After three years of marriage, Eliana and Christopher Harvey had settled into the comfortable rhythm of weekend spouses.

At seven o'clock on Friday evening, the door to their villa swung open right on schedule.

“Chris, you're home!”

Eliana greeted him warmly at the entrance, helping him slip off his coat, which still carried the chill of Dublin weather.

“The temperature dropped sharply today. I've drawn you a hot bath. Why don't you go relax upstairs for a bit, then come down for dinner?”

“Sounds good.”

Christopher's deep, bottomless eyes lingered on her graceful face before he nodded and headed upstairs.

A year ago, he'd moved to Birmingham to oversee the Harvey Group's branch office. Since then, weekends were all they had.

As Eliana held his coat, it suddenly buzzed—Christopher's phone ringing. Without thinking, her finger brushed the screen and answered.

“Daddy!”

A child's voice burst through the speaker, freezing Eliana in place. At first she thought it was a wrong number; after all, she and Christopher had no children. But the phone screen read “Octavia.”

Her grip tightened. Octavia Jensen was Christopher's first love.

This call...

“Daddy, tomorrow's my birthday, and I really want you here. Will you come back to Birmingham?”

“Sweetheart, don't use Mommy's phone. Don't disturb Daddy. Hang up now.”

The call ended abruptly, but the woman's voice clung to Eliana's heart like a vice.

Octavia. A child. Birmingham.

Eliana's fingers trembled as she held the phone, her knuckles growing pale...

Half an hour later, Christopher came downstairs in a black robe, loosely tied at the waist. His defined abs were visible as he approached the silhouette by the panoramic window and placed a warm, dry hand on Eliana's stomach.

“Did you miss me? Hmm?”

His deep, alluring voice whispered against her ear. The room felt saturated with his presence as his fingers gently tangled in her silky hair.

His lips, warm and attentive, traced the curve of her ear and the delicate lines of her neck. He knew exactly where she was most sensitive. Normally, she'd close her eyes and lean into his embrace.

But this time, she brushed his hand away, turned, and stepped back.

“What's wrong?”

Disappointment clouded Christopher's features.

Eliana bit her lip, speechless, her eyes fixed on his handsome, almost regal face under the chandelier above.

Her mind echoed with the child's and the woman's words from the call. While they'd lived apart for the past year, had he formed a new family?

Before she could voice her thoughts, Christopher's phone rang again. This time, he answered:

“Mom? What happened? I'll be right there.”

Christopher's mother had called, telling him his grandmother had suffered a stroke and was in the hospital for emergency treatment.

That night, Eliana accompanied Christopher to the hospital. Tessa Mason was still unconscious after surgery.

Eliana remained outside the ICU with Christopher throughout the night, aware this wasn't the time for questions.

But the next morning, Eliana overheard Christopher in the stairwell:

“Sorry, Gage. Grandma is ill, so Daddy might not make it to your birthday today. Be good, okay? I'll make it up to you when I return...”

Christopher's patient, gentle voice as he spoke to the child was painfully clear to Eliana as she stood outside, her nails pressing into her palm, her face pale.

The truth dawned on her—Christopher's work in Birmingham was a cover for another life, another family that needed his presence.

Stifling her tears, Eliana left the hospital, only to run into her mother-in-law, Winona Harvey.

“Eliana, where are you headed?”

Winona had never approved of Eliana—an adopted daughter—marrying her son. Only Mrs. Mason's insistence had made her allow it.

“I have something to handle. I'm leaving.”

Eliana had no energy for Winona's disdain, but Winona grabbed her arm:

“What could be so important? Three years and still no child. If Mrs. Mason doesn't wake up, she might take her regret to the grave. You're just a decorative piece!”

“If I'd known how useless you'd be, I'd never have consented to this marriage. You're like a curse intent on ending the Harvey family line!”

Winona's accusations cut deeper than the biting wind, making Eliana laugh bitterly.

“You're right. I may be useless, but rest assured, your son has already ensured the Harvey family line won't end with me. Congratulations!”

“What? What's that supposed to mean? Eliana, explain—”

Ignoring Winona's outcry, Eliana walked away.

In late November, the cold wind bit at her face, and she hugged her own shoulders against the chill.

When Christopher moved to Birmingham, she'd offered to join him, but he wanted her to stay and care for his mother and grandmother. Now she knew why—so she wouldn't interrupt his life with Octavia and their child.

Her tears mixed with laughter, confusing passersby who looked at her as if she were mad. She felt she truly was.

