Emily couldn't stand there another second. She turned to leave-but a hand clamped down hard on her arm.

She immediately tried to yank free, but couldn't. She spun around, eyes bloodshot, and snapped, "Let go of me!"

Aaron's grip only tightened, "STOP IT. This is a workplace!"

Emily gritted her teeth, her voice sharp and deliberate, "Oh? Did you remember this is a workplace when you were all over her in here?"

She stared at him down, unafraid.

Aaron's expression started to crack under the weight of her words. His mouth twitched-then twisted with anger.

"YOU're being completely irrational! When did you turn into this?"

Ha.

Emily let out a cold scoff. Anger wasn't even the loudest thing inside her anymore-just this overwhelming numbness. So many things she could say, and yet none of them mattered.

Her eyes dropped to his hand still gripping her arm, tight and unkind.

No gentleness. No care. Just pain.

But even that couldn't compare to how much her heart hurt.

He could speak to that woman like she was made of glass-and treat his wife like she was a burden.

Aaron had always been strong-willed. Once he dug his heels in, nobody could change his mind.

She knew if she fought him physically, she'd only end up hurting herself. So she gave up struggling.

Still scowling, Aaron pulled out his phone and barked into it, "Leo, get up here. Now."

The tension in the room was thick and strange. Even Amelia didn't dare make a sound-Nobody liked Aaron when he was pissed.

Emily just stared at him. That quiet fury inside her kept growing, spreading like wildfire.

In less than two minutes, his assistant Leo appeared at the door, "Sir, what can I do?"

"Take my wife home. If she disappears, you're responsible." His voice was icy and sharp-clearly meant for Emily to hear.

The message was loud and clear: Don't even think about vanishing. You won't like the consequences.

Leo stepped over respectfully, and only then did Aaron finally let go of her.

"This way, ma'am."

Emily rubbed at her sore arm, her eyes dull, and followed Leo out.

They got into an all-black car. Leo sat up front, instructing the driver to head back to the Lopez home.

Outside, the sky had turned a dull gray, dimming the city's sharp edges. Then the rain came, light at first, then harder, splashing sideways across the windows. Emily stared at the droplets trickling down the glass, slowly joining into puddles.

When did you become like this? Aaron had asked her.

Yeah... when did she become like this?

Once upon a time, she'd graduated top of her class with honors in design. She was sharp. Confidence. Admired. Guys had lined up to chase her. And now? She was just a "crazy wife" in her husband's eyes.

Her first job had been at his company. That's where they met-a storybook romance. They fell in love fast and hard. He had even helped her family, pulled them out of a tough time without a second thought.

Back then, she truly believed she was the luckiest woman in the world.

He proposed quickly. Said he didn't want her working too hard.

"I'll take care of the money," he'd said, "You just take care of our home."

Fresh out of college and drunk on love, she agreed. She left her job, poured everything into building a life with him.

And when she couldn't get pregnant, she cried in front of him, apologizing over and over. He'd hugged her and whispered,

"Don't worry. We'll take our time."

And now, when that long-awaited baby finally arrived...it was suddenly the wrong time?

She gently wiped away a tear with the tip of her finger, then pressed her hand over her belly. I'm sorry, she whispered silently. Mommy's so, so sorry. I don't know what to do anymore.

The car kept moving forward, but her thoughts spun in every direction.

"We're here, ma'am."

Leo got out and respectfully opened the back door for her. His expression was calm and unreadable.

Leo had only started working for Aaron after they got married. He'd never seen them fight like this before-But with how much the boss usually doted on her, he figured they'd patch things up in a day or two.

Emily had always been kind to them. Never once acted entitled.

After walking her back to the villa, Leo stepped aside to make a call and report to his boss.

It had only been a few hours since Emily woke up that morning-but it felt like a whole lifetime had passed.

"Ma'am, would you like something to eat?" The maid asked.

"I'm good. I need to rest. Don't call me." Her voice was weak, barely there.

She dragged her tired body upstairs.

She didn't want to think. About anything. So many emotions were crashing down all at once, she could barely breathe.

