###Chapter 1

My marriage certificate was chewed up by a dog, so I went to the civil affairs office to get a replacement. But the clerk gave me a complicated look.

"I'm sorry, but there's no record of a 'Maxine Patterson' in our system. And this certificate is fake."

My mind went blank in disbelief. "But my husband, Dawson Patterson, and I registered our marriage six years ago. Please, can you double-check—"

I was still pleading when I saw Dawson walk in from a distance, his arm wrapped around his childhood sweetheart, Elise.

Instinctively, I ducked behind a large potted plant. From there, I heard Elise ask mockingly. "You kept your marriage with her a secret for six years, lied about being infertile, and even drugged her milk with birth control pills after every time you slept together. Weren’t you afraid she’d find out and be heartbroken?"

Dawson chuckled and responded, “That marriage certificate was fake anyway. As for a child? Even if she had one, it’d just be a shameful bastard. Better that it never existed.”

He gently stroked Elise’s belly, still swollen from childbirth, with a look of affection.

"I’ll make sure our son is the only heir to the Patterson family. No one will compete with him."

Clutching my seven-weeks-pregnant belly, I stood frozen, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

So this was what my "happy marriage" had been all along—just a hell built on his lies.

Well then, I hope he and Elise stay chained to each other for life.

...

Stumbling out of the civil affairs office in a daze, my trembling fingers barely managed to unlock my phone. But before I could make a call, the doctor called first.

“Miss Maxine,” the voice was gentle but somber, “I’m very sorry to inform you, we’ve just discovered that the fetus has no heartbeat. To avoid any risk of infection, please come in soon for an induced abortion.”

At that instant, my entire body went cold.

I looked up at the harsh sunlight, and a wave of dizziness hit me.

In our third year of dating, Dawson had suddenly knelt in front of me, holding a medical report that said he was infertile.

He said he might never be able to give me a child.

For someone like me, who loved children deeply, it was a devastating blow. But I loved him so much I couldn’t let go.

I was even foolish enough to agree to a secret marriage.

“Give me ten years, Maxine,” he’d said. “If we have a baby, I’ll give you the grandest wedding. If not, I’ll set you free. Since our marriage is secret, no one will judge you...”

I hugged him tightly, shaking my head. “I won’t leave you, Dawson.”

And all this time, I thought he said those things because he truly cared about me.

But it was all part of his scheme.

Did he have any idea how hard I’d tried over the past six years just to have a child?

Endless medications. Painful procedures that left my body writhing in agony. My mother even traveled to a temple in Thailand, crawling up a thousand stone steps on her knees just to pray for our child. Her head was bloody, and her joints were nearly destroyed.

Today, I’d just found out I was pregnant.

I thought it was a miracle, that our sincerity had finally moved the heavens.

Now I realize it was only because Dawson got drunk that night and forgot to drug my milk.

And even the child I finally conceived... has stopped moving inside me.

It felt like a sledgehammer smashed into my chest, the pain spreading through my entire body.

Crying helplessly, I collapsed on the roadside. Suddenly, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen and saw Dawson's name.

I answered in a daze, sobbing so hard that he panicked.

“Maxine? Why are you crying? Did someone upset my wife? Tell me, I’ll make them pay!”

I tried to steady my shaking voice, wiping my tears in a panic. “It’s nothing. Just got some dust in my eye.”

He let out a breath of relief, his voice soft and affectionate. “Hearing you cry breaks my heart. I wish I wasn’t on this business trip so I could come be with you...”

Business trip?

Busy registering a marriage with Elise, maybe. Busy playing happy family with their newborn.

His sweet words sounded just like they always had—so sincere, so convincing—I almost wondered if what I saw earlier had all been a nightmare.

Clinging to the last sliver of hope, I asked him, “Dawson... the marriage certificate got ruined. Should we go get a new one?”

There was a brief moment of panic in his voice, but he quickly recovered. “That’s just a small thing. I’ll have someone handle it. You don't need to worry about it. Mm, I’ve gotta run, babe.”

A muffled groan came from his end of the call before the line cut to a cold, repetitive dial tone.

I pressed a hand to my belly and shut my eyes in despair.

