When I was pregnant, my husband, Zach Brooks, often worked late into the night.
Considerately, I'd prepare a midnight snack and bring it to his office, only to overhear him with his secretary, Zara, saying, "That hag is so dramatic. I really can't stand going home to face her bloated figure and endless nagging. If it weren't for her carrying my child, I'd definitely divorce her and marry you."
But if it weren't for his desire for a child, why would I risk my life to get pregnant?
At that moment, I saw his true colors.
I decided to have an abortion to fulfill him and Zara as he wished.
——
It was already midnight when Zach got home.
After washing up, he lay on the other side of the bed. I heard his phone ding non-stop.
The light from his phone flickered faintly before my eyes. Perhaps he was checking if I was asleep.
He wrapped his arms around me and gently rubbed my belly.
"Mr. Brooks, why don't you ever stay to keep me company? Wouldn't it be more comfortable to hold me while sleeping than that hag?"
Zach chuckled, "She's not well, and she's carrying my child in her belly, so I have to stay with her. You want me to keep you company... alright. Why don't you have a child for me too?"
Right in front of me, Zach was blatantly flirting with Zara.
Had he been doing the same thing for a long time, holding me while whispering sweet nothings to others?
Suddenly, I felt nauseous. The sensation was so overwhelming that I couldn't help but lean over the side of the bed and vomit.
Zach got up quickly to pat my back while Zara's coquettish voice continued from his phone.
"Then you try harder next time. I'll do my best to give you a cute baby..."
After rinsing my mouth, I sat on the bed and looked at Zach.
The dim light of the night lamp was blurry, making it hard for me to discern Zach's expression.
Was he brazen or feeling guilty at this moment?
I didn't know, and I didn't want to know.
"I..." Zach tried to explain.
I said calmly, "You know, I'm not well. The doctor said that being pregnant could damage my health or even cost me my life. Since you've already found someone else who can have your child, how about I abort this one?"
By the end, my voice was a bit choked up.
This was my baby, too, already five months in my belly.
I talked to it every day and shared music with it...
We had so many beautiful moments. Every day before this, I looked forward to meeting the baby and prayed for its health.
But... I didn't want the baby to live in a family without love. I didn't want my child to have a father who cheated.
I didn't know if I could see it grow up. If I couldn't wake up from the operating table, would it be bullied?
Would Zach's new wife mistreat it?
If Zach had another child, would he still remember it?
Since I couldn't guarantee its future, I might as well not let it come to this world to suffer.
Zach's voice carried a hint of anger. "Do you have to be so extreme? She's just a fling, and I was just speaking casually. Do you have to make such a fuss?
"Besides, are there men who don't cheat? If you hadn't been pregnant and denied me, I wouldn't have sought other women.
"But don't worry. Only you can be the mother of my child. I won't let other women get pregnant."
Such disgusting words made Zach seem so strange to me.
He pinched my chin. "Rest assured. No one can threaten your position as Mrs. Brooks. After you give birth, we'll live the same life as before, alright?"
I just felt irony.
He thought all I cared about was being his wife.
Zach probably forgot the promises he made when he pursued me.
He said he would love me for a lifetime and would never cheat on me or get involved with other women.
Sure enough, men were all like this. Once they got what they wanted, they would not cherish it.
Moreover, Zach was in a high position now, with a crowd of women eager to throw themselves at him.
Even if he could resist for a day or two, could he really hold out for a year or two?
Especially when I was gaining weight during my pregnancy, the contrast with the women around him was too great. Cheating on me was just a matter of time.
I was naive to think that having love would make him forever loyal to me.
I forgot that time would take love away and change people's hearts.
Chapter 2For the following days, Zach had been working from home.
He claimed it was to take care of me, but in reality, he was afraid I would sneak to the hospital for an abortion while he was out.
Even when my best friend, Laura, invited me for a shopping trip, Zach had to tag along.
"Must be tough for you, being stuck with a bloated, nagging wife like me all day," I said sarcastically.
Zach's expression darkened. "Did you hear that?"
I scoffed, "Zach, why are you so insistent on watching over me? You've got a whole line of girls eager to have your child. Do you really want to risk both my life and the baby's for this? Aren't you afraid that neither of us might make it?"
Zach clamped his hand over my mouth. "I've said it before, only you can bear my child. The baby will be fine, and so will you."
At that moment, Laura waved at me from the entrance of the mall.
Seeing Zach, she teased, "Oh, Mr. Brooks, are you that worried about Nora? You have to keep an eye on her even when she goes shopping?"
Zach responded with a smile, "Of course. My Nora is just too charming to be left alone."
I was caught between their banter, listening to their playful exchange.
Had it been before, I might have laughed and told them to stop joking.
But perhaps the incident with Zara had made me more sensitive, and I felt an odd vibe between them that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
I excused myself to the restroom, asking them to wait for me outside.
I stood at the corner of the bathroom, eavesdropping on their conversation.
They continued to bicker playfully about me, and I suddenly felt guilty.
Laura and I had been friends for ten years. How could I suspect her like this?
But just as I was about to step out, Laura's voice dropped, and her tone turned bitter.
"Why don't you come to see me lately? I miss you so much. What's the point of always staying with a pregnant woman? Or is your secretary better than me?"
