I was finally pregnant with his child after being married to Grady Winters for five years.

I planned to share the wonderful news with him in person, but on that fateful day, I encountered his first love, who had just returned from abroad.

She scalded me with soup, spilling it across me before shoving me down the stairs.

Curled up and fighting through the piercing pain in my abdomen, I heard her cold, mocking laughter from above.

"Who do you think you are to be Mrs. Winters? I've seen plenty of women who are social climbers."

Then, she turned to Grady, her voice laced with pride. She playfully pouted, asking, "Didn't I do a good job, Grady? Don't you think you should reward me as well?"

Congratulations!

"Congratulations! The report shows that you're now 15 weeks pregnant."

My hands trembled as I held the report, never once expecting this. When I married Grady, the doctor had already mentioned it was not easy for me to conceive.

Even after years of marriage, there was still no news, and I was gradually losing hope that I could ever conceive naturally. Yet, with my busy schedule over the past few months, I hadn't been keeping track of my period cycle.

And now, I was blessed with such a surprise!

To calm my racing heart, I took a few deep breaths as the doctor explained, "The baby is developing healthily, but the embryo is not in its ideal position. Rest well, but avoid being emotional and any intense activity."

I gently touched my slightly rounded belly, feeling a sense of peace and contentment. My recent weight gain, I figured, was due to my continuous struggles to maintain my figure, but it turned out to be my baby—the one Grady and I had anticipated for the last five years.

I pulled out my phone, about to tell Grady the good news when I suddenly remembered something. Breaking into a smile, I decided that I would want to share this with him in person.

Knowing that Grady was under immense pressure at work and not having a proper diet, I headed home to whip up Grady's favorite dish—cream of yam and millet.

The bubbling pot released a fragrant steam, filling the air with the sweet scent of millet. Spotting my gentle reflection in the mist, I felt my heart swelling with happiness.

…

I carried the thermos to Grady's company. When I punched the elevator button for the executive floor, a cold female voice answered, to which I explained that I was delivering food.

The woman scoffed. "The elevator is broken. Use the stairs."

Such an unfamiliar tone caught me off guard, but I didn't care much about it. I figured it could be Grady's new assistant.

His office wasn't situated on a high floor, so I decided to take the stairs after pondering momentarily. It would be bad if I disturbed Grady when he was swamped with work.

I was sweating buckets by the time I arrived in front of his office and was about to open the door when someone rudely slapped my hand away.

Caught off guard, my hand was in tremendous pain. I resisted snapping, recalling the doctor's advice to keep my emotions in check.

"I'm here to bring lunch to Grady," I explained.

The exquisitely dressed woman in front of me looked me up and down, then laughed disdainfully. I had chosen to wear loose clothing to be comfortable for the baby, and after climbing the stairs, I probably looked a bit disheveled.

“I’ve met plenty of women with that excuse before. It doesn't mean that you can have your shot at Grady just by climbing a few flights of stairs," the woman said, casually fiddling with her manicured nails. “Do you think your looks are enough to win him over?"

"I'm his wife. I have to tell him something, so please let me in." I didn't want to argue with her and reached for the door handle again.

She shoved me back, yanking me all the way to the stairwell. In the scuffle, she scratched my skin, leaving a few bloody marks While safeguarding the thermos with one hand, I used the other one to protect my belly.

"I'm Grady's first love," came her response. "When I went abroad to study, he promised he'd wait for me. I had no idea he was already married. So, who are you to think you can replace me?"

So, she was Melissa Angeles, the lover Grady had when he studied abroad.

She pushed me so hard that I fell to the ground, the thermos rolling away beside me. I was just inches away from tumbling down the stairs, so I reached for the banister.

Yet, she was relentless, tugging at my hair and causing my eyes to well up with tears from the pain.

"No, I'm pregnant with Grady's child. Let go of me, or he'll make you pay for this."

I felt her grip falter for a second before she adopted a scornful tone. "Who do you think you are to be Mrs. Winters?"

Without any hesitation, she pushed me once again, causing me to lose my balance and fall off the stairs, yelling. A sharp pain shot through my abdomen as I lay curled on the floor.

Melissa calmly walked over in her heels. "Spare me the act. I've seen plenty of women like you."

I heard the thermos pop open but struggled to lift my head.

The scalding soup poured down on me as she feigned sympathy. "This is my favorite cream of yam and millet, you know. In a way, I'm letting you off easy."

The thick, hot soup dripped down my hair. The pain was so intense I could barely breathe.

"What's going on, Mel?" a voice queried from the staircase, causing Melissa to panic.

This is Me

'My savior's here!'

A glimmer of hope surfaced in my heart, as I summoned all my courage to sit up.

However, Melissa relaxed when she saw who had come. Standing in the doorway were a few unfamiliar faces, and she greeted them with a pleasant smile. My grip on my purse tightened, and I secretly reached out for my phone.

With a mocking glint, Melissa crouched down beside me. "What's up? Judging from your depression, you've bribed some of Grady's employees, right? No wonder you dared to barge into the company."

