I had been married for five years, but my belly remained flat—no sign of a child.

Then, on my 35th birthday, I suddenly found out I was pregnant.

When I shared the good news with my husband, he flew into a rage. Instead of being happy, he accused me of carrying someone else's baby.

Only then did I learn he had a mistress. He even claimed he wanted a "real" child—one that truly belonged to him—with her.

I thought he was just being irrational and would eventually come to his senses.

After getting an amniocentesis, I immediately brought him the paternity test results to prove the baby was his.

He came home acting like a changed man—hugging me, kissing me, claiming that he didn't cheat on me.

The very next day, he booked a hotel and threw a banquet, announcing to all our friends and family that he was going to be a father.

However, when his mistress saw the news, she completely lost it. She showed up with a group of people, blocked me in the street, and—despite my pregnancy—started punching and kicking me.

"You shameless woman! How dare you carry my man's child? Are you that desperate to die?"

Five years into marriage with Wilson Morris, everything seemed pretty standard between us. Yet, despite our efforts, my stomach remained quiet—no baby on the way.

Wilson always told me not to worry about it, but I could see the longing in his eyes whenever he saw a happy family with a kid.

I was starting to believe I could not have children, but then, on my 35th birthday, I found out I was pregnant.

I double-checked with a test at the hospital before I got my hopes up and shared the big news with Wilson.

"Honey, we're finally going to have a baby!"

Wilson stared at the test results, his face turning from shock to anger. "Who's the father?!" he demanded.

I froze. "What are you talking about, Wilson?"

In a rage, he ripped up the test results and slapped me across the face. "How dare you play innocent?! We've been trying for ages with no luck. Then, I'm away for a month, and you're pregnant?!"

The slap left me reeling, my hand shaking as I pointed at him, tears spilling over. "Wilson... I can't believe the kind of man you are."

Wilson stormed out, slamming the door behind him, his parting words cutting deep. "If you don't get rid of that child, I'm not coming back."

I stood there, hand on my cheek, too shocked to move.

I understood his doubt, after years of silence from my womb, its sudden awakening was bound to raise questions.

I convinced myself to wait for him to cool down so we could talk it out that evening.

However, instead of Wilson returning, I got a call from my mother-in-law, ready to lay into me.

I did not even get a chance to share my news before she lashed out, saying, "You useless woman! You can't even keep your man; you're no better than a hen that doesn't lay eggs!"

The call ended with her sending me a screenshot from Wilson's social media.

The moment I saw the photo, my heart stopped. There was my husband, arms wrapped around another woman like she was the only person in the world.

I bit my tongue and waited out the six long months until I could get a paternity test. As soon as I had the results, I texted Wilson.

[This is your kid. However, since you're with someone else now, I'll just take care of this at the hospital, and we can call it quits. You two can have each other.]

Wilson called me in a flash, his voice sharp, saying, "Don't you dare do anything stupid!"

Then, catching himself, he switched to a softer tone. "Babe, don't be rash. I haven't cheated on you."

I did not say a word. I just sent him the screenshot my mother-in-law had sent me.

He scrambled to explain. "I was just trying to get a rise out of you. Nothing happened; I swear. You have to believe me.

"Don't move a muscle! I'm on my way to get you and our son!"

The next day, Wilson smiled brightly as he booked a hotel and threw a massive celebration.

He was over the moon, telling anyone who would listen about his upcoming fatherhood.

I watched him, so full of joy, and decided to let bygones be bygones, thinking maybe that was the start of our happily ever after.

However, then, after the party, his mistress found out I was pregnant and pegged me as the homewrecker.

It turned out that Wilson's other woman was a reporter.

I had seen her on TV, grilling interviewees with her sharp wit, a stunning beauty with an iron will.

I kept tabs on her every move once I knew she was my husband's mistress.

Every time she was on air, I was watching.

Her looks and killer instincts had made her a star in the news world.

They called her the Beauty Sniper online, a nod to her ability to make any story she touched explode into the limelight.

The next night, she became the lead story on the evening news.

"Viewers, after years of being a reporter, I never thought I'd be the one in front of the camera," she said, her eyes red and puffy as if she had been crying, looking into the lens with a mix of anger and stubbornness.

