Chapter 3

That evening, I sat quietly in a corner as the absurd birthday party unfolded around me. Wilson didn't notice me until the guests had left, and he offered to take me home. Though he was my husband, it felt as if he was returning to a house that no longer belonged to him.

As he spoke, Ana came over and grabbed his arm. "Wilson, I'm exhausted. I need to go home and rest," she said.

He gently touched her hair, concern evident in his eyes. "Is the baby acting up again? Let's get you home."

With his arm around Ana, he left me behind to get a ride with Greyson. I felt like a fool. I touched my face, expecting tears that never came. It turns out that when pain reaches its peak, you can become numb to it.

I couldn't understand. Why had he married me and had a child if he was so devoted to his childhood friend? Why flaunt his affection for Ana and not divorce me? Why insist on keeping our child, leaving both of us to face ridicule and scorn?

That night, I slept poorly, and it wasn't until the morning when the doorbell woke me up from my restless sleep. Ana showed up unexpectedly with her parents in tow.

Lana wasted no time with her tirade. "How dare you occupy the role of Mrs. Martin while carrying another man's child."

Her father, Gabriel, gave me a disdainful look. "Enough talking to this kind of person. Even looking at her is dirty."

With that, they began hauling their suitcases upstairs. Watching them, I wondered how parents could raise such a shameless daughter.

Ana approached me with a smug smile. "What does it matter if you married him and had his child? You're still nothing compared to me and my child."

"By the way," she added, "Wilson promised that once our baby is born, he will carry Wilson's last name as the firstborn. Your child will only be taken in with your last name."

I watched her arrogant smile, feeling detached. I had seen this performance far too many times. I stepped aside, intending to leave, but Ana suddenly threw herself to the ground, crying, "I'm sorry, sister, it’s all my fault."

Her cries brought her parents running. Lana, like a crazed person, lunged at me. Just then, the door swung open, and Wilson rushed in. Before I could explain, Lana struck me across the face and hurled insults at me.

"Mother..." Wilson tried to intervene, a flicker of pity in his eyes.

Before he could speak, Ana threw herself into his arms, sobbing, "Wilson, you promised once our baby is born, my parents could stay with us. Our place is too small for the five of us. I just wanted to ask Miss Bailey if we could stay here, and she suddenly hit me..."

She hid her face, then her stomach, crying louder.

The noise made my head spin. The spot where I was slapped throbbed painfully, likely swelling, while Ana's face showed no sign of injury under her hands.

Seeing Wilson's conflicted gaze, I wiped away tears and stood silently. The man who had vowed to protect me was now giving another woman the confidence to manipulate.

Perhaps our marriage had been a mistake from the start. If he couldn’t let go of his childhood friend, he would have to let go of our marriage. After all, I would be leaving him in just one more day.