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Chapter 3: How Long Has This Been Going On?
Sophia froze at the question.
But Ethan Foster, clearly overjoyed, swept her into a tight embrace, nearly vibrating with excitement.
For a second, she was stunned.
Was he… genuinely happy?
Was he still dreaming of a future with a child, with her?
Then the ache returned, sharp and cutting.
If he wanted that so badly, why had he betrayed her?
The contradiction made her stomach twist. She shoved him off gently but firmly.
"You've got it wrong. I'm not pregnant, just gastritis."
Ethan blinked, and for a split second, disappointment cracked through his carefully constructed mask. But then he softened, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles.
"That's okay. We've got time. We'll have our baby someday."
His tenderness made her stomach churn for an entirely different reason. She pulled her hand away, her voice flat.
"My stomach still hurts. I'm going to bed."
"Of course."
He didn't protest.
As she climbed the stairs, she could feel his eyes on her back.
What she didn't see was Emily Johnson watching from the shadows, her glare burning with resentment.
Later that evening, Emily knocked and entered her bedroom with a bowl of rice porridge.
"Madam, I heard your stomach's upset. I made some congee for you. You should eat before bed."
Sophia accepted the bowl. "Thanks. I've got it from here. You can go."
Once the door clicked shut behind her, Sophia walked straight to the bathroom and flushed the porridge down the toilet.
She returned to bed, lying stiffly on her side, eyes closed, breath steady, pretending to sleep.
Ethan came in a while later, quietly slipping under the covers. He pulled her close, holding her like he used to, like nothing had changed.
But everything had.
She kept still, counting each second until his breathing evened out.
Then, the door creaked open again.
Emily.
She stood in the doorway in something far too sheer to be appropriate, her lips painted, her hair tousled like she was already halfway undressed.
Ethan's eyes darkened immediately.
But when he glanced at Sophia's still form, guilt, or fear, kicked in. He stood up and blocked Emily's path, whispering harshly, "Are you out of your mind? What if she sees you? Get out. Now."
His voice was strained, the desire barely contained.
Sophia kept her eyes shut, her face wet with silent tears.
This… this was worse than heartbreak.
The man who had once promised her forever was now standing between her and his mistress, fighting not out of love, but out of fear of getting caught.
She remembered the vows.
The promises.
His disgust when they'd watched a movie about cheating.
His hand squeezing hers, murmuring, "I'd never do that to you."
Lies.
Every word.
That night, sleep never came.
By morning, her reflection was a ghost, puffy eyes, pale skin, pain carved into every line of her face.
The same look her mother wore, years ago.
A bitter smile curled her lips.
I'm sorry, Mom. You told me to keep my eyes open. But I still walked straight into hell, thinking it was home.
But this time, I'm not staying.
This time, I'll make sure he pays.
Ethan had already left for work by the time she came downstairs.
Emily was sitting at the kitchen counter, sipping tea with smug satisfaction. She looked up with a smirk.
"Sleep well, Madam?"
The glint in her eye said it all.
The porridge had been a show. There was never anything in it.
Then Emily reached up and casually adjusted her collar, pulling it just low enough to reveal fresh marks across her skin.
"Ethan was… thorough last night," she purred.
Sophia said nothing.
She remembered how, after the miscarriage, she couldn't bear to be touched. Ethan had said he understood. That he respected her.
But now she saw it for what it was, he had simply redirected his passion elsewhere.
And now, that "elsewhere" was flaunting it like a trophy.
She stared at Emily with quiet detachment, her voice devoid of emotion.
"How long has this been going on?"
Emily didn't even flinch.
"Two years."
Two years.
The words echoed.
Two years ago, she was in the hospital, bleeding and broken from a loss she thought she and Ethan had shared.
But while he sat beside her, whispering comfort into her ear…
He was already sleeping with Emily.