Love: Win or Lose

My perfect husband of over a decade from campus to wedding turned out to have an illegitimate daughter.

Zoey Smith, that was the name of his illegitimate daughter. Our daughter's name was Chloe Best.

His mistress knelt before me, begging me to save her daughter.

I was stunned. Her daughter was already ten years old, while mine was only three.

At that moment, all I could recall was the young Max Best whispering in my ear, telling me that I was his one true love.

Later, he secretly took our three-year-old daughter for a compatibility test. Reality truly hit me hard.

Husband, the dream where you enjoyed the best of both worlds—I would shatter it mercilessly!

Love or not, I accepted the consequences of my choices!

*****

In our youth, our love was intense. Even when we had to make a public apology in front of the whole school, we never let go of each other's hands. From teachers to classmates, everyone thought we were rebellious.

Of course, there were also some girls with a heart full of envy who admired us.

But we didn't care. When we both got accepted to Summer University, several teachers sincerely praised us during the graduation banquet.

During those four years of university, we were inseparable.

He went on to take over the family business, and I continued my graduate studies.

After ten years of a long-distance relationship, we finally walked down the aisle.

All those who once doubted us showered us with blessings at the wedding.

Everyone said, "Mandy White, you are truly blessed."

I got pregnant after the wedding.

I left his company to focus on the pregnancy.

I cooked for him and took care of our daughter.

I became a full-time housewife.

As long as he had time, Max would send me messages and even try to come home for lunch.

Countless times, I felt that I had made the right bet—from campus to the wedding gown.

But now, the woman standing before me said, "My daughter is only ten years old, and she has leukemia. Please save her. Let Chloe go to the hospital for a bone marrow match."

I found it utterly ridiculous. The "Chloe" she mentioned was my daughter.

When Max named our daughter Chloe Best, I thought the name was odd.

Because when you said it quickly, it sounded like a foreign boy's name.

But Max explained, "Chloe is a great name. She's our daughter, and her name shows that we both love her."

Now, in hindsight, it was laughably absurd.

I was not a saint.

But I also didn't want to let a life slip away.

A mother kneeling on the street, pleading desperately for her daughter, had already caught the attention of many passersby.

People started to stare, and some even took out their phones to record.

Motherly love was indeed great.

But I couldn't accept it. I ignored her as she knelt and walked home, dazed.

I asked the nanny to take our daughter to her grandparents' house. I needed to have a conversation.

I was 31 this year, and I'd accomplished nothing. My life is a joke.