In the early days of Derek's startup, he was incredibly busy, often staying out with clients until late at night, coming home reeking of alcohol.

But he would always call me first thing. He worked tirelessly to earn my parents' approval, once telling me he would never let go of my hand in this lifetime.

That night, Derek came home close to midnight and saw me sitting on the sofa when he turned on the lights. He asked, "Why aren't you asleep? Didn't you say you've been tired lately?"

He held a box in his hand as he approached me. "This is for you, for our seventh anniversary. I'm sorry, there've just been so many events recently, so much work …"

"Our anniversary was long over," I exposed him right then. His face instantly paled. He forgot our anniversary, couldn't answer my calls, but had time to be a doting husband to that woman outside?

Oh Derek, you once said you couldn't stand crybabies, right?

He took out a necklace, trying to put it on me. "I don't know much about brands, but they say it's the latest model."

I dodged his hand. That woman had already shown off the same necklace last month. He said it was the latest release, was it something he thought I didn't deserve?

Sensing something off in my mood, he quickly tried to guess. "Did it not work out again? Alicia, don't put so much pressure on yourself. It's okay if we can't have children."

Yes, because there are others out there willing to have your child, you don't need me at all. The more I thought about it, the more disgusted I felt.

I used to think he was genuinely concerned about me, worried about my health. Turns out, that wasn't the case at all.

He said a few soothing words and when he saw that I wasn't showing any anger, he said he'd go take a shower and spend time with me afterward.

When he put his phone down in front of me, I picked it up, unlocking it with my birthday. The first thing I saw was the chat with that woman.

She was heavily pregnant yet dressed provocatively, sending Derek many photos.

[Ooh … delete them after you look, okay? Don't want you sneaking around and getting … hot and bothered… having to sneak around with your hand.]

[Not staying with me tonight? The forecast says it might rain and thunder, I'm scared to be alone.]

Their messages were shockingly explicit. Derek had always been upright, acting like a 'model citizen' type.

He didn't usually say much and wasn't interested in risk stuff. But here he was, having a grand time behind the scenes. I recorded everything bit by bit on my phone. It was painful to go through, each of their lovey-dovey messages feeling like a stab to my heart.

When I closed their chat, I saw my own conversation with him. It was mostly me asking if he'd come home for dinner, to which he'd respond with "yes" or "no," and our last conversation was several days old.

My heart went cold. I had never doubted his feelings for me, I had always trusted him completely. When he finished his shower and the sound of water stopped, I pretended to be asleep.

His phone rang. Derek cast me a guilty glance, then walked over to the window to take the call, "Be good. I can't tonight, it's already late. Can't you sleep alone like a big girl?"

A quiet sob came from the other end and soon enough, he caved. After hanging up, he woke me up, saying he had urgent work matters to attend to.

I ignored him and as rain began falling outside, he changed clothes, then came over to tell me, "If it thunders and you're scared, call me, okay?"

I mumbled, "Mm."

He leaned in to kiss me, but I subtly avoided him. The thought of how filthy he was, how much he might've carried back, repulsed me too much to let him touch me.

Derek didn't come home that night. I saw that woman's social media update, a suggestive photo of her baby bump with the caption: [I'm scared of thunder, but luckily, I have you by my side. In your arms, I'm not afraid of anything.]

I turned off my phone and contacted my doctor to schedule an abortion. My marriage with Derek had lasted seven years, but it was time to let it go.

This child and I had no fate together, I didn't want a child to come into a family without love.

The doctor seemed hesitant. "You finally succeeded … are you sure about this? Maybe you could discuss it with Mr. Tyson?"

"No. My health isn't great and I don't want a child," I replied, my eyes stinging.

I feared I'd start crying in front of others. The doctor said they'd arrange everything soon.

When I came downstairs from the doctor's office, I saw Derek waiting with Jenna for her prenatal checkup. He had gone to register her.

I wanted to avoid them, but Jenna walked straight toward me, her eyes filled with provocation, "How long are you going to keep pretending you don't know? Really, Alicia?" she sneered.

I looked at Jenna, realizing it was no coincidence I'd run into her. "You planned it out perfectly, didn't you? Just so I'd catch my husband cheating? Couldn't wait to move up, could you?"

"You'd be smart to ask for a divorce now so things can end amicably, Alicia. What's the point of holding onto a man who doesn't love you?" she mocked, smirking. She said Derek hadn't loved me for a long time.

