Twenty years after my DINK husband had a vasectomy, I suddenly became pregnant.

I thought I was blessed with a baby, but I found out that my husband had another family outside. 

His illegitimate son had leukemia and urgently needed a bone marrow match, so my husband set his sights on me.

I was so angry that I fainted. After waking up in the hospital, I broke down and said I wanted to abort the baby.

Marlon Townsend, my husband, disagreed with tying me to the hospital bed.

My mother-in-law and the doctor advised me, "Saving a life is more meaningful than building a seven-story house. Marlon’s son is your son too—how can you be so heartless?

“Who told you to remain childless for so many years? And even when you finally conceived, you insisted the child carry your surname. Marlon had no other choice."

I stopped struggling, looked at Marlon's wet eyes and relaxed as I sneered, "Why don’t you and Melanie have another child to save your sick son? I’ll cover all the treatments."

Marlon's eyes flashed with disappointment and heartache. I thought he felt guilty, but he said, “I’ve tried. But Melanie had several miscarriages in her attempt to give me a son. She cannot get pregnant anymore.

“What’s more, half-siblings have a one in four chance of being a successful match. Margret, as long as you are willing to save my son, I will agree to whatever you want.”

I turned my face away, my heart completely chilled as I answered, “I want a divorce. I'll be discharged from the hospital in a week and we’ll meet at the court!”

——

My mother-in-law was so angry that her blood pressure soared and she wanted to hit me.

Marlon pulled me away, frowning slightly and said firmly, “No way. I'm not divorcing you. Do not even think about it.”

I looked at him and sneered. Years of tacit understanding between husband and wife made him understand that I was serious.

He pinched his brows and sighed, his tone softened, "Margret, we've spent half our lives together. Wouldn't it be humiliating if news of our divorce spread now?

"I know you feel wronged, but Melanie didn’t have the same education or upbringing as you. It wasn’t easy for her to give me a son. She’s young too, so if anyone is to blame, it’s me.

"The child is innocent. Forcing me like this… don’t you think that’s cruel?"

My breathing stagnated, I touched my belly and my thoughts drifted back to several years ago.

When he was young, Marlon also lamented the unfairness of fate. 

He was a poor student sponsored by my father.

Not long after graduating from college, I had no way to pursue further studies or further education.

On the day when he knelt on the street in the heavy rain to beg for the right to bid, I held an umbrella and took him home.

A down-and-out genius, an ambitious character and an unyielding will.

Everything about him was fatally attractive to me, the daughter of the richest man.

Soon, he became the son-in-law of the richest man and embarked on a life of luck.

At that time, I never thought about being a DINK. I just wanted to have a baby because I was with him every day.

Soon, I became pregnant.

After hearing the good news, Marlon was so excited that he almost cried.

“But my parents said that the first child should have my last name and we can decide on the second and third children. Marlon, how many children do you think we should have?”

There was a subtle worry on his face as he answered, “Margret, are you really ready to be a mother? I mean. I don't want you to suffer the pregnancy, I also heard if it will hurt."

I was deeply moved and hugged him, telling him that I was not afraid.

But pregnancy was indeed hard. I had severe morning sickness and could not eat anything.

One day two weeks later, I had constant abdominal pain. Marlon was so anxious that he rushed me to the hospital, but the baby still died.

He stayed by my bed all night and the next day he hit himself with red eyes as he stated, “Margret, it's my fault. I made you suffer. Let's not have any more children. Can we be DINKs?”

“But you are the only son in your family. Marlon, I want to have a child with you. I am not afraid of this little hardship.”

I repeatedly emphasized that I was willing. 

But Marlon said that I had given him too much and having me in his life was enough.

To show his loyalty, he went to the hospital to get a vasectomy that day.

As if this was not enough, he took the initiative to take safety measures every time since then.

What I did not expect was that even Marlon’s parents agreed with our decision.

After I was discharged from the hospital, they never mentioned anything about continuing the family line.

They even sent a dog for Marlon and I to raise as a child.

I naively thought that this was all Marlon's effort behind the scenes.

I did not understand until I heard my mother-in-law swearing just then.

It turned out Marlon was not against having a child—he just did not want one with me. Since being helped by his father-in-law was a thorn in his heart.

It would be an even greater shame for him to have our first child follow his wife's family lead.

He had already arranged everything for his life. I would help him rise to the top and become successful. Another woman would bear children for him and cook for him.

At that time, when my parents had passed away and I had no relatives left, he could deliberately make me give birth to a child at an advanced age and prolong the life of my illegitimate child.

Burning with humiliation and despair, I asked coldly, “Yes, the child is innocent. In order to save your illegitimate child, my child and I may die. Marlon, don’t you think you’re too cruel?”

Marlon, who was always calm, had a flash of panic in his eyes.

“That’s not what I meant, Margret. I will definitely hire the best doctor for you. Didn't you also want a child before? Why don't you think about the good results? You will all live well and we will live together as a family in the future.”

I looked at him and felt that he was so strange, so I asked again, “Do you really think we can go on living together after this? Maybe it works for you, having a wife and a concubine—but what about me?”

Marlon walked to the door and said earnestly, “Margret, Melanie never wanted to compete with you for anything. I have you in my heart and you will always be my wife, but can you be more generous? This child must stay.”

He left the ward and hired two nurses to look after me closely to prevent any possibility of me having a miscarriage.

I became more determined to get a divorce and called my lawyer, “Mr. Cain, if the other party disagrees, is there any way to get a divorce?”

Doyle Cain quickly gave me a positive response.

There was a way, but I had to wait for a week.

The next day, Marlon did not come to the hospital to see me.

Doyle had a wide network of contacts. He sent me videos through email and found evidence of Marlon's infidelity.

He went to accompany Melanie and probably told her the news of my pregnancy.

Melanie cried with joy and kissed Marlon in the coffee shop.

I turned off the video, since I could not bear to watch it anymore. Then, I forced myself to check social media to distract myself.

But the result was my mother-in-law, who used to be honest and kind, that time changed her expression 180 degrees.

She released all the hidden videos of her grandson playing with other children.

It hit me then—those holidays when I believed Marlon was working late, he was actually with Melanie and their son.

In the latest video, my mother-in-law appeared herself, cursing me online, branding me the most vicious daughter-in-law in history.

She even photoshopped my picture into a posthumous portrait.

People called me unfilial, heartless. They said I was a cruel mother for refusing to save my son, for refusing to have another child.

My mother-in-law was in tears and netizens who were uninformed cursed me and my parents in the comment section.

When I thought of my parents who loved me, I became furious.

I confronted my mother-in-law in the comments section. [He is not my son! What does his life or death have to do with me?]