"My boyfriend cheated on me with another woman, who's now pregnant with his child! He says he has to do the right thing for the baby, and that means cutting me out of his life!

"I've always raised my voice against the unfairness in this world. Now, it's time I do it for myself!"

She was adamant, vowing to get justice for herself.

She promised to keep the viewers updated, insisting that the person who wronged her would pay.

I relayed that bombshell to Wilson and asked him why he had not sorted that mess out.

"Wilson, I don't want our child to enter a world of drama!

"If you don't clear this up, I'm considering divorce."

Wilson was livid, denying everything. "I've said we will have a good life, so let's just do that. Stop imagining things!"

His promise made me decide to hold off for a bit longer.

Later that night, as I was strolling around the block, the reporter's car pulled up right next to me!

I was caught off guard when suddenly a crowd encircled me!

Panicked, I yelled, "What's going on?!"

The camera zeroed in on me as she shoved the microphone at me.

"Anna! How long have you been after Wilson? Did you forget he's got a wife like me?!"

Her glare was chilling, and I felt like she might lash out at any moment.

I tried to clear things up. "What are you talking about? Wilson's my husband."

She swung at me with a slap that stung. "Cheater! You've got the nerve to play the other woman and not even own up to it. Trying to trap a guy by getting pregnant? Shameless!"

In a flash, a crowd of furious fans shoved me down, and without thinking, I shielded my stomach.

That only made her angrier. She pushed the burly cameraman's hand, making sure the camera was aimed at my belly.

"Look at her, everyone! This is the cheater who wrecked my marriage and even made my husband want to divorce me.

"Don't think for a second that Wilson would ever stoop to your level!

"I'm a reporter, and I'm not just fighting for love here, I'm standing up for what's right!"

Her lies, spewed under the cover of being a reporter, made me tremble with rage. "You're lying through your teeth! Wilson is my husband, not yours."

Rowena Jones paused, then smirked like she had caught me in a slip-up. "Wilson's your husband? Prove it."

"I..."

"Here's my marriage certificate with Wilson. Got anything like that?"

She waved two certificates from her bag, flaunting them for me and the camera to see.

A chill ran through me. How on earth did she have a marriage certificate with Wilson?

I tried to stand, to grab it and see for myself, but she shoved me back down with a vengeance.

"What's the matter? Trying to rip the truth up?"

She stepped on my hand, and I could not hold back the tears. "I've been married to Wilson for years. We..."

I bit back the pain, reaching for my phone to call Wilson.

However, her quick-handed accomplice snatched it away and hurled it to the ground, where it shattered.

"Think you can call for backup? As if!"

The bystanders had already caught wind of the drama unfolding and swarmed to get a closer look.

As Rowena rattled off her accusations with unwavering confidence, the crowd began to echo her sentiments.

"The world's gone mad! No one has any morals anymore!"

"She's bold enough to go after a reporter's husband. Doesn't she fear the wrath of public shaming?!"

"Home wreckers should get what's coming to them!"

"Take her down! Take her down!"

...

Bolstered by the crowd's rallying cries, Rowena puffed up with pride.

"Anna, I've done my homework on you. Your mom had you and your brother out of wedlock!

"Sure, Wilson's loaded, but that doesn't mean he's your ATM! Are you hanging onto him just to milk him dry for your gambling brother?"

She aired my dirty laundry without a second thought for my privacy!

I tried to push through the pain in my hand and get up, but Rowena's boot came flying at me again, sending me crashing into the curb!

Agony ripped through me. I clutched my belly and looked down to see blood trickling down my legs.

"It hurts! My baby... My baby..."

I could not lose the child I had struggled so hard to conceive.

"Please, help me..." I pleaded, looking up through my torment.

The onlookers noticed the blood, too. Some whipped out their phones to call for help, while others tried to reason with Rowena. "She's pregnant, for heaven's sake. Whatever she did, the baby's innocent."

"Hey, if you go too far, you will have blood on your hands!"

"Sure, she's in the wrong, but let's not forget the guy's the one who really messed up. It's not all on her..."

"She's playing a dangerous game, pregnant and all. However, what's my crime in standing up to her?

"She had the nerve to stoop so low and be the other woman, so why shouldn't I stand up for what's fair for myself!"