She was the daughter of his first love’s maid. When he offered her marriage, she accepted it, believing love could grow after the vows. But the marriage turned cold when a manipulated photo convinced him she had betrayed him.

Accused of an affair she never committed, heartbroken and emotionally drained, she chose divorce while carrying a child he refused to believe was his.

What happens when the truth finally comes out?

When he realizes she was loyal all along?

And when he discovers the child he rejected is his own?

I woke up with my throat burning and my stomach twisting. I barely made it to the bathroom before throwing up. My knees hit the cold floor as soon as I leaned over the toilet.

I grabbed the sink and pulled myself up, my legs shaking the whole time.

As soon as I stood up, I washed my mouth. After rinsing, I wiped my mouth while looking in the mirror. I stared at my reflection. My face looked pale like a ghost, and my lips were dry.

This had been happening every morning for more than a week now.

I already suspected what it meant. But I still needed to be sure. That was why I decided to go for a checkup today.

I placed a hand on my stomach without thinking, then quickly pulled it away, like someone might see, especially Arzhel. He went on a business trip last week, and I expected him to come home tonight.My phone buzzed.

Adrian. My childhood best friend who had just come home from New York. We reconnected last week, and now he was accompanying me to the clinic since I was not yet ready to tell Arzhel. I needed to confirm it first.

I was not even sure if the idea of me being pregnant with his child would make him happy. He might even scold me for being reckless instead. After our wedding day, he never treated me like his wife. I should not be disappointed about that. After all, I was just his maid’s daughter when he was still a kid. He only married me because his first love rejected him, to make her jealous, and so people would not pity him for being rejected. He married me, a decision I always felt he regretted.

I answered Adrian’s call.

“Hey, remember our appointment for today.” I could sense the excitement in his voice. He already mentioned how excited he was to be an uncle, even if we were not really sure if I was pregnant.

“Yeah, I’m going to get ready now.”

“Okay, I’m on my way now.”

We hung up after that.

***

“You’re six weeks pregnant,” the doctor said. “Everything looks normal so far, but you need to avoid stress.”

Her words echoed in my head. I kept staring at the monitor. I could see my baby. What a beautiful creature. My vision started to become blurry.

A lot of thoughts were running in my mind right now, and the fact that the doctor told me to avoid stress made me anxious for thinking too much.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I heard Adrian say.

He was smiling, a kind of smile that was comforting. He wiped my tears. But more tears started to come out when it hit me that I should be here with Arzhel. But I was not sure if I would ever have a chance to be accompanied by him, because he would never have time for me, for us.

Before going home, Adrian asked me to eat with him.

We also did a little chitchat.

“How’s your girlfriend? She’s pregnant too, right?” I curiously asked. As far as I remembered, he mentioned having a girlfriend.

He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.

“Yup. We broke up last week. She’s six weeks pregnant too.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I genuinely said.

“I guess we’re both unlucky when it comes to love,” he joked.

We both laughed, then sighed after.

By the time I went home, it was already dark. I heard from the maid that Arzhel was already in his home office. I went to our room to put my bag down and hid the ultrasound in my drawer. Then I went downstairs to make him some tea, something I always did for him as his wife. As soon as I finished, I went back upstairs to his office.

“Is that for your husband?” my stepsister, Veronica, and Arzhel’s trusted assistant, appeared out of nowhere. She asked the question with a wide smile on her face. “I’ll bring it to him. I’m on my way to his office anyway.”

I tried to hide the irritation on my face. Since she came into our lives, she did nothing but try to steal my role as Arzhel’s wife. She did things that were not even part of her role as my husband’s assistant, preparing Arzhel’s food, clothes, and many other things that only a wife should do.

“Thank you, but I’m already on my way there, so I’ll handle it.” I did not wait for her response. I kept walking.

I felt her presence behind me.

Arzhel’s office walls were made of smart glass. They could be frosted or transparent, and they were currently transparent, so I could see him sitting at his desk, both eyebrows furrowed as he read a document.

He glanced in my direction as soon as I arrived, but he went back to whatever he was reading right away.

