On the night of our fifth wedding anniversary, I set the table, lit the candles, and waited on the couch for my husband to come home.

As I scrolled through my feed to pass the time, a message notification popped up–from his old classmate, Susie Cartman.

"Angela, thanks to Calvin's seed, I can finally have my own baby."

The message came with a selfie–her grinning at the camera, holding up a medical slip in one hand, flashing a peace sign with the other.

I touched my stomach, where our child was quietly growing.

Calvin… Did you really think everything in life would always go your way?

I slipped the pregnancy report back into my bag, my hand instinctively resting on my stomach.

To the little life inside me, I whispered an apology.

I had planned to share the good news today. Calvin Leeroy had longed for this child for so long.

It seems he would rather that Susie Cartman be the one to give him a baby.

That explained why he had been smiling at his phone so often as of late; his heart was already elsewhere.

When I stayed silent, Calvin transferred money to me, just as he always did.

In his eyes, I was nothing more than a dull, predictable housewife–someone who could be placated with cash.

He lay down beside me, reaching out to pull me into his arms. His warm breath should have made me shiver with tenderness, but all I felt was cold.

Once, I would have broken down, demanded to know why he was entangled with another woman, why he kept hurting his wife again and again.

How could a man as educated as he was even consider something as absurd as giving his seed to another woman to have his own child?

At this point, though, I just shifted slightly, avoiding his touch.

He noticed and tried to soothe me.

"Honey, you've misunderstood. Susie and I are like siblings. Nothing else would ever happen between us. Her grandmother was my mentor–it was her dying wish that Susie have a child. With this child, she'll have someone to depend on. Once it's done, I'll never see her privately again, alright?"

I still did not answer.

His patience snapped. His voice rose sharply.

"Angela Irwin, I'm talking to you! What's with that attitude? It's just an IVF procedure–why are you making such a big deal out of it?"

With that, he threw off the blanket, yanked on his clothes, and stormed into the guest room. Before slamming the door shut, he spat out one last sentence, "I could've kept this from you. The only reason I told you was out of respect."

The door rattled with the force of his anger, leaving me sitting there in silence.

I had prepared for this anniversary for so long, only to end up with this.

Was it because I loved him too much? Was that why he dared to treat me this way?

No matter how much I loved him, I could not accept my husband giving his seed to another woman.

The next morning, Calvin left early. I did not have to ask where he went.

I immediately called Ian Travis, my childhood friend. When we were kids, he used to trail behind me, insisting he would always protect me.

When I told him I wanted a divorce and asked to borrow his private lawyer, Ian agreed instantaneously.

These past few days, Calvin had either been coming home late or glued to his phone.

At first, I thought he was busy with work. Yesterday, I finally understood–he was busy with Susie.

That afternoon, I went to the hospital. After only a few words with the doctor, I said clearly, "I want to terminate this pregnancy."

The doctor's eyes widened in surprise. "Didn't you go through so much just to have this child?"

I gave a bitter laugh but said nothing.

Understanding dawned in the doctor's eyes. He immediately began making the arrangements.

The procedure was quick–less than half an hour, and it was over.

However, as soon as I stepped out of the hospital, I saw them.

Calvin, carefully supporting Susie, guided her through the lobby. His face was full of worry, his voice tender in a way he never used with me.

This was the same man who always raised his voice at me, yet spoke to her in the gentlest tone imaginable.

"Calvin, don't be so nervous," said Susie softly. "The doctor already told us–I'm perfectly healthy and fully qualified for IVF."

"But IVF is so painful," Calvin's brows furrowed. "The thought of you going through that hurts me."

A blush rose on Susie's cheeks. "It's just fate playing tricks on us. If I'd come back a few years earlier, we wouldn't even need IVF now."

Her words stabbed at me. My chest tightened, and tears nearly spilled over.

Just then, Calvin noticed me. His frown deepened.

"Were you following me?"

I did not answer him. Instead, I fixed my gaze on Susie.

She feigned irritation and chimed in sweetly, "Calvin, with our kind of relationship, Angela would surely understand. Why would she ever need to follow us?"

Ha. She thought I was the same woman who swallowed every insult in silence?

I let out a quiet laugh. "If you and Calvin are planning to have a child together, what does that have to do with me? The way I see it, you two are the real husband and wife."

Calvin's face turned ashen. "What are you saying? I told you before–Susie and I are like siblings!"

However, fresh from surgery, my body would not let me stand long. A dull ache spread across my abdomen, and I had no energy left to argue. I turned, intent on walking away.

Susie suddenly stepped forward, blocking me.

"Angela, wait. We're nearly done with the check-up, so why don't we all go together? Otherwise, I'd feel guilty, like you're angry with me."

I waved her off impatiently, giving her the lightest push. She collapsed dramatically to the ground, clutching herself and crying out in pain.

Panic flashed in Calvin's eyes. He shoved me hard and barked, "Are you insane? Don't you realize Susie is trying to have a baby?"