Inside a taxi, Eliana got a call from her friend, Zora Morales:

“Ellie, where are you? The test results are in, and we found out why you've struggled to conceive.”

During her marriage, Eliana hadn't been able to conceive. Zora, an experienced OB-GYN, refused to accept that there was no explanation. Recently, she had grown suspicious of the imported vitamins Eliana had been taking.

Rushing to the Women's and Children's Hospital where Zora worked, Eliana reached the office and saw Zora holding the bottle she'd been taking.

“Ellie, those aren't vitamins. They're birth control pills!”

“What?”

Eliana Harvey felt like she’d just been struck by lightning. For a moment, she couldn’t speak. Couldn’t even breathe.

She snatched the bottle of vitamins from Zora Morales’ hand, twisted off the cap, and emptied the multicolored pills into her palm.

These were the same multivitamins she’d been taking for three years. How the hell could they be birth control?

“This... this can’t be right. There has to be a mistake.”

“Eliana, I didn’t want to believe it either,” Zora said, her voice calm but firm. “But these results came from multiple independent lab tests. I’m certain. Those vitamins you’ve been taking? They’re contraceptives.”

Zora knew Eliana needed to hear it plainly—needed to feel the weight of it.

The revelation hit Eliana like a punch to the chest. She clung to the vitamin bottle, dazed. So much had happened since last night. Her mind was still reeling.

“Eliana, how did you get these vitamins each time? Or rather—who recommended them to you?”

Zora’s question snapped her back into focus. Eliana tried to remember.

“A few years ago, I was shopping with Iris at the department store, and she introduced me to them. She was trying to conceive back then, too. She said lots of women abroad took them—claimed they were good for reproductive health and boosted immunity.”

“She also recommended a foreign pharmacy service. I’ve been buying them from there ever since.”

Eliana opened the app on her phone and showed Zora. Zora downloaded the same app immediately.

“Eliana, I’m going to order a bottle in my name. I’ll run more tests on them. If my results match yours, we’ll know the supplier is guilty of selling counterfeit medication.”

“But if the bottle I receive contains only vitamins—not contraceptives like yours—then we may have a tampering issue that isn’t linked to the supplier or manufacturer.”

“So... Zora, are you saying someone may have secretly swapped my vitamins with birth control pills?”

Zora’s hypothesis sent a shiver down Eliana’s spine. Just suspecting it made her break out in a cold sweat.

Pharmaceutical sales were tightly regulated. It bewildered her to think anyone would go to such lengths to keep her from conceiving.

Filled with doubt, Eliana checked the surveillance footage from the estate, hoping to catch anyone who might have tampered with her bedside vitamins. Yet, apart from herself, only Elisa Smith, the housekeeper, occasionally tidied the drawer while cleaning.

Elisa had been appointed by Christopher’s grandmother specifically to help Eliana conceive, preparing special soups and nutritious meals every day. It couldn’t have been Elisa. As for Christopher? He never even touched the drawer.

With no leads from the footage, Eliana waited for Zora’s conclusive results, deciding to keep the incident to herself for now.

Later that evening, after learning that Mrs. Mason had woken, Eliana returned to the hospital. Despite everything between her and Christopher, Mrs. Mason had always treated her kindly over the past three years.

As she approached the hospital room, Eliana overheard snippets of conversation between her mother-in-law and Mrs. Mason:

“Mom, I have great news—Christopher has a child now. I’m a grandmother, and you’re a great-grandmother!”

“Really? When did Eliana get pregnant?”

“Oh, not Eliana—Octavia and Christopher’s child.”

“Octavia?”

“Yes. The child is four now. A boy!”

“What? Four years old... So he was born before Christopher married Eliana. That’s outrageous! Keeping such a secret is deceitful!”

“Mom, why are you angry with Christopher? Eliana has been married into the Harvey family for years and hasn’t shown any sign of pregnancy. Thank goodness for Octavia, or our family name would be in jeopardy.”

“But he’s married to Eliana now, and parading another woman’s child around—what will Eliana do?”

“Hmph. If she knows, that’s all the better for us. Mom, I know you don’t like Octavia, but he's part of our family. I've already decided to bring my grandson home from Birmingham soon.”

The words made Eliana freeze at the door. Christopher and this other woman’s child had been a secret from her all this time.

Knowing her mother-in-law was planning to bring Christopher’s illegitimate child into the Harvey household, Eliana chose not to enter and face the humiliation.

She turned to leave—but ran into Christopher in front of the elevator.

“Where have you been today?”

She had vanished early in the morning, and he had called her several times with no response. She usually never missed his calls. And if she did, she would quickly return them.

