"Ms. Meyer, it's a miracle that you could get pregnant at all, especially after factoring in your abdominal injuries as a result of the car accident in the past. I'm afraid you might have trouble conceiving again if you were to terminate the pregnancy," the doctor informed Ameera in a conflicted tone. "You should reconsider and discuss this with your husband."

Ameera clenched her hands involuntarily and felt a throb in her heart. Marlow never told her about this.

Whenever their parents asked when they were having children, Marlow would always tell them they wanted to wait a little longer before starting a family.

She teared up at the thought of how Marlow had been looking out for her feelings this entire time. Still, regardless of how kind he had been, it did not change the fact that he had lied to her.

"Thank you, doctor. I'll think about it."

She walked out of the hospital in a daze, only to run into Marlow and Josette in the corridor. It looked like they had just returned home.

Marlow was carefully helping Josette out of the ultrasound room, and his brows were tense with what seemed like agitation. Still, he fixed a gentle look on Josette and did not avert his gaze the entire time.

"Don't worry. It's not like I'm sick. I'm pregnant!" Josette remarked with a hint of a smile in her eyes.

Marlow smiled and looked like he could no longer contain his joy. "Of course, I'd be nervous. This is our first child! We have to take good care of the baby."

Ameera clenched her fingers tightly around the appointment card. She felt as if the temperature of her body had plummeted, and she could vividly hear the sound of her heart shattering. Her eyes were red-hot, but the tears simply would not come out.

The pain was so acute, yet she could not cry.

She watched as Marlow helped Josette into the elevator. After that, she slowly unfolded the appointment card and returned to the counter to schedule a procedure for the day after tomorrow.

Neither did she want her child to be born into a web of lies nor did she want her child to be born without a father.

As if God was playing a joke on her, she just had to bump into Marlow and Josette again in the basement parking lot.

Without a second thought, she tailed their car.

Marlow took Josette to the Carousel Restaurant.

Ameera felt her heart drop. This was a restaurant Marlow had specifically designed and built for her as a birthday present last year.

She remembered him telling her she was the only person with the honor of dining there, and yet, here he was with another woman.

He had seated Josette in what was Ameera's favorite seat. There was already some dessert set on the table while Marlow wheeled in a cart of delicacies for her.

He suavely produced a flower from his jacket and handed it to Josette to reveal a diamond necklace dangling right below the flower. "Congratulations, my little princess. You’re officially a mom-to-be."

"Marlow, thank you. I'm thrilled!" Josette looked like she was about to cry. "You even cooked for me!"

"Why don't you go after I finish eating? I've been taking up enough of your time the last few days. You should head back to Ameera." She looked like she was fighting back tears as she said this.

Marlow was heartbroken at the sight of her tears and held her tightly. "Silly girl, I'm not going anywhere today. I'll stay right here with you."

"What about Ameera? Isn't it your anniversary tomorrow? She'll be sad if you don't go home."

"I've already made arrangements. There's nothing to worry about." Marlow gently patted her head before putting the necklace on for her. "You're my wife. From now on, I'll make time for you and our child."

Ameera retreated around the corner and pressed her back against the icy wall. She shivered from the cold.

That was right. Josette was Marlow's lawful wife.

Meanwhile, she was nothing but a fool with no title to speak of.

She still remembered the first time Marlow brought her to the restaurant. He had gifted her a diamond necklace and revealed that to cook for her, he had secretly trained with a Michelin chef for a whole month.

"Honey, try my cooking. From now on, I will make all of your meals for you. I will love you and only you wholeheartedly for the rest of my life." He pressed his lips into Josette's ears and vowed as he put on the necklace for her.

It seemed as if he had duplicated the love and affection he once had for Ameera.

Ameera felt a heavy weight pressing against her chest. She was in tears by the time she left the restaurant.

By the time she scrambled out of the restaurant, tears were already flowing down her face.

She went straight to the law firm and had her lawyer, Hubert Klein, liquidate all of her assets. She made sure everything belonging to Marlow was returned to him.

