On our wedding anniversary, my husband has his intern put on the custom-made wedding gown he prepared for me.

"You wouldn't have looked good in a wedding gown with your baby bump, anyway. She's saving us trouble by wearing the gown for you. Think about how kind she is!"

Before I can rebuke him, an earthquake happens. I lose my balance and fall to the floor. Instantly, I feel moisture on my legs.

At the same time, my husband received a call from his intern. "There are so many frogs here, Mr. Quinn. I'm so scared…"

My husband turns to leave, but I grab his pant leg. "Ethan, I—"

"It's just a minor earthquake—the ground barely even shook. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill. Didn't you hear Chloe crying because she was so scared? Can't you be sympathetic?"

He ignores the blood pooling around me and hurries off to comfort Chloe Bennett.

That night, they share a passionate kiss under a sky full of fireworks. Meanwhile, my child dies in my belly.

It's a pretty good way to end things. Someone like Ethan Quinn doesn't deserve to have his own children.

Ethan Quinn and I went from college sweethearts to husband and wife. But after ten years of marriage, we still hadn't been able to have a child.

On our fifth anniversary, he held me while crying, saying he wanted a child—a symbol of our love.

He said it would be better if it were a daughter because she would look like me—sweet and adorable.

I was swept up in his longing and started taking fertility supplements, trying every folk remedy, and enduring his parents' endless interference.

After all those painful struggles, I found out that Ethan had a hereditary condition.

Out of love, I started the journey of in vitro fertilization.

It was grueling. I went through at least ten rounds before finally succeeding twice.

The first embryo lasted less than half a month before I lost it. The second one came when I was already on the verge of giving up.

We were both anxious about this pregnancy.

I was so anxious that I quit my job, endured the nausea, and forced down the awful tonics his mother brewed.

He even moved into another bedroom, saying he was afraid of accidentally hurting the baby.

Only now did I realize that he wasn't afraid of hurting the baby. He just didn't want me interrupting his video calls with his sweet, young intern.

For the sake of having a child with him, I suffered too much. And yet, in the end, I still failed.

When the earthquake hit, I was thrown to the ground, but all he saw was a fragile woman crying in fear.

My child never had the chance to be born.

And I barely survived.

How ridiculous—just a small, insignificant earthquake that no one even noticed, yet it took my child's life away.

"Your family still isn't here?"

The nurse's voice pulled me back to reality. "Your body is in critical condition. You need someone to look after you. Where's your husband?

"A pregnant woman suffers massive bleeding, loses her child, and he doesn't even come to see her?"

Silently, I looked at her angry expression.

"He's gone—gone with the baby."

The nurse covered her mouth, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry."

I smiled and shook my head, but my gaze fell on Chloe Bennett's latest social media post.

In it was a man with a cigarette between his lips. He was shirtless, his sculpted abs illuminated under dim lighting. His head was lowered, one hand unbuckling his belt—impatient, almost desperate.

The caption read, "When the earthquake struck, he rushed to me without hesitation. The fireworks in the sky bore witness—from that moment on, we belonged to each other."

It was an aesthetic post. If it weren't for my husband in it, I might've even given it a like.

I closed my eyes, suppressing the stabbing pain in my chest, then picked up my phone and called my lawyer.

Once I made a decision, I acted quickly. In no time, I finalized the divorce papers and sent the electronic copy to Ethan.

After everything that happened, I finally got my first call from him.

When he found out I was in the hospital, he didn't ask if I was okay. He scolded me instead.

"You're so dramatic, making such a big scene that you ended up in the hospital! I'm coming to get you—we're going home.

"All I did was comfort an intern—do you really have to blow it out of proportion and divorce me over it?"

I had no interest in listening to his excuses.

And then, he added, "Stop being ridiculous. You're about to be a mother, yet you're still jealous of some young woman? Have some shame! Don't teach my daughter to be as petty and unreasonable as you."

The moment he mentioned the baby, my entire body turned cold. I started trembling uncontrollably.

"Shut up!" My voice cracked with rage. "You have no right to mention her! You're not worthy of mentioning her!"

My child was gone. She died last night.

She died while Ethan was on his way to comfort Chloe.

I gripped the phone tightly and enunciated every word.

"The baby is gone. I'm divorcing you. Do you understand that?"

I could hear Ethan's breath hitch before he erupted into a furious outburst.

"Vivian Ward, I've really spoiled you rotten! Employees are the lifeblood of a company—can't you understand that, you foolish woman?"

He was clearly enraged. "Threatening me with divorce time and time again is one thing, but now you're even cursing our child? I think there's something seriously wrong with your brain!

"Why can't you be more sensible, like Chloe? I'm coming to get you—let's go have that brain of yours checked."

Not long after, Ethan really did show up, holding a bouquet of half-wilted flowers. He tossed them onto the table impatiently.

"Chloe heard you were hurt. She asked me to bring these. Look at her—such a thoughtful young lady, showing concern for you during tough times."

I stared at the half-dead bouquet, seeing in it a reflection of myself from last night.

I had seen these flowers before, in Chloe's social media post. She had rested her chin on them, smiling brightly.

And now, the withered flowers she no longer wanted had been given to me. Clearly, Ethan thought I was just as lifeless and unsightly.

He picked up my bag, feigning nonchalance.

"Oh, by the way, you scared her last night. I gave her your car.

"She was so afraid to walk home alone at night. Having a car will keep her safe from bad people."

Ethan couldn't go three sentences without bringing up that intern.

And for a mere bouquet of flowers, she had taken my beloved car—a car worth three million dollars.