Maybe it was the pregnancy fatigue or maybe she was just that broken.

Either way-she cried herself to sleep.

The sun had gone down, and the already gloomy sky turned pitch black.

A sleek business car pulled into the driveway of the villa. Aaron stepped through the front door, shrugging off his suit jacket. A maid took it from him. As he loosened his tie, he asked casually,

"Where's my wife?"

"She went straight to bed when she got home."

Aaron frowned. "She's still sleeping?"

Hearing confirmation, his brows furrowed deeper, "No one thought to wake her?"

There was a trace of annoyance in his voice- It was already 8pm. and she hadn't even eaten?

"She said she didn't want to be disturbed," the maid replied honestly, now holding his tie.

"Fine. I'll go check on her. Have the kitchen prepare something light."

Aaron hadn't expected her to be this upset-to the point of skipping dinner just to make a point.

But when he opened the bedroom door, he was met with darkness. Emily always left a bedside lamp on when she slept.

Tonight, not even a flicker.

He walked quietly to the bed and switched on the lamp by her side.

She was still asleep-curled up tight, completely still. The soft amber light fell on her cheeks, and that's when Aaron saw it-the dried tear streaks on her face.

He froze. Then slowly sat down beside her, brushing her face gently with the back of his hand.

His rough fingers made her skin itch faintly. Emily stirred. Then slowly opened her eyes.

She'd been sleeping in the same position for too long. As soon as she blinked herself awake, she felt a deep ache in her lower back. She winced and reached for it, brows knitting from the pain.

"You're awake?" A concerned voice reached her ears. "Where does it hurt? I'll help you rub it out."

Only then did Emily realize who was beside her. She instinctively shoved his hand away.

"GET OFF ME."

She looked up to see Aaron stiffen slightly-his eyes full of tenderness, like some perfect, caring husband.

As if he hadn't just been in a woman's arms that afternoon.

Aaron grabbed both her wrists, "You're still mad, huh? Then hit me. Go ahead."

He picked up her hands and pressed them against his chest, "Hit me until you're not mad anymore."

Emily's lips parted slightly, then curled into a bitter, disbelieving smile.

Her hands were caught, so she let them fall against his chest a few times before pulling back abruptly, "ARE you done being insane?"

Her voice was quiet-The kind of quiet right before a storm tears the sky apart.

Aaron took a deep breath, "What will it take for you to stop being mad at me?"

"You think this is just some small mistake?" Emily stared at him like she couldn't believe how ridiculous he was being.

"You think all you have to do is say sorry and I'll just... forgive you?"

If he'd just told her the truth-told her straight up he wanted someone else, that he didn't want her anymore-it would've been less disgusting than this fake act of remorse.

He was so much WORSE than she ever imagined.

Aaron pinched the bridge of his nose, "If it makes you feel better, I'll make sure Amelia never sets foot in the office again."

That's what he thought this was about?

"You really think she's the problem here?" Emily bit down on her lower lip, the tremble giving her away.

She exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay steady-then looked him dead in the eye.

"Let's divorce."

Divorce?

Aaron visibly froze. His eyes flickered-just for a split second-but he quickly masked it with his usual calm.

"That's not a word you should throw around lightly."

He thought she was just being emotional, saying something she didn't really mean. He reached out, trying to touch her cheek.

"DON'T touch me."

Emily leaned back against the headboard, jerking her head away from his hand. Her gaze locked onto the bed sheets.

Yeah... in the past three years, they'd barely fought. A few small arguments here and there, but he'd always been the first to make peace. She never imagined it would spiral to something like this-divorce.

Was it her?

Was she overreacting? Saying something that serious over just one incident?

But the truth was-

The moment the word left her lips, it was like a massive weight lifted off her chest. For the first time that night, she could actually breathe.

Aaron's fingers slowly curled into a fist, then dropped to his side. Emily didn't even look at him. The tension between them thickened.

After a long silence, he sighed-tired, maybe even a little helpless.

