It was my fifth year at my husband Julian Cadman's company. I'd landed a major deal despite numerous painful drinks that ended with a stomach ulcer. But then Julian hands the project off to the new intern, Evelyn.

Someone leaned over to Julian and asked, "Mr. Cadman, Caroline would be pissed. Aren't you worried about it?"

Julian, arm around Evelyn, just laughed it off.

He casually remarked, "Caroline would sell her grandma to make a buck. She'll snag more clients.

Evelyn's not like her. She's got pride. She's young and chose to be with me. I can't have her feeling slighted."

After the dinner, Julian and Evelyn were making out like teenagers, stumbling into an upstairs room, clothes dropping all over the hallway.

I glanced at the pregnancy test results in my hand, feeling ice cold.

The next day, I scheduled an abortion and called back a rival company. "Mr. Gilbert, I've made up my mind. I'm ready to head to France."

***

Five years ago, my husband Julian Cadman's company, Bright Group, was nearly bankrupt.

I stayed by his side, turning down numerous offers from global giants to help him.

I had personally brought in half of Bright Group's clients over the years.

Everyone in the industry knew I was the reason the company turned around.

To land a big project, I drank so much with clients I got stomach ulcers. Anyway, I never thought Julian would give it to Evelyn Brown, some college junior intern.

Last night, I wanted to share the news of my pregnancy with Julian during our celebration dinner.

After all, we had been trying for this child for five years.

But Evelyn stole the show.

Excited, I went to find Julian, only to see him making out with Evelyn.

Julian's words kept ringing in my ears, breaking my heart all over again.

The bitterness was overwhelming. I struggled to hold back tears.

I got a call from Sebastian Gilbert, the CEO of Gilbert Group. His voice came through the phone, all cheery. "Ms. Sullivan, have made up your mind?

You're talented, and you even speak French. I want you running our French division. Your talents are being wasted at Bright Group."

I mumbled a yes. Sebastian got all excited, set up my start date, then hung up.

It struck me then. Julian had never really valued me like that.

I finally had to face it. Julian didn't care about my skills, nor did he love me as his wife.

I sat up all night. By the crack of dawn, I booked a flight to France for the next week.

At night, Julian came home with a trace of a smile.

Normally, I'd have dinner waiting for him. But today, the table was empty.

"Caroline, where's dinner?" He sighed, sounding resigned. "Mad at me? Here, I brought your favorite drink and a gift. Come on, don't be mad."

Julian tenderly took my hand and pressed it to his cold cheek, sweet-talking me like he used to.

He said, "Don't hold it against me, honey. I just feel like you don't need this project to prove yourself.

Evelyn's a talented intern. I just wanted to give her a leg up.

Sometimes, she reminds me of you back in the day."

If it weren't for the hickeys on his neck and the whiff of freesia perfume on him, I might have bought his story again.

I opened the gift box to find a necklace. It was just a promotional item that came with the latest trendy luxury ring.

That ring, worth over 600,000 dollars, was on Evelyn's finger.

And the two thousand dollar promo gift? That was Julian's gift to me.

It had been ages since I'd gotten anything from him.

The gift Julian gave me was actually meant to smooth things over because of another woman.

I kept a straight face, but inside, the irony stung.

Noticing my coldness, Julian pulled me closer and hugged me from behind, acting all lovey-dovey.

"It's just a project," he murmured. "You'll want to focus on family once we starts a family. right? Isn't it better to pass these projects along?"

He had no idea that I was already pregnant, and now I couldn't keep the baby.

The strong freesia perfume filled my nose.

Feeling sick, I shoved him away and rushed to the bathroom, covering my mouth.

"Caroline, cut the drama, will you? Evelyn's just a college kid. Why are you mad at her? Want something to make up for it? Just say it!" Julian's patience was wearing thin.

When I stayed silent, he slammed the door in anger and left.

I lay awake all night.

Early in the morning, I touched my still-flat belly, on the fence about what to do.

The life inside was tiny, yet it felt like I could already connect with it.

I was about to be a mother.

After thinking hard, I decided to tell Julian about the baby.

I grabbed a cab to the office.

Before I could even look for Julian, Evelyn cornered me.

She gave me a sly smile and said, "Caroline, there's a snag with closing out the last project. Mr. Cadman wanted me to check with you."

Evelyn pulled me into her office. Instead of project documents, she handed me intimate photos of her and Julian.

The photos were so raunchy. They stung my eyes.

