AYAH'S POV

"Please... I don't want everyone to know I'm associated with the richest family in the country. Besides, I already disowned you when you didn't support me in my marriage," I said, feeling the familiar weight of dissatisfaction settle on my chest.

"Ayah, you clearly don't know what you're getting into. Your husband doesn't love you," my mother said, trying to plant doubt in my mind. I shook my head. No. I knew the truth.

"No. I know he loves me," I said firmly. "Mia doesn't have anyone-no relatives, no friends. Only my husband can be there for her. I understand what they're doing. Don't come near me again." Without hesitation, I left her behind.

As I drove, my vision blurred. I nearly swerved into another car. My exhaustion, my heartbreak, the heaviness in my chest-it was all too much.

When I got home, I felt numb. Empty. Walking into the house where we had once been so happy felt like stepping into a memory I no longer belonged to. What had happened to my marriage? Ten years of love, of trust, and I had always believed that misunderstandings were just part of being together. But this... another woman, his childhood sweetheart, stepping into our lives. Could he really turn his back on me?

After hours of crying, I forced myself to freshen up. When I heard Ethan's car pull into the driveway, I pretended to be busy cleaning the house.

"Honey," I greeted him, trying to sound bright. I leaned in to kiss him, but he flinched, avoiding me.

"I didn't like what you did today. I hope you'll never be someone I hate. You've become... immature all of a sudden. What's wrong with you?" His words hit me like a knife. Was this really my fault? I swallowed my pride and forced a faint smile.

"O-of course... I won't be immature. I was wrong," I whispered, biting back every ounce of hurt, desperate to keep the peace. He didn't reply-he only went upstairs. I followed quietly.

"What do you want for dinner?" I asked softly, trying to soften the tension.

"I'm not hungry," he said coldly. I hesitated. Should I tell him I was pregnant? But seeing his indifferent expression, I felt like it didn't matter.

"Honey," I said again, my voice sweeter this time, hoping to wish him a happy anniversary and give him the gift I had prepared. I hugged him, but he removed my arms.

"Stop being annoying. I'm tired. I want to rest. Which part of that don't you understand?" he snapped. I smiled awkwardly and let him be.

That night, sleep didn't come. He had clearly forgotten that today was our fifth wedding anniversary. I stared at the gifts I had prepared. All my love, all my care, felt meaningless. All I could feel was pity-for myself.

I went to the room I owned-the only room with my key. Inside, my safe held letters, gifts, and my pregnancy records. I locked it carefully and looked around. That's when I noticed my old phone, a gift from my father ten years ago. It still worked.

Thinking of my family and friends, and how harshly I had treated them when I disowned them, tears rolled down my cheeks. All the happy memories flashed before me. How had I become so different? My sweet, open personality had turned guarded; my bold, noisy mouth now only gave awkward smiles. I had no one to talk to.

I opened my old phone and saw messages from the people who mattered most. I wanted to reach out, but didn't know what to say. How were Kyla, Xette, Isaac...? My parents and grandparents? My older brother? My younger sister? They all must believe I hated them.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. My chest ached. I pressed my hand over my mouth, trying to stifle my sobs.

As I was about to put the phone back, a message popped up:

"I know you didn't leave us. Where are you?"

It was from my closest friend-Isaac. My fingers shook as I called him immediately, desperate to hear a familiar voice.

"Ayah? Ayah, is that really you? Talk to me!" His voice filled me with a warmth I hadn't realized I was craving.

"Isaac..." I whispered, barely able to speak.

"Ayah! What happened to you?" I hesitated. I couldn't tell him about Ethan, Mia, or everything that had gone wrong. My throat tightened, and I ended the call. He tried calling back, but I ignored it. I laughed bitterly at myself. Had I really been gone from everyone for so long?

Scrolling through my contacts, I found Bryan's number. Seeing our old messages made my cheeks burn. I had chased him desperately back then, only to reject him when I fell in love with Ethan. Ironic. On impulse, I dialed.

No-

"Hmm?" His calm, familiar voice answered. My heart raced. I didn't know what to say.

"Bry-" I froze as a chill ran down my spine. Ethan's footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Ayah, what are you doing there?" he asked coldly. My heart jumped. I hid my phone quickly.

"I... I was just... cleaning my old room," I stammered, trying to sound natural. Ethan nodded. "I know you will listen to me. You won't use your phone to communicate with people who will not contribute any good to our marriage, right?"

"Of course, honey, I know you want the best for me." After that, I heard footsteps going away.

I exhaled, glancing at my phone. The call was still active. Bryan's voice floated through the line.

"Do you really want to stay there?" he asked softly, as if he could read my mind.

"Yes," I whispered, ending the call. But deep inside, a question lingered-do I really want to stay? Or am I fooling myself, just trying to please a husband who doesn't seem to care?

He didn't answer. That's when, I ended the call. I was about to put it back again, when I received a message from a random number. I opened it, and i feel like my soul will be shattered.

