After I Faked My Death

I had been married to Sean Cadwell for seven years and he treated me like a treasure. Even though I couldn't get pregnant, he was always considerate of my delicate health. He suggested we adopt a child instead of having our own.

Sean even volunteered to get a vasectomy to show his commitment. Still, I know the truth—his mistress was already six months pregnant. So, I resolutely aborted our child.

I met my fiery end, vanishing into smoke before his despairing gaze. At that time, I could see Sean holding my ashes and crying bitterly.

Now, I'm gripping a pregnancy test in my hand, overwhelmed with despair. This child came at the wrong time.

I saw Sean's car slowly pull into the driveway from outside the bedroom window. Panicstricken, I shoved the test deep into a drawer. I wiped my face randomly and pretended to be calm.

Sean loosened his tie and looked utterly exhausted as soon as he walked in. Yet, he managed a weak smile and pulled me into his arms. "Honey, I've missed you so much. Let me recharge."

Sean's company was on the brink of going public. Logically, this should have been his busiest time, but he still came home before 8 PM every night to spend more time with me.

Everyone said he was the perfect husband. Completely devoted and under my thumb.

Until today, I thought the same.

"Honey, didn't the doctor say you were in poor health? I was thinking, maybe we could adopt a child sometime soon. What do you think?"

Sean's words interrupted my thoughts. My hands trembled slightly. "Do you really want a child that much?"

"No, it's not that. I'd love to have a child with you, but your health matters more to me. Besides, you won't feel lonely when I'm not around if we adopt the little one."

My heart sank as I looked at the sincerity in his eyes. If it weren't for the photos his mistress sent me today, I would never have known that he already had a child with someone else.

That woman was six months pregnant now, but he had already decided to bring the child back and let me raise it.

How ridiculous was that? He wanted me to raise the child he had with his mistress, but he made it sound so noble. Our marriage was completely beyond repair.

I lay in bed at night. Listening to Sean's steady breathing beside me, it felt like we were worlds apart.

We had been so in love for seven years. I never thought it would end like this.

I never imagined Sean would cheat on me and so, predictably, the other woman was his secretary.

I quietly got out of bed and turned on my phone, placing an order for a "fake death plan." This agency could help me stage an accident and let everyone think I was dead.

I knew Sean would never divorce me and he wouldn't let me go easily.

This man had always been like this. He would rather destroy what he couldn't get. So, I wanted to die completely in front of him.

The agency responded that the preparations would take three days, following which I could pretend to die and leave.

I tossed and turned all night.

Sean kissed me on the forehead as usual when he woke up. He gently tucked the blanket around me. Later, he thoughtfully reminded the housekeeper to prepare my breakfast.

Once I heard his car drive away, I finally opened my eyes. My phone lit up and a photo from Sean's secretary came. That's when I learned the truth.

He would wake up early every morning to drive her to work.

The photo showed them in the car I had personally decorated, locked in a passionate kiss.

A wave of nausea hit me. I dashed to the bathroom and threw up my guts.

Hearing the commotion, the housekeeper hurried over. "Madam, are you alright?" She was quite worried when she saw my pale face.

As I blurted out, "I'm fine," my voice cracked and tears instantly clouded my vision.

The housekeeper worriedly pressed for more details, but I made an excuse about feeling unwell. Then I curled up alone in bed again.

My father also cheated on my mother when she was pregnant with me. I knew all too well how miserable it was to grow up in such an environment.

I once told Sean that if he ever betrayed me, I would disappear from his world forever. I never thought those words would come true.

I whispered, stroking my belly as tears soaked the pillowcase. "Baby, Mommy's so sorry."

The next day, at the grand opening of Sean's company's new product. The lights were dazzling and the crowd was full of celebrities.

He brought me along, dressed to the nines. His arm was around my waist as he whispered sweet nothings in my ear throughout the evening.

To outsiders, we looked like the perfect couple—loving and desirable.

I overheard someone mention the milliondollar price tag of my dress. Every woman was shooting me envious glances.

