The third month after I gave birth, I went back to the hospital alone for my postpartum checkup.

Christopher was on another business trip again for three months. Meetings, flights, deals. I got used to waiting for him like a quiet wife left at home.

But that day… something felt wrong.

I sat in the doctor’s office holding my file, and the doctor looked at me like I was crazy.

“You think this is funny?” he said sharply. “Do you have any idea how busy we are? Don’t come here wasting medical resources with jokes!”

My head snapped up. “What… what are you talking about?”

“You said you just gave birth. You didn’t.”

For a moment I just stared at him.

I slowly opened my bag with shaking fingers and pulled out my prenatal records. “But I did all my checkups here. I delivered here too. My husband brought me. Maybe something’s wrong with your system?”

The doctor took the papers, looked through them, then frowned harder.

“The numbers exist in the system,” he said. “But the patient attached to them is someone named Lillian Davenport.”

My stomach dropped.

“That’s… that's impossible,” I whispered.

He turned his screen toward me. “And your ultrasound today shows you’ve never given birth.” His voice turned colder. “Listen, lady. You should know whether you’ve been pregnant or not.”

His words hit me like a hammer and my ears rang.

How could that be? I had a cesarean section.

Christopher personally drove me here the night I went into labor. I still remembered his hand holding mine while the nurses wheeled me into surgery.

When the anesthesia wore off, he stood beside my bed and showed me our baby.

My baby.

And the scar was still on my stomach. I pressed my hand against it unconsciously. So what the hell was the doctor talking about?

Then a name echoed in my head.

Lillian Davenport.

Christopher’s childhood sweetheart. The woman who chased him for ten years even after he married me.

Back then she couldn’t accept it and even hired some thugs to attack me. If I hadn’t stepped in that night, Christopher would’ve beaten her to death in his rage.

After that, he said he sent her away. So how could she suddenly be connected to my pregnancy records?

Christopher even booked my prenatal appointments himself.

My thoughts tangled into a mess. Was the hospital wrong? Or was I going crazy?

No.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

I couldn’t wait for Christopher to come home this time. I bought the earliest flight ticket to the city where he was staying for work.

The whole flight my chest felt tight like someone was squeezing my heart.

By the time I arrived, it was already evening.

I dragged my suitcase into the garage and froze. A black sedan slowly drove past the entrance.

Christopher’s car.

The car stopped just a few meters away from me.

I froze.

Christopher stepped out first, like he always did, tall and impatient, fixing his cufflinks like the whole world had to move faster for him. Then he walked around to the passenger side and opened the door.

And then I saw her.

A slim hand slid naturally around his arm like it belonged there.

Lillian.

They looked… close. Too close. Not like two people who hated each other.

“Chris baby,” she said softly, leaning into him, “the doctor already said I’m recovering really well. Why do you keep dragging me back to the hospital again and again?”

Christopher snorted and pinched her cheek lightly. “You little heartless thing. You almost bled out the day you gave birth to our little Marie. I was scared shitless that night. If I don’t hear the doctor say you’re fine with my own ears, how the hell am I supposed to relax?”

Marie.

That was the name Christopher had chosen for our baby.

My legs went weak.

Instinctively I stepped back and hid behind one of the concrete pillars in the garage.

Lillian leaned closer to him and laughed softly. “You’re overreacting.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist like it was the most natural thing in the world and started guiding her toward the elevator. And suddenly everything inside my head went blank.

The baby…

was hers?

My throat tightened.

No… that can’t be right.

Can it?

But before they reached the elevator, Lillian’s hand slid off his waist. Instead it drifted down slowly to his belt.

I felt my stomach twist.

“I already asked the doctor,” her voice was teasing. “I’m fully recovered now.”

Her fingers tugged lightly at his belt.

“You’ve been staying with me all this time and you haven’t even touched me once. Chris… can you really hold back that long?”

Christopher went very still. Even from where I stood, I could see the fire flash through his eyes.

For a second I thought he might lose control. But then he grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

“Stop messing around,” he muttered, “You know damn well why.”

She pouted. “Why?”

Christopher sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead.

“Back then my family always looked down on Melissa,” he said. “They wanted me to marry you from the beginning.”

My chest tightened.

“But for Melissa’s sake,” he continued quietly, “I treated you like shit. I pushed you away again and again, and you never held it against me.”

Lillian lowered her eyes.

Christopher kept talking.

“After the wedding, the Bellingham family was forced to accept Melissa, but let’s be honest. Her background is dirt poor. The child she gave birth to wouldn’t even qualify to inherit the Bellingham family.”

Every word stabbed straight into my chest.

“And then I found out you were terminally ill,” he went on, his voice softer now. “But you still insisted on giving birth to a child for me. You ignored your own health just to shut my family up.”

