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.”

Sabrina's POV

The moment we stepped into the mall, I spotted Phyll not too far ahead, standing inside a lingerie boutique. One arm was wrapped around Barbara, while the other helped her pick out lingerie.

Their friends crowded around, teasing, “I remember back in college, Barbara was flat as a board. But look at her now! I heard it’s all thanks to Phyll.”

“Phyll, huh? Didn’t know your skills were that good,” the other friend chimed in.

Barbara laughed behind her hand, giving the speaker a playful glare. “Don’t talk nonsense. Careful, or his old hag at home will feed you diapers as well.”

Everyone snickered with open disdain.

“Let her hear, who cares? If it weren’t for Phyll, I would’ve told her off already. That orphan with no parents isn’t even worthy of him.”

“Exactly. And she keeps bragging about saving one of Phyll’s projects. As if he needed her help. He’s got powerful backers behind him. She’s just full of herself, always trying to act touched by her own little gestures.”

“Right. Before she showed up, our group was so much more relaxed. Luckily, Phyll didn’t drag her along today. Honestly, dude, why don’t you just dump her already? Stick with Barbara instead. Keep it in the family, if you know what I mean.”

“Though,” one added, “I did hear Sabrina once say she’s got a brother overseas doing business. Didn’t mention what kind, though.”

Barbara clung tighter to Phyll’s arm, her tone dripping with mockery. “Women love to brag. These days, even a dishwasher calls himself a restaurant owner. Who knows, maybe her brother’s just a professional trash picker. Foreign Beggar’s Association chairman, maybe? Hahaha!”

She flipped her hair and smirked. “See, I don’t play those games. I just brag that Phyll bought me a four-million-dollar jewelry set because it's real. And hey, don’t say I never helps you keep peace at home. Here, take these freebie earrings back to Sabrina later, like always.”

Her words hit me like a bucket of ice water.

Four years of marriage, and Phyll had never once spent a full anniversary with me.

Every time we were about to go out, Barbara would call, saying she was sick or had sprained her ankle. And Phyll would drop everything with no hesitation. Later, he’d bring me some cheap pair of earrings or a ring as “compensation.”

I told myself to be understanding since Barbara once even praised me in front of everyone, calling me generous, telling Phyll he should make it up to me.

But now I see. Even the “make-up gifts” were just her leftovers.

Barbara walked into the fitting room, and within seconds, she tossed lingerie over the curtain straight into Phyll’s face.

“Phyll, I can't put them on! Get in here and help me before I freeze!”

The others burst into laughter.

“Phyll, Barbara said earlier you’d be the one putting on every single piece she tries today. Better get in there now!”

“Knock it off,” Phyll chuckled, but his legs carried him straight into the fitting room without hesitation.

As the door swung open, I caught a glimpse of Barbara’s bare, tanned shoulders before he pulled her into his arms and quickly slammed the door, shielding her from any eyes but his.

Soon, her playful scolding drifted through the door. “Can’t even button it right. What are you sniffing for?”

“Wait, did you change perfume? That’s not what you wore yesterday.”

The friends outside whooped and hollered like it was a wedding night prank.

Even the store clerk turned beet red, probably never having seen something so shameless.

Beside me, my brother’s forehead pulsed with rage. He was ready to storm in and drag them both out, but I clutched his arm tight.

“Scott, that store’s cameras. They’ve got audio too, right?”

He gave a stiff nod.

Sabrina's POV

“Don’t worry, this is the most advanced one on the market. Not a single word will be missed,” I said as I bit down hard, trying to hold myself together, but the tears still broke free.

Phyll, I hoped you wouldn't regret everything you’d done today.

At the counter, the cashier blushed as she pulled out a raffle box.

“Good day, sir and ma'am! Today’s our grand opening. Just draw a question and answer it, and you can take home any item for free.”

Phyll didn’t care about saving a little money, but with Barbara so excited, he let her play along.

The cashier unfolded the slip and read aloud, “What are the two most touching things someone has done for you?”

Barbara’s expression softened as she looked at Phyll.

“The first one,” she said sweetly, “was the night his wife was in labor and things went wrong. I told him I felt so lonely, and within ten minutes, he dropped everything to be with me and even stayed the whole night.”

My chest tightened.

That night, I was lying in the delivery room, terrified, barely able to breathe through the pain, desperately trying to reach Phyll, but he never came.

It was the wife of one of his clients who stayed by my side, holding my hand and encouraging me through the fear.

Barbara went on, her voice brimming with emotion. “The second thing, and this touched me the most, was when I told him I wanted a baby, he forged his wife’s medical report and had our embryo implanted in her womb.”

For a moment, I couldn’t believe what I had just heard.

The others around us also froze, their faces twisted with shock, all staring at Phyll.

“Phyll… she’s talking about you, right?”

Phyll only shrugged and replied, “So what if she is?”

“Damn, Phyll, that’s… wild. But Barbara can have kids on her own, so why did you make your wife carry your child instead?”

Phyll fell silent for a moment, then sighed and ruffled Barbara’s hair with helpless affection.

“Sabrina nearly lost her life giving birth. And Barbara, despite always acting tough, is terrified of pain, terrified of dying. What kind of man would I be if I let her go through that herself?”

Aside from the cashier, who looked like she wanted to disappear, the others actually applauded him.

A buzzing filled my ears. For a fleeting moment, I wished I had died on that operating table.

At least then, I wouldn’t have to face this humiliating, ridiculous reality.

My brother’s worried face filled my vision. I forced a weak smile, but the tears slipped out anyway.

“Scott,” I choked, “how could he once kneel down and beg me, saying he wanted a child as the symbol of our love?”

The truth was, I never even wanted children. Phyll promised me the same when we married.

But later, he dropped to his knees, saying he didn’t want to disappoint his parents, saying he dreamed of holding the child born from our love.

As such, I gave in. Even when I found out about my infertility, guilt ate at me until I agreed to IVF.

I carried that child for him, vomiting until I was half-dead during pregnancy, nearly dying in childbirth, shedding handfuls of hair afterward from hormone crashes, and losing sleep night after night.

Breastfeeding also felt like my body was being torn apart, like my chest was in a shark’s jaws. The pain it brought made me break out in cold sweats.

And in the end, I was nothing but a tool, a fool who got played over and over again.

Barbara picked out a piece of lingerie, smirking triumphantly. “You know the saying, wives are like clothes, but friends are like your own limbs. Clothes can be replaced anytime, but you can’t cut off your hands and feet. I also didn’t want a stranger raising our baby, so Phyll refused to hire a nanny for Sabrina and just made her do everything herself. Now that’s a true friend.”

She twirled with a laugh, her voice dripping with arrogance. “Look at me now. I’ve got a man supporting me, I get to be a mother without the pain, don’t even have to raise the child myself, and in the future, our baby will look after me. All I have to do is stay beautiful and carefree. Honestly, life doesn’t get any better than this.”

As I felt I couldn’t listen anymore, my stomach suddenly churned until I thought I’d be sick.