Scrolling through my contacts, I found my older brother’s name—Enrique—and called, barely able to speak through my tears.

“Brother... end all cooperation with the Patterson family. I’m leaving him.”

My brother had always been the one who doted on me the most. He understood everything in an instant.

With a sigh full of sorrow, he said, “I have some business back home in a few days. I’ll come get you myself. Maxine, don’t cry anymore.”

Thinking of my aging parents, and my brother who’d once begged me not to trust a man like Dawson, the guilt nearly shattered my heart.

I nodded through the tears and ended the call.

Then, I made an appointment for the procedure the next day.

###Chapter 2

As soon as I got home, Dawson video-called me.

“Wife, I’ve already asked my assistant to get the marriage certificate reissued. And look—I got you a gift!”

He held up a sapphire necklace to the camera.

“I know how much you love sapphires. This one was hard to win—it’s a new piece by an internationally renowned jewelry designer. Do you like it?”

A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

He’d clearly forgotten that before becoming a full-time housewife, I was a seasoned jewelry appraiser with a sharp eye.

On the TV behind me, the news was broadcasting a story. [The CEO of the Patterson Group had just outbid everyone at auction to reward Elise Perkins—the woman who bore him a son—with a royal heirloom once worn by a princess.]

And the necklace he gave me? It was a promotional freebie from the auction he attended for Elise.

This shallow display of false affection and hollow generosity made my throat tighten, and tears spilled from my eyes before I could stop them.

“...Mm. I like it.”

“Maxine, what’s wrong? Please don’t be like this. If something is bothering you, tell me—your husband will fix it!” His voice was full of panic.

“It’s nothing. Maybe I caught a cold,” I muttered. “You should get back to work.”

Without waiting for a reply, I ended the call.

I collapsed onto the bed. Exhausted and devastated, I curled into myself and eventually drifted off.

But sleep didn’t bring peace. It brought nightmares.

In my dreams, my mother’s devout prayers tangled with Dawson’s sweet lies.

“As long as Maxine can have a child, I, Czarina, am willing to go vegetarian for the rest of my life.”

“Maxine, you are the love of my life. I’ll never let you down.”

A sharp pain in my belly jolted me awake. Outside the door, I heard the voice of Dawson’s friend, Bruce.

“If you’ve always loved Elise, then why did you get involved with Maxine?”

Dawson’s voice was casual, even amused as he responded, “Because Elise was being forced by her parents to go overseas back then.”

“And I had needs, didn’t I? Maxine was a Catholic and still a virgin when I confessed to her. I like a challenge—and at least I didn’t have to worry about her sleeping around and bringing back STDs.”

“But she wanted to be a mother, so I told her I was infertile. It also saved me the trouble of wearing a condom—those ruin the experience anyway.”

Bruce’s tone turned cold with reproach. “You strung her along for nine years. Now you’re turning around and marrying someone else? You stole her best years!”

“Well, Elise came back—and she gave me a child.” Dawson scoffed.

“Maxine is just a nobody from an ordinary family. I let her live like royalty for years. Isn’t that compensation enough?”

“I’m marrying Elise in a few days. Just make sure she doesn’t find out anything before then.”

Bruce pressed, “If you’re marrying someone else, why not let Maxine go?”

There was a pause, and then Dawson faltered.

“...Because—” He trailed off, suddenly unsure.

Wasn’t this the perfect chance to finally let me go?

After a long silence, he muttered, “Because Maxine... is the best toy I’ve ever had.”

Bruce, clearly disgusted, gave up trying to reason with him. “Suit yourself. Just don’t regret it later.”

Soon, their voices faded.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, my heart numb from the pain.

Some time later, Dawson entered, his body still damp from the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist.

The visible hickey on his neck, like a mark deliberately left by Elise on purpose, burned into my eyes like fire.

I clenched my teeth and turned away so he wouldn’t see my tears.

Seeing I was awake, he rushed to my side.

“You’re awake, Maxine? I ended the business trip early just to come back to you.”

The hand he wrapped around my waist trembled slightly, like he feared I might vanish if he loosened his grip.