His hand gently touched her shoulder.

“You stayed by my side without a name, without status.” He let out a bitter laugh. “I love Melissa. I really do.”

My heart trembled.

“But I owe you a hell of a lot more.”

Lillian looked up at him.

Christopher shook his head slowly.

“You don’t have much time left with me. If I can’t even control myself now, then what the hell am I? Some kind of beast?”

My nails dug into my palms so hard they broke the skin. Warm blood trickled down my fingers.

But I barely felt it.

My heart felt like someone had grabbed it and ripped a piece right out.

All these years… I really believed Christopher loved only me. I believed he stayed loyal. I believed he protected me. But he’d already been involved with Lillian for so long.

I suddenly remembered our wedding day. Lillian stormed into the ceremony and ruined everything in front of the whole city. Everyone laughed at me.

Later she even hired men to try to force themselves on me. I cried until my throat bled that night. I fought like crazy just to protect myself. That nightmare followed me for years.

And the man who swore to protect me… was now standing there telling her he owed her. He owed the woman who destroyed me.

My chest started shaking.

And before I could even breathe properly, Lillian suddenly wrapped her arms around him again.

“If Melissa ever finds out... that what she thought was childbirth was actually just a hallucination from the company’s new sleep aid…”

My whole body froze.

“…she’d definitely be furious.”

My ears rang.

Hallucination? Sleep aid? What…?

Lillian’s voice trembled slightly as she clung to him.

“Especially since the child is actually mine.”

My knees almost gave out.

“I’m really scared, Chris,” she whispered. “I just want you to protect our child.” She buried her face in his chest. “As for me… it’s okay if I suffer a little.”

Christopher held Lillian’s face in both hands like she was something precious.

His voice was low and serious. “Listen to me. Marie is Melissa’s child for now. I’ll never let her know the truth.”

My heart stopped for a second.

He pulled a document from his briefcase and handed it to her. “Back then Melissa misunderstood you and thought you hired someone to hurt her. Because of that my family locked you up at home for a long time. Your health got ruined because of it.”

Lillian lowered her eyes like a wounded little bird.

Christopher sighed and gently brushed her hair back. “You told me before that staying closer to me would make you feel better. So I arranged a job for you at a friend’s company. You can start tomorrow.”

She looked up in surprise. “Your friend’s company? Isn’t that the building right next to yours?”

“Yeah,” he said.

“It’s that close… can I really go there?”

Christopher smiled at her in that calm confident way of his. “As long as it doesn’t affect Melissa, I’ll do whatever I can to make you happy.”

Happy.

The word felt like a knife twisting slowly in my chest.

Then they walked into the elevator together and the doors closed.

I covered my mouth because a sob almost slipped out.

Christopher once told me something very different.

He held my hands back then and said, “Melissa, the only woman I’ve ever loved is you. I don’t care about your family background. In this life there can only be one woman beside me.”

I believed him.

Every stupid word.

But now that same man was protecting the woman who ruined me and saying he owed her.

He once said everything in the Bellingham family belonged to our child and no one else had the right to touch it.

And yet he used his company’s newest technology to make me believe I was pregnant.

He let me think I carried a baby for months. Let me believe I went through childbirth.

All so I could raise Lillian’s child right in front of me without suspecting a thing.

For her sake.

For her happiness.

So what about me?

Was his love even real?

I didn’t even remember how I left the hospital.

Everything felt numb. I ran three red lights on the way home and barely noticed.

When I got back, I only did two things.

First I found the prenuptial agreement Christopher and I signed before marriage. One clause was written clearly. If Christopher had any extramarital affair, the marriage would end immediately.

I stared at that line for a long time before calling an immigration agency.

One month later I would leave the country and disappear from Christopher’s life forever.

The second thing I did was find the medical report he once hid in a drawer. Christopher’s azoospermia diagnosis.

He couldn’t have children.

I packed the report carefully into a gift box.

When I first discovered that report, I couldn’t sleep for days. I kept thinking about how to tell him. How do you tell a proud bastard like Christopher Bellingham that he can’t have a child?

But before I could say anything, I suddenly found out I was pregnant.

At least that’s what I believed back then.

I thought it was a miracle. A blessing from heaven. I treated that child with so much care and love.

And now I knew the truth.

It was all a lie.

Which made me strangely curious.

When Christopher opened that box and saw the report, what kind of expression would he have? When he realized the heir he had been dreaming about might not even be his child.

By the time I finished preparing everything, it was already dark.

I stood outside the nursery and heard a baby crying inside. Even through the door I could still faintly hear Christopher and Lillian talking.

My hand tightened on the door frame.

