Play?

My heart dropped, and I walked past him coldly, then pushed open the office door right away.

The scene inside the office hit my eyes with nothing hidden.

The desk was messy, papers spread everywhere, Lorenzo stood beside it with untidy clothes, Ariella was partly held in his arms, her hair loose, her face red.

I was at least a married woman, with just one smell, I could tell what had happened.

My stomach suddenly turned, and I felt sick.

The moment Ariella saw me, she froze, then quickly moved closer into Lorenzo’s arms.

And Lorenzo, without thinking, tightened his hold.

Showing a protective position.

I stood at the door, my fingers gripping the frame tightly, pain tightening in my stomach.

“Lorenzo.”

My voice shook.

“The toys I prepared for the baby, where are they? Why do you give those things to Miguel?”

Ariella’s eyes turned red right away.

“Sister-in-law, don’t be mad. We just saw a room full of toys in the glass flower room. Miguel liked them a lot. Lorenzo let him choose what he liked. We didn’t expect that they were prepared by you for the baby…”

“I’ll let Miguel give the things back to you now.”

“Give back? How can they be given back? The things were all ruined by you!”

I lost control of my voice in anger, and Lorenzo cut me off with impatience.

“Enough, Vienne. Who are you talking to with such a harsh tone? Ariella is your sister-in-law!”

“You already scared the child in front of so many people at the party just now. These things, just treat them as compensation from you as the aunt. Whether Miguel takes them to play or breaks them, that’s his choice.”

Compensation?

My mind buzzed.

“Lorenzo.” I stared at him, my voice almost shaking. “You clearly know those were prepared by me for our child—”

“Can you stop making a scene out of nothing?”

Lorenzo cut me off right away, his brows and eyes cold. “They’re just some useless stuff. Is it necessary to come here and cause trouble?”

He looked at me like I was someone unreasonable.

“Or do you have to make everyone feel awkward before you’re satisfied?”

Any toy in that room, taken out casually, was a limited edition worth tens of thousands.

In Lorenzo’s words, they had turned into useless junk.

I had once thought that even if he wasn’t faithful, even if he didn’t love me anymore, at least he was sincere to the child and could still be a good father.

But everything had turned out to be just my imagination.

The child wasn’t even born yet, and he could already give the child’s things to the mistress’s child. After the child was born, what would I face? I didn’t even dare to think.

I stood there, my heart hurting so much that even breathing became hard.

Seeing that I didn’t speak, Lorenzo stepped forward instead.

As if nothing had happened, he bent down, his eyes falling on my stomach, his tone gentle like giving charity.

“Baby, when the time comes, Dad will buy you the most expensive, the best toys, okay?”

“These messy things, just let big brother play with them first. Our baby is a generous, good baby.”

He reached out and pinched my face, as if nothing had happened.

“Don’t keep a straight face, wife. We can buy them again when the time comes. Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you and the baby.”

Lorenzo thought I was still as easy to comfort and fool as before.

Even then, he likely still believed I couldn't see the clear tension between him and Ariella.

But I had already noticed the condoms they quickly tucked away beneath the files.

If it had been before, I would've surely called out their vile affair no matter what.

But now, I didn't have the energy to ask anything anymore.

Anyway, I planned to walk away.

As for their ugly affair, I would gather everything and reveal it to the paparazzi on the day of divorce, not today.

I stared at Lorenzo’s face, once so familiar to me, and felt it was odd and almost laughable.

Back then, we had stayed in this office, working through so many late nights together, building everything from zero to now.

I remembered how he used to fall asleep at the desk, and I also recalled the first time he finished a deal, when he held me tight and laughed like a kid.

Back then, he had said this place would be where our future began.

But now.

Everything here felt so filthy that it made me sick.

I turned around and walked out.

I didn't want to look again.

But as I got to the door, someone suddenly stopped me.

Miguel came running over at some point, glaring at me, his eyes showing hate.

“Bitch!” he shouted, “When I grow up, I'll beat you to death! The baby in your belly is also a bastard!”

I shook with anger, my hands tightening without control, but seeing his still young face, I didn't do anything.

I only wanted to move him aside and leave.

But before my hand reached him, Ariella had already rushed over.

She quickly grabbed the child, then her body fell back, hitting the floor hard.

“Ah!”

