On our fifteenth wedding anniversary, the only gift I received was a paternity test report. The report revealed that my husband, who had always insisted on remaining child-free, had a three-year-old son elsewhere.

Feeling utterly absurd, I handed the report back to Nathan. "If it weren't for the vasectomy you had before we got married, I might have thought this was some kind of cruel joke."

To my shock, Nathan confessed it was true—he did have a son and even wanted to bring him home to raise him. I couldn't accept this and asked for a divorce.

Our relatives tried to console me, encouraging me to be more accepting. After all, they said, the child was still young and could be loved as our own. I nodded along, resigned, only for Nathan to push things further by bringing his mistress into our home as well.

"Laurel is Matheo's mother, and at his age, he needs her," Nathan argued. "Besides, she's a qualified nutritionist who can help us improve our diet."

Standing in the doorway, looking at the cozy scene of the three of them in the living room, I felt like my blood was boiling. My heart shattered completely at that moment.

I forced a smile and said, "Nathan, let's just get a divorce."

When I finally said "divorce," I thought I'd feel some relief, but the tears wouldn't stop flowing.

Nathan frowned, speaking in a cold voice. "Aria, mentioning divorce just once or twice to make a point is enough. If you're going to bring it up daily, it becomes meaningless."

His words felt like a dagger piercing my heart, leaving me breathless with pain.

Seeing my tears wouldn't stop, Nathan sighed softly and approached me, gazing down with a condescending air. "Aria, can't you just be a bit more understanding? Laurel gave me a son. Even if she doesn't deserve gratitude, she deserves some recognition for her effort. Besides, you've always felt lonely without a family, haven't you? Laurel is younger and kindhearted; couldn't you see her as a sister?"

I was stunned, unable to fathom how the man who once loved me deeply could become so heartless, how he could say such cruel things to hurt me.

Before I could respond, a chuckle came from Laurel's phone.

"Nathan, now you see what kind of person Aria really is, don't you? A woman who can't even accept a child—what use is she? Your father and I never approved of your marrying her in the first place, big attitude with no talent to match."

"Enough of this. Stop wasting time. Just file for divorce and marry Laurel. Your father and I will come over right away to help with childcare, and you two can hurry up and have another baby."

Rosa's words plunged my world into darkness, leaving my heart a barren wasteland. In that moment, all the questions I'd once pondered without answers began to crystallize in my mind.

Fifteen years ago, Nathan and I met in college when he fell head over heels for me at first sight. It took him a year and a half to win me over.

He gave up a chance to study abroad for me, a decision that led his parents to despise me. What they didn't know was that the prestigious opportunity had initially been mine. In an effort to make peace with Nathan’s parents, I voluntarily gave up my spot.

I never imagined Nathan would do the same to stay by my side. This led his parents to believe I had ruined his future.

They called me a troublemaker and insisted I had led him astray, adamantly opposing our marriage. As an orphan, I was already sensitive and vulnerable, so I left him a breakup letter and quietly walked away.

I saw Nathan again while volunteering in the Alps. On that day, an unprecedented storm struck. The conditions were terrible, and the rain caused buildings to collapse, trapping me under the rubble.

Disregarding the danger and everyone's warnings, Nathan dug through the debris with his bare hands until he found me. Seeing him covered in mud, eyes red and trembling as he held me, I realized I was completely and irrevocably in love.

Despite the lack of anyone’s blessing, I was determined to marry him.

After marriage, Nathan, concerned about the pain of childbirth, suggested we remain childfree and even underwent sterilization. I was indifferent about having kids, preferring to take life as it came. Nathan insisted he didn’t want me to suffer and didn’t want anyone, not even our own child, to disrupt our life together.

As a result, his parents disapproved of me even more, eventually cutting ties with Nathan as well. On the rare occasions we had to see them, they always belittled me with sarcastic remarks and personal attacks.

But Nathan always stood firmly by my side, protecting me.

Three years ago, his parents' attitude toward me suddenly changed overnight. They began sending us health supplements regularly and eagerly arranged medical checkups for us. Rosa even started taking parenting classes and eventually sold her home in the countryside to buy a place in London.

Despite Rosa’s change of heart, Nathan always used my well-being as an excuse to turn down my attempts to accompany him on visits to his parents.

Initially, I believed he was just trying to protect me. But once I received the paternity test results, everything clicked into place.

The supplements and checkups were part of their plan to prepare for a child. To keep me in the dark, they went through the motions with me as well.

Nathan’s refusal to let me visit them was because they were hiding that mother and child in the new house.

Nathan sensed my distress and held my hand tightly, softly whispering, "Aria, don't worry. I won't listen to my mother. To me, you're the most important person."

"The most important?" I muttered, pulling my hand away and gesturing at the pair in the living room. "If I'm the most important, then what are they? Just an afterthought?"

A flicker of pain crossed Nathan's eyes as he tried to embrace me again. But I was done with his touch. In my attempt to break free, my nails accidentally scratched his face.

"Ouch!" Laurel gasped, rushing to his side. She stood on her toes, gently holding his face in her hands, her eyes welling with tears. "You're bleeding! Does it hurt?"

"It's fine, don't worry," Nathan reassured her softly, holding her hand.

I lowered my gaze to the blood on my fingers, feeling as lifeless as a puppet whose strings had been cut, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.

After calming her, Nathan bent to pick up the crying Matheo, his eyes filled with disappointment as he looked at me. "Aria, is this what you wanted?"

When I remained silent, he just took Laurel's hand and turned to leave. Just before the door closed, he gave me a cold farewell, "If you want a divorce, then that's what you'll get."

The door slammed shut with a resounding thud.

I slowly sank to the floor, wrapping my arms around myself, sobbing until my voice was hoarse.