My husband constantly ignored my pleas in my previous life, giving his salary to his first love despite my objections.

After giving birth, I couldn't produce any milk due to prolonged starvation. My son cried desperately from hunger. When I finally managed to buy formula and brought it home, my husband snatched it away to give to his first love.

"Vicky's milk supply is low too, and she's a widow. Let's give it to her child first," he insisted.

I fought to take it back, but my husband knocked me unconscious.

I staggered to look for him when I regained consciousness, only to discover my husband at Victoria Langford's house, putting on diapers for someone else's child.

My son had already starved to death then, and out of despair, I followed him in death.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back to the moment I first learned of my pregnancy. This time, I chose to terminate the pregnancy and file for divorce.

My stomach churned violently as I dry heaved several times, but nothing came out. Raymond Quinn heard the noise and impatiently knocked on the door. "What's wrong with you now? Stop pretending already! Hurry up and make dinner!"

I stared at myself in the mirror. My face was pale, my lips were cracked, and my eyes were sunken. I would never forget the cold water in the well and that suffocating despair.

In my previous life, Raymond constantly supported his first love, Victoria Langford, who lived next door. He pitied her for being recently widowed and considered her needs in everything.

Although we argued frequently, I still thought my husband was simply being kind-hearted. That was until our son starved to death at home while my husband tenderly cared for Victoria and her child next door.

That was when I completely lost hope in our marriage. I never expected god to allow me to return to this moment.

I opened the door to find him holding the dried spaghetti noodles, preparing to leave.

I instinctively blocked his way. "Are you insane? That's our food for the next two weeks! What will we eat if you give them away?"

Frowning, he impatiently pushed my hand away.

"Vicky is pregnant and needs to eat well. We can buy more later."

"Buy more? Do we even have money left?" I could not help but mock him.

He gave Victoria half his salary as soon as he got paid. He would also spend several hundred dollars to buy her a handbag. Now, we had only 50 dollars left to last us two weeks. I bought this packet of spaghetti noodles by swallowing my pride and borrowing money from others.

He seemed to realize this and looked slightly embarrassed, but he remained resolute. "I'll figure something out. This should go to Vicky first. Also, she's pregnant and can't do housework as easily, so remember to go over daily to wash her clothes and cook. Take good care of her, and don't be stingy. She's like a sister to me, after all."

Sister?

I laughed bitterly. The resentment from two lifetimes surged within me, and I could not help but taunt, "If you're so capable, Raymond Quinn, why don't you hire a housekeeper for her? I'm your wife, not your servant!"

He gave me a disappointed look. "Minnie, why are you always targeting Vicky?"

With that, he pushed open the door and walked straight to the apartment next door.

I stood in the doorway as our other neighbor, Carol Weber, sidled up with raised eyebrows, her tone full of gossip. "Your man's gone to that pretty widow's place again? Tsk, tsk, a man and a woman alone in one place..."

The thin walls of our apartment building provided terrible soundproofing. Our neighbors could hear everything happening on our side.

Victoria had heard it all as well. She stood in her doorway, her hands supporting her back. Smiling sweetly, she said, "Oh, Minnie, Raymond only asked you to help out because he feels sorry for me as a widow. Don't be angry. I'll talk to him about it later."

She spoke like she was Raymond's wife.

Meanwhile, Raymond looked at her with tender affection. "Vicky, are you hungry? I'll make you something to eat in a moment."

Raymond had never cooked a single meal at home. He would drag me out of bed even when I had a high fever, cursing and demanding I hurry up and cook.

It seemed he was not incapable, after all. I snorted with derision, not bothering with either of them. I turned and went back inside, slamming the door hard.

Since I had gotten a second chance, I wouldn't be as foolish as I was before.

Since Raymond was so fond of Victoria, I might as well let them have each other. I had to divorce him! I had to! This life was simply unbearable!

I touched my still-flat stomach, feeling a pang of sorrow. I said to my unborn child, "Sweetheart, I'm sorry, but I can't let you come into this world to suffer."

My stomach was painfully empty and cramping in waves. After searching every corner, I found nothing to eat.

Feeling the three dollars left in my pocket, I gritted my teeth and went out. I walked unsteadily to the supermarket and bought discounted, nearly expired food.

Taking a fierce bite, the flavors spread through my mouth, yet the food tasted incredibly bitter to me. Though my family in the countryside was not wealthy, we could at least afford meat daily. How had life with Raymond become worse than living through a famine?

With the little food in my stomach, I finally had some strength. I touched my still-flat belly again, feeling a twinge of pain.

Nevertheless, I walked with determination to the hospital. When I told the doctor I wanted an abortion, his eyes flashed with hesitation behind his glasses. "Are you sure? Does the father agree?"

Not getting a reaction from me, the doctor paused, his expression growing sympathetic. Perhaps feeling sorry for me, he softened his tone as he asked, "Have you thought this through? This is a life, after all."

I nodded numbly.

Had I thought it through? What was there to consider?

In my previous life, when had Raymond ever cared about this child?

Even at seven months pregnant, I had still been starving every other meal. My belly had been as small as a deflated ball while Victoria from next door had been pampered until her face seemed to glow.

When my mother traveled from afar to visit, she broke down in tears when she saw my gaunt complexion. "Oh, Minnie, I should never have let you marry so far from home! You're living worse than an animal!" she wailed.