“I heard from the maid that you already arrived, so I made you some tea,” I said while smiling sweetly.

I quietly moved toward him and gently placed the tea on his table. He just kept flipping pages.

“If you need anything else, just call me,” I said with a smile he still could not see because he never bothered to pay attention to me.

I stayed there for a few more seconds, hoping he could at least say something. I did not care if it was just thank you. I would still be happy.

Instead, I saw his grip on the pen tighten. Then he looked up to meet my gaze. His face had no emotion, but I could feel how cold his aura was.

“Where have you been?”

His question caught me off guard. He never paid attention to me, and every time I went out, he never bothered to ask where I had been. So when Adrian accompanied me to the hospital, I did not bother to think of an excuse in case Arzhel asked me.

“I… um…” I gulped.

He kept looking at me, like he was waiting for my answer.

Veronica moved closer.

“Why bother to ask, Arzhel? She probably just wandered around,” she said, showing me a weak smile that I knew was fake.

She placed a folder on Arzhel’s table.

“Why don’t you check this instead? The Lexis Corporation signed the deal agreement.” There’s excitement in her tone.

Arzhel shifted his attention to the file.

I was not planning to hide the truth from Arzhel. I was just looking for the perfect timing. And I knew now was not the right time.

“Get out, Lia. I’m busy,” he said in a cold voice while his attention was on the papers.

I gulped. He could politely ask me to leave, but he always made sure his choice of words was something that would humiliate me, especially in front of my stepsister.

Veronica walked closer to me. She tapped my shoulder. She always did that, but I was not sure if it was to comfort me or humiliate me further, because I could always sense the hidden agenda behind her fake smiles.

I walked out quietly.

I came back to our room. I took the ultrasound and stared at it while holding my stomach.

“It’s going to be okay. I don’t know how, but everything will be okay.”

The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed beside me.

I went downstairs for breakfast. I forced myself to sit at the long dining table even though the smell of food made me feel sick.

The maids moved quietly and placed the food on the table. I saw them glancing at me. They looked hesitant, and I could even see how the blood seemed to slowly drain from their faces. I met their eyes and looked at them like I was waiting for them to say what they wanted to say.

Our chef arrived. I saw him looking at me apologetically.

When the maids slowly removed the covers from the food, I saw them bow in unison, not as a sign of respect, but more as a way of asking for forgiveness.

My eyes went to the table. I saw a walnut pancake.

I smiled, but it did not even reach my eyes.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Analia. Your husband told us to cook this for you and left to take a shower before we could tell him that you’re allergic to nuts,” the chef said, panicking and apologetic.

Instead of being annoyed, I smiled weakly.

“I wonder if he wants me dead,” I joked. The chef and maids looked at each other, panicking.

I had already told Arzhel thousands of times, but I wondered why he always forgot. This was not the first, second, or third time this had happened. He never bothered to pay attention. It made me smile bitterly.

“But don’t worry, Ms. Analia. We prepared your favorite mushroom soup for you,” the chef said while smiling.

He asked one of the maids to bring it in. As soon as I saw the plate, my lips started to form a smile.

Our chef’s mushroom soup was really one of my favorites. It was his special dish, so it really tasted good. I could not wait to try it.

My smile widened as the maid walked closer to me.

They were near me, and as soon as I smelled it, a weird scent entered my nose, and I immediately got dizzy and felt like I wanted to puke.

I instantly covered my mouth, but when I saw them all glance at me with worried and confused faces, I immediately removed it.

One of the maids was about to serve it to me, so I gathered all my strength to speak without puking.

“It’s okay, just leave it there… please.” As soon as I said that, they bowed and left.

How could I eat now when everything they served seemed to be inedible for me? Arzhel would surely wonder.

As if on cue, Arzhel arrived.

He sat quietly. He didn’t even glance in my direction.

There was something in his aura today. It felt heavy.

I watched him from across the table. His expression was calm, but his jaw was tight. He placed his phone beside his plate and sat down. He was sitting straight, like how he sat every time he was inside his office or bedroom.

His aura made me a little worried. He was probably stressed at work. Today was surely not the right timing to try to tell him I was pregnant.

