Every word I heard stabbed straight into my heart. I hung up the phone and calmly told the doctor that I would be the one making all decisions for the baby. As far as I was concerned, this baby had no father.

By the time Lucas arrived at the ward, I had already followed the doctor’s treatment plan.

“You didn’t tell me you were in the hospital,” he said, his voice showing a rare trace of concern.

But I could still hear the sound of his teeth grinding from that phone call. His tone now was like a different person.

I spoke plainly, “I heard everything you and Veronica said.”

I hadn’t even tried to eavesdrop. I just listened. Wouldn’t it have been rude not to?

Since the beginning of our marriage, Lucas had never really cut ties with Veronica. Whether it was from small things like daily greetings to bigger things like secretly sending her money.

Whenever he thought I was being fussy about my monthly prenatal checkups, he would rush to remind Veronica to get hers on time. I wasn’t stupid.

Lucas tried to act calm as he asked me, “Love, what are you talking about?”

“Please, stay with me,” I repeated his words from the phone in a mocking tone.

“Are you coming back just to leave me alone?”

“Don’t bother. I’ll leave on my own.”

I stared at him with a sarcastic smile.

“I said I don’t agree,” Lucas replied, his face slightly stiff.

“You’re carrying our child. I won’t let you go.”

I ignored him, telling him, “Get out or I’ll call security!”

Lucas tried to open his mouth, but he eventually stormed out angrily. The medication made me sleepy. When I woke again, I thought I heard Lucas’s voice outside the room.

“I’ll calm Yvette down first. After the little thing in her belly is born, I’ll take it and use it for our baby,” he said.

Veronica sobbed, saying, “Actually, my baby is your biological child.”

In a whisper, she said, “Two years ago, you came abroad to see me. You drank too much and then …”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I’ve made you suffer all these years,” Lucas said, his voice full of pain.

Two years ago, Lucas had suddenly gone abroad on a business trip. I had carefully packed his suitcase and left a loving note inside. But now I felt like the villain standing between them. Quietly, I turned on the recorder on my phone.

“Our baby was born with kidney failure. It started soon after birth. No hospital has a donor kidney for someone so young,” Veronica said as she sobbed.

“Our child is dying,” she continued while she cried uncontrollably.

Lucas hurried to hold her and kissed her, saying, “Now we have a solution. I’ll find the best surgeon. We’ll use what’s in Yvette’s belly to save our child.”

Veronica nodded as Lucas hugged her tighter with his face full of excitement. These two shameless people were openly plotting against me. Were they stupid, or did they think I was?

My thoughts were a mess. For years I had only believed Lucas didn’t love me. I had never imagined he was this vile. Lucas, when I push you into the abyss, don’t you dare cry and beg me.

“Do you know why Yvette is pregnant?”

“I’ve been secretly checking on you. The moment I learned the baby’s kidneys were failing, I decided to give Yvette a little something to keep her alive,” he said.

My heart felt like it was tearing apart. A shiver ran through my whole body. I remembered his madness that night, how he had taken me again and again. But now the memory only made me sick.

The baby in my belly seemed to sense my sadness, so the baby kicked my belly hard. It snapped me out of my numbness. I stroked my belly over and over, trying to calm the baby.

‘My baby, Mommy will fight hard to protect you in this last month we have together.’

A week later, I was finally released from the hospital and went back home.

Lucas had hired a nanny and a professional postpartum caregiver. They were someone who supposedly specialized in looking after pregnant women and new mothers. But when I saw the caregiver, it turned out to be none other than Veronica.

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Veronica wasn’t here to help me, but she was here to monitor me. Clearly, she was afraid that I had run away with the baby.

Lucas even emptied out our master bedroom and gave it to Veronica.

“Pregnant women should stay in smaller rooms. It’s cozier and safer for both mother and child,” he said.

Then, he added smoothly, “The caregiver will need the big room to store all the baby items.”

I bit back the anger that was burning inside me and walked toward the narrow stairwell. Supporting my back, I lay on my side and let my tears fall silently. I had been foolish enough to believe our marriage still meant something.

That night, the baby reminded me it was time to eat. I got up slowly, pushed the door open and froze. On the second-floor landing, Lucas and Veronica were kissing, completely lost in each other.

Their voices echoed through the huge, quiet house. When they finally stopped, Veronica nipped playfully at his lip. Their shamelessness made me feel embarrassed for them.

I cleared my throat softly.

Lucas immediately pushed her away and said, “Go make a healthy dinner for the lady of the house.”

Veronica frowned, asking, “Why would I know how to cook?”

Lucas chuckled and tried to please her as he responded, “Just something simple, darling.”

After that, my husband quickly left as he claimed that had an urgent company meeting.

I sat down at the dining table, waiting for the so-called “nutritious meal” that Veronica was preparing. Five minutes later, she slammed a cup of instant noodles in front of me. The boiling water splashed on my hand, but I stayed quiet.

“Eat up, Ma’am. You’re pregnant, but I still have to wait on you?” she asked as she sneered, dropping her fake sweetness.

“Be grateful I gave you abalone-flavored noodles,” she added while rummaging in the fridge.

