On New Year's Eve, I was eight months pregnant when a severe car accident changed everything.

Enduring excruciating pain, I managed to dial my husband’s number, only to hear a woman's breathless moans on the other end.

When I woke up in the hospital, my child was gone. Leon Ramirez, my husband, handed me the deed to a mansion worth hundreds of millions.

He held me close, his eyes reddened. "Honey, it’s my fault about the baby. The house is my way of making it up to you."

"Don’t be sad. We’ll have more children in the future," he added.

I smiled faintly. No, Leon, there won't be another chance. What you didn't realize is that I will be leaving soon.

—

On New Year’s Eve, Leon told me he had to work overtime at the office.

I made dinner, hoping to surprise him by bringing them to the company and sharing a New Year’s Eve dinner together. But on the way, a truck came hurtling toward me. The deafening crash gave me no time to react.

In an instant, I was flipped over inside my car, my abdomen crushed by the steering wheel, unable to move.

Bleeding heavily, I ignored my injuries and clung to my belly, shielding it as best I could.

It had taken eight years of marriage with Leon to finally conceive. I couldn’t bear the thought of my baby getting hurt. But the searing pain in my abdomen grew unbearable, as if a thousand hands were twisting my insides.

The warmth spreading between my legs filled me with dread.

Taking deep breaths, I reached for my fallen phone, tears and sweat mingling on my face.

The moment I grabbed it, I dialed Leon without hesitation.

I was terrified. I wanted to see him right away. His office was nearby, and I knew he could reach me faster than an ambulance.

After a few rings, the call connected. Crying, I shouted, "Honey, I’ve been in an accident. Hurry—"

Before I could finish, I froze.

From the other end came the unmistakable sound of a man and woman in the throes of passion.

Shaking, I glanced at my phone to confirm the number—it was definitely Leon’s.

A thousand excuses ran through my mind to explain it away. But the voices that followed shattered my self-deception.

"Don’t bother with protection. Let’s have a baby," Leon said. "Don’t worry. I’ll convince Sharina to accept the child."

"As long as you don’t cause trouble in front of her, I’ll take care of you forever."

The woman giggled softly, followed by more nauseating sounds.

Suddenly, all the pain in my body vanished, leaving only a hollow, broken heart. It was as if I’d been riddled with bullets.

At midnight, fireworks lit up the city sky, ushering in the new year.

But I no longer had the strength to care.

The dazzling fireworks blurred before my eyes, fading into a single tear that slid down my cheek.

When I woke up again, the searing pain in my abdomen returned.

The doctor sighed, shaking his head. "The baby was already six months along. The delay suffocated the fetus in the womb. A little earlier, and we might’ve saved it."

"You’ve just had surgery. Rest and recover."

Grief overwhelmed me. I clutched my empty belly, sobbing uncontrollably. "Baby, you must’ve sensed this world isn’t worth it, so you chose not to come, right?"

"I’m sorry... next time, find better parents..."

I didn’t know how long I cried, but it felt as if I had no more tears left.

Finally, I picked up my phone and called my mother, who was still in our hometown.

"Mom, I’ve decided. After the New Year, I’ll join you and Dad on that classified research project."

My mother was stunned, though her voice carried a trace of excitement. "You’ve made up your mind?"

"But wait—you’re pregnant! Research isn’t a vacation, and I doubt Leon would agree."

I took a deep breath as I answered, "Mom, I’ve decided to get a divorce."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

"Alright," she finally said. "I support you. Your father and I are scientists, and you have extraordinary talent. I never agreed with you sacrificing your potential for marriage in the first place."

"Get ready. For security purposes, I’ll expedite the process to cancel your residency. We’ll pick you up in a week."

After the call ended, I leaned back on the hospital bed, tears slipping from the corners of my eyes.

For Leon, I bid farewell to my parents years ago and stayed with him overseas.

I could still remember the day he knelt on one knee, promising me, "Sharina, I will love you forever, till death do us part. You are my one and only. If I ever betray you, may I die a horrible death."

Back then, I was so moved that I covered his mouth, not wanting him to utter such ominous words.

It turned out his "forever love" lasted only eight years.

Those who betray true love deserve to swallow a thousand needles!

—

I didn’t know how much time had passed when I heard Leon’s voice echoing down the hospital corridor.

This hospital was under his name. My health had always been fragile, so he had spared no expense in investing in it, hiring top specialists to care for me.

He used to say I was his precious, pampered rose, and he would do anything to ensure my well-being.

For years, I believed I was the happiest woman in the world.

In the hallway, he was furious, berating the hospital staff for their incompetence in failing to save the baby.

Hearing him mention the baby tightened the ache in my chest, and fresh tears rolled down my cheeks.

Eight months... Just a little longer, and the baby could have seen the world.

"Sharina! My wife!"

Leon burst into the room, disheveled and frantic. He looked utterly lost, but when he saw me, it was as though he had found a priceless treasure he nearly lost. He pulled me tightly into his arms.

"Thank God you’re okay. I was so scared... I thought I’d lose you."