“Good morning,” I said.

I didn’t get any response from him.

I waited, hoping he would at least nod like he sometimes did, but he didn’t.

I picked up my spoon, stirred my soup once, then put it back down. I couldn’t eat.

“Did you sleep well?” I asked again. I had fallen asleep last night waiting for him. He was still in his office, with my stepsister.

The chair scraped loudly when he stood up. I flinched.

“Lia.” He sounded like running out of patience.

I looked up at him. My heart was already racing.

“We need to talk.” His jawline was visible from too much clenching.

My fingers curled around the edge of the table.

“About what?” I tried to ask softly.

Instead of answering, he picked up his phone. I saw him scrolling and swiping something before he slid it in my direction.

“Look.”

I hesitated before picking it up. Something about his tone made my chest feel tight.

I saw his gallery open. I clicked the first photo.

The first photo showed me standing outside the hospital. I froze for a moment. This was yesterday.

I met his gaze, much colder this time. He signaled me to continue.

I swiped to the next photo. It was me again in the hospital. Adrian was beside me. From that angle, it looked like we were close. Too close. Anyone could mistake it for intimacy.

I swallowed and swiped again.

Another photo. Adrian handing me a bottle of water.

Another one. Him opening the car door for me. We were smiling at each other.

My hands started to shake. Those angles were cruelly perfect, as if someone took them to make us look like a real couple.

“That’s not what you think,” I said quickly. “I can explain.” My voice was almost trembling from begging.

He let out a short laugh.

“Explain? You think this needs explaining?!”

“Arzhel, please, I can ex-”

“How long?” he interrupted. He was gritting his teeth and slowly blinking as if he was trying to hold onto the little bit of patience he really had.

“How long what?” I asked, slightly tilting my head in confusion.

He looked at me. “How long have you been sleeping with him?”

I stood up so fast that my chair almost fell.

“No. I would never.” I repeatedly shook my head. “Arzhel, listen to me, please. He’s just a friend. He has a girlfriend. He just accompanied me. I wasn’t feeling well-”

“Save it,” he cut me off. “I’m not interested in your excuses!”

“I’m not making excuses, Arzhel.” I was almost pleading. I took a step closer. “I’ve been vomiting every morning. I get dizzy easily. I went there to get checked.” My voice became low because I was not yet sure if I was ready to tell him the truth.

“So you went with him instead of telling me?” His stare looked so cold.

I opened my mouth. I wanted to say I planned to tell him . I wanted to say I didn’t want to worry him. I wanted to say I was scared.

Before I could speak, he scoffed.

“Let me guess. You’re pregnant.” His lips curved into a sarcastic smirk.

His words echoed in my head.

My hand went to my stomach before I could stop myself.

Arzhel looked there. His jaw clenched. He met my gaze.

“And you were going to tell me it’s mine.” He laughed in disbelief.

I felt something crack inside my chest.

“I-it is y-yours,” I whispered.

He laughed, louder this time.

“You think I’m stupid?” He sounded so offended.

I felt the tears started to filled my eyes.

“I’m telling the truth. I never cheated on you. The baby-”

“Don’t say that again!” he snapped.

It made me flinch.

I heard footsteps echo from the hallway. I didn’t need to look to know who it was.

Veronica walked in, her heels clicking against the floor. She was wearing dark red lipstick, and like she always did, she walked like the woman who owned this house.

She stopped when she saw us standing.

“Arzhel,” she said gently, as if she were worried. “I didn’t mean to interrupt, but you asked me to bring the documents.”

She placed a folder in front of Arzhel.

My heart sank when I saw it. Divorce papers.

My knees weakened.

“I’ve already signed it,” he said. He didn’t look at me when he spoke. “You can have your lawyer review it if you want.”

I felt dizzy.

“You already prepared this? You didn’t even ask me first. You didn’t even hear me out,” I asked in disbelief. And suddenly, I was the one who felt betrayed.

I stared at him. He glanced at me with his cold expression.

“There’s nothing left to hear.”

I laughed bitterly, and painfully.

“So that’s it? After everything?”

