In the third year of Ariel Slater's remarriage with Remi Callahan, she realizes that she's pregnant with his baby.

As his wife, she does her utmost best to avoid getting into fights with him.

Whenever Remi comes home late, Ariel no longer welcomes him home at the door.

When Remi gets absolutely wasted at his business meetings, all Ariel does is command the household staff to prepare a hangover tonic for him.

Remi is very busy with work, so it's rare for him to come home. Even so, Ariel doesn't use the landline in the family compound to call him.

When she's eight months pregnant, Ariel discovers a tube of ointment in Remi's coat that's not hers. But she merely puts it back in his pocket without saying a word.

One day, when Ariel visits the maternity hospital next to the family compound for a prenatal check-up, she comes across an incident that humiliates her to no end.

Two nurses happen to walk out of a ward at that time. As they walk down the corridor, they chat among themselves.

"Mr. Callahan cares about Ms. Reed a lot. The moment she gives birth to a son, he's quick to book her the best single-person ward in this hospital."

"I heard that Ms. Reed is the widow of Mr. Callahan's dead mentor. He takes good care of Ms. Reed, that's for sure. Not only does he keep her company in the day, but he also refuses to go home at night. He really is a caring man."

"But I heard that Mr. Callahan's wife is about to give birth. I wonder what will happen if she finds out about Mr. Callahan's antics…"

Even though the nurses keep their voices low, Ariel still hears every word as clear as day.

As she stares at Remi, who's speaking with his colleague, Ella Reed, while cradling her newborn, she feels her eyes reddening against her will.

She decides to file for a divorce from him right there and then. This time, she will never remarry him, no matter what.

"Mr. Callahan, congratulations! You've got a big, healthy baby boy!"

"If Ariel's having a daughter, you'd have the perfect pair!"

"Ariel probably doesn't know about this child's existence, does she?"

Several men stood in the hospital room, all close friends of Remi Callahan's. Hearing this, Remi's expression grew more serious.

"Of course she doesn't know. And none of you are allowed to say a word to her. She's in her third trimester. She can't handle any emotional distress right now."

"So when are you planning to tell her? You can't keep this hidden forever."

Remi stayed silent for a moment before speaking with quiet certainty. "After she gives birth. Once she has the baby, she won't leave."

"Will this make things difficult for you?" The woman lying in the hospital bed spoke softly.

"Remi, I never expected anything in the first place. After losing Franklin, just being able to stay by your side and give you a child is more than enough. I don't want anything else."

Remi reached out and pulled her into his arms. "Ella, I promised I'd take care of you, and I will. I just hate that you've spent the past three years hiding like this."

Through the crack in the door, Ariel Slater watched him. The face that was usually so cold had gone completely soft. A bitter smile touched her lips.

Three years ago, she caught Remi tangled up with Ella Reed, the widow of his fallen comrade, and demanded a divorce.

She wanted a divorce. Ella threatened suicide. Between the two of them, Remi chose Ella.

Three years after filing for divorce, Remi dropped everything and went south to find Ariel. When he tracked her down, he got on his knees and swore the only person he ever loved was her.

He said the divorce wasn't his choice, that he was terrified Ella would actually kill herself, and he was terrified of failing his dead friend. To prove himself, he even sent Ella to another city.

They had known each other for ten years and loved each other for five. Ariel couldn't let go either, so she gave in and agreed to remarry him.

After they got back together, Remi threw himself into making it up to her with an intensity that bordered on obsessive. She loved butterscotch candies, so no matter how hard they were to find, he'd track someone down to bring them from out of state.

She was always cold, so he pulled the lining out of his own coat to make her a thicker one. Even when he was away on assignment, he found a way to call and let her know he was safe.

But she never imagined that during the past three years, he had never sent Ella away at all. He kept her close by, stayed involved, and even got her pregnant.

Only now did Ariel realize how badly she had misjudged everything. Even with all the trust she gave him, even with all the love he gave back, their relationship was shattered beyond repair.

A few days ago, Remi said he was going on a training exercise and wouldn't be back for a month. She believed him. If she hadn't come in for her checkup and walked right in on this scene, she would have stayed in the dark forever.

The baby in her belly suddenly kicked hard twice, as if sensing her distress. She clutched her stomach and doubled over. "God, it hurts."

The pain wasn't just in her stomach but in her heart too.

A nurse passing by noticed something was wrong and rushed to steady her. "Ma'am, are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Who's out there?"

At the noise, everyone in the room turned sharply toward the door.

When Remi saw Ariel, he froze. He quickly put the baby back in the crib and strode toward the door.

"Ariel, what are you doing here?"

The other men saw her too. Their faces went pale.

"Ariel?"

"Ariel, let us explain! We heard Ella had a baby and came to visit. We just ran into Remi on the way and dragged him along."

"That's right, Ariel. Please don't misunderstand."

Even now, Remi's closest friends were covering for him. Hearing them say her name like that made Ariel feel sick.

She slowly lifted her gaze to Remi. Her voice came out flat. "What about you, Remi? How do you explain this?"