Without another word, he scooped her into his arms and rushed off.

Watching their retreating figures, I felt no regret. If she was going to have a child, what about me?

The day Susie reappeared in his life, I already knew our marriage was finished.

Back home, my phone buzzed. Susie had updated her social media feed: a photo of Calvin's face, taken from the angle of a doting girlfriend.

The caption read: "How lucky I am. After all these years, you've always been there whenever I'm hurt."

Comments flooded in beneath the post.

"Wow, our big boss is such a softie at heart?"

"Of course, childhood sweethearts always get special treatment."

"So you finally chose him to have your baby? Congrats!"

Not long after, Calvin himself commented, "Don't start rumors. I don't want Angela upset. Susie and I are only doing IVF."

Someone quickly replied, "Please. Everyone knows about your feelings for Susie. If someone hadn't meddled, you two would've been together ages ago."

His so-called friends had always believed I was the one who came between them.

The truth? Five years ago, Susie was the one who broke things off so she could study abroad. During Calvin's darkest days, it was I who stayed by his side.

I typed out a reply, "If they're destined to be together, then they will be. Don't worry, the day is coming soon."

Then I posted the abortion procedure receipt on social media. The caption was, "Baby, don't blame me for being heartless. Someone else is going to have your father's child, too."

In less than a minute, my feed erupted–likes, comments, shares.

However, they were all from my side of the circle. Not a single one of Calvin's friends reacted.

Moments later, my brother called. Then my father-in-law. Then, Calvin–again and again. I did not pick up any of them.

My brother finally sent a message. [Ian told me everything. You've just gone through an abortion . I'll ask him to pick you up–you need someone to take care of you for now.]

I packed lightly, dragging my suitcase toward the door.

However, before I could step out, the lock rattled violently, and Calvin burst through the door.

Calvin's face was flushed red with fury as he grabbed my wrist in a crushing grip, his voice venomous.

"So just because I said I'd donate seed to Susie, you went and had an abortion behind my back? Are you insane? You didn't even tell me you were pregnant! Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for this child?"

His words made my stomach churn with disgust.

Even at this point, he thought I would still be willing to bear his child?

I ignored him and moved to step past, but he yanked me back, refusing to let go.

"I already promised you–once we have the baby, I'll cut ties with Susie completely. Isn't that enough?"

He kept testing the limits of my patience, and for the first time, I realized just how shameless a person could be.

I could not hold back anymore, and I slapped his face–hard.

"I don't care what you promise. I want a divorce! You've been desperate to be with Susie anyway, haven't you? A lawyer will be in touch."

With that, I walked away from the house I had lived in for five years, never once looking back.

Behind me, Calvin's furious roar echoed down the hall.

"If you walk out that door, don't you ever think of coming back!"

How laughable. I would never regret this decision.

I hailed a cab and headed to the wealthiest neighborhood in Aucklandia City.

When I arrived, Ian was already waiting at the gate. His brows were knitted tight with worry.

I told him about Susie asking Calvin to father her child, and Ian was livid.

"I knew it–he's scum. Shameless and filthy. Don't worry about the rest, I'll handle it."

Back in the presence of someone who had truly cared for me, I felt a warmth I had not felt in years. My defenses crumbled, and I broke down, sobbing in his arms.

Five years ago, I married Calvin against everyone's advice. My parents, my brother, my relatives, my friends–no one supported me.

Even Ian, my childhood friend, had called repeatedly to beg me not to marry him.

Back then, I thought they all looked down on Calvin because the Leeroy family was nothing more than nouveau riche.

I was determined to prove my choice was right. I was wrong.

Five years of youth, wasted. At last, I woke up.

No matter what he did next, I was never going back.

However, Calvin refused to accept a divorce.

He messaged, [Fine, we can divorce. But I need to talk to you face-to-face.]

I messaged back, [At this point, there's nothing left to say. If you won't sign, I'll take you to court.]

His reply was infuriating. [All this fuss over nothing. Susie just wants a child, that's all. It's not like she's ruining our marriage.]

Every time her name came up, he painted Susie as some innocent victim.

No matter what she did, in his eyes, she was always to be forgiven, always to be understood.

When I was pregnant, he spent his days glued to the phone with her. Even on our anniversaries, the moment Susie called, he would drop everything and run to her side.

On our fifth wedding anniversary–the worst of all–he spent the entire day escorting her through medical exams for IVF.

On every holiday, he would prepare a gift for her too.

If I got upset, he would lecture me, "Come on, she's had it rough abroad. Her reputation's been ruined, and she can't even find a decent husband now. After everything we've been through, if I don't take care of her, who will?"

Looking back at this moment, I realized–those so-called happy days with Calvin only existed in the first two years of our marriage.

That was when Susie had gone abroad, chasing after someone more powerful, and had almost no contact with him.

Me? I had poured all my love, all my devotion into him, turning him from the one who once had to give… into the one who only knew how to take.