Indeed, even pet animals received extra food when pregnant. However, Raymond only knew how to save my rations to give to Victoria.

He even stole the formula I bought when I was weak after childbirth and our baby was crying desperately from hunger.

Remembering my son's emaciated body from my previous life, my heart felt like it was being sliced open.

"Come to the hospital tomorrow at 8:00 am. Don't eat beforehand."

The doctor handed me a form, which I accepted without hesitation.

When I returned home, smoke rose from all the neighbors' chimneys, and the air was filled with the aroma of food being cooked—except for my house, where the stove was cold and deathly still.

The unit next door was lively with activity. I knew from Victoria's coquettish laughter that it was due to Raymond's attentive care.

The sounds pierced my heart painfully like sharp thorns. I began packing my things—just some simple clothes, a few books I treasured, and the money my mother had secretly given me.

This was all that I owned.

I packed these items into a worn canvas bag. Then, I walked to the bedside table and picked up a yellowed photograph. In the photo, Raymond and I were wearing new clothes, our faces radiating happiness.

This was our wedding photo. Back then, I genuinely wanted to build a good life with him.

I stared at the photo for a long while, then finally tore it to pieces and threw it in the trash.

The old Minnie was dead—along with her son—at the bottom of that cold well.

Raymond returned just as I finished packing. Seeing me, the smile on his face faded slightly, and he casually asked, "Have you eaten?"

I could not even be bothered to look up as I turned back to the bedroom. He had the nerve to ask if I had eaten after taking all our food.

He followed me in, holding a canvas bag while presenting it proudly. "Didn't you say you liked Vicky's bag last time? I bought one for you. Don't be angry anymore."

I glanced at the bag with a dirty stain in one corner and felt disgusted.

What nonsense about buying it for me! Clearly, it was something Victoria had tossed out!

Raymond bought Victoria a designer bag but gave me an ordinary canvas one. I was foolish before, blind to his clumsy lies. Now, I saw clearly that everything was disgustingly perfunctory.

I said nothing, and he assumed I had calmed down.

In the past, I would have rushed to question him about why he was so good to Victoria.

"You gave Vicky attitude earlier, but she's a kind woman and didn't get angry," he said. After a pause, he added, "You should go do her laundry soon. Her pregnancy has been unstable these past few days, and she got some blood on her pants."

Indeed, his 'kindness' always came with an agenda. How could he say such revolting things with a straight face?

I coldly refused, "No."

He froze, apparently surprised by my refusal. No matter how unwilling I was before, I would eventually obey him.

"Minnie, what do you mean?" His tone grew harder.

"Exactly what I said. Raymond, let's get a divorce."

Raymond was stunned, then he looked at me as if I were insane. "Have you lost your mind? We have a perfectly good life together, and you want a divorce over this small matter?"

I could not help but mock him, "Raymond, what kind of life do you think I live in your eyes? You take my money to support your mistress while you let me starve and freeze. Is this what you call a perfectly good life?"

"I... I just feel sorry for Vicky, don't you? It's not easy for a woman to be pregnant alone..."

"Not easy? If it's not easy for her, has it been easy for me? I've been married to you for two years, and I've never had enough to eat."

His eyes shifted, but he refused to admit his wrongdoing.

I did not bother arguing further and said directly, "Let's get a divorce. If you like Victoria, go be with her."

He gritted his teeth and glared at me fiercely. "Don't regret this, Minnie!"

"The only thing I regret is marrying you!"

Raymond's face instantly turned ashen. He raised his hand and slapped me hard, using all his strength.

I saw stars, and my head had even slammed against the cabinet. A sharp pain shot through me. My vision blurred, and I could smell blood in the air.

Victoria stood at the door, covering her mouth in horror.

Raymond did not come to help me first. Instead, he rushed to Victoria's side, anxiously covering her eyes.

"Don't be afraid. You're pregnant. You shouldn't see this."

He then turned his head toward me and said impatiently, "Get up quickly and wipe off the blood. I'll take you to the hospital. Don't frighten Vicky."

I held onto the cabinet, staggering as I tried to stand up to curse at him. However, I felt the world spinning, and everything went black as I completely lost consciousness.

…

When I woke again, I heard a doctor's stern reprimand.

"How could you not provide proper nutrition for a pregnant woman in such poor condition, even letting her lose so much blood? If something serious had happened, you would've deeply regretted it!"

I heard Raymond saying, "Yes, you're right. And I'll definitely make sure she gets the nutrients she needs."

I struggled to open my eyes and saw a doctor in a white coat lecturing Raymond. When Raymond noticed I was awake, he immediately put on a gentle expression. He held my hand, his voice full of concern as he asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? I nearly..."

I yanked my hand away and turned my face in disgust. After the doctor left, Raymond attentively peeled an apple for me.

"If I had known you were pregnant, I definitely wouldn't have pushed you! Poor Vicky was so frightened that she almost miscarried."

I coldly glanced at him. "So, you're blaming me for scaring your precious Victoria?"

He was immediately at a loss for words. He laughed awkwardly, sighed, and said, "Minnie, how can you say that? You're my wife. Of course, I want to treat you well."

I closed my eyes, pretending not to hear. When I heard the door open, I knew he had left.