On the day of my check-up, I discovered a hidden photo album on my husband's phone. Opening it, I was shocked to find countless intimate photos of him with another woman.

Clutching the phone tightly, I confronted him.

He remained silent for what felt like an eternity before retreating to the bathroom. After smoking three cigarettes, he finally confessed, "When I was a child, I accidentally hurt her, causing her to lose her sight. She's the one person I can never repay, and that's why."

Seeing as I was three months pregnant, I decided not to push further, choosing instead to forgive him and pretend everything was fine as we carried on with my examination.

When we reached the part I dreaded most—having my blood drawn—his orderly called out, "Major General, Miss Olson heard about your wife's pregnancy, and she's beside herself, insisting on seeing you!"

Hearing those words, Phoenix's grip on me slackened immediately. Without a second thought, he turned and left, not once looking back.

I placed my hand over my stomach, swallowing my bitterness as I called after him, "Phoenix, if you really walk away now, I'll end this pregnancy. So think carefully..."

He hesitated briefly, but then his figure disappeared into the crowd.

...

My heart plunged into an icy abyss. The past eight years replayed in my mind—unplanned business trips on our anniversaries, mysterious nights he didn’t come home, his volunteering every week despite his tight schedule. All these clues I had willfully ignored in the name of love.

Now, with the truth plainly before me, any remaining trust in him disintegrated completely.

Darwin Matthews, our driver, noticed my pale appearance and spoke softly, "Adaline, Miss Olson lost her sight shortly after her brother's accident, so it's understandable that Major General is concerned for her. But over the years, he's only regarded her as a sister. Try not to overthink it..."

Darwin had been Phoenix's driver for ten years and was like family to him. Yet, in all our years together, he never once mentioned Juliette Olson to me. Now, he couldn’t even meet my gaze.

If Phoenix only saw Juliette as a sister, why hadn't he ever introduced her to me?

The more I thought about it, the more my heart ached.

Just then, my parents called. "Sweetheart, how's everything going? Is the baby healthy?"

"Come over for dinner later. We've prepared all your and Phoenix's favorite dishes."

Not wanting to worry them, I took a deep breath to steady my voice. "We're still waiting for the test results. I'm not sure how long it’ll take. He... has something he needs to do tonight, so we won't be able to make it for dinner."

They reminded me of a few things, and I pretended everything was normal as I agreed.

But after hanging up, an oppressive weight settled over my chest.

Since I became pregnant, Phoenix had promised countless times that he would stand by me and our baby forever. Yet today, he had abandoned us without a second thought to take care of someone else.

For five long hours, I sent message after message. But until my phone battery died, Phoenix never responded.

Suddenly, I struggled to breathe, and my vision blurred—the last thing I heard was Darwin's panicked voice.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed.

The doctor entered just then with the report and smiled. "Mrs. Greene, congratulations, you're having twins."

What should have been joyous news felt hollow.

Years ago, I had fallen for Phoenix at first sight, pursuing him for three months before finally winning over the elusive "man on a pedestal."

As his career took off and he became more engrossed in work, our meetings became few and far between. It wasn't until he became a Major General that he knelt on one knee during the medal ceremony and proposed.

"Adaline, when we have children, I'll be with you every day, watching them grow up."

Countless memories and promises swirled through my mind.

I glanced at the wedding ring on my finger, feeling the absurdity of it all.

This song that had been on repeat for eight years—it was time to change the track.

The next morning, I came back home looking for Phoenix. He had been gone for a whole day and night, packing his bags and appearing utterly drained. Guilt shadowed his eyes as he spoke in a raspy voice:

"Adaline, I'm sorry."

"Juliette lost her sight because of me, and her brother was my comrade. Before he died, he entrusted her to me, and I can't break that promise..."

"There are caregivers at her place and security outside," I interjected. "With so many people around, why does it have to be you?"

"Over the years, you've left me countless times to be with her, and I've pretended not to notice. But Phoenix, I'm not naive."

Phoenix stayed silent, unable to find words. After a moment, he spoke again, his words cutting through me once more.

"Adaline, this is a debt I owe... Only by making it up to her can I find peace."

"Please, this time, don't tell anyone, okay? If this gets out, it could really hurt her. I'm afraid she won't be able to handle that kind of shock..."

For the first time, he looked at me with pleading eyes, but it was all for someone else. In that instant, it felt like I'd been stabbed, the pain making it hard to catch my breath.

People's first reactions are truthful. Seeing me, he didn't ask if I was okay or about the safety of our unborn children. Instead, his first words were all about Juliette.

I dug my nails into my palm to hold back the tears. I closed my eyes, my voice barely above a whisper: "Alright."

He visibly relaxed, then cautiously added, "Juliette knows I'm going to be a father, and she's feeling insecure... I want to take care of her for a while. Once things settle a bit next month, I'll move back."

"Then I'll try to find some time to be home with you for a few days, does that sound good?"

To care for Juliette, he could easily take a month off. But to spend a few days with me, he had to "find time." Clearly, there's a stark contrast in how he truly treats someone.

His tone carried the certainty that I would agree. But as I looked into his eyes, filled with concern for another woman, I suddenly felt very tired.

The two little ones inside seemed to sense my emotional turmoil and moved gently. I instinctively laid a hand on my belly, where the symbols of our once deeply cherished love were growing. Yet now, it seemed he no longer cared.

Feeling the faint life moving under my hand, I spoke calmly: "Phoenix, you've said you loved me many times."

"On our third anniversary, under the fireworks, you kissed me and said you'd love me more than yourself."

"At the medal ceremony, when you proposed, you promised in front of everyone to love me forever."

"Last year on my birthday, you made a cake after spending two months learning how, and you said you loved only me..."

"Over these eight years, you've remembered all my likes and dislikes. Your profile pictures were always of us... I truly believed we'd love each other until the end."

I looked up to meet his gaze, and tears finally spilled over: "But today, I can't feel your love anymore."

Hearing me recount our journey, Phoenix's eyes reddened too. But after a moment of conflicted emotion, he only choked out:

"But Adaline, after her parents and brother passed, I'm all Juliette has..."

Those words extinguished the last bit of hope I held onto. I looked at him and suddenly smiled through my tears.

"Then go and settle your debt."

Though he probably expected me to agree, he was still taken aback. But ultimately, he just gave me a deep look, said nothing, and turned to leave the house.