Eleven Weeks Pregnant

Mia laughed at her friend’s dramatic words. She told Gina that she wasn’t confident about reclaiming her former status as a prodigy, but she would try her best.

Gina kept reassuring her, pumping her up. “As the most mysterious figure in the interior design industry, you suddenly retired at the peak of your career three years ago. Your decision sent shockwaves through the entire industry. Everyone agreed that no one would surpass your achievements for a hundred years.”

“So trust me, Mia. If you decide to return, that throne is still yours,” Gina said, patting Mia’s shoulder encouragingly, her eyes full of certainty.

Then a more pressing question occurred to her. “Wait—have you told Timothy about this? Did he actually agree?”

Mia swallowed the last bite of scone and nodded.

The truth was, Timothy knew nothing of her secret identity. In his eyes, she was just a thoughtful, meticulous little caregiver who knew how to keep Laura happy.

To him, her only talents were probably doing housework and tidying rooms.

Mia sighed. She knew it was time to tell Gina everything that had happened lately.

Then she told her friend about Maya’s return, the closeness between Maya and Timothy, and the compromising photo she’d received from Maya—all in the simplest, most neutral tone she could manage.

“If there was still a tiny bit of hesitation in me when I brought the divorce papers home, it completely vanished the moment I saw Maya in my house, already allowed by Timothy to stay with us,” Mia said, taking a sip of coffee, her face as calm as she could manage. “At that moment, I knew divorce was the best decision I’d ever made.”

Gina froze completely when Mia finished her words. Her mouth fell slightly open, her blue eyes filled with disbelief.

But she knew Mia was telling the truth—Mia would never lie to her.

And most of all, Mia’s expression revealed the truth: a heart fractured beyond repair by her marriage.

Damn them! Timothy and Maya—they had broken Mia. Completely.

Gina cursed furiously. “Listen, darling, I swear God will punish them severely in the future. Not even death could redeem them. They should lose everything, be despised by everyone—they deserve it all! But we should do something too.”

With that, Gina pulled out her phone. “God’s punishment is God’s business. We’ll also teach them a lesson. How about I find some media outlets and expose their love affair?”

Mia quickly stopped her. “Don’t. Please. I don’t want anything to do with them anymore.” She sighed, her voice carried profound exhaustion. “I just want to end this quietly, then start a new life with my family.”

Gina’s heart ached for her friend. She wanted to argue, but the pain in Mia’s eyes made her hold back.

Mia had always been kind. She had loved Timothy so deeply. Even now, after deciding to leave him, she still didn’t want to cause him trouble.

Gina sighed helplessly and could only comfort Mia, telling her to let go and stop crying over him.

“Oh, I remembered your birth family has been looking for you. Did your aunt mention what your parents do? How many siblings do you have? When can you meet?” Gina deliberately changed the subject.

Mia’s brow furrowed deeper. She took a sip of coffee and shrugged. “I don’t know. She won’t tell me anything. She says my family wants to surprise me, so it’s a secret for now.”

“But this is way too mysterious,” Gina whispered, curiosity burning inside her. “Do you think they could be some billionaire tycoons? Or some powerful politicians?”

Mia pinched her cute round nose. “Come on, nothing that good ever happens to me.”

The mere thought of reuniting with her family filled her with gratitude. She only hoped they were all healthy and happy, and that they could live peacefully together once she returned.

Still, she was wildly curious about them. She lifted her coffee cup. “We’ll meet soon. Then I’ll know who they are.”

Gina lifted hers too, clinking it against Mia’s. “Good luck, my dear friend.”

They planned to finish their coffee and hit the shops. Mia wanted to surround herself with new things, to chase away the sadness in her heart.

Nothing could break her. Though her marriage had crumbled, there were still other things worth her attention.

With that thought, Mia quickly drank the rest of her coffee in one go. She stood up excitedly, about to announce their departure—when a sudden, uncontrollable wave of nausea hit her.