The inheritance her parents left behind for her was enough for several lifetimes. Money was no issue; all she wanted was to cut things off with Marlow for good.

It was dark by the time everything was taken care of, and she drove home.

The house was dark and empty, save for a lonesome light which the housemaids had turned on. She lay wearily on the couch and stared at the pictures of her and Marlow that decorated every part of the room. Her heart had never felt heavier, and she felt a throb of pain every time it beat.

After she rubbed her fingers over her brows, she got up and removed the frames one after another.

She looked at the first picture they had taken together as children. She was in a pink dress. He had called her a beautiful princess.

Then, the picture of their first dance. His hand was gently placed on his waist, and he had asked for her to be his only partner for the rest of their lives.

Then, the picture of their first date. He spun her around in circles and declared that he was the happiest man in the world.

…

She tore through the pictures one after another and shoved them into the shredder to decimate their memories for good.

She went at it all night, eradicating every last bit of the romance they once had.

By the next day, when her hands had gone numb, Marlow was still nowhere to be seen.

It was supposed to be their anniversary.

On the day of the anniversary, Marlow posted a long post on his social media the moment the clock struck twelve. It was a heartfelt post expressing his love and gratitude for Ameera.

Within a few hours, the post had received over ten million likes and shares. Every screen in the city featured the video he had filmed and edited himself, so everyone knew just how devoted he was to Ameera.

Then, a group of people arrived outside the house and laid out a path using thousands of bouquets of roses. At the end of the path, there was a large collection of clothes and bags from a variety of trending fashion brands, as well as a giant crystal ring. To top things off, a music box looped Marlow's beautiful voice on repeat.

"Happy anniversary, honey! As always, I love you."

Ameera observed the spectacle indifferently before shutting the door and burrowing under the blankets. She behaved as if this had nothing to do with her.

Shortly after that, Marlow called her. His voice was filled with guilt, "Honey, there was a hiccup with the project, and I'm afraid I can't make it back home for our anniversary today. I promise I'll make it up to you when I get back."

Ameera sniggered upon hearing his flimsy excuse. Her voice quivered when she spoke, "It's fine. Take your time sorting things out."

"Honey, I can tell you're upset." Marlow was very observant and pointed it out right away. "I have a lot more surprises in store for you. I hope you like them. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"I'm not upset. I know you have work. I'm feeling a little sick, so I'm going to get some sleep," Ameera remarked dully before hanging up. Then, she curled up in a ball and tried to ignore the nagging pain within her.

Meanwhile, the commotion went on outside the house. Marlow had made arrangements for a drone show exhibiting all kinds of intricate formations professing his love for Ameera.

A crowd of reporters had made it to the scene, hoping to score an interview with Ameera to write about their romance.

Ameera ignored them. Meanwhile, her phone rang persistently.

When she saw Marlow's name on the display, her vision became clouded with tears again. A part of her wanted to pick up and ask him why he had gone back on his word and why he would fall for another woman.

In the end, all she did was turn her phone off and bury her head underneath the blankets.

She was not sure how long she remained underneath the blankets when it was suddenly ripped away. A sudden burst of light blinded her momentarily.

After adjusting to the brightness, she made out the silhouette of Marlow, who seemed disheveled. His hair was messy, and his face was pale. There was even a stark look of concern in his eyes.

When he realized Ameera was upset, he rushed back home immediately. His agitation mounted when she refused to pick up his calls on his way home.

The moment he saw Ameera, he embraced her tightly. His voice was choked up and on the verge of breaking. "I'm so glad you're home! Honey, I'm so sorry, I'm so, so sorry!"

His eyes were frayed red, and he was trembling uncontrollably. "I'll never leave you home all by yourself again. I was worried sick when you wouldn't pick up. It felt like the world was ending. Nothing in this world is more important than you. I'm back. Let's celebrate our anniversary together."

When Ameera remained silent, Marlow assumed she was still upset with him. He proceeded to get on one knee and tried to sweet-talk her, "Honey, please promise me you won't ignore my calls anymore, alright? I can't handle the thought of you ignoring me."

