My husband had a very close female colleague. They were so close that they would even share a hotel room on business trips.

I was five months pregnant and suffering from severe morning sickness, yet he seemed indifferent. This led to numerous arguments between us. He would brush off my concerns, saying, "Leila and I are just regular colleagues. Can you stop being unreasonable?"

"You know we're married, so obviously, you're the one I love the most."

Duncan wanted to share a room with me, but I refused.

He immediately left me and sought comfort with Leila.

"She's pregnant and doesn't want me near her. I've never seen someone so over-the-top!"

On Thanksgiving Eve, I had a fever, but Duncan didn’t come home. I tried calling him, but all he left was a text saying, "I'm working late, won't be home tonight." I believed he was busy. Feeling miserable, I managed to find some aspirin to help bring down my temperature.

Then I saw Leila's post on Instagram: "Even if I can't be with him officially, the place I hold in his heart is enough for me."

It turns out Duncan was with Leila, watching the fireworks. Their picture was so sweet, completely ignoring the fact that Duncan was a married man.

My emotions were all over the place, often triggered by small things. As I sent that photo to Duncan, demanding answers, my hands were shaking. "Is this what you mean by busy—spending time with her?"

Much later, he replied. "I was just watching fireworks with her. Do I have to tell you about every little thing?"

"And you, a pregnant woman, why the urge to be out in the hustle and bustle?" Duncan always made it seem as if I was the unreasonable one.

A wave of sadness washed over me at that moment. I felt nauseated again. Since becoming pregnant, I've never felt quite right. Yet when I'm at my worst, Duncan would only say, "All women go through this during pregnancy. Stop being dramatic."

Leila would also chime in sarcastically, "Yeah, Duncan works hard. You can't just use your pregnancy to keep him from doing his job, right?" She’d wrap her arm around Duncan, saying, "We have to meet the clients now, Cadence. Don’t bother Duncan with trivial matters. You’re lucky you don’t have to work."

After I became pregnant, I had to quit my job. Duncan was supporting me, and I was conscious of that. I managed to go to prenatal check-ups on my own. Yet, Duncan, who claimed to be overwhelmed with work, would drop everything to accompany his colleague to the hospital when she had an allergic reaction.

Holding my prenatal check-up report, my fingertips were white from gripping it so tightly. His eyes showed no guilt when he saw me; instead, he defensively said, "Leila's just young and scared to go to the hospital alone. That's why I went with her."

"I can't ignore a colleague, especially when she's really having an allergic reaction with a rash. She’s pretty pitiful."

Duncan’s eyes showed a trace of empathy. His wife was at a prenatal check-up alone, yet he felt no remorse—while he was worried over the allergic reaction of a so-called colleague.

Oh, the irony.

I didn’t argue with him that day. I just looked at him calmly for a few moments. In the end, I chose to leave home.

Duncan loves me, like he always did. He once told me, "Cadence, if someday I upset you, you can scream at me or call me out, but please don’t leave me. I can't lose you."

And my leaving home this time truly panicked him. He stopped working and searched for me everywhere. Desperate for news from my friends, he was nearly frantic, even contacting the police.

When he finally found me, he was livid.

"Cadence Richards, is this chaos worth it?"

"Do you feel satisfied seeing me find you in such a miserable state?"

He clenched his fists, eyes blazing.

I looked up at him. Unsurprisingly, standing behind him was Leila.

"Cadence, you've really gone too far this time!"

"Do you have any idea how worried Duncan is? He’s been up all night searching for you."

I looked at her calmly. "And how do you know he hasn't been sleeping well?"

Leila hesitated, lost for words.

Clearly, during my absence, they've been spending a lot of time together. While Duncan was anxious about me, he still found time to be with Leila.

"Duncan Martin, what's all this nonsense?" Duncan protectively positioned Leila behind him. "There's nothing going on between us. Can you stop imagining things?"

"If you pull a stunt like this again, don't expect me to come looking for you!"

Bitterness swept through me. Despite Duncan's harsh words, he never left me wanting for anything. After I ran away, he frantically tried to find me.

Maybe I had been overly sensitive and paranoid since getting pregnant. Perhaps I really shouldn’t have tested his sincerity like that.

So after that, I became much more accommodating. When he traveled for work, I no longer checked up on him, and when he had late-night commitments, I didn’t pressure him to come home early. Even last night, when I had a high fever, I kept it to myself and didn’t let him know.

But he was anything but discreet. He hadn’t even bothered to hide the love marks on his neck.

I hesitated, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me. Feeling guilty, he passed me the coat meant for me, then decided to wear it himself. "Forget it; this coat doesn’t need washing."

Leila’s distinctive fragrance still lingered. Instinctively, I knew they must have been up to something last night. But I had no concrete evidence.

The unborn child inside me tugged at my heartstrings, as if telling me to stay calm and rational. Not to tear apart what could be a stable family over a bout of jealousy.

If he didn't care about me, he wouldn’t have come back today, nor would he have purchased so many baby essentials. He cared about me.

So, I didn’t confront Duncan Martin further. I buried those unsettling thoughts deep within, patiently waiting for our child's arrival.

