Chapter 1

My husband Ethan Shaw and his childhood friend Chloe got pregnant at the same time.

To protect Chloe's reputation, Ethan said her child was his.

And my child? The bastard I conceived from an affair.

He even used AI to generate photos of me having sex with different men and sent them to friends and family.

Faced with my breakdown, he only said indifferently:

"Chloe's family has always been strict with her. She can't handle gossip."

What about me? I'm his wife!

I looked at the man I'd loved for seven years and decided I would never love him again.

Learning that Ethan planned to go abroad with Chloe in three days to rest during her pregnancy, I called my mother-in-law Margaret.

"I want a divorce."

My mother-in-law on the other end of the line just sighed. "It's Ethan's fault. He's wronged you."

Ever since Ethan publicly claimed that my child was a bastard, we had the worst fight of our seven years together.

But after he learned I wanted a divorce, he had people lock me in the villa.

Even when I went for prenatal checkups, a dozen bodyguards followed behind me.

He said, "I still love you, and our child must be healthy."

So he still knew this was his child.

His hypocritical, casual words could ruin my life and our child's.

Even though he knew our child was his own flesh and blood.

And Chloe's child was the real bastard of unknown paternity.

Gently stroking my already swollen belly, I couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness.

As if sensing the warmth of my palm, my belly moved.

It was like a telepathic connection between the child and me.

Knowing I was sad, as if comforting me.

Tears instantly flowed down.

I withdrew my hand, covered my face, and cried.

The villa door opened from outside.

Ethan walked up to me, looked at my swollen red eyes, and said flatly:

"For the baby's sake, you need to take care of yourself. Don't always cry."

Easy for him to say.

If I could control my emotions, I wouldn't have fallen in love with the man in front of me in the first place.

I knew he had always kept a place for Chloe in his heart.

I knew his feelings for me weren't true love.

The person I loved deeply was also the one who hurt me the most.

"You've done so many things to wrong me, trapped me, taken away my freedom."

"What, don't I even have the right to cry anymore?"

He just looked at me, his eyes slightly red, with a trace of guilt, but he couldn't say a word.

Just like a few months ago, when I first suspected I was pregnant.

When I went to the hospital to confirm, I happened to run into Ethan accompanying Chloe for her checkup.

He was considerate and attentive, afraid she might bump into something.

"Ethan, feel our baby, I think he just moved."

Ethan's face showed a tender light.

He let Chloe pull his hand and place it on her flat belly.

The next second, he looked up and saw me standing at the corner.

Not a word of explanation, just standing there in a daze.

What a loving couple.

If I weren't Ethan's wife, I would definitely say such envious words sincerely.

Unfortunately, I couldn't say it.

And he didn't deserve it.

The man in front of me was silent for a while before seeming to remember something.

He said perfunctorily:

"Tomorrow is your birthday. I'll throw you a birthday party."

"Oh, and Mom just told me she's coming back to the country to take care of you. With Mom taking care of you, I can feel more at ease."

He could certainly feel at ease.

At ease going abroad with his Chloe to rest during her pregnancy.

Not having to come back for months.

But he didn't know why his parents, who had been enjoying their retirement abroad, would suddenly return home.

Nor did he know that his parents already knew about the despicable things he'd done to me.

I sneered coldly and didn't object.

I was the one who asked his mother to come back.

Because I knew that with just my current self, I couldn't escape from Ethan's grasp.

Seeing I had no reaction, he crouched down and looked at me with a somewhat affectionate gaze.

"Joanna, I do love you."

"After Chloe gives birth, I'll definitely come back to you."

I treated such words as air.

Even if he really thought that way now, with just one word from Chloe, he would mercilessly break his promise to me.

So I would never believe his words again.

Three more days.

Then he could completely get rid of me.

And focus wholeheartedly on being the father of Chloe's child.