“Ugh.” Mia clapped a hand over her mouth and sank back into her chair. Her stomach churned violently. She swallowed hard several times, barely managing to hold it down.

Damn it. What was wrong with her? Nothing upsetting had happened today.

And she was sure she hadn’t eaten anything unusual—just ordinary café food.

Suddenly, Gina grabbed her wrist tightly, her voice turning grave. “Mia… you couldn't be pregnant, could you?”

What?

Mia stared at her in shock.

Then fragmented memories flooded back.

She remembered how she had longed for a child with Timothy over the years. She had visited hospitals frequently for fertility checks, taken countless ovulation-stimulating drugs, but nothing had worked. And perhaps because of those treatments, her periods had always been irregular. But now that she thought about it... when was her last period?

Her brow tightened. Over two months ago.

She had missed periods before, but never with such intense nausea. Gina's question planted a seed of doubt. She decided to go to the hospital and get checked.

Mia stood up, grabbed her clutch, and said hurriedly to Gina, “Rain check.” Then she rushed out of the café.

She called an Uber and headed to the nearest hospital.

Her heart was in knots the entire ride. She twisted her fingers anxiously, wondering over and over: what would she do if she really was pregnant?

And if it was just a false alarm…

Mia couldn't finish that thought.

She had always wanted a child. But she wasn’t sure she wanted one at this moment.

Gina called twice, worried, offering to go with her. Mia didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. She begged Gina to keep her possible pregnancy a secret, then hung up.

At the hospital, the doctor ran several tests.

Three hours later, Mia received the results.

The paper clearly stated: eleven weeks pregnant.

You’re Back

Mia stood outside the hospital, holding the pregnancy test results, completely dazed.

Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined getting pregnant just as her marriage was falling apart. It felt as if this tiny life was trying to pull her away from thoughts of divorce.

But... should she really undo what she’d decided?

Was there any point in staying married to Timothy now?

Images of Timothy’s handsome face flashed through her mind again and again—the way he shaved in the morning, the way he focused on his work, the way he laughed at her teasing… and the way desire burned in his eyes when they made love.

Every version of him had once made her heart race.

And before Maya returned, he had always been good to her—he never broke his promises, and he prepared gifts for her on every anniversary.

Maybe if Timothy found out she was pregnant, he would reevaluate his relationship with Maya and choose to return to his family?

As for herself… Mia wasn’t sure if she could ever forgive Timothy’s betrayal, even for the sake of their child.

People hurried in and out of the hospital, cars roared past the roadside, and the noise only muddled her mind further. She couldn’t find any definite answer.

“Anyway, I have to tell him first. Timothy is the father, after all. He has the right to know,” Mia thought to herself. She took a deep breath and made up her mind silently.

She then ordered an Uber and headed home.

She decided not to overthink, but to act quickly—tell Timothy she was pregnant, then wait for his response.

Whatever answer he gave her, Mia believed she could bear it.

Mia opened the front door, intending to look for Timothy in the study. It was Saturday, and he was usually there working.

But as she approached the first-floor study, a coquettish voice drifted down from the master bedroom upstairs.

It was followed by a soft, gentle reassurance.

Timothy was not working in the study as usual; he was with Maya.

Mia’s fingers, clutching the test results, tightened until her knuckles turned white.

She could not bear to see them being intimate. For a moment, she even wanted to keep the pregnancy from Timothy entirely.

But in the end, reason overcame emotion. She picked up her phone, ready to send him a text and ask him to come down.

He was the father of her child. And she had once loved him so deeply.

As Mia sat down, typing, Maya’s voice drifted down the stairs nonstop.

“Oh, Tim, I heard from the maid, Fiona, that Mia threw up this morning. Is she alright?” Her voice dripped with false concern, as if she genuinely cared.

Mia’s stomach lurched again. She typed faster, desperate to get this over with.

“It’s nothing serious.” Timothy’s voice rang out. “She just ate something bad. How are you doing today? Did you take your medicine as the doctor ordered? Any discomfort?”

