The next day, I went to the hospital alone. I wanted to check on my babies one more time. However, as I turned the corner of the hallway, two familiar figures came into view.

Zayn was supporting Whitney with careful hands, his face overflowing with tenderness. This morning, he told me he was busy with work. In truth, he was here with her for her prenatal checkup.

My heart felt as though it had been smashed with a heavy hammer. The pain was so sharp that I could barely breathe. I hid behind a pillar and watched them step into an examination room.

“Zayn, do you really want this child?” The voice was Caleb Gray’s—Zayn’s close friend. He was also a doctor here. His words reached me clearly.

“Of course. I must have this child.” Zayn’s tone was firm and absolute.

“But what about Yvonne? What do you plan to do about her?” Caleb pressed.

Zayn fell silent, then he slowly said, “Yvonne can’t have children. Once Whitney gives birth, we’ll use the chance to adopt the baby. That way, the child can rightfully be my heir.”

The words hit me like a thunderbolt. My heart twisted like it was being cut apart. This had been his plan all along. He wanted me to raise his child with another woman.

I covered my mouth, stifling the sobs that threatened to break out. Tears fell in silence, tracing down my cheeks.

Not long after, Whitney finished her examination and walked out of the room.

“Zayn, am I making things difficult for you?” she asked carefully. Her expression was full of wounded sorrow. “It’s all my fault. I never should have told you about the pregnancy. I was planning to get rid of the baby…”

Her voice cracked, thick with tears. “But the doctor said if I do, I’ll never be able to have children again.”

Zayn patted her shoulder gently, his voice warm and tender. “It’s not your fault. She's bound to find out sooner or later.”

Whitney lowered her head. Her voice was choked as she spoke again. “I know Ms. Rivers won’t like me, but I’ll do my best to win her over. Don’t worry. I’ll move into your house as a nanny to take care of her and the child after the baby is born.”

Zayn patted her shoulder again when he heard those words. “I’m sorry.”

My chest tightened as I watched them. The air was squeezing out of my lungs.

A few minutes later, Zayn left to collect her medicine, leaving Whitney alone in the hallway. She straightened her clothes, then curved her lips into a cold smile as she slowly walked toward me.

“Ms. Rivers, you’ve been hiding here for quite a while. You heard everything, didn’t you?”

I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

“You heard everything, didn’t you?” Whitney raised an eyebrow. Her eyes gleamed with nothing but challenge and contempt.

I drew in a deep breath, trying to avoid a confrontation. I turned around to leave.

However, she stepped in front of me, blocking my way as she put on a taunting smile.

“If you’re smart enough, you’ll walk away on your own. I’m carrying his child, so the Levine family will stand behind me. You’ll just end up being thrown out. How humiliating would that be?

“Besides, your marriage certificate is fake. If anyone looks into it, you’ll be known as the other woman, not me!”

Her words grew sharper and crueler. My fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug deep into my palms.

“Whitney, you…”

I had just opened my mouth when hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. Zayn was back.

Whitney’s expression instantly shifted. Gone was the mocking smile, replaced by fragile innocence.

“Ms. Rivers, I know you don’t like me, but the baby is innocent. Please… don’t take it out on the child...”

Then, all of a sudden, she collapsed to the floor, clutching her stomach while her face contorted in pain.

“Whitney!” Zayn shouted, rushing toward her.

“Yvonne, what did you do to her?” His glare cut into me, full of anger and disappointment.

I was stunned for a moment, at a loss for words.

“Zayn, my stomach… It hurts so much. Our baby…” Whitney sobbed as she lay on the floor. “Don’t blame Ms. Rivers. Maybe she was just too upset…”

Zayn gripped her hand tightly, his gaze full of aching tenderness.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll take you to the doctor right now.”

Then, he scooped her into his arms and left in a hurry without even looking back.

I never even had the chance to explain. As I watched their figures fade into the distance, I felt nothing but ashes in my heart.

Since he had chosen her once again, then so be it. I would step aside and let him have her.