For the first time, Ethan had been so generous to someone else.

If this had happened before, I would have argued with him fiercely.

But now, I didn't even have the energy to look at him.

…

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary.

When Ethan and I got married, we had nothing but a marriage certificate. He had promised to give me a proper wedding one day.

I waited year after year. Ten years passed.

And yet, when I finally put on the wedding dress he had ordered for me and arrived at the venue, I realized—mine was a bridesmaid dress.

Chloe wore the wedding gown.

"I'm so sorry, Ethan," she said tearfully. "I only wanted to be a bridesmaid and make Vivian happy. But the dress fit me so well—I thought it was mine, so I put it on by mistake."

She ran out of the hall crying before I even had a chance to say a word.

Ethan had looked so concerned for her.

Inevitably, we fought.

Then, in the middle of it, an earthquake struck. I lost my balance and instinctively reached out for Ethan. But he took a step back and watched me fall.

I cried for help, but he only called me dramatic—he didn't even notice the blood pooling beneath me.

At that moment, I finally understood.

The Ethan who once had eyes only for me—he was already dead.

Oblivious to how pale I was, he dragged me all the way to the psychiatric department.

I had no strength to resist and ended up sitting weakly before the doctor.

"Doctor, check if there's something wrong with her brain. She's faking illness all day long just to fool people!" Ethan ordered the doctor impatiently.

The doctor and I locked eyes for a brief moment. I let out a lifeless smile.

He hesitated, then turned to Ethan.

"Sir, do you need to visit the ophthalmology department next door?"

The poor doctor bore the brunt of Ethan's temper, enduring several rounds of scolding.

I stepped in front of the doctor, my gaze cold as I looked at Ethan.

"Can you stop acting like a stray dog, biting at whoever crosses your path?"

Ethan froze.

For a moment, it seemed like he remembered—those were the exact words he had once said to me.

His expression darkened with embarrassment. "Did you pay him to put on this little show just to humiliate me?"

"You're insane."

I walked straight out. I had intended to return to my hospital room, but Ethan grabbed me and pulled me away.

He opened the passenger door, and the moment I leaned in, a nauseating stench hit me.

The car was part of their game. Scattered across the seats were remnants of last night's debauchery—a pair of pink lace panties hanging off the seat, black stockings torn apart and stained with questionable fluids. It was evident how wild things had gotten.

"Ugh—" I gagged and turned away, unable to hold back the nausea. Ethan hurriedly gathered up the mess.

"Baby, listen to me. I lent my car to Brandon yesterday. This must be him and his wife. I swear—" He hastily explained. "This is too much. I'm calling him right now—"

"No need," I interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. Ethan hesitated, looking at me with uncertainty.

I understood his confusion. In the past, I would have thrown a fit, refusing to let it go. But now, I simply didn't care anymore.

I raised my hand to hail a cab, but Ethan yanked me back forcefully.

"I already told you it's not mine. Do you have to be this dramatic?" His voice carried frustration, tinged with guilt.

"It's not even on the seat, for God's sake. You're freaking pretentious!"

The more he panicked, the angrier he became, as if his rage alone could prove his innocence.

He shoved me into the passenger seat. The stench made my stomach churn violently.

I rolled down the window, hoping for relief, but the nausea lingered.

My hand pressed against my abdomen. The pain was sharp and persistent, offering no respite.

Ethan glanced at me before starting the car. "Still pretending? You really think I'll believe you?"

He scoffed, "I'd advise you to be more sensible. You can't even compete with a fresh graduate, and resort to tricks like this? Pathetic."

I wanted to retort, but as soon as I inhaled, another sharp pang twisted my stomach. Tears welled up in my eyes.

Clenching my jaw, I leaned back against the seat and focused on breathing, praying the pain would pass quickly.

Just as the silence started to settle, a voice message disrupted it.

Chloe's sweet voice rang out. "Ethan, why aren't you answering my calls? I have something really, really important to tell you! Please, I'm begging you! I'm so scared—I can't live like this!"

I cracked my eyes open slightly, watching as Ethan fumbled with his phone.

Chloe must have known I was with him. That was why he hesitated.

And she, knowing him all too well, deliberately made a fuss, hoping to provoke an argument between us.

She couldn't stand the thought of Ethan bringing me home. She wanted him by her side every second of the day.

I decided to grant her wish.

"Answer it," I said. "Pretend I don't exist."

Ethan froze, then turned to me after a few seconds. "You finally believe me? You're not jealous anymore?

His tone softened. "I swear, there's nothing between us. She's just too naïve. She needs someone to look after her."

I closed my eyes and turned my face toward the window. "I don't care."

That was all it took. Ethan answered the call immediately.

On the other end, Chloe's shrill scream came first. "Ethan, you finally picked up! Aren't you afraid something might happen to me while I'm all alone?"

Ethan gripped the steering wheel with one hand, stealing a cautious glance at me. "I'm driving. Get to the point."

Chloe's voice dripped with sweetness. "I knew you wouldn't ignore me on purpose. You big meanie, I miss you."

Ethan coughed awkwardly while she continued her flirtations.

"You know, I'm not the same person anymore. You should hurry up and buy me some designer bags."

Ethan quickly agreed. "Alright, alright. What do you mean 'not the same person'?"

Then he turned to me. "She's just a kid. I treat her like a baby sister. You don't mind, right?"

I remained silent.

Chloe giggled, her voice growing even more coy. "You big meanie, you were way too rough last night. You hurt me so bad!"

She let out a soft whimper before adding, "I just came back from the hospital. The doctor said we can't make love anymore. Our baby could get hurt."