Her laughter was as frigid as the wintry winds, and she gleamed with satisfaction. "The team of specialists? I brought them back from abroad for the company's sake. Without me, they'd still be struggling with their technological issues."

She pinched my chin, her sharp nails digging deep into my skin. Sighing, she feigned pity. "You know, you have such a pretty face, but is that all you've got? What if I accidentally scald your face? I wonder whether it'll make you look even more pitiful?"

I glanced past her, hoping to catch the gazes of the women behind her. They all avoided me, preferring to remain bystanders instead. Then, Melissa's team began to flatter her.

"Ms. Angeles is talented, while Mr. Winters is young and promising. They are perfect for each other!"

"Unlike those who'd go to any lengths to sabotage others. Be careful of being at the receiving end of divine punishment."

For years, we had dedicated ourselves to charitable works and donating to orphanages. 'The baby might have been our reward for what we've done over the years. It's the blessing both Grady and I have waited for so long, growing inside me,' I thought, choosing to stay silent to protect the child.

Melissa, fixated on my face, was thankfully oblivious to my subtle movements. Bracing against the pain, I discreetly pressed the emergency dial button on my phone.

"She’s using her phone, Ms. Angeles!" came a woman’s voice, shattering my forced calm.

I tried to quickly press the button, but Melissa snatched the phone from my hand. Thankfully, it automatically locked when the screen dimmed, yet my heart raced with anxiety.

Her gaze darkened as she looked at the screen. My lock screen photo was a goofy wedding picture of me and Grady—he wore cat ears and gave a warm smile as I squeezed his cheeks. It was a different side to him than his usual cold, composed demeanor in the office.

Secret Defiance

She held up the phone, waving the lock screen in front of me and sneering. "Challenging me with this attempt, huh? Did you think I'd believe it's Grady?"

"Give the phone back," I demanded, reaching out to reclaim my phone.

The women gathered around her to openly mock the display image.

"It's edited. There's no way Mr. Winters would allow her to do such a thing. It's hilarious!"

"She must be delusional. Even in a dream, that's a stretch!"

Although Melissa had a faint smile, there was something sinister in her gaze. "Grady and I grew up together. We have so many photos, which is why your fake one's disgusting me."

She threw my phone to the ground, causing cracks to spiderweb across the screen. In one quick motion, I reached out to protect it, knowing I'd be safe as long as I could call someone.

Melissa's heel came into view as it pressed my hand down over the phone—all because I could unlock the screen. Tears swam in the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let go.

As they rained bruises on the back of my hand, I became numb from the pain. Seeing my stubborn grip, one of the women behind Melissa kicked my shoulder, sending me reeling, and all I could do was shield my stomach as I felt.

They stomped on my phone until the screen went black, and then kicked it down the gap between the stairs. Melissa stared at me, not quite done. Her lips curved into a cruel smile, as she asked with mock innocence. "Oh, so you like fake photos. Do you need my help? I bet you have a figure to die for since you love photos. Mind if we have a peek?"

She covered her mouth with a laugh, but her actions were blatantly malicious. I’d chosen a loose dress today to keep the baby comfortable, but it made things much easier for her now. She lifted her phone to record as she called another woman over, who began tugging at the hem and straps of my dress. I couldn’t escape the hands roaming over me.

With no way to call for help, the humiliation was unbearable, and the urge to fight back overwhelmed me. Summoning my strength, I slapped her phone from Melissa's hand. Without hesitation, I sank my jaws into the arm she’d used to grab my clothes.

She shrieked in pain, violently flinging me away. A streak of bright red was left on her arm. Her anger was past the point of being concealed, and she promptly ordered the stairwell door closed.

'She's a fucking maniac.'

Without much thought, I forced myself to my feet and rushed toward the door. It had been locked just after it closed. Even if I pounded on it desperately, I found myself pleading, 'Please save me. Is there anyone?'

There was no response because it was their lunch break.

Melissa yanked me back by my hair, slamming me down onto the ground again. I knelt, gasping in pain. In the scuffle, my collar had loosened. She stared at my neck for a long moment, reached out, seized my pendant, and yanked it off—all while squeezing my throat with her other hand.

My head throbbed as I coughed, raw and stinging. Barely able to catch my breath, she took my dazed state as a fresh excuse, bringing her hand across my face in a brutal slap. I couldn’t dodge in time, causing me to curl up on the floor.

"Well, look at that! Who would’ve thought Grady had such a thief here?" She sneered.

"No, that's my ring! Return it to me!" Even though there was blood on my lips, I lunged for the ring. It was a simple band that Grady had made for me on our first date, after which it was set with a few tiny diamonds. Since it was our first time making anything, we went with matching yet minimalist designs.

I cherished it. Worried it might get worn out in daily life, I kept it safe as a necklace, tucked close to my heart, where our love stayed safe.

"Oh, still want to lie your way out? There are plenty of people here who saw that ring on Mr. Winters' hand." She sneered.

"That's our wedding ring! I am Grady's wife."