It's a picture of Ethan with Mia on a bed at the hotel. Making love.

AYAH'S POV

"What is this...?" I uttered with disbelief. Is he the father of Mia's unborn child? That's impossible! He loves me so much! I know he will not betray me, but my thoughts contradict everything that's happening. The moment Mia returned. The moment my husband became busy and he had no time for me. The time he started to get avoidant and distant. Now, everything makes sense. I just can't accept it.

I rushed to the bedroom and slapped him hard.

"Y-you!" I pointed a finger at him. "You're dirty! Filthy!" I cannot control my emotions anymore.

"What are you doing?!" he yelled at me. "How dare you slap your husband who works all the time to provide for you?! You broke people are so ungrateful!" Did he forget where he knew me? "You came here, rushing, to slap me? You're pathetic!" He didn't even ask why I did it. Now I realized, he doesn't care about me anymore. He's not the Ethan I used to love. Not the Ethan that used to love me. For once, I admit, we're not happy anymore.

"You make no sense," he uttered in disbelief and picked up his phone and car key.

"Where are you going? Where?!" Am I being too much? Paranoid? "To your other woman?!" I yelled crying.

"Me? Has another woman? Cheating on you? You're so paranoid! You know what? The moment you keep saying that, I'll probably just do it to prove your suspicion!"

"You'd rather do it to prove what I said than to assure me that wasn't true? You're unbelievable." I don't know what to feel. I feel like I'm going to explode. The picture still lingers on my mind. Mia and him are both naked on the bed. What am I supposed to think? Maybe he is the father of Mia's unborn child that's why they were together at the clinic!

I was crying like I'm about to explode, about to lose my breath.

"I'm going. I'm not going home tonight," he said coldly, walking through me, ignoring my pain. When I heard his engine starting, I rushed to get my keys and followed him without him noticing.

Following him didn't disappoint my suspicion. He came to Mia's place. Since the guards and maid were busy chitchatting, I easily sneaked in. I followed where he went, and I saw him go inside Mia's bedroom. Since he's in a rush, he didn't shut the door completely.

"E-ethan...? What are you doing...," she wasn't able to finish her question when my husband suddenly pulled her closer and kissed her.

My heart dropped.

His hands moved to her waist as if the action was something familiar. Something natural.

"Someone might see us," Mia said, though her cheeks were flushed and her arms slowly wrapped around his neck.

"I ordered everyone not to go upstairs," Ethan replied in a low voice while staring at her. "It's just the two of us."

His fingers slid along her back, pulling her closer.

"Maybe I can't resist my first love."

That's it. She's his first love. Even I-the wife-can't compete.

"How about Ayah? If she knows you went here and kissed me, she'll surely be mad at you," she said softly.

My husband ran his hand through his hair, looking conflicted.

"This is wrong. No," he said breathlessly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

For a moment, he looked like he was about to stop.

Then his voice turned cold.

"She's always saying I have another woman. Tonight, without her knowing, I'll make something she accuses me."

Accuses? Those words were based on what I saw! I was asking for assurance, why did he consider them as an accusation?

"Mia, let's do what we accidentally did two months ago," he said, his eyes dark.

Without hesitation, he began pulling her closer again.

I stood there, frozen.

My body refused to move. My mind refused to believe what my eyes were seeing.

Their laughter slowly faded into quiet whispers as they fell onto the bed together.

Every second felt like a knife stabbing into my chest.

Every sound broke me even more.

My heart felt like it was being crushed again and again.

Then I heard Mia's voice, soft and breathless.

"Ethan... will you... do it inside?"

For a brief moment, there was silence.

"Yes," he answered.

And he did.

My world shattered.

Until finally-

"Disgusting," I uttered.

Their eyes widened in horror.

"Ayah..." clearly, he's lost in words. I looked at him emotionless.

"This is what you call an accusation?" I asked him. The pain is clearly beyond words.

"Ayah, it's not what you think. I just let my frustrations out because I'm frustrated with you," he said calmly, without blinking an eye. What does he think of me? A toy?

"Ayah, you keep on suspecting him to have another woman. You don't trust your husband and yet you're the one who acts like you've been wronged? You're ridiculous!" The audacity of this b*tch is killing the remaining kindness inside my heart.

Out of anger, I grabbed her hair and pulled her outside.

"You're a wh*re!" I said crying.

"Stop it, Ayah! You're too much! She has nothing to do with this! If you're mad, take it out on me! Not Mia! She's pregnant for heaven's sake. I swear, if something happens to her and the baby, I will never forgive you!" I am pregnant too. I instinctively put my other hand on my belly.

The disrespect is too loud. I'm done with it.

I was about to let go of Mia's hair when she suddenly stumbled.

In the blink of an eye, she fell down the stairs.

Blood.

So much blood.