Zach whispered soothingly, "You see, Nora has been upset with me lately. How dare I go out to see you? Besides, we've been together for so many years. Zara was just a fling. She can't compare to you."
My heart ached as if it were being stabbed. The pain was so intense that I bent over, clutching my chest and gasping for air.
Sweat dripped from my forehead into my eyes, stinging them and causing tears to well up instantly.
Zach's affair with Zara had already broken my heart once.
But I never expected that my best friend would also be involved with my husband...
And from what they were saying, they must have been sneaking around behind my back for years.
I suddenly felt like my life was a failure.
It seemed like everyone around me was wearing a hypocritical mask, hiding behind a human facade.
I couldn't tell who was genuine anymore.
Perhaps realizing I had been in the restroom for too long, Zach, fearing something might have happened to me, stopped his flirtatious exchange with Laura. They both came to find me.
Seeing me bent over and clutching my chest, Zach and Laura hurriedly rushed to my side to help.
I pushed them away with all my might. "Get out! You both disgust me!"
Laura fell to the ground. She clutched her leg and screamed, "My leg! It hurts so much. Zach, do you think it's broken?"
Zach immediately knelt to inspect her leg.
She was crying pitifully, one hand on her leg and the other tugging at Zach's arm, shaking it gently. "Never mind, don't worry about me. Check on Nora first. I'll be fine. It's just a leg injury. I can see a doctor later."
"I'm OK. Don't worry about me first. You should see what's going on with Nora. I'll be fine alone. It's just a leg injury. I can see a doctor later."
Despite her words, she held onto Zach tightly.
"But I'm already carrying your child. Zach, I'm so scared something might happen to our baby..."
I looked at her pale face, frail body, and the slight tremble in her crying voice.
If I were a man, I would probably prioritize her, too.
"Nora, what's gotten into you?" Zach yelled at me.
He swept Laura up in his arms and left without a second glance.
Laura gave me a defiant look, silently mouthing, "Clown!"
Chapter 3I was indeed the clown, wasn't I?
We'd known each other for years, yet I was clueless about their affair.
I remembered how Laura and I used to mock Zach's lack of romance. I had thought she was on my side, concerned that Zach wouldn't take good care of me.
It seemed she was subtly showing off, telling me she knew Zach better than I did.
She probably didn't expect me to be so oblivious, never suspecting her.
But I couldn't figure it out—if she loved Zach, why did she never fight for him and remain friends with me?
I leaned against the wall until I felt better and then went straight home.
After scheduling an abortion online, I packed up and checked into a hotel.
I had nowhere else to go.
My mother, like me, had poor health and died from a massive hemorrhage when she gave birth to me.
My father remarried later.
At first, I was well-fed and clothed. But then, my stepmother had her own children.
I started doing all the housework and eating leftovers, only eating well when my father was home.
Back then, my father still cared for me. Knowing I wasn't eating enough, he often gave me pocket money.
Later, I was sent to a boarding school.
The time I had a high fever, my teacher called my parents to take me to the hospital.
"We have little kids at home. I'm afraid he might infect us. It's better not to let her come back this weekend."
I cried to my father, but he indifferently said, "Don't be so dramatic. Why don't you know how to consider me and your stepmother? It's just a fever. Just take some medicine."
From that day on, I knew my father had changed.
I once thought I would never get married until I met Zach.
He always put me first. Even a small cut would make him want to rush me to the hospital.
After many minor matters, I gave my heart to Zach. Unexpectedly, in the end, he still discarded it ruthlessly.
I touched my stomach.
I didn't want my child to go through this pain.
The following day, I went to the hospital.
Because of my poor health, the doctors required me to be admitted for an examination first.
Zach somehow found out I was there for an abortion and quickly found my ward.
At that time, I was sitting on the hospital bed, looking at the sunset outside the window.
I couldn't help but think of the time when we were on our honeymoon, watching the sunrise and sunset by the sea.
The sunset was as beautiful as it used to be.
Zach sat down next to me and looked up at the sunset.
"I've noticed that the sunset hasn't changed after so many years. It's still so beautiful."
It wasn't until the sun had set entirely that I couldn't help but sigh.
Zach patted me on the head. "In the future, I..."
I interrupted him, "The sunset hasn't changed, but the people watching it have."
Zach didn't respond.
"How many years have you and Laura been together behind my back?" I asked him.
He just remained silent, saying nothing.
"She's also pregnant with your child," I said indifferently. "Zach, let's just end it. Let me go and let this child go."
I felt my heart was torn apart in pain.
The child in my belly seemed to sense my emotions and kicked me gently.
When I had the ultrasound, I saw this cute little thing. It already had little hands and feet.
It curled up quietly in my belly, wholly dependent on me.
For a moment, I even thought about giving birth to it and raising it alone.
But thinking of my mother's tragic death, I quickly hardened my heart.
I would rather never bring it into this world than make it suffer.
Zach stood up, emotionally agitated. "No way! Nora, you are mine. The child is also mine. I won't let you leave me. Rest assured. I won't let Laura have that child. I've also found the best obstetrician for you. She will definitely keep you and our child safe.
"Come back with me, please. Please don't abort it. I promise I will stop having affairs with other women. You and the child will always come first to me."