"Let’s get a divorce, Elodie. My company went bankrupt. But don't worry, it’s only a fake divorce. I don’t want to drag you down with me. This is the only way I can protect you."

My husband, Darien Eugene—the man I had loved for ten years—suddenly asked me for a divorce. A fake one, he said. So that the creditors would not come after me.

He looked so resolute, so sure of himself. I had no choice but to agree, my tears silently falling.

To help him pay off his debts and eventually marry again, I took on five part-time jobs. One of them was working as a housekeeper for the Daelan Family—the wealthiest family in the city. I poured every ounce of strength I had into paying off what he owed, hoping that one day, I could stand beside him again.

Then one afternoon, while I was cleaning the skylight, I slipped and fell. I broke my leg and found out I was pregnant.

Darien came to visit me every day at the hospital.

I held onto those moments like lifelines, believing that even if I had nothing else, at least I still had his love. I wanted to tell him about the baby, but before I could utter a word, a video arrived on my phone.

It was from a CCTV camera.

In the video, my "caring" husband was locked in a passionate kiss with Vienna, the daughter of my employer. Their hands roamed freely, clothes stripped off as they stumbled from the living room into the very room where I once slept.

"Darien, now that you’re divorced, when are we getting married? I don’t want my child to be born illegitimate."

"I finally shook her off. Tricked her into a fake divorce so she’d go out and earn money for us. Now she’s pregnant? What good is she anymore? A nanny with a broken leg can’t earn a cent. She’s a burden. Don’t worry, I’ll get rid of the baby."

Every word sliced through my heart like a blade.

So that was all I had ever been to them—a means to an end. A money machine.

I did not hesitate. I booked a one-way ticket. Three days from now, I would vanish from their lives for good.

If this were how it ended, then I would walk away with dignity.

***

When I turned off my phone, I could not stop trembling. The hospital room was warm, but I felt cold to the bone.

Ten years of love. One child I had longed for. And Darien—he could throw it all away for another woman. He could ask me to die for their future without so much as a flinch.

I placed a hand gently over my belly, tears blurring my vision.

My poor baby… I’m so sorry. He doesn’t deserve to be your father.

I sought out my attending doctor and scheduled the earliest possible appointment for an abortion.

"Elodie," the doctor said gently, "please think this through. You conceived this baby after three rounds of IVF."

"That’s exactly why," I replied. "I know how hard it was. And I can’t let this child be born into a home where the father doesn’t love the mother. Or worse… where he doesn’t want the child at all."

Maybe I had cried too much already. My voice was calm, detached—like I was talking about someone else’s life, not my own.

The doctor looked at me with pity in his eyes, sighed and handed me the paperwork. "The earliest slot is the day after tomorrow. Try to rest. Avoid strain. And take care of your injured leg."

I did not even remember the drive home. Everything was a blur until I stepped inside and smelled food wafting from the kitchen.

Darien was there. Wearing an apron. Cooking the dishes he knew I loved, just like he always did.

Just an hour ago, he had been whispering sweet nothings into another woman’s ear. And now, here he was—playing the devoted husband without a crack in his mask.

He should win an award for this performance, shouldn’t he?

He turned to grab a plate and saw me standing in the doorway. His face lit up.

"You’re home? I was just about to bring you dinner at the hospital."

I stared at him and asked, "Darien, when a man stops loving a woman, why doesn’t he just let her go?"

His hand trembled. The seasoning bottle in his grip shook.

"You poured too much," I said, staring at the pan.

"Ah, right… I’ll just add more ingredients to balance it out," he replied hoarsely.

He had heard my question. He just did not answer.

"Just forget it. It won't be the same dish anymore."

I was not done, my voice sharpened this time. "You fell in love with someone else. Why didn’t you just leave me? Why did you lie? Why fake a bankruptcy, stage a divorce, just to keep me around—working myself to the bone for your promise of some future remarriage?"

In the end, I thought about the ten years I had given him—my youth, my love, my everything… and the child growing inside me. Tears slipped down my cheeks again, uncontrollably.

