“WHAT THE HELL, FELIX?!”

My outcry made Felix turn his head and finally realize my presence. He looked surprised and immediately released his grip on the strange woman. But then he put his index finger on his lips, signaling me not to make a fuss.

Has Felix gone crazy? She told me to be quiet when she saw my husband hugging another woman in our room. I just screamed, which meant I could still control my anger. I could have taken the scissors in the closet and stabbed her right then. At least I was still trying to be sane when my heart wanted to go crazy.

“You cheated on me in front of me, and you asked me to be quiet? Where are your senses, Felix?” My anger was starting to peak.

I could see Felix's face panicked at my presence. He left the bed carefully so his movements wouldn't wake the woman beside him. Ah, how caring that man was. But for other women.

Felix came over to me and immediately pulled me away from the room.

“Alice, Clara is sleeping. Please don’t scream,” Felix whispered.

Felix cut my heart by saying Clara, a name that was very familiar to me. I didn’t know how that woman suddenly came back into my husband’s life or if Felix had never really left Clara and was still in touch with her behind my back.

“Your ex-girlfriend?” I asked, confirming with a raging feeling.

Felix nodded slowly, full of guilt. He held my hand to assure me there was nothing between them. The thing was, I had seen him hugging Clara. And the underwear I found at Felix’s workplace wouldn’t make me believe they were no longer in a relationship.

“Why marry me if you still love Clara, Felix?” I asked, full of hurt.

Our marriage was the result of an arranged match by Felix’s family. They never approved of Felix’s relationship with Clara, so they chose me to be Felix’s wife. Yeah, then their relationship broke up while they still loved each other.

“I don’t love her anymore.” Felix stared at me sharply.

“But you hugged her in front of me!” I raised my voice again.

Felix exhaled slowly. “Alice, lower your voice!” he reprimanded gently.

“Then what should I do? Should I join you two and hug you, too, Felix?” I couldn’t. My calmness was gone, and I only worried about losing Felix forever.

I hadn’t even had time to tell Felix that I was pregnant with his child.

Felix didn’t seem to understand what I meant. I didn’t know why he suddenly became so stupid. If only he could position himself as me and see me sleeping in our bridal room with another man, would he act calmly as if he hadn’t seen anything?

“I’m sorry,” said Felix, pulling his ear with his hands. His face did not understand my anger at all, but he apologized.

He gently rubbed my cheek. “I haven’t told you about Clara,” he continued, now showing a sorry face.

“What is it? Do you want to admit that you had an affair?” I replied quickly.

“Clara is pregnant with my child, Alice. She’s seven months pregnant.”

When I heard Felix's confession, I was struck like a lightning bolt. He said it without looking at me but gripped my hand tightly. Instantly, I pushed his hand away and walked backward, feeling a tightness in my chest.

Felix had never told me before that he had had sex with Clara. We had been together since we were children, and there had never been the slightest secret between us, except for my feelings for him, which had grown in the last fifteen years.

This time, I couldn’t say anything. I was so devastated to receive a gift that repeatedly hurt me.

“Alice, I didn’t expect anything like this to happen either.” Felix came closer again and tried to hug me.

“Let go!” I shouted at him in disappointment.

“I swear, Alice. I didn’t know about it until a few months ago when she came to me and told me about her pregnancy.”

“Then what business is it of yours? Clara has a husband, doesn’t she? It could be their child. Why do you believe that?”

Felix nodded in agreement. “But she got married five months ago. Meanwhile, she is seven months pregnant. Then, today, she met me at the office and said her husband divorced her. I felt guilty about that and...”

“And you intend to beat her to make up for your mistake?” I cut his word in quickly.

I never expected something like this to happen to me. I trusted Felix when he said that he could accept me and that he already loved me, even though, at first, he only thought of me as his younger sister. But what I saw Felix doing with Clara just now made me regret trusting him.

“No - no, Alice. I’ll only be with her until she gives birth.” Felix denied my statement.

He gently wiped away my tears. But his tenderness meant nothing because he had already broken him.

“How will you take care of her? You have a family, too, Felix.” I brushed aside his rough hand.

“I’m not leaving anyone, Alice. You’ll stay with me. I’ll just let her stay here until she gives birth. I promise.”

Was Felix serious about what he said? Just seeing Clara made me depressed, let alone living with her. Maybe I would stay with Felix, but being between Felix and Clara was too painful.

“If Alice doesn’t allow it, it’s okay, Felix. I can go to a shelter or live on the streets.” Clara came over to us.

Felix turned and shook his head at Clara. “No, Clara. You’re going to stay here. This is my house, so don’t worry.” He calmed Clara down but didn’t calm me down.

“But Alice...”

“Alice is my business. Come on, I’ll take you back to rest.” Felix embraced Clara, and they left.

