Chapter 1

It's common knowledge that Theo, the powerful figure in East City, has been deeply in love with me for eight years and proposed 99 times.

Touched by his devotion, I was willing to give up my adventurous career and return from Iceland to the cozy and peaceful East City.

But in the third year of our marriage, Theo brought home a pregnant woman.

That's when I discovered that while he was planning to propose, he had also found someone to fill my place in his absence.

"Fiona, I know you still dream of exploring and don't want children. I’ll give you your freedom."

"Keep the child, and once they're born, you'll be their mom."

I looked at him quietly, my eyes betraying a smile through tears.

"Are you really giving me freedom, or is it that Theo's family can't be without an heir?"

"Or is it you, Theo, who, despite claiming to love me the most, have been unfaithful time and again?"

I glanced at the face next to him, all too familiar, feeling a churn in my stomach.

"Theo, is this what you call love?"

The man kneeling on the ground froze. Theo lifted his head, his eyes full of agonized affection.

"Fiona, it's my fault. Those times you kept rejecting me, I felt frustrated and lost, and that's why I acted so foolishly..."

"After marriage, we had agreed on our relationship! This accident happened because I was drunk and ran into Lydia. She looks so much like you..."

I forced a smile on my stiff face.

"So you just went along with it, waiting eight months until her belly was too big for an abortion before telling me, leaving me no choice but to accept it?"

Theo was at a loss for words, but Lydia started crying first.

"Sister Fiona, don't blame Theo. I kept it a secret; he didn't know."

"If you want to punish someone, I'll take it. I’ll make it up to you!"

She was about to kneel but was stopped.

Theo, with a stern face, scolded her:

"With such a big belly, be more careful. Do you want to intentionally harm the child and let people think Fiona's being hard on you, being cold-hearted?"

"Stand aside!"

He turned to me gently:

"Fiona, I know you're kind and wouldn't want to make things hard for a pregnant woman, so I'll handle her for you."

I just found it incredibly laughable.

Did he really think I couldn't see this was to protect Lydia?

I watched as his eyes revealed tension and worry, something even Theo himself hadn't noticed—replacing the pure love that once was.

My heart felt like it was pressed hard into spicy liquor, suffocating and choking.

I closed my eyes, trying to steady the tremor in my voice.

"What if I say, I don't accept this child?"

Theo's brow furrowed, his usually gentle and composed face full of conflict and pain.

"Fiona, you know how much I love you. No matter what happens, your place in my heart won't change."

"I can promise, once the child is born, Lydia will be sent abroad, and you'll never see her again, and the child will only acknowledge you..."

Theo said a lot, but never mentioned getting rid of the child or sending them away.

Yes, I know Theo loves me.

But if I forgive this time, this child will become a thorn in my heart.

Constantly reminding me of betrayal.

I steadied my gaze.

Just as I was about to speak, Lydia suddenly cried out:

"Ah, my stomach hurts!"

"Theo, what should I do? Am I going into labor?"

Theo's face changed, and without hesitation, stood up, holding Lydia.

"Fiona, I need to take her to the hospital. I'll explain when I get back!"

But I clearly saw the mockery on Lydia's face, not a hint of pain.

I bit my lip.

"Theo, don't go."

He paused.

"If you leave now, don't ever..."

"Sorry Fiona! I'll send her to the hospital and be right back... in ten minutes..."

The door slammed shut with a loud thud as the man rushed out, leaving the room empty.

I slowly slid to the ground.

Suddenly, I received a text.

It was a photo of two hands placed over a pregnant belly, with the message:

"A family together, who really is the outsider?"