Sabrina's POV

I was changing my baby’s diaper when my husband’s female friend, Barbara Cress, suddenly smacked him playfully on the rear and laughed, “Phyll Higgins, this really is your kid. He’s even got the same little mole down there!”

My hands instantly froze. For a second, I wondered if I’d misheard her.

How could she know what was on my husband’s private parts?

But as if afraid I hadn’t caught it the first time, she leaned in with a grin and explained, “I only noticed it the night you gave birth, when Phyll and I took a bath together. I thought it was dirt at first, so I scrubbed him half to death before realizing it wouldn’t come off. Hahaha.”

Then, with a teasing smile, she added, “Don't worry. We’re just like brothers, only helping each other scrub down. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have even gotten the chance to be the one carrying his baby.”

——

As the room went still, Phyll pinched her cheek with a helpless sigh.

“You still have the nerve to bring that up? You almost rubbed my skin raw.”

Barbara turned and bit his wrist playfully, then laughed, “Phyll, next time I’ll go even harder on you.”

Everyone else burst into laughter, then one of them leaned toward me and explained, “Sabrina, don’t take it the wrong way. Barbara’s been like one of the guys since we were kids. She's always hanging out in the bathhouse with us, joking around. Friends know each other’s bodies inside out. Totally normal.”

Normal? I’d heard this same excuse too many times, and I was already sick of it.

Again, a wave of disgust and humiliation swelled inside me.

Without thinking, I grabbed the dirty diaper in my hand and slapped it right across Barbara’s face.

By the time she realized what had happened, her face and lips were smeared with fresh yellow stains.

She shrieked and bolted for the bathroom, while Phyll yanked me hard by the arm.

“Sabrina! What the hell’s gotten into you?!”

He shot me a vicious glare before rushing after her.

Yet I just shrugged and gave a mocking smile.

“What? Brothers know each other’s bodies, right? Then surely, being familiar with his son’s diaper smell is even more natural. Don’t you agree?”

After that, the room fell silent, and none of them dared to answer.

I then glanced toward the bathroom, and a heaviness pressed against my chest.

Phyll was inside, gently wiping Barbara’s face, his expression filled not with disgust, but with concern and care.

Yet during my postpartum bleeding, he wouldn’t even hand me a pad. He’d just toss it from two meters away, afraid to come near.

Now, Barbara let him tend to her like she was a fragile crystal, glaring at me with watery eyes.

“Sabrina, I already told you, there’s nothing going on between us. Why’d you have to do that? I’m a clean freak! How am I supposed to eat now? I’m sick to my stomach thanks to you!”

I blinked innocently and replied, “Oh, really? You can put your mouth on Phyll when he hasn’t showered, but one diaper’s too much for you? I thought you liked dirty things. Guess your ‘clean freak’ rules depend on who it’s with.”

“Enough!” Phyll snapped, his voice sharp with anger. “Sabrina, you’ve crossed the line. Barbara was retching just now; she even threw up bile. Do you have any idea how bad that is for her body? Apologize right now!”

Apologize?

She flirted with my husband under my roof, and I was the one who should apologize?

My gaze shifted to the wall where a chart hung.

Phyll once asked me what it was, but I never told him.

In the four years we’ve been married, every time he fought with me because of Barbara, I marked a box. Without even realizing it, I’d filled ninety-nine.

And tonight was the hundredth. The sheet was full.

And so was I with this marriage.

Yet, still calm, I excused myself, “I’m tired. You all can see yourselves out.”

Their faces immediately soured, and someone grumbled, “Seriously? We’ve only been here twenty minutes, and you’re kicking us out already? What, is it because we didn’t bring gifts? We friends never bothered with shallow formalities like that.”

Sabrina's POV

Phyll’s face also darkened as he glared at me.

“Sabrina, everyone came here out of kindness to see you and the baby. You didn’t even bother to make a meal, and now you’re kicking them out? Are you trying to embarrass me? Barbara would never act like this. That’s why she’ll always be a real friend to me…”

The word "friend" snapped something inside me.

Without thinking, I grabbed a glass of water and hurled it at his feet, shouting, “Get out! Both of you!”

It was the first time I’d ever raised my voice like that, so the room instantly went silent.

Barbara, however, only rolled her eyes before smiling sweetly and clinging to Phyll’s arm.

“Forget it. If Sabrina doesn’t want to cook, then she doesn’t have to. Let’s just eat out.”

She tilted her head at me, still pretending innocence, and added, “Honestly, Sabrina, Phyll and I are just like ironclad friends. We’ve been bathing together and scrubbing each other’s backs since we were kids. It has become a habit for us. Nothing else. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been the one to give him a child.”

Then she tugged on Phyll’s sleeve. “Come on, let’s go. Give her time to cool down. I heard women get all loose after childbirth, and when their emotions run high, they might even wet themselves. Don’t make her any angrier.”

She smirked and added loudly enough for everyone to hear, “If she ends up peeing her pants again, how can I even get to eat? I don’t wanna starve tonight!”

The room erupted in laughter as everyone crowded around Phyll and Barbara, ushering them out the door.

I must’ve been more upset than I realized, because not long after, a sharp pain stabbed my chest and a fever swept over me.

Soon, my phone rang, and it was Phyll. His tone was softer now, maybe because he remembered I hadn’t eaten yet.

“Babe, what do you feel like eating? I’ll bring something back for you later.”

I gritted my teeth against the pain and answered weakly, “I think I’ve got mastitis. Could you take me to the hospital? Or at least come home to watch the baby so I can go myself—”

But before I could finish, his temper snapped.

“Sabrina, will you quit it already? Barbara lost her appetite thanks to you. I had to feed her myself just so she’d eat a few bites. And now you’re faking sick just to trick me into coming home?”