"Yeah... I didn't tell you Amelia was back. She came to talk to me about letting our company use her designs. I haven't agreed to anything yet. If you're not okay with it, I... I can turn her down."

Emily's expression didn't budge. She just sat there, her face like stone.

Aaron closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again-his voice quieter now, a little rough around the edges.

"She got married years ago. Whatever you're worried about... it's not happening."

Emily's long lashes quivered.

WHAT KIND of a married woman sits in another man's lap like that?

But that wasn't the point anymore. Amelia wouldn't have dared if Aaron hadn't let her. And the look in Amelia's eyes-like she was staring down an enemy-that wasn't innocent.

"So what-her relationship falling apart, and she suddenly remembers you exist?"

The words hit Aaron like a punch to the chest. His head snapped up, eyes sharpening instantly.

Gotcha.

Emily saw it in his face-his parted lips, that flash of guilt. She pieced it together.

He'd loved Amelia before, hadn't he? Loved and lost. She married someone else, broke his heart-

And then one day, he met someone who looked just like Amelia.

So he projected all that unfinished love onto the lookalike.

Her.

Three years of marriage... and she'd been nothing but a stand-in.

What he called "love" was just a reflection. A shadow. It was never truly for her.

Even now, Emily felt it-Aaron didn't want to let her go, not because of love, but because he wasn't ready to lose the illusion.

"YOU're being ridiculous," he snapped, all softness gone. "She's married. Don't INSULT her like that."

So that was it.

He had meetings all day, skipped out on a social event just to come home and explain-and this was how she reacted?

What more did she want?

Emily looked at him calmly now, the light completely gone from her eyes, "I know you too well, Aaron. That's why this hurts so much."

Aaron was known for his cold, distant nature. Not many could get close to him. Even before they got married-especially after-they never had scandal, never had drama. He never flirted, never let other women near. He carried himself with discipline.

She used to think it was loyalty.

But after today-catching him like that with Amelia-it shattered everything she believed in.

And the more she thought about it, the more she realized-Without his permission, Amelia would've never dared sit in his lap.

This wasn't just on Amelia. That kind of intimacy only happens when two people allow it.

Now he was back, trying to explain-But all he really cared about was protecting Amelia's image. Making sure no one thought anything scandalous about a married woman?

Aaron's face darkened. He shot up from the bed.

"If you really knew me," he said coldly, "you'd know I don't do divorce."

He stood over her, voice commanding, like a final verdict.

Even now, all he wanted was control.

No room for questions.

No space for her voice.

He just wanted her to accept it all.

Emily felt her heart sink, deeper and deeper.

Of course.

If he divorced her right after Amelia showed up, what would people say? To the outside world, he still needed her-his wife,his perfect little cover.

A thousand thoughts raced through Emily's mind.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit her. The room spun wildly around her, and she pressed her fingertips hard against her temples, trying to steady herself-Probably because she hadn't eaten all day.

Her body gave out. She slumped back against the pillows, completely drained.

Aaron glanced at her, "You're probably starving-low blood sugar," he said flatly.

Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room. He flung the door open and called downstairs, "Mia, bring the food up!"

Emily's face had gone completely pale. She didn't have the strength to say another word to him. She just shut her eyes.

She heard the door open and close again. Then, gradually, the scent of something creamy and warm filled the air-food.

"Eat."

Emily opened her eyes slowly. A tray of food had been set down in front of her, with a small table popped open across her legs so she could eat comfortably. Aaron handed her a fork.

She stared at the plate-creamy mushroom pasta-and frowned. After a few seconds of mental tug-of-war, she forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat, reached out, and took the fork.

She twirled a bit of the pasta halfheartedly.

Aaron didn't leave. He stood right beside the bed, watching her.

One bite. Then another.

Emily forced herself to eat, not for him-but for the baby. Even though the smell of cream had been making her nauseous lately, she managed to get a few bites down.

But after the third, she just couldn't do it anymore.She put the fork down and dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.

"That's all?" Aaron asked, sighing, "No matter how mad you are at me, don't take it out on your body."

