It was the first time I realized that when you’re utterly disgusted by someone, the nausea can be so intense it makes you want to vomit. I rushed to the trash can and retched uncontrollably.

Beverly and Xander were walking in my direction. Panicking, I hid behind the trash can.

I heard Beverly whining to Xander, "How can you be so sure the baby in my womb is a boy? What if it’s a girl?"

Xander chuckled softly. "I’d love a girl too. A daughter who’s gentle, sweet, and understanding like you? I’d be the happiest man alive."

Beverly giggled coquettishly. "You’re such a smooth talker. But... I’m scared. What if you won’t have time for me and our baby anymore after she gives birth?"

Xander said, "Don’t worry. I’ve already planned it out. Tomorrow, Finn will help you move to Phoenix. I’ll make it a point to come up with a reason to travel for work every month and spend half the month living with you there."

Beverly did a little cheer, and the two of them left together, laughing and chatting as they got into the car.

I stood up, trembling, my vision blurred by tears. The prenatal checkup report in my hand was crumpled into a ball. For the first time, I felt grateful—grateful that I had decided to go to the hospital alone out of concern for his busy schedule.

If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have stumbled upon this. I’d probably still be foolishly letting him manipulate me, utterly clueless.

‘But, Xander, if you love her so much, why did you try to win me back? Why won’t you divorce me?’

I returned home very late. During that time, Xander called me dozens of times, but I didn’t answer.

The moment I walked through the door, he rushed over to hug me, his eyes full of worry.

"Sweetheart, where have you been? Do you know I’ve been losing my mind looking for you?"

"I went to the hospital."

Xander instantly tensed up. He looked at me nervously, cautiously asking, "When did you go? Which hospital? Why didn’t you call me?"

"Archangel Medical Centre. Knowing how busy you are, I didn’t want to disturb you."

Xander let out a sigh of relief. They had gone to the Royal Women and Children’s Hospital. He asked, "What did the doctor say? Judging by the expression on your face... is it bad news?"

"Yeah," I replied. "The doctor said it might not survive." As I spoke, I kept my eyes fixed on him, watching for his reaction.

Xander looked a little surprised, but there wasn’t much grief in his eyes. He held me close and said, "It’s okay, love. You’re what’s most important to me."

My heart ached so deeply that I wanted to tear him apart. He genuinely didn’t care about this child. Despite knowing it might not make it, he wasn’t particularly upset. After all, he already had a child he was eagerly awaiting.

At that thought, I couldn’t keep up the act. Pushing him away, I said I was tired and locked myself in the bedroom.

Not long after, Xander called me to come out for dinner. I had no desire to see him, so I pretended to be asleep.

Xander eventually left the room. Shortly after, I heard him answer a call, and then leave in a hurry.

I immediately got up and quietly followed him. First, Xander stopped by a florist and bought a bouquet. Then he picked up a package from the mall and bought some dessert from a bakery. Finally, he arrived at his destination—our marital home.

My hands gripped the steering wheel, shaking uncontrollably. That suffocating feeling, the overwhelming nausea, and the urge to vomit returned with a vengeance.

I couldn’t believe it. Xander had moved his mistress into our marital home. That house wasn’t just any place. It was the home I had bought with the proceeds from selling my parents’ old house, combined with the money I earned from working tirelessly on marketing projects. It was my wedding gift to him, our first home together.

Even though it was small and the neighborhood was merely average, it held immeasurable significance. Even after Xander became a wealthy entrepreneur with numerous properties in Fort Rainier, this house remained untouched. He had said it wasn’t just a house but a testament to my wholehearted love for him.

However, now he let another woman move in with his child, shamelessly trampling on the woman who had once loved him with all her heart...

At that moment, I finally felt completely disillusioned. I didn’t want this man anymore.

I sat in my car outside the building all night, as if punishing myself for my naivety. I could finally break free from this relationship only by witnessing him settle in with her and making a home in that house.

The next morning, Xander walked out of the building, looking refreshed with Beverly by his side. She stood on tiptoes to lovingly adjust his tie while speaking softly to him. He gazed at her tenderly, leaning forward slightly to spare her the effort. At the same time, he was texting on his phone.

My phone buzzed. I glanced at it and saw that it was a message from him: "There’s an urgent contract issue at work. I’ve been busy all night and might not be home until later tonight. Take care of yourself and eat on time. Love, your dearest husband."