His voice even grew colder as he added, “You, married women, are all the same—paranoid and suspicious. What, just because I’ve got a wife, I’m supposed to give up my friends? If Barbara and I really wanted something more, do you think you’d even matter? You’re ridiculous.”

And with that, he hung up on me.

I let out a bitter laugh and was about to call an ambulance when my phone rang again. This time, it was my brother, sounding cheerful.

“Sabrina, guess what? I’ll be back in the country tomorrow. Surprise! How are things with you and Phyll?”

I caught a glimpse of my pale reflection in the window. Before everything went black, I whispered, “Scott… I want a divorce.”

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital.

An IV was hooked into my arm, and my son was sleeping quietly beside me.

Phyll rushed in with a smile, acting as if nothing had happened.

“Babe, you’re awake! The neighbors told me you were taken away in an ambulance this morning. I nearly panicked to death! I bought your favorite crab rangoon. Hurry, eat them while they’re hot. See? Your husband’s always looking out for you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.

When I was brought here last night, I’d already been burning up with dehydration. If my brother hadn’t noticed something wrong in my voice and called the ambulance for me, I didn’t even know what would’ve happened.

The hospital had called Phyll over and over again throughout the night, but he never picked up.

Meanwhile, Barbara had been busy updating her social media with photos of Phyll feeding her dinner, the two of them drinking from the same glass, and even dancing closely like lovers.

I lifted my head and said flatly, “Phyll, haven’t I told you more than once I’m allergic to crab?”

He froze, caught off guard, then fumbled for an excuse.

“Babe, I didn’t mean to. I just—”

“You just forgot,” I cut him off. My voice was calm, but sharp. “Because it’s not important to you. Right?”

Sabrina's POV

I let out a bitter laugh and added, “Of course. Those crab rangoons aren’t for me because they’re Barbara’s favorite. To you, she’s always the one that matters most.”

My voice grew colder as I went on.

“Remember last year? You had that huge client meeting, but Barbara insisted on tagging along. Then she accused the client of looking at her funny, and without a word, you punched him. The company lost tens of millions over that deal. In the end, it was I, an eight-month pregnant woman, who knelt on my knees, begging the client to forgive you in the summer heat. I collapsed from heatstroke, went into labor early, and nearly lost my life because of that. And where was your so-called ‘friend’ then? Hiding, right?”

Not letting him interrupt, I quickly added, “We’ve been married for four years, Phyll. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve had to clean up the messes you two created? You can spoil her all you want, but I’m done covering for you. Let’s get a divorce.”

In that instant, anger flashed in Phyll’s eyes.

“Sabrina, you’re really making a big deal out of nothing. So I forgot you were allergic to crab. Why drag up the past?”

He raised his voice, his tone full of accusation. “Yeah, I didn’t get to pick up the phone last night, but you’re already an adult. Can’t you manage your own emotions? Now, they had to put you on antibiotics, which means the baby can’t have breast milk. Barbara said breastfeeding is the healthiest. And here you are, ruining his health. I’m not even blaming you for that, so how dare you talk divorce with me?!”

Before I could reply, the hospital room door swung open.

Barbara burst in, threw herself into Phyll’s arms, and tugged at his ear with a pouty grin.

“Well, there you are, Phyll! We’ve been looking for you everywhere. Did you forget today’s our twentieth anniversary of knowing each other? Everyone’s waiting downstairs for you!”

Phyll immediately wrapped his arms around her, and in a soft and indulgent tone, he replied, “Relax. When have I ever forgotten our anniversary?”

Then he shot me a cold glance and said, “As for what you just said, I'll pretend I didn’t hear a thing. I’ve got other things to do. Take this time to calm yourself down.”

But before he could walk away, I grabbed his sleeve, staring straight into his eyes.

“Phyll, I’m still hooked up to an IV. You’re really going to leave me here alone with our baby?”

Barbara rolled her eyes and stuck out her lip. “So what if you had a baby? Is it a big deal? Women are always such a headache. Phyll, if you dare ditch me tonight, then I'll cut you off forever. Our friendship is over!”

With that threat, Phyll shoved me away impatiently and spat, “Your left hand’s on an IV, but your right hand works just fine. And isn’t it always the mother who looks after the child? Why are you acting so spoiled?”

Without another glance at me, he carried Barbara toward the door, bellowing, "You dare threaten to cut me off, huh? Seems like someone needs a spanking."

She giggled, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Threatening to spank me now? Go ahead if you’ve got the guts! But hold me tighter, my pants are slipping!”

Phyll smirked as he patted her backside. “Then let them slip. The sound will be even better that way.”

The other patients in the ward stared at me, some with pity, others with ridicule, like I was nothing more than a joke.

Not long after, my brother arrived with a housekeeper from abroad in tow.

He handed my baby to the nanny and exploded in fury. “So this is how Phyll takes care of his wife? That bastard’s supposed to be some big-shot CEO, yet he won’t even hire you a nanny?”

I had mentioned it before, hiring help. But Phyll refused, saying you could never trust outsiders. Moreover, the one we might get might just dillydally. So instead, he promised he’d take care of me himself.

But from pregnancy up until now, nearly three months since the baby was born, he hadn’t changed a single diaper. He was too busy fooling around with Barbara and their friends.

Seeing me stay quiet, my brother’s eyes softened with pain.

“Sabrina, no matter what you decide, I’ll support you. Look at you, you’ve wasted away.”

He then tried to cheer me up with a smile. “Perfect timing, too. The new mall I invested in the neighboring city just opened today. Once your IV is done, let’s go eat something good. My treat.”