“I got so worried when you hung up on me. Are you sick?”

###Chapter 3

One moment he was calling me his favorite "plaything," and the next, his eyes were red with false concern.

'Dawson, the Oscars owe you a golden statue!'

I pulled my hand away and put some space between us.

“I must’ve caught a cold these past few days. I just feel... drained.”

He gently brushed my hair, concern written all over his face, then clasped the sapphire necklace around my neck. His tone was casual—too casual.

“Maxine, I’ll need to go on another business trip soon. This time it’ll be over a month. I really don’t want to leave you.”

Over a month? That’s more than enough time to throw a wedding—and go on a honeymoon around the world.

Even though my heart was shattered, I still clung to hope like a fool. I reached for his hand.

“Dawson... I’ve been feeling uneasy lately. Could you stay? Just this once—don’t go?”

He cupped my face with tenderness, his voice soothing.

“This is a major project, sweetheart. I have to go make money to support you. Be good and wait for me at home, okay?”

Looking at his feigned helplessness, I clenched my fist, nails digging into my trembling palms.

Finally, I nodded, heart numb and cold.

“...Then go.”

Relieved, he leaned in and pinned me gently to the pillow, his lips brushing my cheek.

“Baby, how about we try again tonight? Maybe I’ll finally give you a child...”

But his words ripped open wounds in my already tattered heart.

I instinctively pushed him away. “Dawson, let’s wait until you’re back. I’m not feeling well today.”

He stroked my pale cheek, seemingly convinced. Then he kissed my hair.

“Alright. Rest early.”

Maybe he was too worn out from serving Elise, because the moment he lay down, he started snoring.

I turned and picked up the phone by his bedside.

He’d always said he had nothing to hide, that he didn’t even need a password.

Now I knew the truth—his phone had dual systems.

I typed in Elise’s birthday, and the system switched instantly.

Right there on the home screen was a wedding photo of Dawson and Elise kissing beneath the Eiffel Tower.

My breath hitched.

With trembling hands, I opened their chat. The first thing I saw was Elise holding their baby, beaming.

[Our son is so cute! He looks just like you. He’s going to be such a little heartbreaker.]

Every message burned through me like acid.

[You fly to see me all the time. Aren’t you afraid Maxine will find out?]

[She believes everything I say. Don’t worry. She’s too stupid to ever figure it out.]

Scrolling up, I found even more.

Elise had sent him private, explicit photos.

She was naked, heavily pregnant, wearing nothing but a sheer thong. Her legs were parted, and she was teasing her well-maintained body with delicate fingers.

[Hubby, the doctor says the baby’s almost due. He says I’ll have an easier delivery if the father stays... active.]

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I looked at the timestamp.

It was two months ago—on my birthday.

That night, Dawson had gotten a sudden “work call.” His expression had changed in a heartbeat, and in his rush to leave, he’d knocked over a chair, cutting the birthday song short.

“Sorry, baby. There’s an emergency overseas. I’ll make it up to you with an even more romantic celebration when I get back.”

He’d kissed me goodbye, and left me standing there, stunned.

Now I finally understood. He had spent most of the year abroad.

His so-called business trips were just excuses to be with his mistress, pampering her through her pregnancy.

Even on my birthday—he couldn’t wait one more night to be by her side.

My fingers, pale with fury, nearly crushed the phone.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the photo album.

Hundreds of gigabytes of photos and videos documented every moment of Elise’s pregnancy—right up to the birth.

Dawson, who never lifted a finger at home, was seen preparing fancy, nutritious meals for her every single day.

He had skipped important meetings just to take her to prenatal appointments.

When she threw up from morning sickness, his obsessive cleanliness didn’t stop him from catching her vomit with his bare hands.

He even bought a castle in Tuscany, just so she could rest and recover in luxury.

He treated her like a princess.

And me? He wouldn’t even give me a child—because in his eyes, only Elise was worthy of bearing his heir.

I slowly set the phone down, my expression blank.

My hands trembled as I placed them on my belly.

Baby... were you just as disappointed in your father as I was?

Is that why you didn’t want to be born into this cruel home?

If so... maybe it’s better that you left.