I had been married to Adrian Foster for six years when I finally conceived his child.

However, the doctor’s reaction upon hearing Adrian’s name left me frozen.

"I clearly recall that Mrs. Foster already gave birth to a son here two years ago. She’s a famous actress, and she and Mr. Foster made the perfect couple."

I stared at her in disbelief. "What are you talking about? We’re legally married. We have a certificate!"

"There’s no mistake. Mr. Foster is someone notable, and he doted on his wife. He was always by her side."

I stormed out of the hospital in anger, but my hope was shattered when the lawyer confirmed that my marriage certificate was a forgery.

The world tilted into darkness. My ears rang, my surroundings blurred, and I could no longer hear a thing.

At last, I understood.

He had never been my husband. He had never once looked forward to the child growing within me.

With shaking hands, I dialed my family’s number, and in my heart, I swore that this merciless liar would burn in hell.

I had known Adrian Foster for eight years and had been married to him for six when I finally got what I’d longed for: a child.

Then, I learned that he already had a two-year-old son with a famous actress, Chloe Shaw.

Did that mean all the years of sweet memories between us had been nothing but a lie?

…

I had no idea how long I sat outside, lost and hollow, until a sudden downpour jolted me awake. Soaked through, I stumbled into a nearby mall for shelter.

There she was—Chloe Shaw. Her giant advertisements covered every wall, her arrogant half-smile mocking me, taunting my naivety.

Back when Adrian and I got engaged, rumors swirled that the bride-to-be joining the Foster family empire was none other than Chloe.

However, Adrian had scoffed at the idea. "Lauren Hayes, don’t listen to that nonsense. A little starlet could never step foot into our family."

He’d held me close, his gaze unwavering. "You’ll be the only wife I’ll ever have."

He’d called it protection when he insisted our wedding be small, stripped of guests and ceremony. "The Foster name draws too many enemies in business. For your safety, it has to be simple. One day, I’ll make it up to you with the grandest wedding the world has ever seen."

Even our marriage certificate had been handled quietly by his assistant.

Now, the doctor’s words and the nurse’s gossip pounded in my ears like nails. A terrifying suspicion clawed its way into my chest.

I carried that dread to a lawyer we’d worked with for years. My voice trembled as I asked him to verify the marriage certificate.

He checked again and again. His expression tightened with unease. "Ms. Hayes, I’m afraid your marriage certificate is a forgery."

His words crushed the last of my breath.

"From what I know, Mr. Foster’s legal wife is Ms. Shaw. They registered their marriage in Rosemont six years ago. Divorce isn’t possible there. That alone proves how strong their bond must be."

My mind flashed back to the month Adrian had been away "on business" in Rosemont. When he returned, he had surprised me with my favorite dark chocolate. "I missed you so much, Lauren. Next time, I’ll take you to Rosemont myself and buy you the whole chocolate shop if you want."

So that had been their honeymoon.

He never fulfilled his promises to me. On the other hand, he and Chloe already had a son over two years old.

Cold numbness consumed me. I was a joke. A fool. I couldn’t even remember how I made it home.

As I passed the study, I froze at the sound of my name.

Adrian’s mother spoke hesitantly, "Lauren has been in this family for over six years, always dutiful. You not only married Chloe in secret, but now you want to bring her child here for Lauren to raise? Isn’t that going too far?"

Adrian’s voice was low and resolute. "From beginning to end, the only one I’ve ever loved is Chloe. That’s something we’ve all known deep down. If it weren’t for our family needing the Hayes family… forget it. Anyway, I’ve treated Lauren well enough these past few years.

"Lauren is gentle and sensible. If I tell her the boy is adopted, she won’t suspect a thing.

"Besides, Mom, that boy carries Foster blood. He’s the future heir of the Foster Group. Would you really let him grow up outside?

"I’ve made up my mind. No matter who opposes me, I’m bringing Chloe’s son home. I’ll raise him myself."

My legs gave out, and I stumbled back to my room, collapsing onto the floor.

My hand moved instinctively to my belly, to the small life growing inside me, unwanted, unloved. That morning, I’d been so full of joy before the doctor’s visit. I had never imagined my life could crumble in just one day.

Tears streamed endlessly, unstoppable.

