I never expected my husband, Tony Baldino, to confess that he had cheated on me again.

Six months ago, I discovered his affair.

The pain was sharp, but I had resolutely signed the divorce papers, only for him to tear them up in desperation, crying at my doorstep through the rain.

He swore he would never hide anything from me again, begging for a second chance.

Soaked and humiliated, the high-and-mighty don of the Baldino family looked like a child abandoned by his own.

Seeing him and feeling the life growing in my womb, I softened and forgave him.

However, only half a year later, he betrayed me once more.

This time, before I could discover it, he confessed.

“It only happened once with Jane. You’re still the one I love. Don’t worry, she won’t take your place as Mrs. Baldino.”

His honesty was intact. He hid nothing from me.

Yet he had forgotten one thing.

When we reconciled, I had made him a promise of my own.

“Tony, you should understand by now that I am decisive. Once I make a decision, I will never return. I’d even vanish from your life. This time is the only exception.”

Since he refuses to divorce me, I will disappear in another way.

The moment I heard Tony admit the affair, my hand froze against my stomach, and my expression went still.

Tony didn’t notice anything wrong. Instead, he continued to ramble on.

“Jane works at a club. I was drunk that night we slept together. I didn’t expect that just once would get her pregnant.”

He smiled faintly, then leaned in and kissed my forehead.

“It was just an accident. Don’t worry. The one I love most is still you. No one can shake our relationship.”

I clenched my fists, about to lash out, but just then, the ringing of his phone interrupted me.

Tony answered calmly, without avoiding me at all.

“What? You’re already there? Jane is carrying my child. Don’t mess with her. Wait for me, I’ll be there soon.”

He hurried out after hanging up. Before closing the door, he even reminded me, “I bought your favorite cheesecake. Remember to eat it. If it gets late, go to sleep first. I’ll be back after I meet up with the guys.”

His Maybach disappeared into the rainy night.

Without hesitation, I immediately got into my car and followed him.

At the club, I saw Jane. She was a young girl, her eyes red as she cried softly, looking wronged and pitiful.

Tony comforted her with a gentle expression that made me think back to the time when he pursued me.

Back then, I was just a poor student who only knew how to bury myself in research.

Yet Tony Baldino, the heir of the Baldino family, fell in love with me at first sight.

During the two years he pursued me, he wished he could pluck the moon from the sky and give it to me as a gift.

When I worked part-time as a waitress to support myself, he booked the entire restaurant, inviting his family and his men to dine there, just to talk to me a little longer.

After a classmate took credit for my research results, he immediately tripled the investment, donated a research building, and placed my name as the lead in charge, using money to take back my achievements.

He set off fireworks across the entire city for me, bought out every rose in the flower shops on Valentine’s Day, and even put on an apron to learn how to cook.

His love and pursuit were known to everyone in the city.

No one believed he would betray me again and again, including me.

However, he did, and it was right before my eyes.

He stroked Jane’s hair, his voice gentle.

“My guys were just joking with you. Don’t cry. You’re carrying my child.”

After being comforted, Jane visibly became happier.

Tony’s men, who had been watching, couldn’t help but react, “She’s really pregnant? Tony, aren’t you afraid your wife will find out?”

Tony smiled indifferently. “That’s why I told her myself this time.”

Someone gasped.

“What? You told her? Are you crazy? Aren’t you afraid Astrid will try to divorce you again? Last time, you completely broke down, crying and begging all night!

“Let me say this first. I can’t handle another night of listening to you confess in pain over the phone!”

A trace of coldness flashed in Tony’s eyes, but soon he returned to his composed smile.

“She won’t divorce me. Our child is about to be born. Astrid is an orphan. No one understands better than I do how much she likes children and how much she longs for a family.”

He leisurely swirled the wine in his glass.

“Besides, even if she wants to leave, I’ll use all my connections and legal means to make it impossible. As long as I don’t sign the divorce papers, she won’t be able to divorce me.”

His words were like a bucket of cold water poured over me from head to toe.

Standing outside the door, eavesdropping, I felt a chill spread from deep inside me, and I couldn’t stop trembling.

So this was what he really thought.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know I would be hurt.

