“Tom, let’s get a divorce,” I said coldly.

Tom and I grew up in the same orphanage—we were childhood sweethearts.

From a young age, we experienced the harshness of the world, learning that we could only rely on each other.

His grades were much better than mine. After middle school, I took up odd jobs at the market, earning money to pay for his tuition.

There were times when he wanted to quit school, unwilling to watch me struggle. He’d say he wanted to take me to the city so we could work in factories and earn money together.

I slapped him hard, leaving him stunned.

Gritting my teeth, I told him, “Tom, listen to me. Even if it kills me, I’ll make sure you graduate from college. I’ll always be by your side, waiting for the day you get a good job, rise through the ranks and eventually marry me in a beautiful wedding.

“Don’t worry about what people say. I don’t mind working as a fish cleaner, as long as you can finish college. So why should you?

“We’ve both had tough lives. It’s always been you and I, so let’s rely on one another. If you ever say you want to quit school again, I swear I’ll slap you twice as hard as this. You hear me, Tom?”

From that day forward, Tom never talked about giving up. He studied hard, achieving top grades. Whenever he had free time, he would come to the fish stall to help me gut fish.

When the elderly woman who owned the stall next to mine heard our story, she gave me a piece of advice.

“What if your boyfriend dumps you after graduating college?” she asked. “They say men change once they get the wealth they desire. They’ll leave the woman who supported them for a younger, prettier girl. Be careful, okay?”

“These days, temptation is everywhere. Are you sure he’ll never leave you? Save some money for yourself. Never pin all of your life on a man.”

But I brushed them off.

I trusted Tom and he trusted me. Ours was a bond forged by hardship, unshakable and strong.

When Tom graduated, he proposed to me.

At our wedding, his classmates and friends came to celebrate.

Some looked down on me—a mere fish seller with average looks—thinking I wasn’t good enough for Tom. Others, upon learning how I’d supported him through school, were full of admiration.

That was the first time I met Lori.

She was Tom’s college classmate, someone who shared his interests and had been close to him on campus. She’d even chased after Tom, though he had turned her down.

From the moment we met, I could tell Lori didn’t like me. Her disdainful gaze and mocking tone said it all. But I didn’t care.

Tom was exceptional and it was natural for women to admire him. Yet his heart belonged to me and that was enough.

After the wedding, Tom turned down offers to work at large companies. Instead, he used what he’d learned in college to capitalize on the live-streaming boom.

I gave him all my savings to help him start his own studio.

Before long, he made a name for himself in the livestream sales industry, earning a fortune. His studio quickly grew into a media company. With success came more women throwing themselves at him.

Some warned me to keep an eye on Tom, saying men change when they get rich. But I still trusted him. Until one day, Lori appeared at Tom’s office as his secretary. That was when my trust in him began to waver. My instincts told me something wasn’t right.

Women were known for having sharp intuition. It was just when I found out I was pregnant that Lori started sending me taunting messages. Sometimes, it was intimate photos of her with Tom, other times it was explicit screenshots of their conversations. She even had the audacity to taunt me:

[You don’t deserve Tom, you know?]

[You’re not as pretty as me. You don’t have a decent background like mine, your education doesn’t compare and you have no idea how to behave in social settings.]

[You being with Tom is just holding him back. You’re no help to him at all.]

[I’m the perfect match for Tom. If you’re smart, you’d leave him. Before he dumps you and makes yourself a fool.]

I was livid, but there was nothing I could do about it.

If it were any other woman, she’d probably throw a fit—cry, scream and threaten to do something drastic. But not me. Growing up in an orphanage, I’d matured far earlier than other people my age.  If I were to leave Tom, it wouldn’t be because I wasn’t good enough for him. It’d be the other way around. He wasn’t good enough for me.

My heart has always been strong and if it weren’t for that, I would have crumbled long ago under the weight of the gossip and whispers I endured while working at the fish market. I loved Tom, but my love was only ever true if it was met with the same sincerity and loyalty in return. Now that he had betrayed me and I had lost my child because of his actions, the love I once had for him had faded, no longer holding the intensity it once did.

When I asked for a divorce in that hospital room, Tom froze. I saw the panic flash across his face, his eyes wide with fear.

He quickly said, “Why are you suddenly asking for divorce?”

“No, it’s okay. I’m sure you are just confused. Are you feeling sick? I’ll go get the doctor.”

I shook my head, speaking quietly, “I’m fine, Tom. And I know what I’m asking.”

“Lori’s right. We’re not right for each other,” I went on.

“I don’t have a high education, I’m not particularly smart and I don’t know how to behave in circles of intelligent people. I can’t even help you with your work. So, it’s probably better if…”

“I’m going to tear that bitch’s mouth off!” Before I could finish, he snapped.

“Everything she said is a lie. She’s just jealous of you. Charity, you always told me not to care about what people say. Then why are you letting her words affect you now? Didn’t I tell you that you’re my one and only? There’s no one who could ever replace you in my heart, okay? I swear, I’ll never leave you.”

Before I could say anything, Tom hurriedly added, “Just rest, okay? And get that nonsense out of your head. Tomorrow, I’ll bring Lori here to apologize to you.”