Our bedroom was filled with memories: photos Adrian had taken of me and portraits I’d sketched of him. Every single one now revealed itself as part of the elaborate trap he’d woven for me.

What was there left to hold on to?

Footsteps echoed outside. Panic surged. I fled into the bathroom, hands shaking as I unlocked my phone.

I found a long-forgotten contact and typed a message.

"I want to completely disappear from this world."

"Lauren, are you in there? Are you okay?"

Adrian’s knock on the bathroom door was gentle, and his voice was perfectly steady, showing no cracks.

I quickly typed the confirmation I’d sent earlier, then forced myself to step out, masking the storm inside me. I looked at him carefully, every word measured.

"I’m fine. I just feel a little nauseous. Adrian, do you think I might be pregnant?"

His face changed instantly. "Impossible!"

I blinked.

He recovered a second later, covering his reaction with a soft sigh. "I mean, your health hasn’t been good. We don’t need a child at the cost of your well-being. I’d never forgive myself if you got hurt."

It was true that my health had been fragile. We’d been married for years without conceiving. His mother had even taken me to see doctors several times, all of whom concluded it was difficult for me to conceive and that I would need long-term treatment.

Back then, Adrian had flown into a rage over it. "Lauren is my wife. Whether she bears children or not, she will always be my wife. Nothing matters more than her health!"

I had been moved to tears.

Now I saw it differently. He hadn’t been protecting me. I had simply given him and Chloe the perfect cover. Adrian played the good man so well.

Although his expression smoothed over quickly, I had already seen that flicker, and it was enough to drop my heart into a pit.

If this had been before, I would have melted into his arms, grateful beyond measure. However, now I could only force a smile and take two steps back. In the process, I knocked over a vase.

It shattered across the floor. We both froze.

That vase had been something we’d constructed together, and our initials were carved into the base.

Adrian rushed forward, gripping my arm. He brushed a hand over my cheek as if nothing else mattered. "It’s alright. I’ll buy you another one. Lauren, I know you’ve blamed yourself all this time for not being able to conceive. If you can’t, then we won’t. We’ll just adopt."

He paused, then spoke carefully, "I have a friend abroad. His whole family died in an accident, leaving behind a two-year-old boy. Lauren, you’ll love him."

Love your child with another woman?

I let out a cold laugh and shot back, "Funny… I didn’t know you had such a friend. And what if I don’t want to adopt?"

For just a moment, he snapped. His hand tightened around my wrist, bruising. "Lauren, this isn’t up for discussion."

His tone was sharp, final. "The Foster family needs an heir. This isn’t the time for stubbornness. Tomorrow, Liam will arrive. Show some dignity as Mrs. Foster."

His words were half encouragement, half threat. He patted my shoulder, then turned and left.

At the bend of the staircase, I watched him eagerly dial his phone, his lips curling into a rare, genuine smile.

"Hey, Chloe…"

The name drifted faintly back to me. My stomach lurched violently. I doubled over the sink, gagging and retching until I could breathe again.

So even the baby knew the truth, that this house had never welcomed me.

I placed my hand over my abdomen, whispering to the fragile life within me, 'It’s alright. Even without a father, I’ll bring you into this world. I’ll raise you well. You’ll never be less than anyone else’s child.'

"Mrs. Foster, it’s time for your medicine."

The housekeeper stepped in with a glass of water. I waved her away, suddenly finding the pills repulsive.

Adrian had always told me these were specially formulated supplements, tailored to my body by experts. He’d insisted that if I kept taking them, my health would improve and my chances of conceiving would grow.

I picked up one of the tablets, studying it closely. On the side, faint letters were etched into the coating.

My heart pounded as I looked them up.

They weren’t supplements. They were birth control pills. On top of that, taken long-term, they caused significant side effects.

Adrian had been feeding me poison for nearly six years.

Last month, frustrated and weary, I’d started flushing the pills down the toilet without telling anyone. I’d even clung to Adrian more than usual at night. That must have been when this child was conceived.

The icy realization seeped into every bone of my body. I wasn’t infertile. Adrian had simply never wanted me to get pregnant.

Throughout nearly a decade of knowing him and six years of marriage, I had always given him absolute trust and devotion.

I thought that even if he grew tired of me or the passion faded, he would never deliberately hurt me.

