My Husband Quickly Got Married to His Ex-girlfriend

Inside the ambulance, pain pulsed through my body and my fingers shook as I tried calling Duke's number over and over. But every time, it was just a cold, mechanical female voice saying, "The number you're trying to reach is unavailable."

After losing my baby, I did something impulsive—I scrolled through my mother-in-law’s social media feed. There, I saw her latest post, complete with photos of Duke, her and his ex-girlfriend enjoying a hiking trip. The caption read: "Spending time with my wonderful son and lovely future daughter-in-law, exploring the beauty of our great homeland!"

While I was on the brink of death, Duke and his mother were off gallivanting through the mountains with his former flame. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay composed and then called the renowned director I’d been in touch with. “I’ll be taking the lead role in your new film,” I told him, pushing through the heartbreak.

Five days after my miscarriage, Duke and his mother finally returned. My mother-in-law, Marion, didn’t waste any time ushering someone else into our home—someone I immediately recognized.

“Come in, come in!” Marion practically beamed as she welcomed the woman into the living room. "Don't mind the small place; when Duke marries you, we’ll make sure to find a bigger, better one!”

This woman, Jessie, had been Duke's high school sweetheart and it was like seeing Marion introduce her as the real woman in her son's life. She even handed Jessie a pair of clean slippers, smiling so warmly it was as though I didn’t exist in the room.

When Marion finally noticed me, her eyes flickered with disgust. “Oh, you’re still here?” She muttered under her breath, a grimace tightening her face. “What bad luck.”

Pretending to be surprised, she raised her voice just enough to sound concerned, “Why aren’t you at the hospital?”

I opened my mouth to explain, but she interrupted, dramatically clapping her hands to her face as if she’d just seen a ghost. “You were just in the hospital! You’re probably covered in germs! And now you’re bringing that filth into my son’s home?”

She hurried to the cabinet, grabbed a spray bottle of disinfectant and began dousing the air around me. I coughed as the fumes filled my lungs, my eyes watering. Meanwhile, Duke watched on, only mumbling, “Mom, she… she was still pregnant…”

“Pregnant?” she scoffed, spraying another cloud toward me. “That child is long gone, right? No point in talking about it now, anyway.” Her eyes glinted with disdain as she went on, “I swear, the way she carries herself—like a disease-ridden stray, not fit to be seen in public.”

I had already changed into fresh clothes and showered before they returned, but no explanation could get through her thick wall of contempt. Instead of engaging in her petty insults, I turned to Duke, forcing myself to ask, “Why didn’t you answer my calls that day?”

He lowered his head, avoiding my gaze. That answer alone was enough, but I needed to hear it from him.

Marion took the chance to jump in. “What is with all these questions?” she spat, practically rolling her eyes. “No wonder he’s sick of you.”

Ignoring her as best as I could, I steadied my voice, though I felt the sadness creep into my words. “Mom, let me talk to Duke.”

Marion’s face flushed with anger and she exploded. “Don't call me ‘Mom’! You two aren’t even legally married. Who do you think you are?”

Her words cut like a blade. The weight of reality sank deeper as I recalled the years I’d spent with Duke. We’d been together for five years, but only had a ceremonial wedding, without ever registering it officially. The day we planned to get our license, Marion had grabbed a knife, pressing it to her neck, threatening to end her life if we did. Duke and I had postponed the license indefinitely and Marion had found new ways to manipulate him ever since.

For five years, I had managed everything in this household. I was family when it was convenient, but an outsider whenever Marion decided.

Marion gave Jessie a broad smile. “Jessie, sweetheart, you’re part of this family. Call me ‘Mom,’ just as you always have.” She shot me a dark look, then spoke as though I were a stranger in the room. “She’s an outsider, not you.”

“Please, Marion,” Jessie said, casting me a mocking glance. “Let’s go eat at that new molecular cuisine restaurant. I hear it’s fantastic!”

I clenched my jaw, remembering how I’d once suggested trying the same restaurant. Duke and Marion had dismissed me as selfish, accusing me of wasting money. But when it was Jessie’s suggestion, it suddenly sounded reasonable.

“Oh, how cultured of you, Jessie! I’d love to try it.” Marion chuckled, affectionately linking her arm with Jessie’s. They left without so much as a backward glance.

“Duke,” I called softly. I still wanted to understand why he’d abandoned me.

“Why?” I asked, hoping he’d say something that would make the pain go away.

He sighed in exasperation, his expression sharp. “Why do you cling to these pointless things? Why can’t you be more like Jessie and stop whining? I was busy! It’s not like you were dying!”

I felt my heart sink further. Busy? He hadn’t even asked about our baby, the child we’d lost. “I just… wanted to know why.”

Duke crossed his arms, voice raising. “Do you have any idea how hard I work to support you? And you repay me by acting like this?”

I swallowed, barely able to keep my voice steady. “Support? I paid for our wedding. I paid for everything after it.” But my words fell on deaf ears as he began yelling, his voice echoing off the walls.

From the hallway, Marion’s voice rang out, cold and cutting. “Why don’t you just die in the hospital next time? It would save us all the trouble.”

Though she whispered the words, they hit me like a thunderclap. I saw Duke’s expression falter, but he quickly composed himself, turning back to me. “I’m busy, alright? Don’t bother calling me unless you have something important to say.”

With that, he stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. I stood in the silence, feeling the last thread connecting us finally snap.

Resolving not to look back, I picked up my phone and contacted a team of lawyers. I knew what I had to do.

Finally, I dialed the director’s number. “Mr. Leighton? It’s me. I’ve made up my mind. I’m taking the lead role in your film.”