With that, he stormed out of the room, dialing his phone in a fury, no doubt to confront Lori.

I lay in that hospital bed, staring at the miscarriage report in my hands. I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

Softly, I whispered, “I’m so sorry, baby. I couldn’t save you. I was too stupid and too naive.”

“Would you come back to me if there’s another life? I promise, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

I cried myself to sleep, the weight of everything too much to bear.

By morning, the sun was already shining brightly through the window.

The chair beside my bed was empty. Tom was gone and I had no idea where he’d gone. But honestly, I didn’t care anymore. I got out of bed, ready to handle my discharge on my own.

That’s when my phone vibrated. It was a message from Lori. She had sent me a video. The timestamp showed it was recorded at three in the morning in her apartment.

The scene unfolded with her dressed in lace lingerie, her room dimly lit by candles, giving off an air of seduction.

Then Tom appeared. His face was stormy, anger radiating off him as he barged in.

The moment he stepped through the door, he grabbed Lori by the neck, his voice a low growl.

“You said that drug would make Charity miscarry without feeling a thing. Why was she in so much pain? And why did you say those things to her, mocking her like that?"

“I’ve already told you—Charity is my wife. She’s the one and only woman in my life and no one else could ever compare to her!”

“What’s between us is nothing but mutual convenience, Lori. Don’t delude yourself into thinking you can push Charity out of my life. And don’t even dream of becoming my wife.”

Lori, despite Tom’s grip on her throat, didn’t look frightened or angry. Instead, she gazed at him with a sultry smile, her expression shamelessly flirtatious.

Reaching up, she lightly traced Tom’s jawline with her fingers, her voice syrupy sweet as she cooed, “That drug was something I got from out of town. They told me it would lead to a painless miscarriage. How was I supposed to know it affect her differently?”

“Or maybe… she’s just too fragile. Her body couldn’t handle it and that’s why she’s in pain. Well, that doesn’t make it entirely my fault, does it?”

Leaning in closer, her tone grew teasing, a cruel edge lacing her words. “Didn’t you say you didn’t want a child with her? Blaming me now seems a bit unfair, don’t you think?”

Her lips curved into a wicked smile, her voice playful but cutting as she added, “You’re the one who said she wasn’t educated or smart. You were worried your child might inherit her inferior genes, weren’t you? You wanted a child from me—someone beautiful and intelligent. Isn’t that what you hoped for? A perfect child with perfect traits?”

She leaned even closer, her breath brushing against his skin as she purred, “Don’t you think that makes you sound like a bit of a hypocrite, Tom?”

Tom’s eyes darkened, his fury intensifying as he glared at her.

But Lori seemed to relish his anger. Her smile grew even more seductive, her tone dripping with provocation. “Enough with the talk. Today just happens to be my ovulation day. Why don’t we give it another shot? Who knows? Maybe this time we’ll get lucky.”

“What’s between us is nothing but mutual convenience, right? So, once I’m pregnant with your baby, you’ll give me a hefty sum of money. Then you and Charity can raise our little bundle of joy together. As for me, I’ll take that money, travel the world and maybe even spoil myself with a few boy toys along the way. Everyone’s happy.”

Her teasing words made Tom’s breathing grow heavier. He clenched his jaw and spat through gritted teeth, “You’re playing with fire, Lori.”

“I’m taking you to the hospital tomorrow to apologize to Charity. If you refuse, I’ll make sure you face the consequences,” Tom said, his voice cold and threatening.

“If I say 'yes,' will you stop nagging?” Lori rolled her eyes, leaning lazily against the doorframe. “Fine, I’ll go. Happy now?” she said, waving her hand dismissively. But then she tilted her head, a sly grin spreading across her face. “By the way, this punishment you’re talking about—what exactly are you planning to do to me?” Her voice was playful, taunting.

Tom couldn’t hold back any longer. With a guttural growl, he shoved Lori onto the bed.

Her triumphant laughter mixed with his heavy breathing, creating a scene so unbearable to watch it made my stomach turn.

The video ended with Tom putting on his clothes and walking out the door. Lori, however, walked up to the surveillance camera in her apartment. Smiling smugly, she whispered, “Did you see that, Charity?”

“He can’t resist me. He wants a child with me.” Her expression hardened, the mockery in her eyes cutting sharper than her words. “His feelings for you? They aren’t love. They’re gratitude. He’s thankful for what you’ve done for him in the past and that’s why he married you—not because he loves you, but because he feels obligated. Do you get it now?”

Her voice dropped an octave, dripping with condescension. “Open your eyes, Charity. You’re not worthy of a man like Tom.”

Lori straightened, adjusting the strap of her dress as she delivered the final blow. “You come from nothing. What do you have to offer besides your skill at gutting fish? How could you possibly be the partner Tom needs to stand by his side?”

Her smile returned, but it was colder now, more calculating. “If you truly love him, let him go.”

The video cut to black and for a moment, the room was silent. I stared at the frozen screen, expecting anger to well up inside me—maybe even heartbreak or humiliation. But strangely, there was nothing. No fire in my chest, no twisting in my stomach.

Just… nothing.