“Everything?” Veronica said softly. “Lia, you should be grateful Arzhel is being this generous. He can kick you out instantly if he wanted to.”

I turned to her, furious.

“Stay out of this!”

Behind Arzhel, she smiled, calm and victorious. “I’m just trying to help,” she said, using her fake victim tone.

I looked back at Arzhel.

“Tell her to leave.”

He didn’t. And his silence told me more than any words could.

My chest felt tight.

“Arzhel, I swear on my life, I never cheated on you. The baby-”

“Stop!” he snapped.

My lips trembled. I clenched my fists. I didn’t do anything wrong. But why was I being accused like this?

I looked at him. I didn’t bother to hide the pain in my eyes.

“If you don’t want to be my husband anymore, fine. Just don’t humiliate me. Don’t make me into something I’m not.”

For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes. Doubt, maybe? Or maybe I imagined it because I needed to believe there was still something human left between us.

Veronica glanced at her watch. “Arzhel, your board meeting starts in an hour. You can’t be late.”

He exhaled, like he was already tired of this drama.

“Sign the papers, Lia. Don’t make this uglier than it already is.”

Ugly? This was what this marriage was for him.

I picked up the folder with shaking hands.

“You’re really doing this?” I asked, hoping he would at least change his mind.

“Sign it, Lia,” he answered with no emotion.

My vision blurred as I flipped through the pages. Everything was already arranged. He was not planning to leave me any wealth. Everything in these divorce papers looked like a business deal he was trying to end, like I had been nothing more than a failed investment to him.

Suddenly, my stomach twisted violently.

I turned and rushed to the sink. My body shook as I gripped the counter.

“Are you done?” I heard Arzhel say behind me.

I wiped my mouth and turned back to him. I matched his cold expression. Since this was over between us, I wouldn’t hide it anymore.

“You’re right. I’m pregnant. I don’t know how else to say it.”

He didn’t answer. He picked up his coat and walked toward the door.

“Don’t forget to sign the papers,” he said.

The door closed behind him.

Veronica stayed for a moment. She looked at me with her fake sweet smile.

“Take care of yourself, sister. Stress isn’t good for pregnant woman.”

Then she left too.

I was alone.

I sank into the chair, staring at the papers in front of me. My hands rested on my stomach again, shaking.

“I’m sorry. I promise I’ll protect you,” I whispered. “Your father has no idea that he’s making a big mistake.”

I didn’t leave the house yet. I stayed and slept in the guest room last night.

After Arzhel and Veronica walked out, the place felt too quiet. Even the maids avoided the living room. I stayed seated at the dining table for a long time, staring at the divorce papers like they might disappear if I didn’t touch them.

Eventually, my phone buzzed.

Adrian.

I ignored the first call.

Then another.

And another.

Until I finally answered.

“Lia, where are you?” he asked, concerned. “You didn’t answer my messages.”

“I’m home,” my voice low from having little energy.

“What happened?”

I looked at the papers again. “He thinks I cheated.”

“What?” he asked in disbelief.

“He saw photos. Someone followed me to the hospital.”

I wondered who took those. But I was not ignoring the possibility that it was my stepsister.

“Damn it,” Adrian muttered. “I didn’t know something like this would happen.”

I closed my eyes. “He already prepared the divorce papers.”

There was silence on the other end.

“What about the baby?”

I swallowed. “He doesn’t believe it’s his.” My voice almost cracked.

“Lia, you need to calm down,” Adrian said. “Where are you now?”

“At home.”

“I’m coming over.”

“No,” I said immediately while shaking my head even if he couldn’t see me. “Please don’t.”

“Why not?” he asked, confused.

“If he sees you here, it’ll only make things worse.”

The line went quiet for a second.

“Then let me at least send my driver.”

I wanted to decline his offer, but I knew very well that without Arzhel, I was literally nobody. No resources, no money, no connections. Adrian was the only one who can help me now.

“Thank you.” I simply said instead.

After I hung up, I finally stood up.

I walked upstairs slowly, back to our room. I was almost dragging my feet. When I reached our bedroom, my chest tightened.

