Chapter 3

Sophia's POV

Looking at the caller ID "My Love" on the screen, I zoned out for a moment.

If Ethan knew I'd discovered everything and was even considering divorce, he would definitely try every means to stop me.

So before successfully divorcing, I absolutely couldn't let him notice anything.

In the last second before the call would automatically disconnect, I slid to answer.

"Sophia?"

Ethan's voice came through the receiver, carrying his usual warm concern.

"Did you finish the checkup? How did it go?"

If this were yesterday, I would have felt sweet about this thoughtful concern.

But now, I only felt my stomach churning with nausea.

I tried to keep my voice steady and normal.

"Yes, it's done. The doctor said the baby is very healthy. Don't worry."

"That's good."

Ethan's tone relaxed a bit.

"By the way, I have to make a sudden business trip to the next city. Important project. I'll be gone two or three days. Take care of yourself and the baby. Have the kitchen make whatever you want to eat. I'll bring you a gift when I get back."

"Okay."

I only replied with one word, afraid saying more would betray my emotions.

After hanging up, I stood in the law firm's air-conditioned hallway, feeling my blood run completely cold.

I raised my other hand and gently touched my still-flat belly.

Just yesterday, I'd been filled with joy about this child's arrival, imagining who the baby would look like.

But now...

With such a calculating father whose heart belonged elsewhere, if this child were born, it would surely have an unhappy life.

After getting the divorce agreement from the lawyer, the next day as I went downstairs in a distracted state, my foot slipped and I fell.

When I woke up, my lower abdomen throbbed with pain.

The doctor told me the baby was gone.

I returned weakly to the villa and lay in bed to rest.

My phone vibrated. I picked it up to see Lydia had just posted on Ins.

There were six photos.

A selfie of Lydia with a gentle smile, an elaborately decorated birthday cake, brilliant fireworks in the night sky, two plates of exquisite Western cuisine, and two wine glasses clinking together.

The last one was a close-up of two hands with fingers interlaced.

On the man's wrist was a Patek Philippe starry sky watch I knew all too well.

The caption read, "This year's birthday, still with my favorite person by my side."

Location tagged: Grand Hyatt Hotel in the neighboring city.

My whole body went ice cold, chilled to the bone.

So Ethan's so-called business trip was to celebrate Lydia's birthday, enjoying their undisturbed time together.

With trembling fingers, I clicked into Lydia's Ins and scrolled up through her posts.

Three years ago in autumn, Lydia posted a photo of maple leaves with the caption,

"Maple leaves are red again. Remember that year you said you'd take me to see all the red leaves in the world."

Two years ago on Valentine's Day, Lydia posted a starry sky image.

"Even if we can't always be together, our hearts in one place is enough."

One year ago, on mine and Ethan's wedding anniversary, Lydia posted,

"Some people, some things, are destined to remain only in the heart. But being able to silently protect is already fortunate."

Looking through these, I suddenly realized Lydia had posted quite a bit of ambiguous content over the past three years.

It's just that before, I'd genuinely treated Lydia as family and never connected that content with Ethan.

Now, suddenly awakened to the truth, I felt like a complete fool.

I had been thoroughly deceived for three years. I thought I had love and happiness, not knowing that my sweet happiness was just a joke to others.

I closed my eyes. Tears slid silently from the corners of my eyes.