Noticing her silence and the tears welling in her eyes, he sensed something was wrong.

“Are you not feeling well?”

Thinking she might be unwell, he reached out to check if she had a fever. But Eliana stepped back, evading his touch.

“Christopher, let’s get a divorce!”

Eliana’s voice quivered as she spoke, then she quickly ducked into the elevator.

“What?”

Christopher was still processing her words when his phone rang abruptly. The screen showed only one name: “Octavia.”

“Octavia, what’s going on? Don’t worry. Even if the paparazzi caught you, it’s fine. I’m here...”

As Christopher comforted Octavia over the phone, Eliana, tears streaming down her face, made a call of her own.

“Brad, you mentioned your company urgently needs a few screenwriters. If I come over, would that work?”

“Absolutely. That would be wonderful!”

The man on the line was Bradley Peterson, the son of Eliana’s adoptive parents.

Shortly after Eliana’s marriage, Bradley had pursued a career in film and media abroad, leaving behind the Peterson family real estate company. Recently, Bradley had mentioned he needed experienced screenwriters.

Eliana had graduated with a degree in film studies, hoping to become a successful screenwriter. But her marriage to Christopher right after college had led her to follow his wishes and focus on starting a family.

Now, realizing her three years of devotion had been for nothing, she saw no point in waiting for her mother-in-law to bring Christopher’s child and Octavia into their lives before being pushed aside. She intended to leave willingly—stepping away from the betrayal before it destroyed her.

“Great. Then, Brad, I’ll arrange my travel documents soon and aim to be there next month!”

“That’s fantastic, Eliana—I can’t wait. See you soon!”

Bradley’s voice was warm with anticipation.

When Eliana hung up, she’d already left the hospital. Snow had begun to fall outside. The cold wind bit through her as she bundled her wool coat tighter around herself. She lifted her head and closed her aching eyes. The cool touch on her face—it was hard to tell if it was the snow or her tears...

That night, Eliana didn’t return home. She stayed at Zora Morales’ apartment.

Upon hearing of Eliana’s decision to leave, Zora supported her wholeheartedly. No wife would tolerate a husband’s cheating and a secret child.

The next morning, Eliana returned to the estate to pack her belongings.

Christopher arrived just as she was descending the stairs with her suitcase.

With a few quick strides, he reached out and grabbed her suitcase.

“Eliana, let’s talk!”

Christopher Harvey stopped Eliana just as she was about to walk out. His cold, strikingly handsome face betrayed a flicker of solemnity. His grandmother had suffered another medical crisis the night before, and he'd spent every minute until dawn at the hospital. Only when she woke up and questioned him did Christopher realize that Eliana’s strange behavior the day before might have come from some painful news she’d stumbled onto.

Now that Christopher had started the conversation, Eliana couldn’t ignore it. She turned and sat across from him on the sofa. He tugged his tie loose, irritation sharp in the movement. He pulled out a cigarette, then hesitated and set it back down.

When he finally looked up, their eyes met. Eliana’s were striking—and utterly empty. Her eyelids were red and puffy.

She waited impatiently for him to speak. It was strange, really—a man known for his decisiveness, suddenly unable to decide anything. Was guilt keeping him tongue-tied?

Seeing him struggle, Eliana decided to prompt him.

“I know about your child in Birmingham—the one Octavia had. Don’t worry, I won’t make a scene. I’ll leave today so you can bring them home.”

She set the signed divorce papers down in front of him.

Thinking back on how she’d foolishly stayed home every day this past year, eagerly waiting for their once-a-week meetings, she felt utterly ridiculous.

Christopher glanced at the divorce papers, a muscle in his furrowed brow twitching. When his gaze returned to Eliana, he caught the sarcasm threaded through her expression—and it nudged him to speak.

“Eliana, I know this situation is unfair to you, but Gage was born before we even met.”

To him, the fact that the child existed before their marriage somehow canceled out any notion of infidelity or betrayal.

Eliana stared at him. She wanted to laugh. She couldn’t.

“My grandmother isn’t well, and I don’t want her worrying over us. If you’re upset and want to go back to your family for a bit, I’ll come to get you.”

“Elisa, please take Eliana’s suitcase back upstairs.”

Christopher didn’t sign the divorce papers Eliana had presented. He instructed the housekeeper to return her luggage upstairs, then left.

Eliana sat frozen on the sofa, watching him walk away, her heart heavy. It felt like throwing a punch that never landed—no impact, just a suffocating ache that left her bewildered.