Darien put down the spatula and rushed over to hold me, his arms tight around me as he spoke in a panicked voice.

"Ellie, where did you hear such nonsense? I love you! I’d never lie to you. I can’t even imagine my life without you."

His words were desperate, his eyes red and glistening with what looked like sincerity, like he truly loved me. But I knew better. He loved someone else.

And that woman was pregnant with his child.

He even wanted to kill mine just to clear the way for their perfect little family.

The realization struck me like ice water. I pushed him away with all the strength I had left. "Stop lying, Darien. Stop using me. I’m done falling for your words. I came here today to end things for good."

I pointed toward the house behind him, my voice now cold. "You pretended to be bankrupt. I bought this house with my own money. So pack up and get out."

"Ellie, what’s wrong with you? Did you hit your head that day? Why are you saying these things now? Are you trying to drive me mad with worry?"

Then, like nothing had happened, he turned back to the stove and started ladling food into bowls. "You’re probably just hungry. Come on, let's eat. You’ll feel better once you’ve had something nice."

I stared at him in disbelief. And then, something bitter and hollow escaped from my throat.

"Don’t pretend anymore, Darien. I’m done—"

Before I could finish my sentence, his phone rang.

He answered almost immediately, "What? I told you I wasn’t coming tonight." His tone shifted, low and tense. His eyes flicked toward me, wary.

It had to be Vienna. She was calling to urge him over.

But today was supposed to be his turn to act like a devoted husband. So, he hesitated—clearly torn between two roles.

"I know." Darien glanced at me as he went on, "If the client's that important, then I’ll be right there."

He hung up and looked at me with that apologetic expression.

"Ellie, I’ve been working on this deal for a long time. A major client just came in and I have to go. The food’s in the pot. Please eat something, okay?"

He took off his apron in a rush, pausing briefly to sniff his collar, worried that Vienna would notice the smell of cooking oil.

"Darien..." I called out to him softly.

He stopped and turned, flashing me a gentle smile. "I transferred you one hundred fifty dollars. Buy yourself something nice. Some fruit, maybe. Take care of yourself and the baby, all right? I’ll be back soon."

Sure, Darien. I will take care of myself. I just won’t be needing you anymore.

That night, I posted the house for sale online. Then, I booked a plane ticket—three days from now. Tomorrow, I had an appointment for an abortion. The doctor had asked me to arrive early for a full exam.

The next morning, as I lay down on the examination bed at the hospital, the outer door suddenly slammed open.

"Doctor, please check my wife first. She’s in urgent condition!"

That familiar, unmistakable voice pierced through the cold hospital walls.

It was Darien.

"The patient inside is still being examined. Please wait outside," the doctor replied, coolly and barely flinching.

However, I knew Darien too well. He never took no for an answer. So, I sat up quickly and got ready to leave.

With a loud bang, the door burst open and Darien barged in. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me up from the bed before even registering who I was.

"Elodie? What are you doing here?"

Before I could respond, he turned to the doctor outside, his tone shifted from confusion to relief. "It’s all right, Doctor, we know each other. She’s a friend. Let her finish her exam later—we’ll go now."

With that, he tugged my arm, trying to drag me out.

A jolt of pain stabbed my lower abdomen. I bent forward, stifling a gasp.

Darien mistook my hesitation for resistance and frowned. "Elodie, don’t make a scene. Let’s go. Vienna’s in pain—she was crying earlier."

So, the one he rushed here for was Vienna. He brought her here for her prenatal check-up.

He had completely forgotten that just this morning, he told me he was tied up with an important client. He even asked me not to call him today.

Turned out, all of that was just a lie so he could enjoy a peaceful little day with Vienna.

Vienna swept her eyes over me slowly, scanning me from head to toe. A sneer curled on her lips.

"Darien, who is this?"

Her tone was sweet, but her words were sharp, cutting with feigned innocence. Darien looked caught, guilty. He quickly let go of my hand, as if touching me might stain him in her eyes and gave me a light push backward.

I stumbled slightly, leaning against the cold wall, breath shaky. My wrist throbbed where he had gripped it moments ago.

