During my pregnancy, my husband Gunnar insisted on hiring a beautiful nanny to care for me. Initially, I was hesitant, but Gunnar reassured me, saying, “Miss Vargas graduated from a top nursing school with a wealth of experience. If you ever feel unwell, you won’t have to rush to the clinic so often.”

However, a few days later, while I was giving my baby a prenatal lesson, I twisted my back. I called out several times for Ashlynn, but she never came. Struggling, I made my way to the door, only to hear heavy breathing from the other side, which made my face go pale. The door shook slightly, accompanied by the soft sound of jazz music, making it difficult to discern without getting closer.

“Is this place exciting for you, Gunnar?” I heard her say.

"It's really exciting, no wonder they say you have plenty of experience," Gunnar responded.

It turns out her skills weren’t just in nursing—they extended to sneaking around too. Feeling a sharp pain in my abdomen, I was about to open the door when a phone rang. It was my mother-in-law, Marisol.

“Mom, Braelyn wouldn’t even dare bring up divorce if she knew. She relies on me for everything, let alone while she’s carrying my child. She wouldn't let go,” Gunnar assured Marisol. “Your son works hard all day, Mom, and I deserve a little enjoyment when I come home. Besides, don’t you want more grandkids?”

I recalled Marisol’s call from the day before, where she had consoled me: “Being pregnant is hard for you, and Gunnar has it tough too. You need to be kind to him.”

So, Marisol knew about Gunnar’s affair all along but chose to cover it up, leaving me in the dark.

Ashlynn's flirtatious voice echoed, “Gunnar, having a baby is a different price tag altogether. But feel me, with these hips, everyone is convinced I’m meant to have sons.”

Gunnar praised her with enthusiasm, and I heard the sound of clothing rustling. “Money is no object for me. If you can really give me a son, you’ll be well taken care of,” he promised.

“Braelyn is like a wet blanket in bed, but you bring so much flair,” he continued.

As the door shook more violently, their words pierced my heart like daggers. I couldn’t hold back anymore and flung the door open, nearly causing them to tumble backward. Taking in the scene, I saw Ashlynn’s dress was down to her waist, exposing herself, and Gunnar was left in just his underwear.

Unable to stomach the depravity any longer, I coldly questioned, “Weren’t you supposed to be taking care of me? Is this how you do it, by taking off your clothes?”

Ashlynn feigned innocence and replied, “Braelyn, Gunnar had a long, hard day. If you won’t help him relax, someone has to.”

Am I supposed to thank her for her generosity?

The pain in my abdomen worsened, and I could only clutch my belly, letting out a few groans in agony. To Gunnar, however, it seemed like an act.

He looked at me blankly and mocked, “Don’t pretend, Braelyn. I’ve been providing for you, giving you everything you want. Don’t make everything about the baby. You’re about to be a mother, yet you’re more clueless than a young girl.”

How could Gunnar so calmly say he’d been providing well for me?

In the two weeks since Ashlynn arrived, she only pretended to check on me for the first three days. After that, she ordered me to clean the house.

“Even if you are pregnant, you can’t skip all exercise. It’s not good for the baby,” she’d argue.

She replaced my healthy pregnancy meals with rich, fatty foods, saying, “Braelyn, you can’t deprive the baby of nutrients just to stay in shape.”

I suffered from severe morning sickness and couldn’t stand the smell of these meals, which inevitably ended up in Ashlynn’s stomach. I had complained to Gunnar, but he dismissed it. “Miss Vargas is a professional; she knows what she’s doing. Just follow her advice.”

“Besides, both you and the baby are fine, aren’t you?” He'd brush me off.

Gunnar stood by her side, and Ashlynn became more brazen, even intercepting me when I wanted to go to the clinic due to spotting.

“Braelyn, stop overreacting to gain Gunnar’s attention. He’s too tired to play these games with you,” she chided.

She wasn’t a nanny but rather a threat to me and my baby.

I noticed the tension between the two of them, but every time I tried to get to the bottom of it, Gunnar Young shut me down. When I expressed my suspicions, he would look at me with irritation:

"Why are you so self-centered, always letting your imagination run wild? You're just stressing yourself out and affecting the baby with all this worrying. You’re at home relaxing while I'm burdened with running the company. I don't have time to reassure you."

Ashlynn Vargas would also chime in, acting as though she was the victim: "Braelyn, I know that emotions can be intense during pregnancy, but you can't just trash my reputation like that. As a fellow woman, don't you have any empathy?"

They stood together, isolating me and making me question myself: Should I bring this child into the world? But each time I felt the baby inside me, I couldn't abandon it. I’d fought so hard for this child.

I fought back tears, unable to reconcile the unfaithful man before me with the one who once cherished me. Our love had evaporated, and it took me too long to realize it.

"Gunnar, have you forgotten the promises you made to me when I got pregnant?"

"Do you have any conscience at all?"

Gunnar looked at me coldly: "Why wouldn't I? Haven't I taken good care of you and the child?"

"I'm just addressing a normal man's needs. Work is stressful, and you're pregnant, unable to be there for me. Can't I find solace elsewhere?"

"If you tried, you'd see how boring you are. If it weren't for the pregnancy..."

He left the sentence hanging, but I understood. We’d been married for six years, trying every remedy and even IVF to conceive, all to no avail. We had lost hope, yet his mother kept pushing.

During our last IVF attempt, Gunnar held my hand tenderly, promising, "Honey, if it doesn’t work this time, I won’t let you endure this anymore."

I nodded at his hopeful eyes, keeping the truth to myself. Unexpectedly, it worked this time.

The day we received the news, Gunnar hugged me tightly, tears flowing, vowing never to betray me.

Pregnancy wasn’t easy; the nausea, the food aversions, and the mood swings. Initially, Gunnar was understanding, but it only took eight months for him to change.

I had put my trust in the wrong person.

"I want a divorce. You're to blame, and you'll leave with nothing. I won’t let you take the company either."

"As for your affair, I'll make sure everyone knows. Let's see how you live with the shame."

Ashlynn mocked me, "You've been depending on Gunnar. If anyone leaves, it’s you. You won’t get a dime."

"I’ll give you a son, Gunnar."

I turned to leave, my pregnant belly leading the way, when Gunnar grabbed my hand, making me lose my balance and hit the ground hard.

"Have you had enough? Stop acting like a lunatic."

Pain surged through my back and abdomen, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get up. A dampness spread below me, and I knew something was wrong.

A mother's instinct is strong, and I placed my hand on my belly, feeling the life inside me weakening.

Desperate, I turned to Ashlynn for help.

"My belly hurts. Something’s wrong with my baby."

"Call 911, I need to get to the hospital..."

Ashlynn sneered at me, pulling Gunnar a step back.

"Braelyn, aren’t you supposed to be strong-willed? Now you’re using this to try and win Gunnar back?"

"I’m a professional. Your pregnancy is stable. A fall like that won’t harm you."