She wasn’t sure if his actions were for his grandmother’s sake or if he was genuinely reluctant to end their marriage. Whatever his reasons, Eliana couldn’t ignore the reality of their situation.

Her phone rang suddenly—it was Tessa Mason. Reluctantly, Eliana answered.

“Hi, Grandma…”

“Eliana, I need you to come to the hospital immediately. There’s something very important we need to talk about face-to-face.”

“Grandma, focus on getting better. Whatever it is can wait.”

Eliana suspected Mrs. Mason wanted to discuss Christopher’s child with Octavia—a topic she had no desire to revisit. But Mrs. Mason was insistent, leaving Eliana no choice but to go to the hospital.

When she reached Mrs. Mason’s room, she found herself face-to-face with someone she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Tall and slender, her hair falling in cascading waves down to her waist, she wore an outrageously expensive designer outfit. Her makeup was flawless, and she was undeniably stunning.

It was Octavia Jensen—Christopher’s first love.

“Eliana, you’re here!”

Mrs. Mason’s voice broke the silence.

“Octavia, explain everything clearly to Eliana!”

Mrs. Mason spoke in a tone that was almost commanding. She had little fondness for this woman known for her glamorous lifestyle. But given that Octavia had secretly raised Christopher’s child, Mrs. Mason felt Eliana deserved a full explanation—both emotionally and morally.

“I’m sorry, Eliana. You might already know, but I have a child, and the father is… Christopher.”

Octavia lowered her head, shedding her glamorous facade as she approached Eliana with a contrite demeanor.

“I know this isn’t fair to you. If my presence and that of my child have caused you discomfort, I’m truly sorry.”

“What are you implying? I asked you to explain when this child was conceived and whether you and Christopher have been involved since his marriage to Eliana. I need clarity!”

Mrs. Mason, unhappy with Octavia’s vague explanation, strained herself with anger, clutching her chest as she gasped.

“Grandma, please don’t stress. Take care of yourself.”

Eliana rushed to calm Mrs. Mason, who was still dissatisfied with Octavia’s hazy account yet aware that the child’s timing wouldn’t alter their predicament. She wanted Octavia to stop, but Octavia burst into tears.

“Eliana, I know I’m at fault, and I truly apologize. I didn’t foresee any of this, and I’m terribly sorry.”

Actors can summon tears instantly, and Octavia’s tear-streaked face stirred no sympathy in Eliana. She certainly wasn’t Mother Teresa and couldn’t bring herself to forgive the damage done to her marriage.

Unexpectedly, Octavia grasped Eliana’s hand.

“If hitting me will ease your anger, I’m at your mercy. I won’t resist.”

“What are you doing? Let go!”

Unwilling to make contact with Octavia, Eliana tried to free her hand, but Octavia fell to the ground before she could pull away forcefully.

“Octavia!”

Christopher suddenly entered the room, arriving just in time to witness what seemed like Eliana pushing Octavia. He immediately rushed to help her up.

Seeing Octavia’s tearful, helpless face, Christopher’s cold eyes shifted to Eliana, silently questioning her actions toward someone he cared about.

Yet he remained silent. Instead, he grabbed Octavia’s wrist and led her out of the room.

“Chris…”

Eliana instinctively wanted to follow and explain but hesitated, wondering if it was necessary.

Behind her, Mrs. Mason shouted insistently.

“Christopher, where do you think you’re going? Come back and explain, come back!”

“Grandma!”

Eliana understood Mrs. Mason wanted a proper explanation to clear things up, but she shook her head.

“There’s no need, Grandma, I’m okay…”

“Ah!”

Mrs. Mason sighed helplessly, knowing that Eliana was hiding her pain despite her brave demeanor. What woman could easily tolerate the thought of her husband fathering another woman’s child? But given the circumstances, Mrs. Mason offered consolation.

“Eliana, don’t be upset. I’ve clarified everything. Although the child is Christopher’s, he was unaware when Octavia secretly had him after their breakup. Christopher assured me there’s been nothing between them since your marriage—no betrayal.”

Mrs. Mason aimed to comfort Eliana while confirming her grandson’s innocence.

Eliana stayed silent. If Christopher had nothing to hide, he would have mentioned Octavia and the child the moment he found out. Yet he kept it secret, even setting up an office in Birmingham to spend time with them.

Feeling suffocated, Eliana couldn’t stay at the hospital any longer.

She’d driven herself to the hospital. As the elevator descended to the parking level, the doors opened to reveal a scene that froze her—Christopher and Octavia, standing in a dim corner, deep in conversation…