The nausea surged up again. I tried to suppress it, but I couldn’t stop myself from throwing up. This man was utterly disgusting, so repulsive it was unbearable...

After Xander drove off, Beverly hummed a tune as she headed upstairs.

I steadied myself for a while and dabbed some lipstick onto my pale face before stepping out of the car and knocking on the door.

Beverly opened it with a smile, murmuring, “Did you forget something?” When she saw me, her last word stretched out in a long, mocking note.

I stared at her coldly. I thought she would be scared or feel guilty, but instead, she brazenly sized me up and down, smiling maliciously yet gently.

“Well, well… I was wondering who it could be. Turns out it’s Xander’s tasteless but hard-to-discard old wife.” Her tone dripped with mockery. “Since you’re here, why not come in and take a look around?”

She stepped aside, inviting me in like she was the rightful lady of the house and I were the one sneaking around, unworthy of the spotlight.

I could hear the sound of my ragged breathing, but my heart felt lifeless, as though it had already died. Mechanically, I walked in—into what I once believed to be the happiest little home for Xander and me—and found pairs of items everywhere. There were matching slippers, couple pajamas, and even toothbrushes designed to form a heart-shaped pattern when placed together.

Beverly didn’t follow me. She didn’t even care to trail behind and rub salt into my wounds. Instead, she lazily fiddled with the bouquet Xander had gifted her last night and mocked, “Really, why bother? From the moment you chose to forgive him, you should’ve known that in his eyes, you’re just someone without boundaries.

“To him, as long as he doesn’t divorce you, you’ll forgive him for anything. Believe me, even if you expose him right now, he’ll just apologize smoothly and beg for your forgiveness. And you’ll forgive him. You can’t leave him. After all, at your age, where else can you find such a wealthy husband?

“Oh, and don’t look down on me. In the end, we’re the same, you and I.”

The same?

I felt as though blood was choking me. I wanted to lunge at her and tear her smug face apart.

Xander and I had known each other since we were young. I’d worked tirelessly for his sake, running around and pulling all-nighters to help him succeed. Sure, he started from nothing, but he couldn’t have made it without my support.

How dare she think we were the same? Nonetheless, her confidence was undeniable, so much so that I didn’t even need to question it. It was clear; Xander had fed her his perception of me.

Maybe I’d been wrong all along. I forgave him because I loved him, but in his eyes, my forgiveness was purely for self-interest.

This man—this relationship of over a decade—had rotted away into a toxic, foul-smelling swamp, corrupted by his growing social status.

I strode past Beverly, heels clicking, and entered the living room. My eyes landed on a massive wedding photo hanging on the wall.

In the photo, Beverly wore a diamond-studded wedding gown while being embraced by Xander. Their backdrop was the famed Aegean Sea, painting a portrait of luxury and extravagance.

I thought my heart was already dead and numb, but seeing that picture made it seize painfully as if a hand were gripping my throat, leaving me gasping for air.

The photo that used to hang there was of me and Xander. Unlike theirs, ours had been simple. Back then, we were so broke we couldn’t even afford the cheapest wedding package. We had taken ours on a random beach. All I wore was a plain white dress and a veil, and we just had a camera. That was our wedding photo.

I forced myself to stay calm, pulled out my phone, and snapped a photo of their wedding portrait.

At that moment, I came to a final realization. If someone was rotten to the core, they belonged in the trash.

Xander and Beverly had been cohabiting for a long time, long enough to constitute a de facto marriage. I’d take this evidence, contact a lawyer, and make sure those two scumbags ended up with nothing.

Beverly panicked when she saw me taking the photo. She instinctively tried to snatch my phone. She cradled her belly as if that would make me relent and hand over my phone out of pity for her being pregnant.

I sidestepped her, but she took advantage of my movement to shove me hard into the coffee table. With a loud thud, I hit the table’s edge, and almost immediately, blood began flowing from between my legs.

For a moment, hatred flashed across Beverly’s face.

I crumpled to the floor at her feet, my belly screaming in pain as I desperately reached for my phone. Even if this child wasn’t wanted by its father, it was still mine. I didn’t want to lose it...

Beverly’s twisted laughter rang out. Just as my hand touched the phone, she stomped down on my fingers and twisted her heel viciously. The searing pain made me cry out.

Suddenly, the sound of the smart lock beeped. Someone had unlocked the door.

I looked up and saw Xander returning.