Chapter 1

My husband and I had been trying to conceive for three years, but I never once fell pregnant.

It wasn't until I was having folic acid with my best friend, Chloe, who was a doctor.

She snatched the bottle from my hand. A strange look crossed her face as she crushed one of the pills into a fine powder.

"This isn't folic acid at all," she said, her voice sharp. "These are birth control pills."

I took the pills to a lab for testing, just as Chloe advised.

Turns out, I'd been on birth control for three years.

Julian Sterling, my husband, had been the one to give me those pills. Every time before we were intimate, he’d sweetly coax me into taking one.

I was just about to confront him with the test results when a message popped up in our mutual friends' SnapChat group, from Serena Hayes.

The image was of a pregnancy test stick, displaying two stark, unmistakably dark lines.

【Honey, want to make a bet?】

【Do you think I'll give birth to a little Julian, or a little Serena?】

【I'm betting on a little Julian.】

Two minutes later, she posted again, feigning embarrassment: 【Oops, sorry everyone, sent to the wrong person.】

【Can't unsend it now, just pretend you didn't see it.】

I let out a cold, bitter laugh. Finally, the last shred of my conscience crumbled.

I replied to the lingering regret from my youth: 【One month. I'm coming with you.】

***

A stunned silence fell over the group chat.

Eventually, someone spoke up: 【Well, congratulations!】

【When did you two get married?】

【You didn't even tell us, we'd love to celebrate your wedding!】

Someone in the group initiated a payment transfer, with the memo stating it was a wedding gift.

Everyone quickly followed suit.

Serena posted two shy, bashful emojis.

【Thank you for all the blessings, everyone. No need to get carried away, just pretend you didn't see anything.】

【How can we pretend? Even if you didn't invite us to the wedding, we can't forget our friendship!】

【Exactly! You and Julian finally got together, as your friends, we have to celebrate!】

This was Julian's college buddies' SnapChat group.

He'd added me after we got our marriage license.

He said, "These are all my friends, it's good for you to meet them."

When they asked Julian who he'd added, he simply replied:

【A friend.】

【If she's a friend, introduce her! Maybe one of us single guys can hit it off with her!】

Julian fell silent, and so did I.

I'd been lurking in that group ever since.

Back then, Serena had even snapped at them: 【Stop acting so desperate every time you see a girl.】

【Go find your own dates.】

The Sterling and Miller families were both incredibly influential and wealthy. Our parents had always wanted to arrange a grand wedding.

But Julian always said, "I'm in the prime of my career right now, I don't even have time to plan a simple wedding, let alone a grand one."

"Let's talk about it later."

That 'later' dragged on for five years.

I'd long given up hope for a grand wedding. If it happened, fine. If not, also fine.

Julian's friends in the group had no idea he was married, much less that he hadn't married Serena, who everyone in college had called the golden couple.

My phone kept buzzing with group messages, clutched tight in my hand, its screen a constant glow.

I stared coldly at the display, tears blurring my vision, streaming down my face, separating from my very soul.

But I didn't know how to unleash the pain and fury churning inside me.

For a moment, I'd hoped Julian would step in, declaring it all a rumor.

Yet, as the group chat went wild, the main character, frantically tagged by everyone, remained completely silent.

Serena collected the virtual red envelopes. 【Thanks, everyone! Consider this a little gift for the baby.】

【Once the baby's born, we'll invite you all for a gathering.】

【You all *have* to come show your support then, for the little one in my belly. Thank you~】

From Serena's tone, they were determined to have this baby.

A suffocating feeling filled my chest. I opened the window to let in some air.

Standing on the balcony, I gulped down the outside air, my heart feeling like it was about to give out.

After a while in the cold breeze, I calmed down. I took screenshots of the chat history, then quietly exited the group.

I was still lost in thought, sitting in a corner of the balcony, when Julian, unexpectedly, came home early.

He pulled me up from the floor and closed the window.

"It's the middle of winter, sitting on the floor with the window open. Aren't you afraid of getting sick?"

I stared at him. He seemed genuinely concerned, fussing with my clothes, but somehow, the man in front of me felt like a stranger.

Not like before.

Was it because he'd done something wrong, that he felt guilty now?

I felt a surge of repulsion, twisting my body to avoid his touch.

"Don't touch me."

He paused, then finally met my gaze.

His eyes seemed to brand me as unreasonable, and he said dismissively:

"Is this about the group chat?"

"Audrey, didn't we agree before we got married that we just needed to satisfy our parents?"

"Now they're happy with our situation, and so am I. What more could you want?"

Julian and my marriage wasn't about love; it was born of necessity.

The Miller and Sterling families were old friends, family friends for generations. I went to study abroad in high school, while Julian stayed home.

Our relationship was far from what our parents shared; we barely kept in touch.

When I returned after my studies, both sets of parents conspired to get us together.

My parents resorted to emotional blackmail and threats, practically pulling out all the stops, saying, "Your union is the best choice."

"We've paved a clear path for your happiness, don't insist on making things difficult."

"I'm telling you, I will never approve of that boyfriend you have. Not unless your father and I are dead."