"Ariel, don't get upset. It's just like they said. We ran into each other by chance."

"You're still lying."

Her heart felt frozen, like it should have gone numb by now. But his lie still crushed her. She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

"You told me you were leading a month-long training exercise at the border. So what happened? Did the training get moved to the maternity ward? That was fast work, Commander."

Remi's face went white. "I… Plans changed. I'm sorry, Ariel. Please calm down. You're pregnant."

"It's my fault! Ms. Slater, please don't hit him anymore."

Ella clutched the baby and dropped to her knees. "Remi only stayed with me because he felt sorry for me! Ms. Slater, I'm not asking for anything else.

"I'm a widow. I just wanted someone to take care of me and a child to hold onto. I would never try to take your husband!"

"Shut up! You already have a child with him, and you're telling me you won't take him?"

Ariel raised her hand to strike Ella, but Remi caught her wrist. "Ariel, you can hit me, but don't touch Ella. She just gave birth. She's weak."

Watching him defend another woman made Ariel laugh bitterly. "So this is why you said you'd be gone for a month? So you could be here with her? How can you be this shameless?"

Ariel wrenched her arm free and raised her hand again. Ella scrambled up from the floor with the baby and rushed toward Remi.

Ariel couldn't stop. Her hand struck the child.

"Waaaah!"

The baby tumbled from Ella's arms. Everyone in the room went into a panic.

"My baby!" Ella sobbed as she lunged for the child.

"Why would you do this? He's only four days old! You're going to be a mother yourself! How can you be so cruel?"

The others rounded on Ariel.

"Ariel, how could you? The baby's so small! No matter how angry you are, you can't hurt a child!"

"A fall like that could cause serious damage. Mr. Callahan, we need to get a medic in here right now!"

Remi turned on Ariel, furious. "I know what I did was wrong! But that's my son! My own son!"

"Is he?" Tears streamed down Ariel's face as she pressed a hand to her stomach.

"Then what's this?"

"Sweetie, why did you stop crying? Baby! Remi, he's not breathing!" Ella's scream cut through the room.

Remi panicked. "Someone get a medic! Now!"

Ariel stood in the doorway, her expression blank. "Let them go. Remi, I'm giving you one last chance. It's me or Ella. My baby or hers. You can only choose one. Who do you choose?"

Remi frowned, looking torn. "Ariel…"

"Mr. Callahan, I'll disappear with the baby! You won't have to worry about us ever again! You won't have to care even if we die!

"We're not married anyway. When the baby grows up, people will mock him for being illegitimate! I might as well just take him with me and end it all!"

Ella clutched the baby and moved toward the window. Remi grabbed her and held on tight.

"Ella, I won't let you die. I promised Franklin I'd take care of you!" He turned to look at Ariel.

"You're bringing this up now? You're out of your mind! Ella gave me a son! I'm not going to stand here and watch something happen to him! You want a divorce? Fine! I've had enough of this for the past three years anyway!"

Remi rushed out with Ella in his arms. He knocked into Ariel on his way past and didn't even notice.

Heavy with pregnancy, Ariel lost her balance. She stumbled backward and hit the ground hard.

The pain made her vision go dark. She tried to get up but couldn't find the strength.

He'd had enough? She'd had enough too.

The other men saw her fall but didn't move to help. Instead, they blamed her.

"Women and their jealousy."

"The Commander never should have begged her to come back three years ago if it was going to end up like this."

"Do you think he regrets it now? Not that he can do anything about it. She's eight months along. What's he supposed to do, make her get rid of it?"

Everyone followed Ella to the clinic, leaving Ariel alone in the suddenly quiet room.

Her stomach throbbed. She flagged down someone passing by and asked them to find a medic.

At the clinic, Ariel's doctor, Taylor Hayes, examined her and frowned. "Ma'am, you're eight months pregnant. You need to be more careful. How did you end up falling like that?"

Ariel stared at the ceiling without answering. She hadn't been careless. Remi knocked her down.

"Where's Mr. Callahan? Didn't he come with you? He's always been with you for your checkups before."

Taylor spoke gently. "Do you want me to call him for you?"

Ariel didn't stop her. Taylor dialed quickly.

"Hello, Mr. Callahan. Mrs. Callahan just came to the clinic. She fell and the baby—"

"Did she tell you to call me? Ella's baby is being treated right now, and she's still using her pregnancy to make me jealous? Tell her to stop this. If something happens to that child, she'll owe Ella a baby!"

The line went dead. Taylor stood there, confused.

Ariel still said nothing. She slowly climbed off the examination table.

"If I wanted to induce labor now…"

"Mrs. Callahan, I don't know what happened between you and Mr. Callahan, but the baby is eight months along. He'll be born soon. If you induce labor now, it won't just harm your body. You'll be ending an innocent life."

Ariel nodded. "I understand. Thank you."

Taylor was right. The baby was innocent.

This child was hers. From now on, she would have nothing to do with Remi Callahan.

She would file for divorce. She would raise the child on her own.