side, sitting up. I instinctively sat up and immediately hugged him in fear. Remembering about the party does make me sick. But I was only living with Orland, I had no protector.

"I'm scared, Orland. I don't want to miscarry!" I cried into his shoulder. I hated Juna! That man was a monster!”

"You're putting yourself in danger."

Shocked. My forehead wrinkled as I heard Orland speak. I suddenly let go of my hug, staring at the man with blue eyes.

"I know you're mad at me for missing the party." Orland spoke as he straightened his back. "But that doesn't mean you can hurt our child. I came here because I care about our child. I'm angry with you for harming our child."

Orland's words made no sense. I laughed discordantly. "What are you saying? It's not about the party anymore."

"Juna told me you suddenly ran out into the street. You were desperate to get my attention. And you succeeded, my party was completely ruined. I still care about our baby."

I threw my head back in shock at Orland's thoughts. My emotions rose to my chest.

"Seeking your attention? Are you seriously talking about this right now? It was Juna who pushed me into the street! He made me like this!"

Orland rubbed his forehead, his face sour, not believing me at all. "Even the owner of the white car said you suddenly drove yourself onto the road. After faking a miscarriage, now accusing Juna? He's a good stepbrother. What's your problem?"

I laughed again but my eyes were crying. It was so funny to see my husband trusting someone else. My heart was breaking. "Orland, when did I start to enjoy acting? Didn't you know me during our four years of marriage? Do I really mean nothing anymore like you said at the party?"

My tears flowed and I sobbed. It felt so claustrophobic. Four years is not a short time. It was unbelievable. We had lived together, shared a bed, food, and even stories every day. Orland seemed to love me very much.

I wonder if the man sitting next to me is the same man I first met in the campus parking lot?

At that time, I was walking leisurely but suddenly a tall and handsome man bumped into me accidentally. The book in my hand fell completely. I'm an obnoxious girl who doesn't like to blend in. The one who bumped into me was Orland, he had helped me and apologized but I ignored him. I saw Orland mesmerized by me and said the word 'beautiful' which I heard clearly. I had never liked men, and Orland was the one who first made me fall in love.

The lines of fate brought us together a lot by accident. Orland always sought my attention. He didn't give up when I ignored him. Orland was infatuated with me as a young man. Orland even dared to come to my house. He was serious, always there even when my family were all in a plane crash and die. Orland proposed to me and we got married. It was truly like true love.

Unfortunately, since we got married, I accidentally found a lot of things about Emma. I started to get jealous. Orland hid his past too tightly. I felt that Orland hadn't moved on when I accidentally opened his conversation in a group message. But Orland managed to convince me that it was just the past. Finally, everything was shockingly clear.

I'd sacrificed so much for our first child, but my body had become unmanageable. Who would have thought Orland would turn his back on his past?

It was unbelievable.

"It's not like that, Oliv." Orland's voice softened. His hand wiped away the tears on my cheeks. "What you heard at the party was just a lie. I love you, it's just that as a normal man I'm embarrassed if you continue to be teased. That's why I didn't ask you out. When you're beautiful again, giving birth to our child, everything will be fine. You'll still be Mrs. Emendash, wife to Orland Emendash."

Orland warmed my cold hands, but not my already broken heart. Should I believe all these painful things?

"Then what about Emma, I clearly saw you making out with her?" My voice trembled violently from the tightness I was holding in.

Suddenly Orland lost all his words. And that made me even more devastated. "I...."

My laughter filled the room. A laugh of pain, anger, and resentment all rolled into one. So for four years I was the replacement for Emma who went abroad. "You still love Emma."

My laughter stopped as the door to the room opened with a rough movement. Juna appeared with a panicked look on his face. "Orland, Emma's been knocked unconscious by her boyfriend. She's hurt badly!"

I spontaneously recoiled at the sight of Juna. My entire body broke out in cold sweat. In contrast, Orland stood up and glared.

"Orland!" I held Orland's arm firmly. "Please don't go, Juna could hurt me."

"You said you don't like attention-seeking, so what now?" Orland let go of me roughly. "Emma's in danger."

I squealed as Orland walked away. "Please don't! Juna will kill me for God's sake!"

Orland stopped, only to say a cruel sentence to me. "If this is how you act, I don't care if you die."

"I hate you, Orland!" I screamed without thinking.

Orland turned around and his gaze was cold. One corner of his lips lifted. "So what? You won't be able to do anything. We're bound by our baby.”