Maya’s voice turned syrupy sweet. “Of course I took it. I feel a bit off… but it’s okay. As long as you’re here, I am good. I’m still worried about Mia.”

Her tone suddenly turned anxious. “Do you think she could be pregnant?”

At those words, Mia’s finger froze over the send button.

Her hand holding the phone trembled slightly. She waited nervously for Timothy’s response.

Would he consider the possibility? How would he feel about the child they might have? Would he tell Maya he didn’t want a child with her… or say something else?

Mia’s heart climbed into her throat. Her hand instinctively went to her belly, waiting for the answer—she and her unborn child together.

Moments later, Timothy’s voice came through, sharp and certain. “Impossible. She can’t be pregnant.”

Mia’s eyes widened.

What… what did he mean?

Timothy didn’t hesitate for even a second before casually declaring she could never conceive. How could he be so sure?

In that instant, goosebumps broke out all over Mia’s body. A terrifying dread seized her throat, making it almost impossible to breathe.

A horrible thought consumed her. She wanted to run—even though she could not explain why.

Maya’s voice continued, innocent yet cruel. “Why? Tim, you really hate her that much.”

“It has nothing to do with that,” Timothy said coldly. “I’ve been making sure she uses contraception.”

“Mia agreed?” Maya sounded surprised. “Why would a gold-digger like her go along with that?”

Timothy’s tone remained light. “She doesn’t know. I just had Fiona slip some mild contraceptives into her water dispenser. Now come on, take your vitamins for today. Your health comes first.”

Their voices became a distant murmur, then nothing at all—lost to Mia entirely.

All strength drained from her body. She was just an empty shell, hollowed out completely.

Her child seemed to vanish in that moment too—as if it understood that its father had never wanted it.

Timothy didn’t want a child with her.

Tears slid down Mia’s cheeks. She closed her eyes in despair, holding back the flood.

No. She would not cry for Timothy.

He didn’t deserve her tears.

Mia knew it was all over. She no longer needed to ask anything.

She stuffed the test results into her clutch and turned to leave.

Suddenly, a surprised voice called from behind her. “Mia, you’re back.”

Fiona had just walked out of the storage room and stopped her.

Don’t Touch Her!

Mia was about to say she had things to do and was leaving right away, when Timothy stepped out of the master bedroom.

He hurried downstairs, his face awkward. “When did you get back, Mia?”

“Just now,” Mia said coldly.

The unease on Timothy's face deepened, but his voice remained steady as ever. “Why didn’t you come upstairs? Did you… hear something?”

Mia hadn’t expected him to ask so directly.

For a split second, a thought flashed through her mind—confront him.

But she crushed it immediately.

It was meaningless.

Now that she knew Timothy had never loved her, not even a little, all accusations felt ridiculous and hollow.

Timothy would never apologize to her.

If he found out she was pregnant, he would even force her to abort the child.

Mia instinctively squeezed her clutch tighter. All she wanted now was to hide her pregnancy.

“I didn’t hear anything.” She forced a small smile. “I just… wanted to ask what you’d like for dinner. I’ll go grocery shopping.”

She just wanted to leave.

Like hell she’d cook for them.

She just wanted to find a hotel and stay away for a few days.

Timothy wouldn’t care where she went anyway.

Timothy gestured for her to come in. “Fiona already bought the groceries. Actually… Maya said she wanted your cooking, so I had Fiona prepare everything in advance. Makes it easier on you.”

Mia froze.

Was he expecting her to thank him for his thoughtfulness?

“Fiona also bought your favorite caviar,” Timothy added.

Mia’s lips twitched. She didn’t see anything to be grateful for.

But since she’d managed to hide the pregnancy, there was no point arguing with him. It was just one meal. After dinner, she could go back to her room, which would save the money she needed for a hotel.

Mia agreed coldly. “I’ll start cooking soon.”

Timothy’s gaze grew complicated. He seemed about to say something, but Mia didn't want to hear it.

“Fiona, send Maya’s requested menu to my phone. I’ll start cooking after I change,” Mia said as she walked upstairs.