But I underestimated Leila. She managed to insert herself into almost every corner of my life. Even on Christmas Eve, Duncan brought her home.

"Leila couldn’t get a ticket to go home; I couldn’t leave her to celebrate alone, so I brought her here."

"You’re okay with that, right?"

She was already inside; there wasn't much I could say at that point.

"Cadence, since we have a guest, why don’t you make a few extra dishes?"

I hesitated before replying slowly, "You know I can't cook."

Leila offered to take over the kitchen. "Cadence should rest instead. She’s pregnant and needs to take care of herself. I’ll handle it."

Duncan gave me a disapproving look, seemingly admiring the considerate Leila while feeling disappointed in me.

Lately, my pregnancy symptoms had worsened, and I couldn't keep food down. Duncan immediately tossed his fork aside. "Cadence Richards, what's your point by throwing up?"

"Leila, a guest, cooked for you. If you’re unhappy, just say it!"

Before I could respond, I rushed to the bathroom to vomit, hearing Leila from the living room say, "It's my fault. Knowing Cadence doesn’t like me, I shouldn’t have come..."

Duncan reassured her, "No, it's not that. She's just being difficult. It’s not your fault."

When I returned, Leila's eyes were red from crying. Duncan glared at me. "Apologize to Leila; she's our guest."

I explained slowly, choosing my words carefully, "I've just been feeling unwell..."

"I don’t care what's wrong with you. Throwing up in front of everyone is just plain rude. Do you think it’s easy for Leila to prepare all these dishes?"

It seemed we were on the verge of an argument.

Leila stepped in to calm things down, "Please, let's not argue on Thanksgiving because of me."

"Cadence is pregnant. It's not her fault that her emotions are a bit all over the place. I should have made something more to her liking. I’ll get it right next time."

Hearing this, Duncan felt even more sympathy for Leila. His gaze at me was filled with irritation.

"She's just pregnant; how entitled can she get?"

A sharp pain pierced my heart.

Whenever it came to Leila, Duncan would unfailingly side with her. Watching them set off fireworks together, they appeared more like a real family.

Leila came over, holding sparklers. "Cadence, aren’t you going to join us?"

I shook my head.

Still, Leila grabbed my arm, persistently trying to pull me along.

Then my hair caught fire.

"I'm sorry, Cadence! I didn’t mean for this to happen!"

"I didn’t know your hair would catch fire so easily..."

She looked at me with an innocent expression, showing no intent to help extinguish the flames.

By the time the fire was out, half of my hair was scorched.

Duncan dropped his fireworks and rushed over.

His first concern was to check Leila's hand, "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, Duncan."

I couldn't hold back any longer, "Of course she's fine; it was me that got burned."

Duncan defended her, "Leila didn’t do it on purpose. Why weren’t you more careful?"

I sneered, "Is it somehow my fault?"

Leila stood there, looking as if she were the one wronged, "Cadence, please don’t be upset. It was my mistake..."

"Leila, you don’t have to apologize," Duncan said, his eyes meeting mine with a cold intensity. "I've seen through her act. She always has to create drama, needing everyone's attention."

"Just ignore her."

I never thought Duncan would see me this way.

I said nothing, turned away, and tears began streaming down my face.

In this marriage, lacking any sense of security, I constantly felt anxious and insecure.

I did things I shouldn’t have—checking his phone, following him around with other women.

I even went to hotels, hoping to catch him cheating.

But he was too good at hiding. I never found any proof.

Instead, he grew more and more repelled by me.

In his eyes, I was merely attention-seeking by any means possible.

Now, his patience with me was all but gone.

I could only lie in bed, tears silently falling, watching the fireworks outside.

But inside, I felt cold.

"Cadence."

I didn’t notice when Duncan entered the room.

He hugged me, "Why are you throwing a fit again? Walking off without saying a word?"

I couldn’t believe it; the person holding me was Duncan.

His voice was gentle, "Leila and I are just colleagues. She's a guest, so can you stop targeting her?"

I suddenly asked, "Duncan, do you still love me?"

People always obsess over what they're unsure of.

Duncan chuckled, "Why are you asking something like that?"

"We've been married three years; of course I love you."

He suddenly whispered, "The doctor said your pregnancy is looking stable."

I frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Why not give it a try? It's been a while since we've..."

He was moving to take things further when I pushed him away.

"I don’t want to!"

Duncan was annoyed, "Cadence, what's the matter with you?"

"You ask if I love you, and now, when I'm showing affection, you push me away?"

"Forget it, I’ll sleep in the study. What a complete waste of time!"

He slammed the door.

The room went silent, but then I heard noise from the guest room next door.

Leila was staying in that room.

He assumed I wouldn’t come out again.

Nor would I hear his secrets.

"She’s pregnant and won’t let me touch her. I've never met anyone so unbelievably uptight!"

"Leila, at least you understand. Her being pregnant makes me sick!"

...

It was a conversation too vile to recount.

So absurd and disgusting.

It was at that moment I truly saw through Duncan.

Turns out love isn't always forever.