The bed was neatly made. Arzhel’s side was empty.

I opened the closet. Some of my clothes were no longer there.

I looked at the side of the room. I saw three suitcases, and a pile of my unfolded clothes was there. I released a long sigh. He had planned this.

I went to the bathroom and splashed water on my face. My hands were still shaking. When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself.

I grabbed a suitcase and started properly packing my clothes.

As I folded my clothes, another wave of nausea hit me. I rushed back to the bathroom. I almost didn’t make it in time.

When I finished, I sat on the floor while leaning against the wall, breathing hard. I didn’t notice that some drops of tears started falling.

“I’ll be okay,” I said quietly and started wiping my face. “I have to.”

By evening, the house was empty again. I tried to wait for Arzhel. I didn’t know why I still had a little hope, but in the end, he didn’t come.

The driver took me to Adrian’s house.

When I arrived, he was already waiting by the door.

“Come in,” he said gently.

The moment I stepped inside, my strength gave out. Adrian caught me before I could fall.

“Easy,” he said. “Sit down.”

I sat on the couch while he poured me a glass of water.

“Did you eat?” he asked.

I shook my head.

He frowned. “I’ll ask the helper to make something light.”

While he walked away, I stared at the ceiling. My phone buzzed.

I received a message from Arzhel’s lawyer.

“Please review the documents. We expect your signature within three days.”

Was it really over between us?

I locked my phone and placed it face down.

Minutes later, Adrian came back. He guided me to the dining table.

While I ate, he leaned forward to talk.

“You know Arzhel. He won’t let this go easily.” His expression seemed to be a little worried.

I understood. After all, Arzhel was the most powerful billionaire we knew. No one wanted to mess with him. Not even me.

“I know,” I said.

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’ll sign the papers,” I answered.

Adrian’s eyes widened. “Just like that?”

“I don’t want to fight him,” I said. “Not like this. I’m not a fool.”

He sighed.

“And the baby?”

“I’ll raise the baby myself.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment.

“You don’t have to do this alone,” he said as he reached for my hands.

“I know,” I showed a weak smile. “But I need to.”

That night, I barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Arzhel’s face and the expression he had while accusing me of betrayal.

The next morning, my phone vibrated nonstop on the bedside table. I thought it was my alarm at first, but when I grabbed it, my screen was already flooded with messages.

“Have you seen this?”

“Is this true?”

“Lia, please tell me this isn’t real.”

My chest started to feel heavy.

There was a link. I clicked it.

It directed me to a business news article. I read the headline.

“THERON GROUP HEIR FILES FOR DIVORCE AMID INFIDELITY ALLEGATIONS”

I sat up so fast.

The article included photos.

Not just the clinic photos. There were photos of me and Adrian at a café a couple of months ago. A photo of him holding an umbrella over me. Another of him touching my arm while we were talking. Those were from the time he had just come back to the country, and as my childhood friend, we decided to meet, since Arzhel was on a business trip and Veronica annoyed me in my own house.

Below it was a short statement from Theron Group’s legal team.

“Mr. Arzhel Theron confirms that the divorce is due to irreconcilable differences caused by betrayal during the marriage.”

My jaw dropped. I felt dizzy.

This wasn’t just between us anymore. I told him not to humiliate me, and there was a clause in the divorce papers that I wasn’t allowed to talk about it, yet he did. I was just nobody. I was his maid’s daughter. My family was poor. Why did he need to go this far?

I scrolled down.

Netizens were already tearing me apart.

“Gold digger”

“Cheater”

“Poor Mr. Theron”

“She got caught and still tried to lie”

My hands shook so badly that I dropped the phone.

The door opened.

“Lia.”

I looked up. Adrian stood there, his face dark.

“You saw it,” he said. His expression turned into full concern.

I slowly nodded. I felt like those comments took all my energy.

“I just got off the phone with my PR team,” he continued. “They’re already asking if I want to issue a denial.”

“No,” I said immediately.

He frowned. “Why not?”

“Because it’ll make it worse,” I said.

Adrian clenched his jaw. “He crossed the line.”

