"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.

Eventually, Calvin proposed to me.

"Are you serious?"

Tears of joy streamed down my face.

"I've thought it through," he said. "The days I've spent with you have been the happiest of my life. I want that happiness to last forever."

However, like all beautiful dreams, this one eventually shattered.

When I did not respond, Calvin called me directly.

"Angela, just come back. I'll make them apologize, and we'll put this behind us. Don't make a fuss."

"Will Susie apologize?" I asked.

"Yes, yes!" He sounded relieved, even cheerful. "She said as long as it makes you happy, she's willing to apologize."

"Fine. Tomorrow, then."

Since she was so eager to 'make me happy,' I decided I would enjoy it to the fullest.

The next day, Calvin came to pick me up. Sitting in the passenger seat was Susie.

She blinked innocently and said, "I get carsick, Angela. You don't mind, do you?"

In the past, I would have snapped back at her, and we would have fought.

Not anymore. I simply smiled faintly, said nothing, and slid into the back seat.

At the restaurant, Calvin's friends looked like they had swallowed nails as they mumbled their apologies.

"Angela, we were wrong. We shouldn't have said those things!"

One by one, they apologized.

Thinking the matter settled, Calvin urged us to sit and eat.

However, I stayed standing. "There's still one more person, isn't there?"

My gaze landed on Susie.

She picked up a glass of juice and walked over, her voice soft and pitiful.

"Angela, I know you don't like me. After all, who could accept their husband's first love always being around? I understand. I've wronged you, and I'm sorry."

Calvin's face softened instantly, his voice full of concern.

"Alright, that's enough. Angela won't hold it against you. Everything's out in the open now. Go sit down, don't overexert yourself. You're not in good health."

Then he turned to me. "See? I kept my word. Now let's stop this nonsense."

I just sat there, quietly watching.

"Say something, Angela. Don't just sit there in silence again."

Before I could answer, the doors burst open. Ian strode in, sharp in a tailored suit, every step radiating authority.

"What are you doing here?" I stared at him in surprise.

His voice dripped with disdain. "I wanted to see firsthand what kind of garbage they'd spew at you."

"Watch your mouth, Ian! Don't think we're afraid of you!" Calvin shouted, instinctively shielding Susie behind him.

Ian smirked. "I'm not even here for you. Why so nervous?"

He casually pulled out a chair, sat down, and swept his eyes over the room with bored indifference.

They claimed they were not afraid, but none of them dared speak up.

"Tell you what, Mr. Leeroy," Ian said lazily, "if you're really not afraid, should I go ahead and pull all my funding from Leeroy Group?"

Calvin's face flushed crimson, his lips moving soundlessly before he finally forced out a few words. "What do you want?"

"We're all adults here. Mixing personal grudges with business isn't wise," Calvin tried to steady his voice. "Besides, no matter how much I fight with my wife, it's still between us. It's not for outsiders like you to meddle."

Ian's eyes darkened, and a slow smile tugged at his lips.

"Your wife? You're about to be divorced, and you still call her that? The shamelessness is impressive."

Ian leaned back, unfazed.

"I didn't come to waste words with you. I came to deliver a gift."