The True Face of My Husband

While I was on bed rest for the pregnancy, my husband's first love suddenly showed up.

When I caught them red-handed, the woman had the audacity to speak with confidence.

"I'm about to get married, I just wanted to create one last beautiful memory with Edward. Why are you interfering?"

She crossed half of Tanaxes for true love. How touching.

I can only imagine how her unlucky fiancé must feel about all this.

I couldn't take it anymore.

Forget the baby. I didn't want it. You can have the cheating scumbag, but I'm getting every penny that's owed to me!

...

I never thought I'd be the one at the center of the drama I loved to watch.

While stuck on bed rest, bored out of my mind, I'd scroll through videos all day.

Then one day, I stumbled across a relationship influencer I followed, saying she was going to meet her ex-boyfriend one last time before her wedding, just to make another "beautiful memory."

They'd been high school sweethearts. They were each other's first love but were forced to break up over a dowry dispute.

She often shared their past romance online, painting a picture so beautifully nostalgic it resonated with thousands of viewers.

I'm a straightforward person and never had one of those romantic relationships. My life was always about work, clients, and contracts.

Guess we seek what we lack, so I found myself hooked on these love stories.

I froze when I saw the latest post of the two holding hands, having reunited after traveling miles.

The photo was crystal clear. I knew the man's hand all too well. The ring he wore especially matched the one I was wearing.

It was our custom-made wedding ring.

More photos showed them hugging and making heart shapes with their hands.

They didn't show his face, but I knew that build, that outfit was my husband, Edward Collins.

And the location? It was the very city where Edward had said he was going for a business trip.

I quickly changed out of my hospital gown and jumped in the car, heading straight for the neighboring city.

Catching a cheater requires speed. If you're too late, you'll have to wait for the next time.

The blogger kept sharing updates on the situation.

After their romantic dinner, pictures of a couples' hotel were posted.

There was even a caption along with the pictures.

"Oh my god, my dream is coming true! I'm so nervous, wish me luck, everyone! (blushing.jpg)"

Well, that's a "refreshingly" unconventional dream.

The comments from this generation of netizens were truly mind-blowing.

There were a few skeptical voices here and there.

"Wait, the guy's wearing a ring. Is he married?"

"What about your fiancé?"

But those got drowned out quickly by a flood of well-wishes.

"True love is innocent! I'm rooting for you, girl!"

"Meeting across miles, this is just too romantic!"

"I have an ex I can't forget too, I should find him before my wedding!"

I couldn't be bothered with these dumb comments anymore. I drove straight into the hotel's parking lot.

For convenience, Edward and I had synced our locations in the past so we could track each other.

But after the initial novelty, we barely used it.

He probably forgot about it by now, but I never thought it'd come in handy today.

Even if that person hadn't posted the hotel photo, I could still find this cheating jerk.

Sure enough, I immediately spotted his black Benz in the parking lot. It was hard to miss.

I went straight to the reception desk with my ID and gave them Edward's ID number.

"My husband booked a room earlier, but I can't reach him. Can you check which room he's in?"

The receptionist quickly provided the room number. "1314."

Quite funny.

As luck would have it, I ran into a food delivery guy in the elevator.

"200 dollars. Help me knock on this door."

He was a good sport, agreed to the deal, and even offered to hold down the jerk for me.

Edward opened the door, completely confused, and called back into the room, "Did you order food?"

Then he noticed me standing at the door.

I walked in with my phone recording the whole scene.

There was no one in the room. The bed was covered in a pile of women's clothes, including matching pink lingerie.

Classy. The bathroom was practically all glass, with just some frosted glass for privacy.

A woman's silhouette was visible inside. "I didn't order food. Must be a mistake."

I kicked the bathroom door open, and a scream erupted.

She took a moment to react, then grabbed the showerhead to try and spray me. I had already recorded everything I needed, so I turned and walked out.

The delivery guy asked if I still needed help. I tipped him an extra 500 dollars and signaled that I could handle it from here.

By then, Edward finally found the time to come face me.

His expression was a mess. The shame, guilt, and maybe even a hint of blame?

"Freya, why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be on bed rest at the hospital?"

I almost laughed in disbelief. "Yeah, I'm on bed rest, and you're here for a romantic rendezvous with your ex?"

"It's not what you think."

"I only trust what I see. If it wasn't planned, are you saying you just happened to run into each other while you were out doing business?"

As we spoke, the woman came out, now wearing a bathrobe, and stood beside Edward. "There's nothing between us, Freya. Don't think so dirty."

I glanced at the pile of clothes on the bed. This woman had some nerve.

"What, are you seriously going to tell me you booked this room just to chat? You might as well ask a dog if it believes that."

Edward's face darkened. "Freya, don't talk like that."

The woman's eyes welled up with tears, putting on a pitiful act. "I'm Edward's ex. We were together for seven years and were forced apart. I came to see him before marriage just to create one last beautiful memory. Why do you have to ruin my final hope?"

"Last hope? Are you dying of a terminal illness? Who do you think you are that I should indulge you? I'd love to swap husbands every day. Who's going to make that happen for me?"

The woman opened her mouth to speak again, but I had no interest in hearing more.

I looked directly at Edward. "If you have anything to say, get rid of this disgusting thing first. It's sickening to look at."

Edward pressed his lips together and gently coaxed her to leave.

"Freya, let me explain."

I waved him off. "I don't want to hear it. Let's just get a divorce. I'm heading back, you can come by to sign the papers later."

With that, I walked out the door.

With my back to him, I finally felt the sting in my eyes and the tightness in my chest.

Edward ran after me, trying to grab my arm and explain.

I didn't want him to see me in such a pitiful state, so I spun around and kicked him where it hurt.