I sat on the floor, limp. Felix had said that he no longer loved Clara. But with Clara’s return to his life, I was confident that his old love would grow back. No way that wouldn’t happen.

Then, I would be the one to be cast away.

I glanced at the dining table, where Felix and Clara sat beside them while talking to their baby in Clara’s belly. And I was alone. Cooking for all of us was like being a maid watching my master’s intimacy.

“I can’t wait to see his face,” Felix spoke while rubbing Clara’s stomach.

“He’s a boy. He’ll be very handsome like you,” Clara replied, followed by laughter from both of them.

That was my dream, but Clara got it from Felix.

I admit that I was devastated to see that Clara always managed to attract Felix’s attention throughout the day in various ways. Felix even preferred to accompany Clara at night rather than me.

When Felix was with me for just a few minutes, Clara would call for Felix for various reasons, whether screaming in pain or calling for Felix to show that the baby in her belly was kicking.

I needed the same attention, too. There was never a good time for me to tell Felix about my pregnancy, and now my husband was ignoring me.

If it weren’t for our unborn child, I wouldn’t want to stay between the two of them. To hell with a short marriage!

After all, I don't want to live with a man who hasn't finished with his past. Felix also looks like he would happily live with Clara and their future son. His desire was very clear. Felix is ready for a family, but not with me.

I didn’t want my child to be born without a father.

“What are you cooking, Alice?” asked Felix, who came to me, rubbing my head.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make breakfast for you two,” I replied curtly.

Felix chuckled and kissed the top of my head gently. No matter how sweet he was, I wouldn’t melt down as long as Clara was in this house and Felix gave her attention.

“You seem still angry,” Felix teased.

“Hey, why do you care? I don’t have the money to pay for your concern.” I laughed, pretending to return Felix’s joke when what I said was my own opinion.

The smile on Felix’s face faded. He was offended by my words, but I didn’t care. I was also too fed up pretending to be nice to Clara, preparing everything for Clara’s comfort in this house. Instead of keeping it to myself, I thought it would be better to get what was on my mind out in the open.

But it’s so hard for me.

“Alice, if there’s a problem, just tell me,” Felix said, trying to comfort me.

“No, Felix. I’m just not in a good mood.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded slowly. There were so many things I wanted to say, but my mouth couldn’t get them out straight away.

I wanted to say that I didn’t like Clara being here, that I didn’t like Felix acting like Clara’s husband and ignoring me, and much more. But I already know how Felix would react if I said all that.

It would disappoint me.

“Alice’s bad mood is because of me, Felix.” Clara joined in and got closer to me.

She then clasped her hands together and looked at me sadly. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said.

I took a long breath. “Please, don’t talk to me,” I replied, turning my back on her.

So far, I have managed to avoid talking to Clara because I am sure she has an evil plan to destroy my life by showing herself to Felix and me again. Several times, I saw her smiling triumphantly at me when she managed to get Felix to pay attention to her.

“Alice, please.” A heavy sigh was heard from Felix’s voice.

“Don’t be angry with her, Felix. I’m to blame for making her uncomfortable with my presence.” Clara spoke so sweetly.

“So, just go!” I sneered again.

Felix’s gaze turned gloomy, showing his anger at my attitude. Ah, I hate pretending to be nice to a cunning woman. But oh well.

“My goodness, you have such a big belly, Clara. You must be starting to feel overwhelmed.” I rubbed her belly like a neighbor who was happy that Clara was about to give birth.

But it was just an act.

I swear on my baby’s life, it was just acting.

I didn’t hate Clara’s unborn baby at all. However, my relationship with Clara has been full of disagreements since the beginning because Clara always started arguments with me.

Felix and I had a family-like relationship before. I considered him my older brother, and he thought of me as his younger sister. Behind that, I fell in love with him seventeen years ago.

“It’s difficult but delightful, Alice.” Clara stared at her belly. “Ah, Felix. Can you take me to the doctor for a routine check-up today?” Felix responded to Clara with a nod and a sincere smile. He reached out to stroke Clara’s stomach.

Felix smiled contentedly at my slightly gentle demeanor. “You guys continue talking. I have to take care of something for a moment.” Felix was gone a moment later.

I’m done with my acting. I ignored Clara and refocused on my cooking. But Clara followed with her big smile and her narrowed eyes mocking me.

“If I can’t get Felix, neither can any woman, Alice. Even if it’s you, I’ll make him leave you.” Clara threatened me as she grabbed the spoon of soup from my hand.

I looked into her eyes, which showed her seriousness about what she was saying. I did suspect that Clara wanted to take Felix away from me.

She’s cunning!

“Oh yes, one more thing. I’m telling you, this is not Felix’s child.”

“This is not Felix’s child.”