She screamed in pain, her face going pale at once.

“If you’re angry, take it out on me!” she said, holding the child close, her voice breaking, “Don't harm the child!”

Right after, a loud slap echoed around us.

My face snapped to the side, my ears buzzing.

Lorenzo stood before me, breathing fast, his eyes hard and cold.

“Vienne, have you done enough damage?”

“When do you turn into this?” His tone held back anger. “Jealous, mean, can’t even accept a kid, not the same as before.”

I stayed in place, one side of my face hurting with heat.

My fingers curled tighter little by little, and even my knuckles looked white.

The last small piece in my chest broke apart right then.

I laughed in anger, forcing myself to keep my voice from shaking.

“What are you saying about change? Do I need to question nothing, worry about nothing, always act calm and understanding, just to prove I didn’t change?”

“Then what about you, Lorenzo? Didn’t you change, too? Are you still the Lorenzo who said he would love only me?”

Lorenzo clearly froze for a second, his eyes shifting away.

A sharp pain suddenly hit my stomach, my breath stopped, my body dropped without control, I could only crouch down, my hand pressing over my belly, and cold sweat quickly covered my back.

Lorenzo’s face shifted, and he stepped closer without thinking.

“Wife, what’s wrong with you?”

“Lorenzo, Miguel lost consciousness!” But before he could reach me, Ariella quickly caught Miguel, her voice shaking as she called his name.

Without stopping, Lorenzo turned back, picked up the child, and walked away, not even looking at me again.

When he reached the door, he seemed to think of me and turned back to leave a line.

“Wife, calm down. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

The room went quiet once more.

I crouched where I stayed and closed my eyes. I had already made up my mind not to cry for this man again, but the tears still wouldn’t stop.

Lorenzo.

I had regretted it long ago.

If I hadn’t fought with my family because of you and hadn’t left the place that should have protected me without thinking, maybe I wouldn’t have reached this point today.

How could I be this foolish, believing you would love me for life?

After I got back home, I kept getting ready to leave.

Ariella sent me three awful photos. I couldn’t eat or sleep, and before I go, I have to leave three big gifts for this cheating pair.

These past few days, Lorenzo seemed to think I had become more understanding.

To make up for it, he started buying me things more often, jewelry, presents, and all kinds of costly toys for the child.

I had someone throw all of those things away.

Lorenzo didn’t notice at all.

Because he was busy staying with Ariella, bringing her and Miguel in front of different cameras, building attention, and talking online.

Comments online kept coming. Some said that even the cold Lorenzo could be this gentle when he meets the person he loves.

When I read that line, my heart moved a little.

That kind of praise used to belong to me in that circle before.

Five years earlier, several men bothered me in a narrow street, and it was Lorenzo, still studying at the university, who brought me out of that mess.

At that time, I felt something change inside me.

Later, I worried he might feel less than me, so I hid who I was and acted like my family was only at the same level as his.

I stayed by his side from having nothing to having something, quietly gave him help, supported him through the hardest time, and little by little turned that distant man into someone who smiled at me and would bow his head for me.

During these five years, I gave so much effort, and only then did that cold man slowly become warm.

The Lorenzo who loved me used to be the most admired boyfriend and husband in that circle.

When I got sick, he stayed by my bed all night, and in front of others, he never hid that I was the only one for him.

But now I understand I was never his only one.

In his heart, Ariella was.

When he was younger, she was the sister-in-law he looked up to.

Later, she became the widowed sister-in-law he needed to care for.

After that, she turned into a woman he could stay close to in a proper way.

And I was only a part that could be replaced.

There were only two days left before I left.

That day was his mother’s sixtieth birthday. She had treated me well, so in both feeling and reason, I should go.

I went by myself.

After all, Lorenzo didn’t come home, and he didn’t come to pick me up.

But when I walked into the banquet hall, I saw Lorenzo standing in the middle of the crowd. Ariella held his arm. Their clothes clearly matched, and their expressions looked natural and close.

Miguel, who looked like Lorenzo, stood beside them and made them seem like a real family.

And I stood by the doorway, like an outsider.

When the nearby relatives noticed me, their faces changed a little. They likely thought I would cause a scene like before.

But I just looked away, walked over, gave the gift to his mother, and smiled as I wished her good health on her birthday. My tone stayed calm, and my manners were proper.

