I loved Remy for five years, and during our engagement party, he promised that even if I couldn't have children, he would always love me. That was until the day of my nephew's christening.

At the event, my husband's face appeared on the big screen. In the photo, he was holding his widowed sister-in-law, Paulina, with a disturbingly affectionate look in his eyes. Paulina started crying and apologized, and Remy casually explained, “It’s tough for Paulina to raise her daughter alone. I just wanted to make Jessie’s christening complete. Please, don't be unreasonable.”

Everyone was watching, expecting to see me humiliated, but I calmly took off our engagement ring and slid it onto Paulina’s finger, smoothing my slightly rounded belly as I said, “I’m not being unreasonable; I wish you both eternal happiness.”

My words shocked everyone there, and they looked at me curiously. I struggled to maintain my composure and smiled, “Remy and I have ended our five-year relationship.”

“This came up so suddenly; I couldn’t let everyone know in advance.”

“I apologize to everyone. I hope this spectacle doesn’t ruin your day.” I gave a polite nod to the guests.

Remy, however, grabbed my arm angrily. I stumbled, and the microphone fell with a screech. "Stop making a scene; aren’t you embarrassed?"

I looked at him coldly, “I made the baby blanket stitch by stitch for our child.”

“The bracelet on Paulina’s wrist was a symbol of our love, and you say I'm making a scene.”

He avoided my eyes while Paulina dramatically approached, clasping my hand with insincere warmth, her floral perfume overwhelming my senses.

“It’s all a misunderstanding. Raising a child alone is really tough.”

“Please, don’t embarrass Remy and me in front of everyone.”

Already annoyed, Remy's face grew even darker, his frown deepening. I pulled my hand away and wiped it with a napkin from the table. Paulina looked hurt, tears welling up in her eyes.

“I just wanted to explain to you, but why are you shaming me like this?”

I saw her nudge Jessie, who started crying right on cue. Remy rushed over, holding Paulina and soothing the child. He turned to glare at me.

“Not even a shred of understanding for your family; you’re being utterly unreasonable.”

“Fix this mess here; I need to look after Paulina and Jessie.”

I watched their backs as they walked away, an image of a happy family, while I was cast as the outsider wrecking another's home. Silently, I dealt with the aftermath. By the time I was done, it was almost evening.

Remy hadn't said a single word of concern to me. In the end, it was my recently returned friend who came to pick me up. Lorelei took one look at my tired face, her eyes full of sympathy.

“Remy, that complete jerk! I should have never approved of you being with him.”

“If he knew the whole story from back then, would he really treat you like this?”

I gently stopped her, touching my slightly rounded belly, “None of that matters anymore.”

Resolute in my decision, she dropped me off at home before driving off.

When I got home, the first thing I did was remove our wedding photo from the wall and toss it into the trash bin downstairs. Back when that picture was taken, we genuinely loved each other. The sky was gloomy, hinting at a brewing storm, so I hurried back inside. Remy and I had been together for five years; I had given him the best years of my youth. I was so devoted I would have risked everything for him. Despite his odd behavior, I never doubted him. My whole world revolved around him, and I expected the same in return. Yet, in the fifth year, our relationship fell apart in such an unbearable way.

My resolve crumbled when I entered the nursery. I fell to my knees beside the crib we had picked out together, my heart shattered. I had been enchanted by a unique custom design at first sight, but he dismissed it, saying the colors were too bright. Yet, there it was, in a video, with Jessie. My phone buzzed with a message from Paulina: "Remy said I've been doing great with the kids, so he bought me an entire case and had it delivered." Another message followed: "He even got you some lotion. But who knew you'd be so ungrateful?"

The lotion was from a high-end international brand, costing hundreds for a small bottle. Last winter, when my hands cracked and bled, I had begged Remy to buy me a bottle during his business trip. When my condition worsened, I realized it was counterfeit. I confronted him, heartbroken, but he brushed off my concerns. "It's just lotion. Why do you need such an expensive one anyway? You should learn from Paulina, Phoebe." At the time, I really thought my standards were too high.

I was on the verge of sleep, tears on my face, when Remy finally returned. His warm hands gently covered me, and he kissed away my tears. "Phoebe, I crossed the line today. I promise I won't upset you again. Please don't be angry. I brought your favorite apple pie." I glanced at it, noticing a slice missing from the corner. Seeing my gaze, he hurriedly covered it up. "Paulina and the kids were so busy today, she barely ate and just had a little taste." But I’m allergic to apples.