My heart ached, but I ate in silence. Meanwhile, Veronica feasted on my Greek yogurt salad bowl and Kobe beef steak that were meant for me. I gently rubbed my belly to calm the uneasy baby and secretly recorded everything with my phone.

After dinner, she ordered me to clean up. I washed her dishes, threw away the scraps and returned to my little corner by the stairs. My stomach felt heavier than ever, ao I could barely keep myself upright.

Once I confirmed that my phone had saved the recording, I finally allowed myself to close my eyes and rest.

Sometime past midnight, I woke to the sound of shouting downstairs.

“I told you I wanted imported macarons delivered within an hour! These taste like spoiled cream!”

“Only a dog would eat this garbage!” Veronica shouted angrily.

“Alright, alright, my lady. I’m sorry. Please go rest,” Lucas said, escorting her upstairs like a servant.

A few minutes later, there was a soft knock on my door.

“I brought you a macaron from your favorite brand,” Lucas said gently.

The stairwell was so small that I only had to sit up to open the door. I looked down at the half-eaten macaron in my hand and felt nothing at all. It was clearly Veronica’s leftover, which was something she didn’t want.

Holding it up, I asked lightly as I pretended to wonder, “Honey, what’s this? Did the bakery have a rat problem?”

Lucas’s face went grim in an instant.

“There’s no rat, you pregnant women are just too paranoid!” he shouted impatiently.

The fact that he hid it broke my heart.

Lucas quickly slammed the door shut with a loud, echoing bang. The baby in my belly stirred uneasily, frightened by the noise. Normally, I would have thrown those macarons back at his face. This time, I chose to eat quietly for the baby’s sake as my baby needed the nutrients.

When both Lucas and Veronica were gone a few days later, I took my debit cards and slipped out of the house. As I was in my final month of pregnancy, I moved awkwardly to stop a cab. Then, I sat in the back seat of the cab like a waddling penguin.

The driver glanced at me through the mirror and said kindly, “Ma’am, please be careful. You’re carrying precious one now.”

I met his friendly smile and suddenly my nose tingled. It had been so long since anyone had spoken to me with genuine warmth. When we stopped, I closed the car door and gave him the address. It was a place I hadn’t visited in ages.

“Christie’s London Auction House, please.”

I wanted to prepare something valuable for my baby. A gift to secure his future. The driver looked surprised.

“That’s where the wealthy go, ma’am! There’s really an auction house there?”

I just smiled and gently stroked my belly without replying. The auction house wasn’t open to the public. Only people with assets over a hundred million pounds were invited. It was a secret circle for the elite.

When we arrived at the Christie’s London, I followed my memory and walked toward the entrance. But before I could go in, the security guard stopped me.

“Madam, you’re not allowed to enter.”

My chest tightened. I used to walk in and out of this place freely. However, Lucas had always been by my side back then.

I pulled out several Coutts World Silk Cards as I told him, “Oh, please. Just verify the funds!”

One guard accepted them with a polite bow, but when he checked, his face turned hard.

“How dare you try to fool us? Do you even know where you are?”

“If you weren’t pregnant, I’d have kicked you hard already!”

Both of them insulted me harshly, which hurt me.

“Isn’t there enough money in the accounts?” I asked, confused.

Those cards were made of pure platinum, custom-made for me by Lucas. Each one was supposed to hold more than enough. Yet, I had never used any of them before.

“This account is empty. Who are you trying to trick?” the guard who verified the funds asked coldly.

For a moment, I just stared at the card. When Lucas first gave it to me, I truly believed he loved me. Back then, I thought his feelings were sincere.

Now, I realized everything. The affection, the promises … all of them had been nothing but a show. What I once believed to be love was just his way of passing time. And I, in his world, was nothing but a fool performing for him.

Quietly, I took back the card as I lowered my gaze before turning to leave. But before I could take another step, I stumbled straight into someone’s arms.

“Excuse me,” I said quickly.

When I looked up, I saw surprise flicker across the man’s face but it then softened into recognition.

He held my wrist gently. Finally, he asked, “Are you … Yvette Bennet?”

His face was familiar. Suddenly, I remembered who the man was. This was my childhood friend, Andrew Marlowe. When he was six years old, his grandfather had taken him overseas. From then on, we had lost contact ever since.

“Excuse me,” I muttered, brushing off the dust from my clothes, trying to step aside.

I didn’t dare meet his eyes. I was pregnant, awkward and worn down. Meanwhile, Andrew stood tall in a tailored suit, confident and polished.

The security guard, seeing this, sneered as he commented, “Sir, this woman’s a nobody. She’s just pretending to be rich. We’re throwing her out.”

I lowered my head even more, like an ostrich hiding in the sand.

“How dare you talk like that! Do you even know who this lady is?” Andrew shouted angrily as he walked towards me.

The two guards could only look at Andrew fearfully before looking back at me. After that, they quickly lowered their heads.

“Mr. Marlowe! We’re sorry, Sir. We didn’t realize she was your guest!”

For the first time in a long while, someone stood between me and the cruelty of the world.