The food helped a little, but Emily's voice was still soft and tired, "I'm not."

There was barely a dent in the portion-just one corner of the plate missing. Aaron stared at it for a moment, then let out a breath like he was dealing with something helpless.

He walked back to her side, sat down, picked up the fork, and gently spun it through the pasta, twisting up a bite-sized portion.

Emily watched his movements, momentarily dazed.

If she hadn't gone to his office today...If she hadn't seen it herself...Would things still feel normal?

Would he have made a good dad?

"Come on, one more bite."

She looked at him, "I really can't."

He didn't stop, "You need to take care of yourself. Tomorrow, we'll go see your grandma at the hospital."

The words themselves were tender-but the way he said them? Cold. Mechanical.

Emily blinked, stunned. His words echoed in her mind.

"...Are you threatening me?"

She turned her head away, rejecting the bite he held out.

"Eat first," he said again, unmoved.

Emily bit down on her lip so hard it almost broke skin. He didn't even deny it.

That little softness she'd felt just moments ago-Gone. Evaporated.

She shoved his hand away. The fork-and the pasta tangled around it-went flying. It hit the floor with a harsh clatter, the metal echoing against the silence that followed.

The room went dead quiet.

Back when Emily had just graduated, she landed a job at Aaron's fashion brand. As a junior employee, there was no reason she'd ever cross paths with the CEO-

But six months in, at a company anniversary party, she accidentally ran straight into him... and spilled a glass of red wine all over his suit.

Emily was fresh out of school and nearly scared to death. If he asked her to pay for it, there was no way her tiny paycheck could cover the cost of that custom, high-end suit.

But Aaron didn't get mad.

He just asked her to leave her contact info-clearly just an excuse. When he did reach out later, he never mentioned compensation. Instead, he started asking her out to dinner, taught her how to play golf, and even took her out on his yacht.

What did she know back then? Only that a successful, good-looking man-five years older, charming and mature-was showing interest in her. Her heart didn't stand a chance.

Later, when her grandma suddenly fell critically ill and needed emergency heart surgery, Aaron didn't hesitate. He had her transferred to the best suite at a private hospital and flew in one of the top specialists from overseas.

That same year, she said yes to his proposal. She stopped wondering if she was "good enough" for him. When a man does that much for you... what's left to question?

She was completely swept away by LOVE.

And with her grandma needing long-term care-which Aaron took full responsibility for-

she willingly let herself become his porcelain doll.

But that dream? It shattered yesterday.

If she wasn't someone's replacement, maybe she could've kept lying to herself. Maybe she could've kept living in the fantasy.

Looking back over the past month, Aaron had been coming home late way more than usual. He told her he was busy launching a new fashion line at work, and she hadn't doubted him.

But now that she thought about it...Amelia probably came back a month ago. She just didn't find out until yesterday.

So stupid.

After their fight, Aaron had slammed the door and stormed out. He didn't return to their room all night. The maid had told her that morning he'd slept in the study.

"You don't need to tell me next time," Emily said coldly.

Mia blinked, caught off guard, but nodded. "Okay."

Emily looked down at the breakfast on the table. She was starving-stomach practically eating itself-but she couldn't bring herself to pick up the fork.

"Oh, and going forward... keep it low-oil. And no cream-based stuff."

"Ma'am, are you not feeling well?"

Emily lowered her gaze, "Just some stomach issues. No need to tell him."

Of course, chances were it'd reach Aaron before noon. He had a grip on everything. Big or small, nothing in the house escaped his control.

Was that called being attentive... or just obsessive?

But with changes in her body...he hadn't noticed a thing.

She finished the fresh avocado toast Mia had brought over. The maid took her plate but left the usual glass of milk behind.

That glass of milk had become one of Aaron's habits of control too. He always said it was for her health. 

Back when he was still home in the mornings, he'd sit and watch her drink it. But ever since his schedule changed, the job fell to the maid-who now had to gently encourage her to drink it instead.