"Caroline, Mr. Cadman doesn't love you anymore. Why keep hanging on? He's going to be mine, just like the projects," Evelyn taunted.

After looking closely at Evelyn, I realized why Julian said she looked like younger me.

She looked sweet enough, but she had this bitchy, in-your-face look.

My hands shook. I lost it and slapped her. "You bitch!"

Evelyn clutched her cheek, her eyes welling up with tears.

Julian walked in just then and saw everything.

He scowled, shoved me aside, and then protectively pulled Evelyn behind him.

His shove sent me crashing into the coffee table. I turned ghostly pale and nearly blacked out.

"Caroline, I'm sorry. I really just wanted your advice on the project. It's my fault. I'm such an idiot," Evelyn sobbed, putting on her innocent act.

Julian stroked Evelyn's head, calming her, and turned to me coldly. "Caroline, why're you picking on her?

You need to wrap up this project for her, fast.

Evelyn's just straightforward, accidentally upset Mr. Kevin Lane. Anyway, she's not the type to grovel and apologize.

You're going to smooth things over with Mr. Lane. You're good at sucking up to clients, right?"

For years, Julian had always hated how I buttered up clients. He said I had no pride.

But now, for Evelyn, he suddenly wanted me to do just that.

I let out a scornful laugh, looked him straight in the eye, and said every word clearly, "My work turns into her trophy. She screwed up. How can you expect me to clean up her mess?"

Julian's face grew even darker. "If you don't handle it, all projects from your team will be transferred to Evelyn's team. And your team's bonuses? Gone."

Julian leveraged what mattered to me as a threat, all to benefit Evelyn.

"Also, get up. Stop pretending to be weak. I know you're tough as nails," Julian snapped coldly before leaving with Evelyn.

The office was bustling. I caught looks of pity and scorn from people passing by.

I clutched my belly, sitting on the cold floor, feeling dead inside.

I realized then that there was no way Julian deserved to be my kid's dad.

Later that night, I lay in the operating room.

As the chilly anesthesia entered my veins, I closed my eyes and thought back to the year Bright Group was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Back then, Julian and I were penniless.

We holed up in a crappy basement. In winter, we huddled together for warmth. We'd share a plate of pasta. He'd insist I eat while he sipped the broth. Despite everything, his eyes were full of hope for the future.

He used to say that once Bright Group recovered, we'd start a family.

He promised our baby the best of everything and dreamed of us being the happiest family of three.

I'd smiled and nodded, locking away those promises.

Years later, when Bright Group was thriving again, we began trying for a baby, filled with hope.

But the doctor said I'd have trouble getting pregnant, so I started various treatments.

Every week or two, I'd get shots to boost ovulation, leaving my body dotted with needle marks.

Now I was pregnant, but our child would never get to see this world.

Eventually, the surgery ended.

When I opened my eyes, I realized I had been crying throughout. The pillow was soaked.

Ultimately, I was the one who had to smooth things over with Kevin.

At dinner, Kevin seemed annoyed and nodded for me to come over.

I took a deep breath, managed a smile, and repeatedly apologized, lifting my glass.

After downing two drinks, my vision started to blur.

Through the haze, I noticed Kevin's sleazy gaze lingering on me.

He grabbed at me, trying to rip my clothes off.

This greasy, pot-bellied man pinned me down with his weight.

My face went pale. I felt like throwing up, and fought back with all I had.

Suddenly, the door flew open.

Julian burst in with his eyes blazing, flipped Kevin off me, and kicked him hard.

Just as he started to scoop me up, Evelyn chimed in, all bitchy, "Julian, no wonder the big shots only want to deal with Caroline. I guess I just can't learn her tricks."

Julian stopped dead, his eyes locked on me.

He barked, "Caroline, this how you close deals? Spit it out!

You can't even hold a candle to Evelyn, an intern. At least she's got some self-respect."

It hit me then. Evelyn set this whole thing up. She wanted Julian to get the wrong idea.

Something was definitely off with the drinks.

My lips trembled as I tried to speak, but looking into Julian's dark, suspicious eyes, I fell silent.

I thought, "Forget it, he's always despised me. Why would he believe me now?"

Julian dragged me back home, leaving bruises on my wrists.

Soon after, Bright Group's work chat blew up, with everyone anonymously gossiping about me.

[I knew it. Caroline's been sleeping her way through those tough clients. Shame on her.]

[Isn't Caroline Mr. Cadman's wife?]

[Mr. Cadman never said so. I bet this bitch is trying to hook him.]