"You said you weren’t feeling well, didn’t you?" he murmured gently, turning to Vienna to support her weak step. "Come on, let’s get your check-up over with."

As she walked past me, Vienna leaned in slightly and mouthed one word, "Useless."

A stabbing pain twisted through my abdomen and I could not focus on anything else.

Clutching my stomach, I forced out a shaky whisper, "Darien, my stomach really hurts. Can you help me lie down?"

Yet, even after a long while, there was no response. I looked up. He was not even looking at me. His eyes were locked on the door of the examination room where Vienna had just disappeared.

As if sensing my gaze, Darien finally glanced in my direction.

"You’re fine, aren’t you? If you don’t want to stay, just go on your own. Vienna’s nervous being in there alone, so she needs me with her."

And just like that, he turned away and rushed to the doctor. "Doctor, she’s been in there a while. Is everything okay?"

"She’s physically fine," the doctor replied flatly. "Just some emotional stress—pretty common during a first pregnancy."

"That’s a relief. Thank you."

Darien stayed behind, asking questions—how to care for a pregnant woman, what she should eat, what to avoid, how to comfort her...

I had no idea why it hurt so much. My chest felt like it was caving in. I swallowed hard, blinking away the tears burning behind my eyes. I wiped the sweat from my brow with trembling hands, enduring every cramp alone.

Time dragged until finally, Vienna stepped out of the room.

That was when Darien suddenly remembered I existed. He turned, ready to help me to the bed, but just then, Vienna’s distressed voice sliced through the moment. "Ow, my head..."

"What's wrong, Vienna?" Darien immediately turned his back on me and rushed toward Vienna, who was clutching her forehead.

"I'm okay. Probably just some dizziness from anemia..."

"Come here. Let me carry you." He smiled and crouched before her, the very image of a doting prince.

I remembered when he once carried me home after I twisted my ankle. He had teased and joked the whole way.

But that was then. He did not love me anymore.

I pressed my back against the wall, supporting my aching belly and slowly made my way to the ward alone.

When I finally got there, I noticed the only two beds had been pushed together. Vienna sprawled across both of them. As I walked in, she sat up, lazily picking grapes from a fruit plate on the nightstand.

With a smirk etched on her face, she said, "Wow, you really don't know shame, do you? Darien didn’t even look your way earlier and you’re still following him here? Pathetic."

I wanted to explain that I was just here to rest—that I was in pain and exhausted—but facing her, the words caught in my throat. I could not bring myself to sound weak.

She waved a hand at me and added, "You look miserable. These beds were pushed together for me because Darien thought I’d be more comfortable like this. But go ahead, you can lie down too, just for a bit."

I did not respond. I was too tired to care about pride. I just walked toward the bed quietly.

But just as I reached it, Vienna gasped and collapsed sideways, letting out a dramatic cry, as if I had shoved her.

At that moment, Darien burst in with a kettle in hand and I immediately understood what this woman was trying to do.

The kettle hit the floor with a loud clatter as he rushed toward Vienna, looking panicked.

"Vienna, are you all right? Did you hurt somewhere?"

"I’m fine. Don’t blame Elodie. I must’ve just lost my balance…" she murmured tearfully. Even I almost believed her.

"What do you mean you lost your balance? You're too kind. You get hurt like this and still make excuses for her. That’s why people think they can walk all over you."

He gently helped her onto the bed, then turned to me with fire in his eyes. The next moment, a sharp sting exploded across my cheek.

"You knew Vienna was pregnant and you still dared to push her? Are you trying to kill her child—and yours too?"

I collapsed to the floor, dazed and humiliated. But none of that mattered—not compared to the searing pain in my belly. It felt like something inside me was being torn apart.

"Elodie," Vienna called out from the bed, "why are you still on the floor? Are you that mad at me?"

"Please don't be angry. I'll feel very guilty if you are."

"I'm so sorry, Elodie. I’ll even kneel to apologize right now if that would make you feel better."

As she spoke, Vienna slowly rose from the bed, crouching dramatically as if to kneel in front of me.