I took a moment to steady myself, then contacted a lawyer to draft up the divorce papers and had them sent to the hospital. Marcus Hartman was the one listed to receive them.

It wasn't until the courier called that I realized Marcus had already left the hospital. With my number blocked, I had to log into an alternate account just to ask where he was so he could sign. But just as I logged in, I saw he had a new update on his Facebook.

It was a photo—of two people, clinking beer bottles in front of the beach. The bandage on one delicate hand hadn't even been removed yet, and it stung my eyes just to look at it. Meanwhile, Marcus… Well, he never wore his wedding ring.

The carefree happiness in the image radiated from the screen. It was evident in the caption: [I can't count the times I've been thankful, turning around to find you still by my side.]

He said those exact words to me once.

I remember that night so vividly—when Vivian left Marcus to go abroad. I found him drunk, passed out on a street corner. I took him home and stayed up all night, taking care of him, washing him up, and changing his clothes. He looked at me with those blurry, drunken eyes and said, "I'm so glad you're here."

That's how we ended up together. But that felt like a lifetime ago. Things are different now. Now I'm the burden that stands in the way of his true love.

I opened our chat box, typing out a simple message.

[The divorce papers were sent to the hospital. You weren't there, so I had your colleague sign for them. Make sure you sign them when you get back.]

No sooner had I sent it than he replied with a voice message. I hesitated but played it anyway. His voice was harsh, filled with irritation.

"I've already taken time off work, and I still can't avoid you? Just because I didn't take you for your delivery prep? Seriously, Ivory, how long are you going to drag this out? Did you really have to drag my colleagues into this shit? Are you not embarrassed enough?"

"You were the one who cried about wanting a baby. What kind of a pregnant woman, about to give birth, is still getting jealous? If you won't think about yourself, at least think about the baby. You're too selfish to even be a mother."

I just stood there, stunned, as his accusations sank in. It was unbelievable how he was turning this around on me.

Just as I was about to respond, I heard her voice again—Vivian—soft and sweet, calling my husband's name.

"Hey, Marcus, look at this shell! Isn't it pretty? Let's take it home as a memory. Thanks for coming with me to the beach, even with your busy schedule. This is for you!"

As she got closer, I heard a subtle edge of nervousness in her tone.

"Oh, are you talking with Ivory?"

Maybe Marcus didn't want her to know, or maybe he just didn't want me disturbing their perfect little moment. Either way, he didn't say another word to me and stopped recording right there.

It was like the final blow, leaving me completely numb. I stared blankly at the screen, reopening that picture. The one where his life looked so easy, so free—so far removed from mine.

That's when the nurse came in to check on me. She glanced at my phone and smiled.

With a voice full of admiration, she remarked, "You still have Dr. Hartman's contact? He's really so dedicated to his patients. Most doctors wouldn't go the extra mile like that. I heard he hasn't taken a vacation in years, and now he's finally on a long break."

Yeah, even our wedding was squeezed into his lunch break. There was no wedding ceremony. No one at the hospital even knows he's married.

Looking back now, maybe this was how it was always meant to end.

I didn't say anything. I went back to our chatbox and reminded him to sign the papers, only to realize… he had blocked my second account, too.

A scoff escaped my mouth.

In the end, I stopped trying to reach him.

Instead, I began looking up what legal punishment there is for causing a pregnant woman to deliver prematurely.

In those seven days I spent in the hospital, not once did Marcus bother to send me a message.

I guess, to him, I was less than a stranger—even though I'd once carried his child.

He blocked me, and honestly, I was too tired to even care about what he was up to anymore.

His mistress, on the other hand, was all over Facebook, posting pictures of their trips.

Marcus didn't show his face in any of them, but he was wearing clothes I personally picked out for him. It was easy to spot him.

He and this "sister" he talks so much about—they'd been touring city after city along the coastal route.

It seemed like they were on their way back now.

I couldn't help but wonder… when Marcus finally sees what kind of woman his first love really is, will he still smile?

As soon as the nurse informed me I could be discharged, the first thing I did was call the cops.

They arrived at the hospital within half an hour.

There was an investigation, evidence gathering, and searching for witnesses. The hospital's usually empty security room was packed with people, and a crowd of onlookers had gathered outside to watch the commotion.

One officer mentioned that the security cameras had just been fixed that day, a bit of luck amidst the misfortune.

I was finishing up my discharge papers when I ran into Vivian as I was heading downstairs.

She had a lunchbox in one hand and her phone in the other, too busy sending Marcus a voice message to notice me at first.

The moment she did, that playful smile of hers froze in place.

She had no idea what was waiting for her when she got back.

Her disdainful eyes swept over my flat belly, and her face twisted into a mocking grin.

"Oh, Ivory, you're out already? So soon? But where's your baby? Why didn't you tell Marcus?"

Then she faked this little moment of realization and covered her mouth like she was suddenly sorry.

"He hasn't unblocked you yet? I told him to! Hold on, let me remind him—"

Before she could finish, I stepped forward and slapped her right across the face.

Hard.

Hard enough that her earlobe tore, and the earring hit the floor. Blood started running down her neck.

She screamed as her phone crashed to the floor, and the lunchbox followed, spilling food and soup everywhere.

People around us froze for a second, then started pulling out their phones to record it all.

The crowd grew fast, but I didn't care.

"What the hell are you—" she tried to say, but I grabbed a fistful of her hair before she could finish.

As she cried out in pain, tears streaming down her face, I couldn't help but laugh coldly.

"It hurts, doesn't it? Can't take it, huh? Did you ever think you'd end up like this when you laid your hands on me? I'll make sure you feel exactly what I went through that day!"

With both hands, I grabbed her head down and slammed her face against my knee.

Bones cracked against bones with a nasty thud.

I did it again. And again.

Until that bitch stopped resisting. Until her eyes started to glaze over.

I was about to drag her to the cops myself when I heard Marcus's voice, wild with rage.

"Ivory! Are you out of your mind?! What the hell are you doing?! Stop!"

"If you want a divorce, fine, we'll divorce! But leave Vivian out of it!"

The next second, he kicked me hard, sending me flying two meters before I hit the cold floor with a thud.

Vivian rushed over to Marcus. She was sobbing like her whole world had fallen apart, and he pulled her into his arms.

It was only then that he seemed to remember the baby I was carrying. His face drained of all color as he turned to look at me, his eyes falling on my flat belly.

"The baby…" he stammered. "Where's the baby? What happened to our baby?"