No one knew I was lurking in this small group. Still, the more cautious they act, the more guilty they seem.

The next second, Anthony tagged me in the group chat where my main account was. [Hans, is your wound okay? Did you get it treated at the hospital? I gave Rosy a good talking-to; she now knows she was wrong. Tonight, she'll be kneeling on a durian to apologize, so don't be mad at her anymore, okay? (playful tongue-out emoji)]

He even attached a picture of a freshly bought durian. Then he mentioned Rosy. [Apologize to Hans NOW! Or we're done!]

Rosy sent a helpless emoji before quoting Anthony. [Hans, are you okay? It's all my fault for not being gentle enough.]

I didn't reply. Instead, I contacted a friend who works in the obstetrics and gynecology department.

"Hans, I'm on my annual leave right now. You'll have to wait until I'm back to help you look into it."

It might only be five days, but I could wait.

Rosy didn't return until the clock had long struck midnight. Drunk, she held the durian I hated and mumbled to me from the side of the bed. "Honey, I brought you a durian. Smell it, it's so fragrant."

Suppressing my nausea, I shoved her away with one slap. "Get out!"

Only when she saw me pinching my nose and grimacing did Rosy finally recall that durian made me sick. She immediately scrambled out the door while clutching the fruit.

By dawn, the stench had finally dissipated.

That morning, she'd prepared a table full of steaming breakfast dishes and called me to eat. "Honey, Anthony said everywhere will be crowded during the National Day holiday, so he doesn't want to go to Japan anymore. I've canceled the tickets and the hotel."

She mentioned Anthony so casually, as if nothing had happened yesterday.

"Oh, whatever you want. It's not good to be in a crowd in the early stages of pregnancy anyway; you might lose the baby."

It was Anthony who had been clamoring to join our trip. Now he was the one using the crowds as an excuse to stay home. The reason was obvious.

Rosy, who had just been smiling and talking, suddenly slammed down the cutlery. "Hans, you're so unreasonable!"

"I'll come home when you admit you're wrong!" She said as she grabbed her car keys and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

For the next few days, Rosy truly didn't return home.

From that small group chat, I already knew she was staying at Anthony's place. The two were inseparable day and night, looking every bit like a married couple.

Her besties couldn't resist teasing, [Rosy, aren't you afraid Hans will explode with jealousy, seeing you flaunt it like this?]

[Afraid of what? Since he doesn't trust me, I might as well make his accusation real. I'll get pregnant just to prove it to him! He forced me into this!]

Everyone praised her for being fierce and mastering the art of taming a husband.

But as I stared at the information my friend had dug up, a chill ran down my spine. Rosy really was pregnant.

Not long ago, she consulted me about a work transfer that would require her to go abroad for a year.

I couldn't bear to be apart from her, so I planned to quit my job and accompany her overseas. Then she suddenly said her boss was reconsidering the candidate.

It turned out that the whole reason for going abroad was that she was pregnant!

Next, she'd likely use my "scandal" as cover to finalize her plans to give birth abroad. Otherwise, how could she hide that belly?

Upon reflection, I couldn't help but admire their acting skills and endurance. She successfully kept it completely hidden from all our other friends.

Rosy had clearly known all along that she was carrying Anthony's child. That's why she'd been so desperate to protect him, why she smashed the cake, forced me to apologize, hurt me and drove me away.

After thanking my friend, I dialed Rosy's number.

It rang for ages before she picked up. The background noise was deafening, mixed with Anthony's hearty laughter and the jeers of others.

"Hello? Have you calmed down enough? Do you know you're wrong? I'm at Anthony's house. If you want to admit your mistake, come over and apologize in person and then you can take me home." Rosy's haughty voice dripped with impatience.

"Fine."

She froze for a second, then burst into triumphant laughter. "Then prepare your grand apology gift for Anthony. Don't show up empty-handed."

She hung up impatiently and gloated in the group chat. [It's on! Hans's coming to beg forgiveness, begging me to come home!]

[You guys better come watch. No backing out of those bets, got it?]

The group instantly erupted with excitement. Everyone was eager to see how I'd grovel.

Some even asked Rosy. [After all those sleepless nights with Anthony, did you finally get pregnant?]

[I can't wait to see your jealous husband weeping his eyes out in a month when he realizes he personally delivered you to Anthony's bed!]

These spectators didn't mind things getting messy at all! Since everyone was so eager, I had no reason not to oblige.

When I arrived at Anthony's place, everyone was watching me with mocking expressions.

"Hans, we heard you came to beg for forgiveness?"

"You're wrong. The one who should beg for forgiveness isn't me."

I threw a stack of evidence in front of Rosy and smirked coldly. "Do you remember what I said on my birthday?"

Rosy glanced at the top document, her face turning ashen. Yet she still played dumb. "How would I know what you said? When I told you to bring a grand gift to apologize to Anthony, is this what you prepared?"

I pulled out the self-defense baton from my pocket and extended it fully. "No worries, you'll remember soon enough! The grand gift you wanted is here!"