"When was the last time he even touched you? Even though I'm pregnant, he still can't resist …" She pointed to the marks on her neck, flaunting them like trophies.

I thought I'd be furious, but oddly, I felt calm. I looked at her indifferently. Then, I raised my hand and slapped her hard. "What's so respectable about being someone else's mistress?"

"How dare you hit me! Don't think …" She barely finished when I slapped her again.

Jenna threatened that Derek wouldn't let me go for this, she'd been hoping for a scene like this all along. Tears streamed down her face, just as Derek appeared, his things dropping to the ground in shock.

"Alicia, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Derek, she hit me! She even called our child a bastard." Jenna tried to throw herself into his arms, but he pushed her aside with disdain. "Shut up!"

"Alicia, let me explain. It was an accident …" Derek ran after me. "That night, I was drunk and I mistook her for you. We had one night and then … she was pregnant and I …"

I stopped, turning to face this hypocritical man. "You think I'm that gullible?"

"Alicia, please believe me. I'll end things with her immediately. You're the one I love." He kept insisting that I was the person he wanted to spend his life with, that he'd only hidden it from me to avoid hurting me.

This thing with her, he claimed, was a passing whim. In the end, he'd always come back to me.

I said coldly, "Let's divorce, Derek."

"No, please, not divorce … Alicia, I beg you." Derek looked at me helplessly, like a child about to be abandoned. Despite his age, his eyes still had that power to move me.

As I started to walk away, I heard Jenna scream in pain from behind, "Ah … blood, Derek, I'm bleeding! Our baby …"

I stood there, watching Jenna beg Derek not to abandon her.

Derek looked at me with a conflicted expression, reminding me that she was carrying his child. "You don't want me to be heartless, do you? This is life we're talking about, Alicia," he said.

Without looking back, he ran to her side, lifting her up and rushing inside. I saw the triumphant, mocking look in her eyes, as if she had just conquered the world.

But I didn't care anymore. From the moment I decided on divorce, I knew I'd never be affected by Derek again. Let him have his grand, epic love. I would help them achieve it!

Three days later, I saw Derek again. Jenna had gone through a series of episodes and they'd taken all precautions to protect her pregnancy. Meanwhile, I had undergone the surgery and ended my pregnancy.

Back home, I began packing up my things, only to bump into Derek, who had just returned, looking worn out.

Suddenly remembering our situation, he came over and grabbed my suitcase.

"Alicia, the baby is safe. Once she gives birth, we'll bring the child under your care, so you won't have to endure the hardship of pregnancy anymore," he said.

Derek added that no matter if it was a boy or a girl, the child would be mine in the end. "You won't have to feel stressed about not conceiving anymore. I don't want to see you suffer," he said.

"Oh, so I should be grateful to you, right? How thoughtful of you, Derek." I sneered.

I had never realized that beneath the surface of the man I loved lay such a deceptive face. He was the one who betrayed our relationship, the one who cheated, yet somehow, he'd spun it as if it was all for my sake.

Was his solution to my struggles with IVF just to go find someone else to have a baby with?

"How long has this been going on?" I asked, wanting to see just how rotten he was.

He answered, "There was only that one night, it was an accident."

"Ha." I looked at the marks on his neck, suppressing a laugh. Even now, he was still lying.

I took the suitcase from his hand and said coldly, "The agreement is signed. Let's get the divorce sorted soon. I have no interest in sharing a husband."

"Alicia!" he snapped. "You're not young anymore. Why make such a fuss and insist on divorce? You're nearly thirty, you're not a kid anymore."

Derek asked what I would do after a divorce. His words left me frozen. He quickly apologized, saying he'd spoken out of frustration and didn't mean to belittle me.

My eyes stung. I opened my mouth to say something but held back. I was no longer the Sylvester Family's pampered daughter.

After my family went bankrupt, my father couldn't handle the pressure and jumped from a building. My mother's mental health deteriorated badly and now she often forgot things.

Derek was right. I was almost thirty. I was supposed to cling to a successful young man like him, turn a blind eye and save myself the trouble. But I had a severe aversion to filth.

"Let's not divorce, okay?" He reached out to hold me, but I dodged immediately and his patience ran out.

He stared at me, exhausted from several sleepless nights. "Alicia, think carefully. Your mother's expensive medical bills are all being covered by me. She wouldn't want us to get divorced."

With that, he went upstairs. He was using my mother as leverage against me!

When had the man who used to love and cherish me turned so ruthless? I put down the suitcase.