In the past I would’ve rushed in right away to pick the baby up and comfort him. But now I couldn’t move… That wasn’t my child.

That was Christopher and Lillian’s child.

The door opened and the nanny walked out holding the crying baby.

“Miss Melissa, you’re finally back,” she said with a bit of complaint in her voice. “The young lady has been crying for so long.”

I just stood there quietly and looked at the baby’s small face.

The baby girl’s face was small and soft in the nanny’s arms.

Her eyebrows and eyes looked exactly like Lillian’s.

How the hell did I never notice that before?

My chest felt tight just looking at her.

“Miss Melissa, the young lady has been crying for so long,” the nanny kept saying. “We tried everything. Why didn’t you answer the phone earlier?”

Before I could even speak, Christopher’s cold voice came from behind me.

“I hired you to take care of the child,” he said flatly. “Not to question where my wife goes. Don’t overstep your damn job.”

The nanny immediately shut her mouth.

“Yes, sir.”

“Give me the baby.”

She quickly handed the little girl to him.

Christopher held the baby girl easily like he’d done it a thousand times. He gently patted her back and murmured something softly.

The crying stopped almost immediately. He looked up at me then, a faint frown forming.

“Why’d you suddenly go out today?”

My heart twisted but I forced my face calm. “I just went out to buy some things.”

Christopher walked closer and reached out to touch my cheek. His fingers were warm. They used to make me feel safe.

Now it only felt like a joke.

“You look pale,” he said quietly. “Are you sick? Didn’t you take care of yourself while I was away?”

I turned my head slightly and avoided his hand.

“I’m fine. Just tired.”

His eyes darkened for a second but the gentle look returned quickly.

“Are you mad at me?” he asked. “I know I’ve been busy lately. Business trips, meetings, all that bullshit. I haven’t spent much time with you.” He adjusted the baby in his arms and sighed. “Alright. Tomorrow I won’t go to work. I’ll stay home and take you and the baby outside. Sounds good?”

Outside.

My lips moved a little but no sound came out.

Christopher just smiled and ruffled my hair like I was still the same obedient wife. Then he walked to the kitchen and came back with a glass of warm milk.

“Drink this and go rest,” he said.

I stared at the glass. Suddenly something clicked in my mind. Back when he first said he wanted a child, the milk I drank every night suddenly changed.

He told me it was a special nutrition formula.

“This is a dairy supplement the company developed for you,” he said back then with a smile.

My fingers tightened around the cup.

So that was it? Was that the thing that made me hallucinate about my pregnancy? I lifted the glass and pretended to take a sip.

When Christopher turned his head for a second, I quietly poured the milk into the vase beside the table.

“I’m sleepy... I’m going to bed.”

I placed the cup down and walked into the bedroom without looking back. Christopher stood in the living room watching me leave. I could feel his eyes on my back but I didn’t turn around.

Later that night I lay in bed with my eyes closed. Christopher was beside me, breathing steady like he was asleep.

Minutes passed.

Then the mattress dipped slightly.

He got up.

I heard him walking quietly toward the door and leaving the room. The moment his footsteps faded, my eyes opened.

I slipped out of bed and followed him quietly.

He walked straight out of the villa then he stopped in front of the villa next door.

My heart dropped.

Why there?

The door opened.

I stayed in the shadows, watching Lillian in her silky nightgown throw herself into Christopher’s arms. “Chris, you’ve been working so hard,” she whispered, looking up at him, worried in her voice. “Every night you have to feed her the medicine, and then you come over to keep me company…”

He held her waist and kissed her forehead, “This is what you deserve,” he said softly.

“I’m still scared,” Lillian said, trembling, “what if she finds out?”

“No,” he said firmly, voice low. “The medicine is specially made. It keeps her memories stable and makes her sleep like she won’t ever wake up.”

Lillian smiled, tiptoeing to kiss him. “Chris, you’re amazing.”

I froze. My blood felt like ice. I watched them kiss, watched him stroke her hair, watched them walk into the villa together. The milk… every night… drugged. Him leaving every night… and keeping Lillian close next door… my “happy moments” all a lie.

I bit my lip until it bled and went back to my bedroom. I lay there staring at the ceiling. Sleep didn’t come. When Christopher returned, it was already dawn. He tiptoed in, pulled me into his arms, kissed my forehead, and said, “Melissa, let’s get ready and go to the Botanical Garden greenhouse.”

I closed my eyes, mumbling a soft “Mmm,” forcing back the tears. I didn’t believe him anymore. I wouldn’t ever.

...

The greenhouse was quiet. I stayed near the edge, watching him walk over with the baby girl in his arms. “We got a new caretaker today,” he said casually, but I could feel his eyes on me. “The previous one is on leave.”