My body reflexively lost its balance, and I took a few steps back, surprised by what I had just heard. I had indeed suspected something about Clara coming to Felix and claiming to be pregnant with Felix’s child.

But I didn’t expect my suspicions to be true. And I didn’t know how Clara convinced Felix of that. Felix even seemed to love Clara so much at the moment, which meant that Felix was looking forward to the baby’s birth.

“Don’t be surprised, Alice. Haven’t you suspected it all along?” Clara laughed guiltlessly.

“I’m going to tell Felix about it,” I said with fiery eyes.

Hearing that, Clara laughed even harder. “Yes, just say it, Alice. You have no proof and will only feel embarrassed,” she retorted.

It was true that I had no evidence of what Clara had said. But I didn’t want Felix to get caught up in Clara’s evil plan. I knew Clara still loved Felix so much and was unwilling to let Felix be my husband.

“Do you think Felix will trust you?” I said irritably, emphasizing my words.

“Then, you think you are the one Felix trusts the most?”

I wanted to scratch the triumphant smile off her face. I have hated Clara ever since Felix first introduced me to her. She always has a way of getting under my skin, making Felix and I fight big time. But now I’ve learned a little of her cunning game.

“You’re just a lucky orphan loved by the Richard family, Alice. How sad!” she said, looking at me with disgust.

Yes, I confirmed her words even though it hurt. I was an orphan who grew up in an orphanage. That’s where I met and became friends with Felix because Richard’s family was one of the biggest donors to the orphanage where I lived.

From that moment on, I depended a little on Felix for my life, and Felix didn’t mind that either. But I never intended to take advantage of his kindness. It’s just that being so comfortable around Felix made me fall in love.

Our closeness became more of a concern for Richard’s family, and I began to be treated like an essential part of them. Felix’s parents selflessly bore the burden of my education and my life.

“You’re good at taking advantage of people, Alice.” Clara patted me on the shoulder several times.

I brushed her hand away. ‘Watch your mouth, Clara!’ I snapped at her, feeling resentful of her words.

“Oops! Did I hurt you, Mrs. Sycophant?” she taunted.

“Bitch!” I replied without hesitation to her taunt.

Clara’s mouth opened. I turned off the stove and prepared food, trying to ignore her. She was the one who started the argument with me, so I just served her. I also told her not to talk to me earlier. Clara herself couldn’t resist teasing me.

After all, what I said wasn’t entirely wrong if the baby didn’t belong to Felix; that meant Clara was also having a relationship with another man.

“How dare you!” Clara grabbed my shoulder and pulled me so I was forced to face her and...

SLAP!

A slap landed on my cheek. The sound of the blow was so loud that it echoed in every corner of the room until it made me feel like there was blood in my mouth.

It hurt a lot. But I wasn't caught off guard. I laughed out loud, making Clara look even more inflamed with emotions that she finally couldn't bear.

“Ah, that’s fun.” I took a deep breath to show Clara that the slap didn’t bother me. It wouldn’t even affect my life. I knew she was furious but was still trying to restrain herself so I wouldn’t tell Felix. But I was already having fun with this.

“I could kill you, Alice!” Clara threatened.

I stared into her sharp eyes. “Hmm... is that so?” I challenged her

However, it was my fault because I assumed Clara was bluffing. She suddenly pulled my hair very strongly and started the attack. I replied that I did not want to lose to her, so I pulled her long hair back. But Clara pushed me with all her strength.

My body was pushed hard, and my stomach hit the ceramic edge of the kitchen and then I sat sprawled on the floor as an intense pain spread throughout my stomach.

Meanwhile, Clara was laughing hysterically.

“Hey, you still don’t believe me, Alice? I never play around when I attack,” Clara said with a cold-blooded, murderous gaze.

Scary!

“You could go to jail if you kill me, Clara,” I stammered in pain.

“I can turn the murder into something that looks like you committed suicide.”

Every step she took towards me scared me. With the pain continuing to eat away at my body, I got up and ran up the stairs to my room to escape. All I could think about at that moment was saving my unborn child. Nothing else.

Unfortunately, when I reached the top of the stairs, Clara caught up with me and tried to pull me back. I, who was still fully conscious, immediately held on.

“You’ve lost your mind, Clara!” I shouted.

Clara pulled me back. “You take everything from me, Alice! I hate you!” Clara shouted back.

I kept trying to avoid her, but the back of my shirt was gripped tightly by her, so I fell, and now, my stomach hit the stairs.

I screamed as the pain became unbearable. But simultaneously, I heard Clara scream, followed by a series of loud bangs. And when I turned around, I found Clara rolling down the stairs until she collapsed at the bottom.

I couldn’t bear to look at her, but I also didn’t have the energy to help. My vision started to blur as I realized blood was spilling out of my body, scattered on the floor.