The first time Benjamin Renaldi cheated, he took a private photo of the girl with red eyes and told me I could do whatever I wanted. I loved him so much that I chose to forgive him, thinking it was just a careless mistake.

When he cheated for the second time, Benjamin shared their sex tape with the girl. Everyone in London saw it. Still, I thought he was the same Benjamin. So, I ignored my pride and stayed with him as if nothing had happened.

But it wasn’t until the third time that he and Michelle Grey appeared in front of me. Each one of them was holding a child as both of them were kneeling on the ground. Then, everything finally broke.

“Amelia, I’m sorry. The children can’t grow up without a mother. Michelle is innocent. If you want to be angry, yell, or hit someone, blame me. I’ll accept anything. Just please take care of the twins and let Michelle stay with us. I’ll agree to anything.”

“You once said you were afraid of giving birth. Now we have twins already born. Don’t worry, Michelle won’t take your place. As long as you stay in the Renaldi Family, everyone will believe you are the children’s real mother. No one will talk badly. I’m begging you … ”

It felt like my heart was being torn out. I laughed while crying.

“Benjamin, when did you ever give me a chance to choose?”

The Maybach drove away quickly. I made a phone call and said, “You were right. There’s no such thing as just one time. Cheating always happens again. I lost. Come and take me away.”

——

The man on the phone laughed first, then cursed.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? You and Benjamin have been together for eight years. If I get involved now, it’ll be like stepping into someone’s divorce. I’m not someone people just take because no one else wants them.”

“Anyway, I’m very popular in London. Especially because I’m a rich single man. College girls line up from here to France for me. Divorced young women? Even stray dogs wouldn’t want them-”

Before he finished, I rolled my eyes and said, “So, do you want a divorced young woman or not?”

He paused, then quickly changed his tone.

“Well … if stray dogs don’t want you, I still do!”

“If you ever get another chance like this, don’t forget me. I’ll show up the second you call!”

After hanging up, I sent him the time to meet and get our marriage certificate. He replied right away with a cute cat emoji. Meanwhile, I looked up at the endless night. The pain inside me only grew deeper.

Rain had been falling all night. After a loud thunder, it began pouring harder, soaking me completely I walked five kilometers from the edge of the city and finally reached a small hotel to check in. After drying myself a little, my phone rang. It was Benjamin.

He sounded full of guilt.

“Amelia, I left in a hurry earlier. I was afraid Michelle might get sick from the stress. Luckily, the doctor said she’s okay. Are you still out there in the rain? I’ll send a driver to pick you up.”

“You’ve always been in poor health. If you catch a cold before the wedding, you might not look good in your dress-”

“So you still remember there’s going to be a wedding?”

I interrupted him with a bitter tone.

Benjamin’s voice suddenly turned cold.

“What’s that supposed to mean? I told you, those kids were an accident. I didn’t know she’d get pregnant after just one time, especially since she got drugged. But the babies are here now. What do you expect me to do, throw them away?”

“You forgave me twice already. Why not this time? Can’t you look at those two innocent children and feel anything? What, you want them homeless? The wedding’s in a week. I don’t want to argue anymore. Just calm down.”

While looking at a message from Charles on my screen, I spoke coldly.

“No. I won’t marry you.”

“Benjamin, I’ve told you before. What I hate most in life is a cheating man.”

Just as I was about to hang up, Benjamin shouted, his voice filled with anger.

"Who else do you think I would marry if I don’t marry you? A wedding is not a joke! The entire city of London knows that our two families are going to be joined by marriage. How can you ask me to let the Renaldi Family lose face like this?"

"Amelia, I know you're upset, but do you think I'm happy? Do you think I wanted to sleep with another woman? If I hadn’t been set up, how would I suddenly end up with two children?"

"You know me. I never go to events where there are many women, even for work. What happened with Michelle was a real accident. How many times do I have to explain it?"

"I already took her private photos and released the video. I’ve tried everything I can to make it up to you. What else do you want me to do … give my life to prove my love?"

His voice grew more tired as he continued.

"I’m already exhausted. I don’t want my fiancée to keep going against me. Don’t worry, the two children will only be registered under your name. Michelle will just be the nanny and the one who takes care of them at home."

My tears fell and a bitter smile appeared on my face.

"So you mean I should raise your illegitimate children as my own? And not only that, but also live in the same house as your lover every day?"

"Sorry. I’m really not that kind of person."

After a pause, he shouted, "Fine! Remember what you said. Don’t come crying later. If you’re brave enough to walk away, then go!"

"Do you think any man out there is perfect? I’ve already given you Michelle and the children. I’ve done all I can. If you can accept it, we’ll get married. But if you can’t, then leave! I don’t care anymore!"

He hung up. Only the glowing screen of my phone stayed on, still showing our engagement photo as the lock screen.

The memories from the photo shoot came flooding back. I remembered how he knelt in front of me, his eyes full of love and promised to always stay loyal. But that love only lasted a year. Tears dropped onto the screen and my hands trembled as I called my parents.

