Chapter 1

On the night of her birthday, as Charlotte was about to make a wish, her friends teased her.

One of them said, "Charlotte, every year you wish for a baby. This year, it better come true."

Charlotte smiled. Under the expectant gaze of her husband, Andrew Grant, she silently made her wish.

She said to herself, "May Charlotte and Andrew never cross paths again, not in this life or the next."

She had made this decision three days ago.

Earlier that month, for the fifth time, the pregnancy test still showed only a single line, not the two Charlotte desperately hoped for.

That afternoon, planning to go to the hospital for a more thorough check-up, she happened to see Andrew's car speeding away from their home.

A sudden unease settled in her heart. Almost instinctively, she followed him.

She trailed him all the way to a suburban villa district, where a provocatively dressed woman stood waiting at the entrance of one house.

As soon as Andrew parked, he rushed out of the car and pulled the woman into his arms.

She giggled coquettishly. "Always in such a hurry! Though you're with Charlotte every day, making her drink that contraceptive tea, you still act so eager when you come to me. She really can't satisfy you, can she?"

Andrew's face turned cold as he warned sharply, "Nina, you'd better keep your mouth shut about the birth control stuff! If Charlotte ever finds out, you'll be in serious trouble."

Before Andrew could even finish his warning, he and Nina were already making out right there at the door, completely lost in each other.

Charlotte stood a short distance away, and suddenly everything went black. Her whole body felt icy cold, like she'd been plunged into freezing water.

She turned and fled in a panic, stumbling all the way home. By the time she got back, night had already fallen.

As soon as Charlotte stepped into the bedroom, the maid came in like always, carrying a steaming bowl of herbal medicine.

"Charlotte, it's time for your medicine. Three times a day, no skipping. Take it, and you'll be pregnant in no time," the nanny reminded her gently.

Charlotte stared at the bowl of dark, foul-smelling herbal medicine, numb and stunned, her chest tightening with pain.

She'd been married for six years, and for three of those, she'd been trying for a baby, but there was never any sign of one.

Charlotte had gone through over a hundred check-ups at the Grant family's hospital, and every single time, the results were the same: her body was too weak, and pregnancy was unlikely.

Andrew felt sorry for her, watching her endure daily fertility shots, and dragged her from doctor to doctor, trying every possible remedy.

In the end, he spent a fortune on a prescription from an old herbalist, who claimed it would help her get pregnant.

Charlotte put all her faith in it. She drank that medicine for three years, and every time, her stomach would turn upside down with nausea.

But whenever she saw the hope in Andrew's eyes, she felt like everything she endured was worth it. She longed for nothing more than to have a child with him, a baby that truly belonged to both of them.

But three years went by, and there was still no sign of life growing inside her. Charlotte was wracked with guilt, even considering IVF as a last resort.

And then today, she caught Andrew and that woman talking.

Only then did she learn the truth: for three years, the medicine she'd faithfully taken was actually meant to keep her from getting pregnant.

Charlotte felt as if she'd been plunged into a frozen abyss, her heart shredded by a thousand needles, bleeding with agony.

Just then, the bedroom door creaked open, and Andrew strolled in, his face lit up with a gentle smile as he slipped his arm around Charlotte's shoulders like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"What's got you so spaced out? If you don't drink your medicine soon, it'll go cold," Andrew coaxed, his tone soft but insistent.

Charlotte glanced up and saw that Andrew had changed into casual clothes, carrying the crisp scent of cologne that clung to him.

No matter how carefully he tried to hide it, that tell-tale red mark on his neck stood out like a warning sign.

Charlotte forced herself to meet Andrew's gaze, even as her stomach twisted with disgust.

"I don't really want to drink it. I think I caught a chill out in the Westfield Suburbs today, and my stomach just can't handle it right now," Charlotte said, trying to sound casual.

At the mention of the Westfield Suburbs, Andrew's face changed ever so slightly.

He quickly asked, "Why'd you go all the way out there instead of staying home to read or take care of your flowers? You know you're not in the best health. Come here, let me hold you, warm you up."

Charlotte stiffened, gently pushing Andrew away. She hesitated, then tested the waters. "Andrew, do you think that old herbalist might've tricked us? It's been three years and still nothing."

Andrew gently squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her.

"Charlotte, don't pout like a kid. You've always wanted a baby, right? You need to stick with the medicine if you want it to work," he coaxed softly.

He picked up the bowl and brought the spoon to Charlotte's lips. "Let me feed you, alright?"

His expression was soft, his eyes overflowing with affection.

But Charlotte knew exactly what kind of lies and betrayal were hiding behind that tender look.

Her eyes rimmed with red, her voice caught as she whispered, "Do I really have to?"

Andrew was visibly taken aback, but then his expression hardened. He pressed the spoon to Charlotte's lips, making her swallow the medicine.

With every spoonful of that lukewarm brew, Charlotte felt her heart grow colder and colder. The bitterness in her mouth was nothing compared to the ache in her chest.

Tears slid down her cheeks as she watched Andrew pull a fertility charm from his pocket.

"I spent three hours kneeling at the church this afternoon to get this, Charlotte. Put it under your pillow, and let's give it another shot now... okay?" His tone was soft.

Looking at Andrew's serious face, Charlotte felt dazed for a moment, almost thinking maybe everything she'd witnessed that afternoon was just a bad dream.

The very next second, Andrew's phone lit up, and the contact name "Nina Baby" popped up on the screen.