Chapter 1

I was eight months pregnant when I was diagnosed with toxoplasmosis.

My whole family urged me to abort.

I couldn't bear it, but for the baby's sake, I went through with the D&C.

While I was at the pharmacy picking up my meds, my brother suddenly asked in the family group chat:

"How is it? Is the baby still there?"

My husband, Enzo Colleone, replied:

"Gone. I scraped it out myself."

My father sent a grinning emoji.

"Great. Now Vera can finally focus on her delivery without worrying your baby will steal her child's father's love."

My mother sent a dozen red envelopes in a row.

"Thanks to Enzo's fake medical records. Natalia still thinks she really had toxoplasmosis."

Just as she sent that, my parents' adopted daughter Vera warned:

"Delete that. This is Natalia's group."

The next second, I was kicked out of the group chat.

When I was added back, all messages had been cleared.

My brother explained, "Natalia, don't misunderstand. It's all a misunderstanding."

I threw the screenshot into the chat.

The group went dead silent.

After a while, my mother sent a long voice message.

"Vera is indeed carrying Enzo's child, but she never meant to hurt you."

"They were together before you and Enzo got married. They kept it secret to protect you."

"You've been Enzo's wife for so many years. You should be content."

I listened to every word and laughed until tears came.

They killed my baby and called it protecting me.

So this is what it means when someone doesn't love you—they treat you like a fool.

The anesthesia wore off, and sharp pain throbbed in my lower belly.

I forced myself into the elevator.

The private clinic's VIP rooms were all on the top floor.

Enzo had pulled strings to get a spot.

He said, "Vera's due date is earlier than yours. Let her use it first. When you're ready to deliver, I'll figure something out."

I agreed.

But I never expected he wouldn't even leave me a chance.

Passing the nurses' station, I heard a few nurses chatting.

"Mr. Enzo is so good to his wife. VIP suite, private medical team."

"I heard he even hired a private chef. It's sea cucumber and abalone, bird's nest and fish maw every day."

"His wife just gave birth yesterday, and the physical therapist, TCM doctor, and beauty specialist were all there immediately. Full-body massage, pelvic floor recovery, pregnancy swelling care—they even hired the top psychologist so she won't get postpartum depression."

I stood frozen, cold all over.

We were both pregnant, but Enzo never cooked me a single meal.

When my morning sickness was worst, I asked him to make me a bowl of noodles. He said he didn't have time.

I couldn't sleep from back pain and asked if he knew a massage therapist.

He was busy packing Vera's hospital bag and didn't even look up.

"Why waste the money? Every pregnant woman goes through this. Just tough it out."

He said it so casually.

But when it came to Vera, he never let her tough it out.

I clenched my fists and pushed down the surge of emotions.

The hospital room door was ajar.

Vera lay in bed, a serene smile on her face.

My parents and brother were by her side.

Enzo was cooing at the baby.

When I had my D&C, they all said they had no time.

Now they were all here.

So it wasn't that they had no time.

Their time just didn't belong to me.

I stood outside the door, watching their happy family scene, and for the first time felt like an outsider.

When they saw me, everyone froze.

Enzo put down the baby and walked over quickly.

"Natalia, don't make a scene. Vera just gave birth. She's still weak. We'll talk at home."

I was weak too, but I couldn't wait. I had to know the truth now.

"Is the baby hers or yours?"

I demanded, my voice cracking.

I expected him to evade, to change the subject.

But he looked me in the eye and said calmly:

"It's mine. The night of our engagement, you had to leave early. Vera came to me after a breakup. We drank too much, crossed the line. That's when I learned she'd been in love with me for a long time."

My ears rang.

The night of our engagement, my mother-in-law called to say she'd been in a car accident.

I went to handle it without a second thought.

When I called Enzo to let him know she was okay, his voice was hoarse.

I asked what was wrong. He said he'd caught a cold.

Thinking about it now made me sick.

While I was running around for our family, he was busy betraying me.

I clenched my fists.

"So you two slept together behind my back, and to give her child a complete father's love, you killed my baby?"

A flicker of impatience crossed his face.

"You can say what you want about me, but don't talk about Vera like that. You only lost a child. She felt guilty for one night because of your miscarriage. What more do you want?"