Fortunately, Whitney’s fall was not serious. After the doctor finished a routine checkup, Zayn brought her back to the ward.

I stood at the door, watching him fuss over her, running around to take care of her. At that moment, I felt like the outsider, the one interfering in someone else’s romantic relationship.

“Zayn, let Ms. Rivers come in.” Whitney’s weak voice floated out.

Zayn glanced at me, but he avoided my gaze, unable to look me in the eye.

I took a deep breath and stepped into the ward.

“Ms. Rivers, please don’t blame Zayn.” Whitney leaned weakly against the headboard. Her face was pale. “I asked him to bring you here. There are some things we need to talk about.”

I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

Zayn sat down beside me and held my hand. His face showed a trace of guilt. His lips parted as though he wanted to speak, yet he could not say a word until a moment later.

“Yvonne, there are some things I need to make clear to you.” He paused for a moment, then continued, “Whitney and I… We ran into each other again at a business dinner. One of my business partners kept forcing her to drink. I couldn’t just stand by, so I stepped in for her.

“I didn’t expect us both to drink too much. That’s how it happened. This child was conceived that night.”

At this point, he looked at me carefully. His eyes were full of regret and remorse. His grip on my hand tightened.

“I swear, in my heart, there has only ever been you. I know this puts you in a difficult place, but the child is innocent. It's my own flesh and blood. I can’t abandon it. But don’t worry. Once the baby is born, I’ll put it under your name. You’ll be its mother.

“I hope you can find it in your heart to understand me.”

His eyes locked on mine, full of expectation.

I lowered my head, tears welling in my eyes.

This was his choice. He was choosing Whitney and their child.

What hurt me the most was not just the betrayal but the lies. Why had he not told me sooner? Why did he secretly divorce me, then cover it up with a fake marriage certificate?

Whitney’s eyes reddened too.

“Ms. Rivers, I truly never meant to come between you. But I have no choice. My health is poor. If I lose this baby, I’ll never be able to conceive again. Please, don’t blame the child, all right?”

Her voice broke into sobs, and her shoulders trembled.

Staring at them, I was overcome by a suffocating tightness in my chest. I was going to be a mother too. I knew what a child meant to a woman.

I took a deep breath and forced a smile.

“I'm not mad.”

Then, I took another breath and tried hard to make my voice sound calm.

“I understand.”

Zayn froze for a moment, clearly shocked that I would forgive something so absurd so easily. After all, even though I had always been obedient and gentle, I had zero tolerance when it came to betrayal.

“Yvonne, do you really understand?”

I nodded, curling my lips into a bitter smile. “Zayn, we both have to think of the family. I understand you need an heir. After all, the Levine mafia empire is vast. Someone has to inherit it.

“If you think it would be easier, you can bring Whitney home so that she’s cared for. That way, I’ll feel reassured too.”

Joy spread across his face when I said those words. He let out a long sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Yvonne. You’re so kind to me.”

He gripped my hand tightly, his eyes brimming with gratitude.

Whitney, off to the side, was stunned. She did not expect me to agree so easily. Nevertheless, she soon collected herself, and a trace of mockery curved her lips.

I looked at her calmly, feeling nothing inside me anymore.

“Zayn, if there’s nothing else, I’d like to go home now. I’ll prepare a room and hire a nutritionist to look after Ms. Sanders to make sure the baby is born safely.”

Zayn nodded. Guilt flickered across his eyes.

“All right. Go on. Once this is over, I’ll make it up to you.”

I gave him a smile, said nothing more, and turned around to leave.

That evening, Zayn brought Whitney home and even cooked dinner himself. Throughout the meal, he kept serving her food and soup, knowing exactly what she liked.

“Whitney, this soup is on the milder side, just the way you like it. Here, your favorite fish. Eat more. It’s good for you and the baby.”

As I watched their intimate gestures, my eyes stung with unshed tears. I lowered my head and ate in silence. I could not show any reaction as I could not let Zayn see that I was not the same as before.

If he saw through my plan to leave, he would never let me go. The fact that I was carrying his kids was also something that he could never know.