I nodded but said nothing.

The caretaker’s sunglasses covered most of her face, but I saw those dimples, that slender figure. Lillian. She lowered her eyes, a cold, silent smile on her lips, pretending she knew nothing.

“The baby’s been fussy,” Christopher said, handing her the girl. “Melissa, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“You handle it,” I said, looking away.

I stepped toward the edge of the greenhouse to rest, and then a heavy metal plant rack wobbled toward me. I stumbled, fell into the pond with a splash. Water rushed into my mouth and nose, panic clawing at me. I flailed, screaming silently, trying to keep afloat.

“Melissa!” Christopher shouted, rushing forward, but Lillian shook him. “Chris, take the child! I’ll save her!”

She dove in, grabbing my arm, pulling me up, but the metal rack hit me partly. Pain shot through me. I scratched her arm in panic, leaving bloody marks, but she didn’t let go. She dragged me until I could barely breathe, finally pushing me to the edge.

I collapsed, coughing, gasping. Christopher arrived, frowning when he saw Lillian’s arm. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, voice choked. “It’s okay… Melissa was scared… I just… I’m worried it might leave a mark…”

“I didn’t have much time anyway… I just wanted to get out looking my best,” she murmured.

Christopher’s eyes darkened at me, then he squatted beside her, pulling her into his chest. “Don’t say stuff like that. No scar. I’ll take you to the hospital later and use the best medicine.”

She leaned against him, sobbing softly. I lay there, barely conscious, stomach twisting, hearing it all. I coughed violently.

He finally noticed me. “Melissa, are you okay? Anything hurt?”

“…It’s nothing,” I whispered, closing my eyes.

“No, we’re going to the hospital. Let’s check you out.” He didn’t wait, scooped me up in his arms, and told Lillian to take the baby. She nodded silently and followed.

I leaned against him, hearing his heartbeat. He’d just kissed her, held her, protected her… and now he held me like nothing happened, playing the devoted husband.

“Melissa,” he said softly as we walked, “you feel cold? Are you tired? Say something. Talk to me.”

I swallowed hard, the taste of blood still in my mouth. “I… I’m fine,” I muttered.

He pressed my head to his chest. “You’re always saying that. I can’t just leave you like this. Come on, we’ll get you warm at the hospital.”

I closed my eyes tighter, fighting back tears. Every word he said felt fake. Every touch. Every act. Disgust boiled in me. And I hated that I still felt my body respond to it.

I could hear Lillian behind us, humming softly to the baby, pretending everything was normal. My stomach twisted.

…

I woke up to the blinding white ceiling of the hospital and the sharp, sterile smell of disinfectant filling my nose. My head felt heavy and my body even heavier. I slowly turned my eyes, and the ward was empty. Just me. The faint chatter of nurses drifted in from the doorway.

“Miss Davenport only got her hand scratched, and yet Mr. Bellingham freaked out so much he called all the doctors and demanded the best medicine to make sure there’s no scar,” one of them said.

Another chimed in, sneering, “And here she is, drowning in the pond and unconscious, and she still only gets two intern nurses looking after her. What a joke. Some contrast, huh?”

My fingers twitched at my sides and my throat tightened. I remembered the night I had a fever of 39 degrees. Christopher stayed by my side all night, eyes barely closing, his private doctor at my bedside. And now I nearly drowned, and no one gave a damn.

The door opened, and two intern nurses strolled in. One glanced at me and rolled her eyes. “Oh, you’re awake? Not bad, tough girl.”

I stayed quiet, sitting up stiffly.

The other leaned closer, her voice dripping with malice. “What are you pretending for? You know you’re the mistress, right? Miss Davenport already has a child with President Bellingham, and you’re still clinging to her like some pathetic little shadow. Jumping in the pond? Threatening to drown yourself? Aren’t you disgusting?”

I looked up at them, my voice raw and hoarse. “Who told you I was the other woman?”

The first nurse laughed, “Do I need anyone to tell me? Miss Davenport is my friend, and everyone knows she and Mr. Bellingham are madly in love. They even have a child together. And then there’s you, sticking your nose in, trying to play hero. What else is that but being a homewrecker? Pathetic.”

The second nurse leaned on the bed rail, tilting her head, “Do you even get it? Mr. Bellingham was panicked over Miss Davenport. He called her ‘wife’ like a hundred times, insisted the doctors use the best medicine, made sure nothing happened to her, not a scratch. And you? You almost drowned, and no one gives a damn. Not a single person.”

She smirked and added, “You really thought you could be something in his life? You thought you mattered? Go ahead, pretend all you want, but face it. You’re nothing. You’re invisible. And everyone around here sees it.”