I didn’t look at him again.

Lorenzo stood there, his face going stiff for a moment.

I didn’t cause any trouble. He should’ve felt at ease, but instead, he became strangely annoyed.

As if not satisfied with how calm I was, Lorenzo suddenly spoke, “I plan to move Miguel’s registration under my name.”

“When my brother passed away, the child had just been born. His registration was never settled. This can’t be delayed anymore. I’ll raise Miguel from now on.”

“Don’t be upset. I’ve thought this through carefully.”

I looked at him without emotion, only feeling a little tired.

“As you wish.”

I cut him off.

Lorenzo froze. “What?”

“I said, as you wish.” My voice was so calm that even I found it unfamiliar. “Handle it however you want.”

“Then from now on, Miguel will be our child.”

Lorenzo said it casually, even with a hint of closeness.

“I’ll treat him well. He’ll definitely take care of us when we’re old. Anyway, yours is probably a daughter.”

I followed his gaze and looked over.

Miguel was also staring at me.

In his eyes, there was only disgust.

Take care of us when we are old?

He likely hoped even more that I would simply vanish.

I gave a careless nod.

“Hmm, you’re right.”

He could register if he wished.

In any case, I would soon no longer belong to this family.

Even if he planned to remarry Ariella next, I wouldn’t bother to look again.

For a brief moment, the Ortiz family seemed confused. Their gazes shifted between him and me, but no one spoke up.

At the banquet, Lorenzo mingled with the guests, yet his eyes kept drifting back to me.

I acted as if I didn’t notice, turned away, and walked toward the restroom.

Unexpectedly, just as I was about to leave, the door was locked from the outside.

I twisted the handle twice, my tone turning cold. “Who is outside? Open the door.”

No one replied.

The next moment, a bucket of freezing water suddenly poured down from above.

The cold soaked me from head to toe at once, and my whole body shook hard.

At the same time, the light went out.

Darkness closed in.

Just as I was about to speak, a voice came from the dark.

“Bitch, stay here quietly and wait to die.”

I quickly turned my head. “Miguel? What are you doing? Open the door!”

Miguel’s voice sounded cold, nothing like a child.

“If you and that bastard die, everything in the Ortiz family will belong to my mom and me.”

I shook with anger, my voice unable to hold it back. “Do you know what you’re saying? Open the door!”

But the only reply I got was the sound of footsteps fading away.

Soon, everything outside went completely silent.

Cold water slid down my clothes, chilling me to the bone.

My stomach suddenly tightened hard.

I knew I couldn’t stay locked in the restroom like this for long.

With shaking hands, I took out my phone and called Lorenzo.

No answer.

I clenched my teeth and called again.

“Lorenzo… answer the phone…” My voice shook.

No reply.

Third time.

Fourth time.

I couldn’t hold back the choking sob anymore.

“Answer… please…”

“Something’s wrong with the baby… I’m so scared…”

The other side of the call stayed silent.

The next moment, the signal suddenly cut off.

The screen showed no service.

Fear crept up little by little.

At that moment, I heard footsteps outside the door.

I almost rushed over and hit the door.

“Is anyone there? Please let me out!”

The person outside paused for a moment, their voice a bit weak.

“Ma’am… I was just listening to Ariella and watching you…”

I recognized it.

A distant relative of the Ortiz family.

My tone turned cold. “How much did Ariella give you?”

She paused. “One million…”

I clenched my teeth. “I’ll give you ten times that.”

She was clearly shocked. “Ten times? That’s ten million… can you pay that?”

The pain in my stomach kept rising again and again. I could barely stand, my hand pressing hard on my belly.

“I will.” My voice was rough. “Let me out now. I’ll give it right away.”

Outside stayed quiet for a long time.

She was unsure.

I was about to fall, cold sweat running down my forehead. “Hurry!”

Finally, there was a “click.”

The door opened.

That person was still uneasy. While holding me, she quickly said, “I already called emergency for you. You can’t break your word.”

I couldn’t hear clearly anymore.

Because at that moment, I felt warmth running down my legs.

The amniotic fluid broke!

My eyes were full of fear. I held her hand tightly, my voice shaking badly.

“Hospital…”

“Quick… take me to the hospital…”

“I’m going into premature labor…”