Alas, he had. Not only had he done it, but he had made me feel grateful, guilty, and dependent on him.

If not for those pills, maybe my health would have already recovered, and perhaps my child would already be running through this house.

I finally couldn't bear it anymore and burst into tears.

I was jolted awake by the sting of tiny hands slapping at my face.

Before I could make sense of what was happening, Chloe rushed in and scooped the child into her arms.

"Liam’s still little. This is the age when he’s always running wild. Don’t take it to heart, Miss Hayes."

Adrian appeared next, his eyes narrowing the moment he saw me still in bed. Disgust twisted his expression. "I reminded you yesterday that today is Liam’s welcome luncheon at the Foster estate. And you’re still lying around? Honestly. Chloe, let’s go. Don’t bother with her. What kind of hostess waits for the guests to wake her up?"

I had barely fallen asleep at dawn, my night plagued with nightmares. Now my head throbbed viciously from the rude awakening.

"Chloe knows Liam too?" I asked abruptly.

As Adrian faltered, his expression softened and he stammered, "Uh… yes. Liam’s parents were mutual friends of ours."

Liam’s features were carved straight from Chloe’s. The resemblance was uncanny, yet Adrian still thought I was a fool.

Before I could press him further, a child’s clear voice rang out from the living room.

"Mommy!"

Chloe’s gentle response followed immediately.

For a split second, panic flickered across Adrian’s face. "Kids don’t know what they’re saying. They call whoever they’re close to. Don’t take it seriously."

Then, Liam came running, calling "Daddy!" as he tossed a toy car at me, pulled Adrian’s hand, and darted off.

The three of them settled together on the sofa in the living room, a picture of warmth that seared like acid in my eyes.

I glanced around the bedroom I had lived in for years. Suddenly, there was nothing here worth holding onto.

I changed clothes quietly, intending to leave unnoticed. However, the moment I stepped out, a toy sword jabbed sharply into my stomach.

Liam blocked my path, glaring. "Daddy, Mommy, kiss! Bad lady, go away!"

The dull ache spread outward, and I followed his gaze to the media room.

That door had always been locked. Adrian had claimed it was his private sanctuary, a place to ease the pressures of work. I had believed him and respected him, never once crossing that threshold.

Now, the door was ajar.

Inside, I saw the truth: posters of Chloe, shelves stacked with her albums, DVDs, and endorsements.

There they were—Adrian and Chloe, curled up together on the sofa, whispering between kisses.

"Chloe, bringing Liam home was only the first step of our plan. Give it a little time, and I’ll find a way to bring you back here openly."

I laughed bitterly. Even our marriage certificate was fake. There wasn’t even a need for divorce. He had played his hand perfectly.

Frustrated that he couldn’t shove me aside, Liam broke into loud sobs.

Chloe hurried in at once, shielding him behind her. "Miss Hayes, if you’ve got a problem, take it out on me. Why vent your anger on a child?"

Adrian stepped in front of them, his face dark with disapproval. "Lauren, bullying guests is not how we Fosters behave. If you’re not awake yet, go splash some water on your face."

I had no intention of staying. I turned to leave, but then Liam’s wailing grew more pitiful, and Chloe gasped.

"Oh my God, Liam’s covered in bruises! Miss Hayes, how could you? He’s such a sweet boy, how could you lay a hand on him?"

Liam pointed at his bruises, then jabbed a finger at me, sobbing harder. "Bad lady hit me! Waaaah!"

It wasn’t true. He’d been the one shoving me, jabbing at me. I hadn’t touched him.

I stepped forward, desperate to explain, but Chloe clutched Liam tighter and retreated. Adrian’s expression hardened, his patience gone. He shoved me violently to the ground.

"Enough, Lauren! What’s wrong with you? How did you become so vicious, so spiteful? You can’t even leave a child alone?"

I hadn’t done a thing. I hadn’t said a word, but because their son wailed, every shred of blame was dumped on me.

I tried to push myself up, but my legs buckled. Pain tore through me, sharp and searing, and something warm began to spill out beneath me. A dark red stain spread across my pastel pants.

It was my pregnancy.

The agony stole my voice, but I forced out a broken plea, turning to Adrian with desperate eyes.

"The baby… save… save…"

His face twisted in shock, disbelief written all over it.

"You—you’re pregnant?"