He was certain that, for the sake of the child, I wouldn’t dare to leave. And even if I tried, I couldn’t leave.

That was why he confessed to cheating without restraint.

I staggered out of the club and stood by the roadside for a long time.

Once I finally came back to my senses, I wiped the tears from my face and called the person I trusted most.

“I need to fake an accident and a death certificate to make my husband believe I’m dead.”

Since he would use every method to keep me from divorcing him, I would die before him.

The death certificate my friend helped me to forge would take effect in three days.

Just as I hung up, Tony walked in.

As always, the first thing he did was come up behind me and wrap his arms around me.

“Still waiting for me? Why didn’t you eat the cheesecake?”

There was a faint scent of cheap roses on him.

I smelled it two hours ago at the club. It was Jane’s perfume.

A wave of nausea surged up from my stomach, leaving me to turn my head away and retch.

Tony immediately gently rubbed my back, his voice tense with concern.

“It is this bad? Was everything okay at your checkup?”

I pushed him away and said nothing.

My reaction clearly caught his attention. After I finished throwing up, he tightened his arms around me again, pinning me so I couldn't struggle or pull away.

“Are you mad? I said you’re the one I love most. If Jane weren’t carrying my child, I wouldn’t even look at her.”

Is that so?

If he really didn’t think much of her, then how did she end up pregnant?

However, I didn’t expose him and just stared quietly at my toes.

“Don’t be upset. I prepared a surprise gift for you.”

He turned and went back to the car. Not long after, he returned with a beautiful bouquet of lilies.

After handing it to me, he started making a few phone calls.

My heart sank the moment I saw the card tucked between the petals.

The bouquet was meant for Jane.

He must have noticed my mood and panicked. So, before he had the chance to give them to her, he took the lilies and used them to brush me off.

He didn’t even check the card the florist had placed inside.

I looked at the man smiling at me while talking on the phone, and all I felt was sadness.

“Something came up with Jane again. Since she’s in her first trimester, her mood isn’t great, and she’s been throwing up a lot.”

He finally hung up and shrugged, as if talking about the weather.

“I might have to go see her tonight… Oh, it’s here!”

The doorbell interrupted him.

His assistant came in, carrying gift boxes and stacking them into a small pile.

“When I picked up the flowers, I also had them prepare some other gifts.”

Tony looked at me with satisfaction, as if expecting a happy reaction.

I said flatly, “Oh.”

“I know what you like. Don’t be upset.”

He sighed helplessly and patted my hair.

“Be good. Sleep on your own tonight. With Jane newly pregnant, she’s more fragile and sensitive. That’s why she’s relying on me more. If anything comes up, call me.”

“I’ve already planned it out. After she gives birth, I won’t see her again. I’ll let you raise the child, and the four of us can live well together. That’s a good plan, right?”

His tone was like he was coaxing an unreasonable child.

Calmly, I placed the bouquet of lilies on top of the pile of gifts.

“Since she needs them more, give them to her.”

A look of delight instantly spread across Tony’s face.

“Astrid, I knew you were gentle and mature! You really are the one I love most, and the best wife in the world!

“After Jane gives birth, I’ll make it up to you a hundred times over!”

He excitedly kissed my forehead, then left with the gifts and his assistant.

I watched the luxury car drive away and let out a cold laugh.

Jane did need those gifts more than me.

After all, the dead can’t take designer bags or clothes with them.

So I’ll give it all to her, including Tony.

Taking advantage of Tony’s absence, I began preparing for my fake death.

My new identity had already been arranged. Now, all I needed was for the death certificate to take effect and the right opportunity for the accident.

I thought Tony wouldn’t be back until morning.

However, in the middle of the night, he suddenly kicked the front door open. Behind him, Jane followed, crying.

He threw the gifts from earlier at me one by one. Some scattered across the floor, while some shattered.

Even the bouquet of lilies had been snapped and wilted, and he flung it harshly onto the couch in front of me.

Only then did I notice the tiny pinhole camera hidden among the flower buds.

In the broken gift boxes on the floor, faint red lights from cameras flickered.

“Astrid, you actually tried to spy on Jane?! Is that why you pretended to be generous and gave her those gifts?!”

Tony roared in fury.