His agitation and fear did not seem forced at all. He truly loved her. The only problem was that this was not the only devotion he had.

"It didn't take you long to come back," Ameera remarked with a jerk of her lips.

The color drained from Marlow's face, and for a moment, he seemed to be wracked with guilt.

"Honey, you haven't eaten all day, have you? Come, I'll take you to your favorite restaurant." He swiftly changed the subject and gently raked his fingers through her hair.

"No." Ameera shook her head.

Marlow grew frantic. "Alright, I'll let you get some rest while I make you something downstairs."

"Hm," Ameera grunted before turning her back to him.

Assuming she was still upset, Marlow took a deep breath before retreating from the room.

About fifteen minutes later, Ameera heard some noises downstairs.

She went downstairs to find the living room packed with Marlow's friends. They were helping him hang up a collection of newly printed pictures on the wall.

When they saw Ameera, they all started to vouch for Marlow.

"Ameera, you sure had Marlow frightened. I have never seen him so nervous!"

"If he does something to upset you again, tell us and we'll lecture him for you! Just don't throw out the pictures or ignore his calls. You had him worried sick."

"He was going to lose his mind if he couldn't find you."

"Yeah! He nearly passed out when he came home to see all the pictures removed. He went straight to the trash can to look for them."

......

"Silence, all of you." Marlow hadn't even had time to remove his apron when he emerged angrily from the kitchen. "This was on me. I shouldn't have upset my wife. I deserve to be punished."

"Marlow, you're so obsessed with your wife that you don't even care about your dignity when it comes to her," Josette popped out of nowhere and remarked with an envious gaze.

Marlow remained poised and stated with a gentle smile, "Of course. She's my wife. It's only right that I have a soft spot for her."

Ameera felt a chill run down her spine when she sensed how hypocritical he was being. Nevertheless, she did not want to expose him right then and there.

She stated calmly, "Forget about the pictures. I was thinking I'd like to repaint the walls."

Marlow went up to her and put his arm around her waist. "Alright, guys, take them down. Whatever she wants."

"You're such a sucker for your wife!" one of his friends jested, but Marlow did not take it to heart.

Then, Marlow helped Ameera to the couch before returning to the kitchen to cook. He made every dish she liked, but they all tasted bland to her.

While he served up spoonfuls of food to her plate with one hand, he was interlocking his fingers with Josette's with the other hand under the table.

Ameera felt swept over with a wave of nihilism. She wanted nothing more than to get out of here and away from Marlow.

However, Marlow did not give her any room to leave after dinner. He bent low to put on her shoes for her before carrying her out the door with his friends gawking behind him.

Josette was making light-hearted jokes about his behavior, but it was not hard for Ameera to sense the jealousy and hostility veiled underneath.

Marlow specially made arrangements for a fireworks show for Ameera. He even invited her favorite band to perform for her.

Midway through the show, he excused himself to go to the bathroom.

Ameera discreetly trailed behind him.

Josette immediately threw herself into Marlow's arms inside the VIP lounge. She eyed him seductively before kissing him on the lips.

"Marlow, I've missed you so much. Please just let me kiss you for a bit."

Marlow wrapped an arm around her waist and palmed the back of her head with his other hand. He responded to Josette's advances passionately, and soon, things started to get hot and heavy.

After some time passed, she shoved Marlow away with her face still flushed red before panting. "Alright, you should go back and join Ameera."

"You sure you had enough already?" His eyes were red with lust while he continued to caress Josette's lips with his fingertips.

Josette lowered her eyes. "Of course not, but I don't want Ameera to be upset. She refused to answer your calls because of me! I can wait for you. Come back to me after you're done spending time with her."

"You're so considerate that it hurts me. I can't bear to leave you. Alright, be good and listen to me. Don't think about anyone else, and just focus on being pleasured by your husband." Marlow proceeded to kiss her lips before moving down to her neck, then her chest.

A moan of pleasure escaped Josette's lips. She dug her nails into Marlow's back and whimpered, "You can't kiss me there. I won't be able to resist."

"You little vixen, you love it when I do this to you, don't you?"