Better to make something she enjoyed than waste time on a man who wasn’t worth it.

No matter what Maya wanted, Mia believed she could handle it. Cooking a meal was far easier than dealing with a man like Timothy.

Mia changed into loungewear, went to the kitchen, put on her cartoon apron, and started cooking exactly as Maya had asked.

She finished five dishes in less than two hours.

Maya walked downstairs, looking at Mia like she was a servant. “Are you going to sit and eat with us?”

Before Mia could reply, Timothy pulled out a chair for her. “You’ve worked hard. Sit and rest. Leave the rest to Fiona.”

A flash of displeasure crossed Maya’s face, but she said nothing and sat down across from Mia.

“Tim, sit here, please? I want to peel shrimp for you.” Maya patted the seat beside her, wanting to stay close to him.

Mia saw right through her and couldn’t care less. She took the seat Timothy offered, picked up her utensils, and focused on her meal.

Timothy seemed distracted. For once, he ignored Maya’s invitation and settled into the head of the table, positioning himself between them.

“Let’s eat,” Timothy said.

Mia ignored him, focusing on cutting her steak.

Maya, however, was anything but quiet. The elegant socialite dissolved into a clinging, helpless mess around Timothy—couldn’t cut her own steak, needed him to pick her favorite vegetables from the salad.

She kept bringing up their past, determined to create a private little world just for the two of them.

Mia was disgusted. She wouldn’t have said a word to Timothy or interrupted them—even without all these acts.

She had already decided to divorce. Why waste any more time on a man she no longer wanted?

She finished her last bite of steak and stood to leave. “I’m done, enjoy your—”

A piercing scream cut her off. Maya clutched her stomach, face contorted in agony, glaring at Mia. "What did you put in the salad? Mia, I’m only staying here temporarily. Why would you try to kill me?!”

Maya’s expression twisted with what looked like genuine pain, her face draining of color. Cold sweat streamed down her forehead.

Mia froze. She had no idea how this had happened. “Fiona bought all the ingredients. I just cooked them. How could anything be wrong?”

Mia stepped forward to check, but Maya shrieked at her approach. “Ah! Stay away from me! Get lost!”

Mia was completely confused. She reached out to help Maya, explaining, “I just want to know what’s wrong—”

“Don’t touch her!”

Before Mia could finish, Timothy’s rough hand shoved her hard.

Caught off guard, Mia fell backward, one hand instinctively flying to her belly, the other grasping desperately for anything to break her fall.

But Timothy’s strength was overwhelming. Mia hit the floor hard. Her forehead hit the corner of the table, and she let out a muffled cry of pain.

Timothy didn’t notice her at all. His full attention was on Maya.

Mia watched helplessly as he he scooped Maya into his arms, rushing for the door.

When Maya rested her chin pitifully on Timothy’s shoulder, she glanced at Mia from an angle Timothy couldn’t see and raised her perfectly shaped eyebrow in provocation.

In that instant, Mia understood. She had been set up.

Maya had planned to frame her at dinner.

But there was no time to defend herself. Sharp pain exploded in Mia’s lower abdomen, and blood ran down from her forehead.

She clutched her stomach, begging Timothy not to leave.

“It… it hurts… Timothy, help me.” Mia struggled to stand. Even if he wouldn’t stop for her, she could at least beg for a ride to the hospital.

But Timothy didn’t look back. His voice was laced with disgust. “Stop pretending. Maya is in serious condition.”

Holding Maya, he frowned and kicked open the door, as if even one second’s delay would cost her life.

The pleading look in Mia’s eyes faded away. She watched her husband carry another woman and leave without hesitation.

He never looked back at her.

Before leaving, he even took Fiona with him, leaving Mia alone on the cold floor.

The pain in her abdomen intensified. There was no time for heartbreak. Her breath grew shallow. She had to save her child before she passed out.

Summoning her last strength, Mia crawled toward the table and grabbed her phone. Before collapsing to the floor again, she dialed for emergency help.