"I’m sorry. I wanted to end the engagement with Benjamin."

They sighed. It was clear they had heard about Michelle being pregnant.

"If you want to end the engagement, do it. Our daughter will not suffer through this!"

"Even if you never get married, you’ll always be our little princess!"

After hearing that, I laughed with tears in my eyes. My nose was running like a child’s.

"Daddy, there's no need to cancel the wedding. I’m just changing the groom."

"You know Charles."

My mother sounded shocked and raised her voice slightly.

"Charles Woods? Isn’t he the one who hates the Renaldi Family the most? I heard they almost had a fight over a business deal and the Renaldi Family lost hundreds of millions pounds to it!"

I smiled and wiped my face.

"Yes. He did it because of me. So I’m willing to take another chance."

Late that night, I got a friend request on social media. The profile picture was of Michelle and Benjamin looking close.

I remembered how Benjamin once told me he didn’t like using real photos as his profile picture. Now I realized it wasn’t that he disliked real photos. Rather, he just didn’t like showing pictures of us.

I accepted the request. A message from Michelle came in right away. It was a photo. Benjamin was sleeping on a hospital bed. The two baby cribs were in the background. She followed it with a playful face emoji.

[I’m sorry, Miss Williams. Mr. Renaldi insisted on staying with me. The hospital room isn’t very nice, but he refuses to leave, no matter how much I try to talk him into it.]

[We’re going to be a family soon. I thought I’d add you on here to stay in touch. If you ever need anything, feel free to message me directly.]

I didn’t reply. My heart felt heavy. Two years ago, I had health problems and would faint every time I had my period. No matter what time it was, as long as I messaged him, Benjamin would rush to take me to the hospital.

However, Benjamin never stayed overnight. He said he couldn’t stand the smell of disinfectant in the hospital. It made him feel like a specimen soaked in chemicals. I was in so much pain that I was sweating all over, but no matter how much I begged him, he still refused to stay with me.

Now, Michelle had become the one who changed all his rules.

Perhaps I was too tired of everything because I actually fell asleep. When I opened my eyes again, it was because of Benjamin’s loud voice over the phone. He sounded angry and impatient.

“Amelia, I already told you that Michelle won’t affect your place in my life and neither will the children. Why did you message her and tell her to get out? Did you even ask me before doing that?”

“You can’t even accept two children. How do you expect me to trust you to take care of them later?”

His words made me feel cold inside.

I already understood everything, but I didn’t want to explain anymore.

“Yes, it’s my fault,” I said calmly.

“No matter what you think, I just can’t stand her. I don’t respect her.”

“You better keep her close to you every day. Just don’t let me find a chance to get back at her.”

Before he could respond, I hung up.

It was ridiculous. Eight years of love between us, but he didn’t even try to understand my feelings. He believed Michelle’s words over mine.

The time on the screen said it was just five in the morning, but I couldn’t sleep anymore. Benjamin used to know I slept poorly. He never messaged me before eight o’clock. Now, for Michelle, he was willing to change even that.

Benjamin kept saying Michelle would only become the nanny, but was that really true?

I felt numb and didn’t want to think anymore. I got up, checked out of the hotel and took a taxi back to the mansion. Because of the morning rush hour, I was stuck in traffic for almost two hours. When I finally opened the front door, I saw the decorating team Benjamin had hired.

Benjamin was talking to the workers with a serious tone, “Remember, the baby room must have the best materials. I won’t pay if anything goes wrong. And repaint that bedroom. Use powder blue. Kids like it.”

Michelle was leaning softly into his arms while holding the two babies. They were laughing together.

“Benjamin, look! The babies love the color you picked!”

“Isn’t Daddy smart? He knows what you want even when you don’t say it. Blood ties are truly amazing!”

Benjamin gently touched one baby’s nose. A bubble of snot landed on his hand, but he just laughed with joy in his eyes.

“Did you see that? He’s praising me!”

“You already know your daddy, huh? Say ‘daddy’ for me?”

I had never seen him this happy before. Not even when he proposed to me. That day, he had only smiled a little.

I had asked him, “Aren’t you happy to marry me? Why don’t you smile more? Most people cry when they propose because they’re so emotional.”

But he only gave me a cold look.

“A person in my position should not show too much emotion. It gives others something to use against me.”

My footsteps must have made a sound because they both turned around. Michelle suddenly knelt in front of me with both babies in her arms. Her eyes filled with tears.

“Miss Williams, please don’t chase me away. I can’t leave the children. I didn’t mean to get between you and Mr. Renaldi. I swear, I’m only here to care for the babies. I won’t interfere with your life.”

“Please, don’t separate me from them. Look how cute they are. They’re even smiling at you. Can you hold one? They like you like a mother … ”

Before I could react, she placed the baby girl into my arms. I froze. My body became stiff and I didn’t know what to do.