He wasn't prepared, so my kick hit him squarely. He doubled over in pain, letting out a yelp.

Taking advantage of the moment, I jumped into the car and sped off without looking back.

I thought I heard him shouting my name. The wind scattered his words, and they faded completely.

It was only then that my tears finally began to fall.

I wanted to stay strong like I had acted earlier, to look like I didn't care. But I couldn't control myself.

That woman said she and Edward had been in love for seven years, but did she know I'd given just as much time?

Eight years of my life, from twenty-one to twenty-nine. Now it feels like it was all for nothing.

After graduating from college, I sent my resume everywhere, looking for a job.

So many big companies offered me opportunities, but I turned them all down and chose Edward's small startup instead.

It was because I saw a spark in his eyes, a dream in his words. I was drawn to his drive and felt like I wanted to join him in the fight.

I wasn't sure if I was just being swept up by my emotions, but at the time, I felt like I had a good eye for spotting potential.

Together, we worked hard, growing from a tiny office to a company with over a hundred employees.

Our relationship evolved from boss and employee to business partners, then boyfriend and girlfriend, and finally husband and wife.

I knew he had an ex-girlfriend named Alina Moore. He often joked about it when we were just bosses and employees.

He said they started dating in their freshman year and had a seven-year relationship, but it eventually fell apart due to reality.

They were almost at the point of discussing marriage, and the bride price was set at 150,000 dollars.

When he finally gathered the money, her family suddenly disagreed and demanded an extra 80,000 dollars.

His family wasn't well off. Even 150,000 was a stretch, and they couldn't afford another 80,000.

He realized this was the family's way of turning him down.

And that's how the relationship ended.

Later, with that 150,000 dollars, he threw himself into starting a business, determined to prove himself. That's how our story began.

The company's business wasn't doing well in the early years, sometimes barely breaking even. During the day, he would suit up and charm clients with a smile.

After work, he often looked defeated and would drag me out for a night of heavy drinking.

When he was drunk, he'd cry and ask me if he was useless.

I knew who he was crying for. Feeling bitter on his behalf, I nodded in frustration, which only made him cry harder.

But I added, "Don't worry, I'll support you."

Honestly, I believed he was capable. He just had bad luck.

One time, when his company was on the verge of collapse, I took out the $300,000 my dad had set aside for my dowry to help him through the crisis.

He took the money. His eyes were red, and he pulled me into his arms. When he said my name, his voice trembled, and it melted my heart.

The moonlight was beautiful that night. Honestly, I had always cared for him. With the alcohol in our system, things naturally progressed between us.

The next morning, he wrapped his arms around my waist and said with conviction, "Freya, thank you for not leaving me during my hardest times. I swear I'll never let you down."

His chest was warm, and I could feel his heartbeat quicken.

Nestled in his arms, I felt an overwhelming sense of security.

He gave me 30% of the company's shares.

Later, we caught a wave of policy reforms, and his business started booming. The company expanded rapidly.

He bought a house, put my name on the deed, and proposed to me.

Of course, I said yes.

After we got married, I worked alongside him for another three years. We had plans to open a branch office. But then, unexpectedly, I got pregnant.

Since there were signs of a possible miscarriage, Edward told me to stop working and focus on resting.

I never expected such a ridiculous situation to happen.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. My best years were ruined by this worthless man.

Tears flowed uncontrollably, and everything in front of me became a blur.

I pulled the car over and let myself have a good cry.

Letting my heart rule over my head... "This is the payback, isn't it?"

Suddenly, I felt a warm rush from below.

My heart skipped a beat. That sensation was all too familiar.

This was exactly how it felt during the last miscarriage scare.

This time, I didn't feel the same panic as before. This baby had been unexpected. Though I'd been excited at first, now there was no point.

I didn't want to see my husband anymore, so keeping the baby seemed pointless.

I drove straight to the nearest hospital.

"The baby's heartbeat is still strong. Do you want to try to save it?"

"No need. I'd like to schedule a termination."

I went to the ER, and they immediately scheduled the procedure.

After a two-hour observation, I drove home.

This apartment, located downtown, was bought by Edward when he proposed. It was in my name.

He had said it was to thank me for all my contributions to the company, that I deserved it.

I thought I had earned it, but Edward's mom didn't agree. She was always making snide comments, saying I'd schemed my way into trading $30,000 for company shares and got her son to buy me a luxury apartment.

Before, I'd let it go out of respect for Edward. If she ever started that nonsense again, I'd make sure she wouldn't have anything left to say.

Edward came back not long after I did.

Logically, he should've been home before me since I even stopped by the hospital.

The fact that he's only returning now makes it obvious where he's been.

"I'll draft the divorce papers in the next few days. Look them over. If it's all good, just sign."

"Freya, do you really have to talk to me like this?"

"What, should I add a 'please'?"

I frowned at him. What does he want, for me to beg him to sign?

"Freya, listen to me. Nothing happened between us. You showed up before anything could happen."

What kind of ridiculous excuse is that?

It sounded like he was complaining that I interrupted him.

They were already undressed and taking a shower. "Does it matter if they didn't go all the way?"

"So what you're saying is, I should've sat and watched you two finish before I had the right to bring up divorce, huh?"

The guilt on Edward's face slowly turned into irritation as he listened to me.

"Alright, Freya, calm down. It's not good for the baby. Let me take you back to the hospital so you can rest."

He's got a bit of an arrogant streak and doesn't handle people well. He might be good at business negotiations, but soothing someone? Not so much.

I used to overlook it. But now, every word out of his mouth just made me angrier.

I threw the abortion paperwork in his face.

"There's no baby anymore.