Soon, they lost themselves in desire. Ameera felt crushed when she saw what was happening.

She had to bite the back of her hand hard to stop herself from crying. She was too foolish to think that the heartache would fade away eventually, but witnessing them in person destroyed her all over again.

Marlow had betrayed her both physically and mentally.

She felt a burning sensation in the pit of her stomach and soon grew nauseous. At one point, she had to put a hand over her mouth and run to the bathroom, where she threw up violently. Her lower stomach throbbed in pain.

Tears blurred her vision as she massaged her stomach.

'My baby, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you had to see such a terrible side of your father. Please forgive me for not letting you be born into this world.'

Her face was drained of color by the time she walked out of the bathroom with her feet floating beneath her. It was very rowdy on the deck, but Marlow and Josette were nowhere to be seen.

After the fireworks show ended, Marlow and Josette finally returned together.

Josette looked like she was glowing with satisfaction. She intentionally sat next to Ameera and presented a velvet box to her with a smile. "Ameera, I made you something. I want to thank you and Marlow for taking care of me for the last five years. I wasn't the one who saved you back there. You were the one who saved me. I want to wish you a long and happy marriage."

The box contained a strikingly green bracelet.

Ameera stared at her blankly before forcing a smile. "It's fine. You can keep it. It's not my style."

Josette's hand trembled, and it looked like she was going to cry. She instinctively glanced at Marlow.

Marlow seemed not to notice the look Josette cast at him. His gentle gaze was fixed on Ameera as if she were the only person in the world as he spoke, "She doesn't like it. It's fine. You can keep it."

Josette put away the gift and sulked. "Could I offer you a toast at least? I want to wish you happiness."

This time, Ameera did not refuse. She reached for her glass and took a sip.

A smile returned to Josette's face after that. As she walked away, a vicious glower flashed across her eyes. She intentionally tripped over a chair and tumbled to the ground with a shriek before palming her hands over her stomach.

"Ow!"

Everyone was startled by the commotion. The ones who were closest rushed to help her up and were taken aback when they noticed her skirt was stained scarlet red.

She immediately turned to look at Marlow. Ameera glanced at him at the same time as well.

Marlow's expression remained composed. When he noticed the way Ameera was looking at him, he smiled gently and took her hand before casually instructing the others, "Please take her to the hospital. I want to stay with my wife until the end of the show."

With that, a group of people escorted Josette off the boat.

Meanwhile, Marlow held Ameera's hand the entire time as they listened to the band play.

If Ameera were oblivious about his involvement with Josette, she would have been deceived by his acting. She felt her blood run cold. The pain in her lower stomach intensified.

Just as she was about to suggest going home, Marlow's phone rang.

"Mr. Brunsfield, you left in such a hurry this morning, so we haven't had time to finalize the contract yet. Are you able to come to the office?" His assistant's anxious voice came through the speaker.

Marlow frowned and remained silent for a few seconds before hanging up. Then, he turned to Ameera with a flicker of guilt hanging in his eyes. "Honey, I need to go to the office. Do you mind waiting here for a bit? I'll have the driver take you home, alright?"

Ameera sneered to herself before assuring him, "It's fine, go on."

Marlow got up and tried to kiss her forehead, but she pretended to have a coughing fit so she could avoid his approach.

Marlow left after that without a second thought.

Ameera knew he was only making an excuse to go to the hospital. Strangely, the pain in her chest wasn’t as sharp anymore.

She waited for half an hour, but the driver was nowhere to be seen.

Then, she felt another sharp pain in her stomach that made her hunch over. As she stared at the shards of broken glass on the floor, a terrible thought crossed her mind.

Josette had poisoned her drink.

Ameera mustered every ounce of strength she could to get up and collect the shards that still held traces of her drink.

The pain in her stomach began to intensify and spread across her stomach. She felt as if a violent force was tearing at her from inside. Everything was pulsing with heat.

Her first thought was to call Marlow, but he didn't answer. She could not get in touch with the driver either.

With that, she used the last of her strength to dial emergency services.