I didn’t want to argue over something so trivial anymore. "Remy, let's get a divorce." He jumped up and smashed the pie on the floor. "What more do you want? I’ve apologized. You weren't like this before." Indeed, back then, I would go to great lengths to fulfill his every request. I rarely contradicted him. But my compliant nature only encouraged his blatant disrespect.

As we reached a standoff, the phone rang. Paulina’s soft voice came through, "The thunder and lightning are terrifying, and the baby and I are scared. Can you stay with us?" "Paulina is quite timid and doesn't have anyone to look after her. I'll just check on them, okay?" It seemed like he was asking for my approval, but his pleading eyes and the car keys in his hand told a different story. I turned away, lying in bed as if giving silent consent. He bolted out the door, jacketless, as if liberated. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. I was afraid of thunder and lightning too.

As a child, after taking a small bite of birthday cake, I was thrown out of the house into a stormy night, petrified by the flashes and crashes. Even recalling that memory made me tremble, but he never gave it much thought. As expected, Remy didn’t return that night. I lay awake all night, unable to find rest.

The following morning, Paulina bombarded me with messages. I knew she was trying to provoke me, but I couldn't help but read them.

"Remy says he feels so safe holding me."

"Bet you couldn't sleep a wink last night, huh?"

"Oh, there's something I haven't mentioned. Remember that stormy night three months ago?"

"While you were in the ER, he was right there with me, helping me sleep."

The phone slipped from my fingers, hitting the floor with a thud that mirrored the breaking of my heart. I was done with him. Face pale, I called the hospital to schedule the procedure for the day after tomorrow.

Not long after, Lorelei rang me.

"Hey, my husband's away on business. Are you free to come with me to check out a maternity center?"

"Maybe they could check on the baby too."

With her due date nearing, I hadn't planned on telling her anything yet, so I agreed to tag along.

We visited the top maternity center in town. As my best friend discussed details with the staff, I wandered off by myself. My gaze turned icy as it settled on Remy's and Daphne's names in the guest register. The saleswoman noticed my discomfort and cheerfully explained, "Mr. and Mrs. Rice are one of our model couples."

What a farce, I thought bitterly. I felt more like an outsider than ever.

"Mr. Rice bought the full service package for her as soon as she became pregnant," she continued, "and he always accompanies her."

Checking the dates, I realized they perfectly matched his business trips.

The saleswoman brought out an album of memories, and Lorelei, sensing my unease, tried to intervene. I waved her off. "Please, go ahead."

Flipping through the album, I saw pictures of them baking, something he had always dismissed as too much hassle when I suggested it. "If you want something sweet, just buy it," he'd say.

They had crafted woven hearts pinned to his jacket—a stark contrast to the friendship bracelet I once made him, now forgotten somewhere.

Though I'd braced myself for this, a suffocating pain enveloped me, sharp as a knife. Lorelei seethed beside me.

"I can't stand it. I should tell her the truth," she insisted.

As we argued, Paulina and Remy emerged from a room, all smiles. The moment Remy saw me, he instinctively shielded her.

"Nia, this is all a misunderstanding," he pleaded. "I was just passing by for work and thought to check in—nothing more."

Lorelei, standing protectively in front of me, addressed the saleswoman. "I'm curious, how much is the full package here?"

"Fifty thousand dollars," the woman replied.

My friend let out a mocking laugh. "You hesitated over a few imported painkillers for Nia during surgery, yet you splash out on this... woman."

Paulina, with tears streaming down, pleaded with my friend, "Please, can we talk about this privately? I'm begging you."

Lorelei disdainfully brushed her off with barely any force, but Paulina dramatically crumpled to the ground. Anyone could see through the theatrics, but Remy angrily shoved my friend away.

"Don't push it," he snapped, causing her to almost stumble.

"Nia, my stomach hurts," Lorelei whispered.

I rushed her to the hospital. Before leaving, I glared at them both. "If anything happens to her, I'll make sure you pay."

Thankfully, Lorelei was alright.

She looked at me with regret, "I shouldn't have dragged you along today."

Forcing a relieved smile, I replied, "I should be thanking you. Now I know exactly what I have to do."