“What was your purpose in spying and secretly filming her? If she hadn’t discovered it today, what were you planning to do with those recordings? Tell me!”

Jane, hiding behind him, sobbed as she spoke.

“Astrid, I really didn’t mean to ruin your family. I just couldn’t control myself, that’s why I made a mistake with Tony! I know you hate me, but you can’t spy on my life like this! Are you trying to harm my baby, or expose me as the other woman and ruin my life?”

Hearing her words, Tony grew even angrier.

I met his reddened eyes and said, “It wasn’t me. I didn’t do it.”

“Not you?”

Tony let out a cold laugh, his expression dark.

“Astrid, your acting is getting better and better. I thought you were really that generous, that you didn’t care. I didn’t expect you to use such despicable methods!

“Don’t you trust my love for you? I told you that after the child is born, I’ll cut ties with her completely and let you raise the child. Are you really so narrow-minded and impatient?!”

I knew that in front of them, any denial would be useless.

I closed my eyes briefly, suppressing the surge of emotions and forcing myself to stay calm.

“The flowers and the gifts were placed in the living room by your assistant. They haven’t been moved.

“Didn’t you install surveillance cameras all over the living room because you were worried about me going into early labor or having an accident? If I did it, you can just check the footage.”

The moment I said that, Jane’s face turned pale.

“Astrid. Only the three of us touched those flowers! If it wasn’t you, are you saying it was me? Fine. Since you insist you’re innocent, let’s check the footage!”

Tony was about to pull up the surveillance on his phone when Jane suddenly trembled. Her face pale, she grabbed his hand and broke down crying.

“Mrs. Baldino, I’m the other woman, so it’s only right that you hate me. But Tony really cares about you. Please don’t argue because of me…

“As for the cameras, if you say you didn’t place them, then you didn’t. I misunderstood you. I’ll apologize and make it up to you, okay?”

As she spoke, she picked up a bottle of champagne from one of the gift boxes, popped it open, and poured a full glass.

“I’ll toast to you. After I finish it, please forgive me. Let’s just pretend this never happened, okay?”

I watched coldly as she cried and drank the entire glass, then snorted.

“If you didn’t mean to ruin my family, why are you in such a hurry to apologize and ask for my forgiveness? And as for the cameras, whether they exist or not, we can just check the footage, can’t we?”

Tony’s face darkened with impatience. “Astrid, enough.”

“Jane is pregnant, and she’s already apologized to you. She’s being sincere and kind. There’s no need for you to keep targeting her. Maybe I misunderstood you, but we can’t ignore potential danger. I’ll check the footage now and give you the truth.”

As Tony took out his phone, Jane panicked. The bottle of champagne slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor, liquid spilling everywhere.

Suddenly, she clutched her stomach with one hand and grabbed Tony’s wrist with the other, crying out in pain.

“Tony, my stomach suddenly hurts… The champagne! It must be because I drank!”

Tony immediately panicked. He shoved his phone away and pulled Jane into his arms.

Jane groaned in pain. “It hurts… Tony, take me to the hospital!”

Seeing her like this, Tony quickly lifted her into his arms. Before leaving, he shot me a cold glare.

“You shouldn’t have let her drink to apologize! Are you satisfied now?”

As he spoke, he shoved me aside with his shoulder and left without looking back.

I stumbled, stepping onto the spilled champagne. My ankle twisted, and I fell heavily to the ground.

A sharp pain pierced my lower abdomen, and my face turned pale.

A warm flow of blood ran down my body.

I knew I was going into early labor.

“My baby… I have to save my baby…”

With all the strength I had left, I called my friend for help.

Before the pain took away my consciousness, I saw the ambulance arrive just in time. Relief washed over me as I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, I was lying in a hospital bed beside my newborn baby.

He was a boy.

“You had severe bleeding from premature labor when you were brought in. It was very dangerous. Thank God you were treated in time, and both of you are safe!”

My friend Mia wiped her eyes and handed me a document.

It was the now-effective fake death certificate, my new identity, and a plane ticket for tomorrow.

“Congratulations on your new life, Astrid. From now on, you’re free.”

I looked at the death certificate and the child in my arms, feeling both joy and emotion.

Yes, I was free.

The opportunity for my fake death had come, and it was perfect.