"AYAH!" my husband screamed. "I will never forgive you if something happens to them!" He rushed to her side, leaving me like I was nothing.

"Are you...the father of the baby?" I asked quietly. I know it hurts, but I need to hear it.

He stopped.

"...Sorry."

That was the only word I heard before he rushed her to the hospital.

Leaving me all alone.

Wondering what I did to deserve this.

AYAH'S POV

He pushed me aside and ran toward his childhood sweetheart. The moment I stumbled to the floor, a sharp pain shot through my abdomen.

No!

Instinctively, I clutched my belly. Warm liquid spread beneath me, and when I looked down, I saw blood slowly pooling under my body.

"E-Ethan..." My voice was weak, barely strong enough to call his name.

Mia looked at me, and I knew she saw the blood. But instead of reacting, she suddenly cried out and pretended to be in unbearable pain.

"E-Ethan, my baby!" she cried dramatically.

Ethan immediately rushed to her side and carried her in his arms.

"I'll take you to the hospital," he said worriedly.

"How about Ayah? Look at her, she seems to be in pain too," Mia said, pretending to be concerned.

Ethan glanced at me coldly.

"Quit the act, Ayah. Can't you see Mia is in pain right now because of you? And now you're pretending to be hurt just to get my attention?" he said harshly. "We'll deal with this at home later. For now, I need to take care of Mia."

Then he turned away with the woman he loved first.

I was left on the floor, trembling in pain.

I didn't know what to do. I felt hopeless. No one was going to help me, so I had to save myself-and my baby.

"Baby... please hold on. Mommy will save you," I whispered to my stomach as tears streamed down my face.

Every movement hurt, but I forced myself to stand.

When I finally reached my car, my heart sank. My car keys were missing. I didn't know where they had gone.

Then I heard the sound of Ethan's engine starting.

He was about to leave.

Gathering the last of my strength, I hurried toward his car, hoping-just hoping-that he would help me.

"Ethan... please... help me," I begged.

But my cold husband simply looked at me with indifference.

"Stop being dramatic. You can take care of yourself," he said coldly. "Mia doesn't have anyone here except me."

Then he drove away.

As the car moved forward, Mia, sitting in the backseat, looked at me through the window. She smiled.

In her hand were my car keys.

"No! Give me my keys!" I shouted desperately.

But Ethan didn't stop.

He didn't even look back.

He didn't care that I was bleeding.

My strength slowly drained away. I collapsed onto the ground as the blood continued to flow.

Maybe this was my fate.

Maybe I was meant to die like this.

I was too tired to move anymore.

Just as my vision began to fade and my eyes started to close, I saw a man in a suit running toward me. My vision was too blurry to recognize his face.

When he reached me, everything went black.

"She needs to rest right now, or her condition could worsen."

Where am I?

I slowly opened my eyes. Bright white light filled my vision.

Am I... dead?

I didn't even get to see my baby.

As my vision cleared, I noticed a man speaking to a doctor. His back was turned toward me.

Is that Ethan?

Did he finally come to his senses and bring me to the hospital?

"Okay, thank you," the man said politely before turning toward me.

"Etha-Bryan?"

I froze when I saw his face.

Bryan.

What was he doing here?

"How do you feel?" he asked gently. His hand softly brushed my hair. "Don't scare me like that again."

Wait...

Was he crying?

"What happened?" I asked weakly. "How did you know I was here?"

My hand immediately moved to my stomach.

"What about my baby?" I asked anxiously.

"I'm sorry I came late," he said quietly.

A terrible feeling settled in my chest.

"Maybe it's better if you talk to the doctor."

"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. "Please tell me."

My voice trembled.

"Is my baby okay?"

Bryan looked at me with pain in his eyes.

"I'm sorry... but your baby didn't survive."

My mind refused to process his words.

No.

No.

My baby.

It felt like my entire world collapsed in that moment.

I wasn't ready for this.

I had been so excited to tell my husband that I was pregnant. I imagined his reaction. I imagined our future.

But now...

My baby was gone.

And the man I loved was the reason my child died.

"I will f*cking destroy you."

The moment those words left my lips, all the pain and anger inside me erupted.

I had endured enough.

In all the years we had been together, this was the first time I felt nothing but rage toward my husband.

I loved him for so long.

I supported his business silently, without him ever knowing. When his projects were failing, I was the one secretly funding them and making sure they succeeded.

He never knew.

He didn't know that I had my own company-not because I was part of the Russell family, but because I built it myself.

He didn't know that 70% of his company actually belongs to me.

Yes.

I am the major stockholder of Evans Corp.

Hidden under the name Zairayah-the mysterious investor with no surname.

He had always been curious about that investor, but I never revealed my identity. I didn't want him to feel intimidated.

"I am done loving you, Ethan Evans," I whispered quietly, imagining what my life would look like without him.

Everything we built together was destroyed because of his childhood sweetheart, Mia Walker.

And today-

I will be the one asking for a divorce.