“He did it on purpose,” I said. “Maybe he wants to remind me who I am, a nobody. Maybe it’s his punishment for what he thought I am, a cheater. He’s making sure to remind me that I wouldn’t succeed without him,” I said, almost in a whisper.

I swung my legs off the bed and stood up.

“I need to go out.”

“Where?” Adrian asked.

“Theron Group.”

He stared at me. “Are you serious?”

“I’ll end this. I don’t want this to go bigger.”

Arzhel knew a lot of businessmen, politicians, and news companies. We were no match for him. I had been no match for him ever since. The only way to end this was to give what he wanted. Divorce.

I took the divorce paper inside my bag. I signed it without second thought.

Within an hour, I was already at Theron Group’s headquarters.

The moment I stepped into the lobby, people started whispering.

Some were secretly glancing at me. Some stared openly.

I walked straight to the reception desk, but the security arrived and stopped me.

“Ms. Analia,” one of them said politely but with authority. “You’re not allowed inside.”

“I’m here to see Arzhel Theron. Please, call him,” I pleaded. “Then I’ll leave right away.”

They hesitated, but I still saw someone talk to the receptionist. Five minutes later, the elevator doors opened.

Arzhel stepped out.

The lobby went silent.

“Why are you here?” he asked, with irritation as always.

“You turned my life into headlines.” I said bitterly.

He didn’t react.

“You shouldn’t have cheated.”

His words hit hard, even though I expected them. Of course, he would insist on those accusations.

“I didn’t,” I said in a tone that showed I was almost out of patience. “And you know it.”

He laughed lightly.

“You’re still lying?”

Suddenly, I started to see him differently, like he would never be the man who would choose me or even believe in me. Instead, he was the one who would always humiliate me.

People around us started pulling out their phones.

“You want the truth?” I said, loud enough just for both of us to hear. “Fine. Let’s talk about the hospital.”

His eyes darkened.

“I was sick,” I continued. “I went there because I was vomiting every morning.”

“And you took your lover with you,” he accused.

“I took a friend,” I snapped. “Because my husband was never home.”

His jaw clenched.

“Say it,” I said. “Say what you really think.”

He stepped closer. “I think you’re a cheater!”

“That’s a lie.”

“You got pregnant by him,” he said coldly, “and now you’re trying to pass it off as mine.”

The air between us felt heavy.

My vision blurred. I could tolerate him treating me like an outsider in our marriage, but him treating our child like an outsider too made my heart ache. Our child, my child, didn’t deserve that.

“Say that again,” I whispered.

He didn’t hesitate. “That child is not mine.”

Before I could say something, he took a step closer and said something low enough for only the two of us to hear.

“Every time we had sex, I used a condom, Lia. There’s no way that child would be mine.”

I let out a short laugh.

“So you don’t remember the last time we had sex a couple of weeks ago? You were so drunk, you couldn’t even open your condom?” His eyebrows started to frown. “You decided to just throw it away and go on without any protection?” I made him hear how pissed I was right now.

He paused. His eyebrows started to furrow while remembering that night. But his expression showed that he didn’t remember anything.

“You’re lying again! But if you really insist that it’s mine, I want proof. And if that’s really mine, I’ll take the child away from you. Only the child, because I don’t need a cheater wife.” He said with a gritted teeth.

Something inside me snapped. What he knew about raising a child, he might end up treating it the way he treated me.

“No need for that. Like you said, this child is not yours. I’ll make sure you never see the baby,” my voice almost cracked.

What I said caught his attention.

“What did you say?”

I straightened my back. “I already signed the divorce paper. I’ll disappear. You won’t hear from me again.”

“And the child?”

“You don’t want the child anyway,” I said bitterly. “So let’s keep it that way.”

For the first time, he looked unsure.

“Lia,” he said slowly, like he was thinking about what to say next.

But before he could finish his sentence, I took the divorce papers from inside my bag and handed them to him.

“Congrats, you finally got rid of me.”

I turned around without waiting for his reaction.

I placed my hand on my stomach.

Once your father found out he made a big mistake, it would be my turn to make him feel how unwanted he was in our life.