Emily didn't hate milk...But somewhere along the way, it started tasting bitter. Maybe it was the pregnancy-Not just cream, but anything dairy made her queasy now.

Still, she didn't want to make things difficult for Mia.

"I'll take it upstairs."

Mia looked like she wanted to say something. After all, Mr. Lopez had personally instructed her to crush up a vitamin B tablet every morning and mix it into the milk-saying it was for stress and fatigue.

And if he wasn't around, it was her job to make sure his wife drank it. That rule had been in place since Mia first started working here.

But if Mrs. Lopez said she'd drink it in her room, there was no room to argue. She'd been doing it this way for weeks now, and nothing had happened.

Later, just like always, Mia would go up to collect the empty glass from her room.

Emily carried the glass of milk upstairs, poured it down the sink, then set the empty cup aside. 

She changed her clothes, and when she glanced up at the mirror, she noticed her face looked a little sunken. She ran her fingers through her hair-the same brown shade that resembled Amelia's-and felt a wave of disgust.

Too bad she couldn't dye it. In the first trimester of pregnancy, it's best to avoid hair dye-hormones make the skin more sensitive. She could only endure it for now.

She put on a long-sleeved dress. It was still a bit chilly in February, so she threw on a coat. After slipping into flat shoes, she stepped outside-only to be stopped by security at the gate.

"SORRY, ma'am. Mr. Lopez said you can't leave the house without his permission."

Emily didn't even bother to lift her eyes. She kept walking.

"Please, ma'am," one of the guards said, clearly uneasy, "don't make this harder on us."

She let out a cold scoff. "What, I need approval now just to visit my grandma?"

The guards looked awkward but stayed silent.

"FINE, you want his permission? I'll call him right now." She pulled out her phone and dialed.

Unlike yesterday, the call connected quickly.

"Em? What's going on?"

The background was quiet. His voice echoed slightly-it sounded like he was in a meeting. Still, he picked up. And this time, his tone wasn't as stiff as yesterday.

"I'm going to see my grandmother. Tell your people to let me out." Emily wasn't in the mood to circle around the point-she said it straight.

There was a beat of silence. Then she heard the scrape of a chair, the sound of a door opening, then closing.

"I said I'd go with you, but I'm tied up today. Tomorrow-"

"AARON." She cut him off, voice rising. "Is it really that hard to just let me leave the house? You seriously want to control even where I go now?"

"Em, I don't want to argue with you." His voice was tight, like he was holding back frustration.

"Great. Neither do I. So just one thing-let me leave."

"NOT today."

The second the words left his mouth, Emily hung up.

Absolutely absurd. 

He just wanted to keep her like some caged canary, locked away from the world.

This wasn't a life-it was a prison. They weren't even speaking like people anymore. Just anger. Just control.

Emily walked back into the house, her hand drifting instinctively to her belly. She couldn't just think about herself anymore-she had someone else to protect now.

Pulling out her phone, she typed a message to Aaron:

"Come home earlier tonight. There's something important I need to tell you."

At 6:30, she heard the front door open. Aaron stepped in, draping his coat over his arm. He showed up earlier than she expected.

Emily was already seated on the couch, waiting for him.

Even though he was still pissed about being hung up on earlier, he honored her message and came back sooner than usual. 

He walked over, long strides steady, and sat down beside her.

"What did you want to tell me?" he asked.

SUDDENLY, she felt nervous. 

She'd meant to tell him yesterday. But after everything-the way they spoke to each other, the way they fought-whatever joy she once had about this news was long gone.

Still, she'd thought it through.

No matter what happens between them-whether they stay together or not-he's still the baby's father. He deserves to know.

And maybe, just maybe, if he found out... he'd loosen his grip on her a little.

Emily clutched the fabric of her dress, licked her dry lips, and looked up at him.

"I'M PREGNANT."

Her heart pounded in her chest. She stared into his eyes, watched his pupils widen-just a fraction-then shrink right back down. Like nothing happened. Like it meant nothing.

Then, suddenly, his lips curved.

A quiet laugh followed.

"That's NOT possible."