"Did I wake you with my shouting earlier?"

I shook my head.

Burying his face on my shoulder, he cried like a child. "You don’t understand. When I got the call about your accident, I was terrified. Sharina, I can’t lose you."

His reddened eyes made my heart ache in ways I couldn’t describe.

I couldn’t understand—who was the real Leon?

After a long moment, he lifted his head.

"Sharina, this was my fault. How about I give you Ever Green Estate as compensation?"

I let out a soft laugh. Compensation for the car accident—or for his guilt after cheating?

When I didn’t respond, he reached out to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Don’t worry about the baby. We’ll have another one in the future."

He held me tenderly, his voice full of warmth and care. "Once the renovations at Ever Green Estate are complete, let’s bring your parents to live with us. That way, they won’t have to work so hard back home. With them here, you’ll be much happier."

He made it sound like he had thought of everything for me. But the heavy scent of women’s perfume clinging to him told a different story.

It was nauseating.

I instinctively pushed him away, but my hand caught on his collar, exposing the kiss marks on his neck and chest.

For a moment, vivid images of him entwined with another woman flashed through my mind.

Disgust welled up inside me, and I couldn’t hold it back—I vomited violently.

Without hesitation, Leon reached out to catch the mess with his hands. His worry wasn’t an act; I could feel his genuine concern for me. But the fact that he had been with another woman was equally real.

Tears blurred my vision again.

Leon, you can’t have it all. You can’t.

While Leon went to wash his hands, two nurses nearby whispered excitedly.

"Oh my gosh, Mr. Ramirez is so in love with his wife!"

"Not only did he give her a mansion worth millions, but he even caught her vomit with his bare hands!"

One of the nurses, her eyes sparkling with admiration, said, “My New Year’s wish is to find a man like Mr. Ramirez.”

Yes, Leon loved me. He was undeniably good to me in ways that others could see. But his love wasn’t exclusive.

I lowered my head and let out a self-mocking laugh.

Just then, a notification popped up on my phone—it was a video.

I opened it, my hands trembling uncontrollably.

Inside a car with pink interiors, a woman dressed in a bunny costume was straddling a man. The sound of their gasps and moans rose and fell with their movements. Her coquettish voice was sickeningly sweet.

A second message followed. [Do you recognize this car? Leon said being with me feels so much better. Your child was your bargaining chip, but now it’s gone.]

[Just wait. Soon, I’ll take him away from you, old hag.]

Staring at the video, I felt my breath hitch. I never imagined that the woman Leon was fooling around with would be Zandra, the college student I had personally sponsored.

And the car—it was the birthday gift Leon had given me.

Because I loved pink, he had spent a fortune customizing the car, turning everything from the exterior to the interior into shades of pink, complete with vibrant rose embellishments.

Back then, he had held me close, looking into my eyes with sincerity. “Sharina, this car is yours and yours alone. Only you can sit in it.”

From that day forward, I used the pink car every time I went out. Except for New Year’s Eve, when Leon told me the car was in for maintenance, so I had taken another.

Now, as the video replayed on my phone again and again, I felt like my soul had been ripped apart.

Finally, I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. The tears came like a flood, impossible to stop.

When Leon opened the door and entered the room, I quickly closed the video and wiped my tears, forcing myself to appear composed.

Seeing my reddened eyes, he froze, then hurried to my side. “Sharina, why are you crying?”

His voice was filled with concern as he gently wiped away my tears. I turned my face away. “It’s nothing. I just... feel sorry for the baby.”

Relief swept across his face. “It’s alright. We’ll have another baby.”

—

During the three days I spent in the hospital, Leon stayed by my side, attending to my every need with the utmost care.

When it was time to leave, he pulled up in my pink car, the one that was supposed to be mine and mine alone.

He stepped out and opened the passenger door for me.

What greeted me was a pair of black high heels resting on the floor mat.

I stared at the shoes, my heart sinking.

They weren’t mine.

Leon’s face turned pale. In a panic, he grabbed the shoes and tossed them into a trash bin nearby.

“Honey, these... these were supposed to be a gift for you, but I noticed a flaw and was planning to exchange them. You don’t think I let another woman into the car, do you?”

The nausea in my stomach churned violently, but I managed to let out a faint chuckle. “No, of course not. I think I’ll just walk home.”

Closing the car door, I turned and started walking towards the direction of our house.

Leon scrambled out of the car and ran after me, grabbing my arm. “Sharina, are you mad?”

“That pair of shoes really was for you. Don’t you trust me?”

I forced a lighthearted smile. “What are you talking about? I just feel like stretching my legs after lying in bed for so long.”

He studied me intently, as if trying to determine whether I was upset.

After a moment, he finally sighed in relief. “Alright, I’ll walk with you.”

And so, hand in hand, we walked home.

I couldn’t help but think of how much Leon used to love taking walks.

After dinner, he would always grab my hand. “Honey, let’s go for a walk. Don’t you know that walking together strengthens a couple’s bond?”

I used to laugh and tease him, asking where he got such ideas.

But now, how long had it been since we last walked together?