“Zayn, won’t Ms. Rivers get upset if you take such good care of me?” Whitney cast me a glance and deliberately asked.

Zayn froze for a second, then quickly explained, “She won’t be upset. Whitney, you’re pregnant. You need more nutrition. Yvonne is a woman too. She understands.”

I lowered my gaze. Not a flicker of emotion showed on my face.

After dinner, I wandered alone into the garden. Just as I reached the gazebo, I saw Whitney walking toward me.

“Ms. Rivers, out here by yourself? Bad mood?” She sat across from me with a hint of provocation on her face. “You’re really good at pretending. You're willing to raise another woman’s child, are you? No thoughts about leaving?”

I shot her a glance but said nothing, rising to walk away.

“Stop right there!” She suddenly blocked my path, her face twisting with anger. My silence only fueled her fury. What she wanted to see was rage, hysteria… Anything but calmness.

She thought her pregnancy would shatter me, but it did not.

“Yvonne, you’re just faking it, aren’t you? You're pretending you don’t care, to be oh-so generous? What kind of woman would willingly raise her husband’s child with another woman?

“Why don’t you scream at him? Why don’t you fight him? Why put on this act of being so magnanimous? You’re pathetic! Do you think playing the understanding wife will make Zayn feel guilty enough to compensate you?

“That’s not love; it’s just guilt! Staying in a marriage without love—you’ll be nothing but miserable!”

I bit my lip hard, refusing to let myself cry.

“Oh, and by the way—the baby in my belly? It isn’t even Zayn’s. But he’s so desperate for a child, I told one little lie and he believed me.”

I was stunned… Before I could respond, she suddenly shoved me hard.

“I’ll prove to you who Zayn truly cares about the most.”

Then, she threw herself to the ground on purpose, writhing and groaning in agony. “My stomach. It hurts…”

Clutching her belly, blood began to seep between her legs.

Panic surged through me. I did not even touch her, yet she was bleeding…

Zayn’s footsteps thundered toward us. When he saw her on the ground, his face drained of all color. “Whitney!”

He rushed to carry her in his arms, then turned to me with a furious glare. “Yvonne, what did you do to her?”

“I didn’t—” I shook my head desperately, but Whitney’s trembling voice cut me off.

“Zayn, don’t blame her. I know she doesn’t like me or my child…”

Her weak sobs made his fury burn hotter. He shoved me aside, cradled her in his arms, and stormed away. “Yvonne, you’ve gone too far! If anything happens to Whitney, I’ll never forgive you!”

I collapsed to the ground, staring at them from behind. My heart was ice cold.

Zayn never came home that night. I was the only one left in the vast, empty villa. I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

All I could see was his face, full of mistrust, and Whitney’s triumphant smile.

The next morning, I began packing my things. I filled my suitcases with everything I owned and cleared away every trace of myself from the house. When I was done, I dragged my luggage to the door.

Before closing the door behind me, I turned for one last look. This place had once been my home with Zayn. Now, it no longer belonged to me.

Before leaving, I called my lawyer.

“Mr. Lane, has everything been arranged?”

“Yes, Ms. Rivers. The funds have been transferred to your account. Your passport is ready, and the property in Swizor has been secured. Everything is in order.”

I nodded, feeling a strange peace settle in my chest. “All right. Thank you. I’m leaving now.”

The moment I ended the call, I saw a news headline flashing across my phone screen.

[Mafia boss Zayn Levine is a total hen-pecked husband!]

I had been married to him for years, and yet no one even knew me. There was never any public acknowledgment. Perhaps that had already said it all.

Perhaps Zayn knew all along that Whitney’s claim—that she was carrying his child—was a lie. He just pretended not to know. Why he did that, well, only he would know the answer.

After all, a mafia leader and a shrewd businessman like him would never fall for such a flimsy lie.

However, the truth no longer mattered. I did not care anymore.

I touched my stomach. At least I still had my children.

I took a deep breath and deleted every trace of Zayn from my phone. Then, I left to board my flight.