Below the stage, reporters bombarded us with rapidfire questions. "Mr. Cadwell, I've heard that you and your wife are inseparable. What's your secret to such a great marriage?"

Sean smiled and looked at me affectionately. "Loving her is my lifelong love. Protecting her and giving her happiness is the secret."

I forced a stiff smile, playing along with his act.

When it was time for the onstage speech, I excused myself to retouch my makeup backstage. As I passed the dressing room, I faintly heard Sean's voice coming from a corner.

"Babe, did you get the black cat outfit I bought for you? Put it on later. I'll come to you as soon as the event is over."

"Okay. Wait for me, Babe."

The intimacy in his tone hit me like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing my remaining love.

I turned to look, only to see Sean's back. His phone screen was lit up and the chat avatar showed it was his secretary, Yelena Jacob. My blood pressure spiked as I slammed my makeup compact shut.

Sean turned and saw me, his expression filled with alarm. He stammered in explanation, "Honey, don't misunderstand. I just talked to the orphanage director about visiting the kids after the press conference."

I sneered at him. "Really? Is 'babe' how you address the director now?"

The air grew thick with tension. The staff around us began stealing glances, making the atmosphere unbearably awkward. In the end, I used the excuse of not feeling well and left on my own.

I had yet to go far when Sean pulled up in his car. He handed me a huge bunch of roses from the backseat. "Honey, I'm so sorry. I messed up and said something stupid. This is my apology gift. Please forgive me just this once."

Ignoring my protests, Sean jumped out of the car and shoved me into the backseat. I turned away, not bothering to call him out on his flimsy excuse.

Just as I was about to reach home, my phone was flooded with messages.

"Don't fool yourself into thinking he loves you just because he picked you. He and the child are the ones who truly matter to him."

"We've been having an affair for three years. You should know how long it's been since he touched you, right?"

"He said you're boring in bed—nothing like me. I drive him wild."

"You have no idea, but we've been renting a hotel room near the company for ages and he comes to see me almost every day after work."

The last message came with a drawer full of condom pictures.

No wonder he got off work at eight every day. From six to eight o'clock, two hours every day. He sneaked out to meet his mistress for a secret rendezvous.

No wonder he had rarely shared a bed with me since three years ago. I only thought he was busy with work, but he found me boring.

When images of Sean passionately kissing and holding Yelena came to me, I couldn't help but puke. I smeared Sean all over, but he didn't get mad. Instead, he patted my back with concern.

There wasn't a hint of disgust on his face. He just knelt there, quietly cleaning up the mess I made.

He truly didn't care about how messy I looked, but it was also true that he found me dull in bed.

I pretended to be sick and shut my eyes as tears threatened to spill over. Sean was so distressed. He kept wiping my face.

Once I finally calmed myself down, I opened my eyes to see his face full of worry. I suddenly felt confused about what Sean was thinking.

He would ditch an important press conference because he was angry with me. He would also take away his mistress's right to be a mother and give the child to me. Still, at the same time, he was also hiding his affair with another woman, fathering children with her.

For a while, I thought the man before me was a stranger.

I crept into his study while Sean slumbered peacefully. I remembered the housekeeper once mentioned that Sean kept something there.

At the bottom of a drawer, I found a stack of hotel records and intimate photos that shattered my heart. In the photos, Sean and Yelena hugged each other with dazzling smiles. The hotel records spanned several months—each date like a dagger stabbing my heart.

After crying until my tears dried, I lay back on the bed. I looked at Sean, who was still calling me in his sleep. I suddenly realized that sharing a bed and dreaming different dreams were nothing more than this.

Because of yesterday's conflict, Sean spent the following day with me instead of going to the company.

He asked the housekeeper to make soup while he stood in the kitchen, watching cooking videos.

My health had been extremely frail since I fell seriously ill three years ago. That's why Sean hired professionals to care for me and never let me go near the kitchen.

Even the housekeeper couldn't help but tease. "Mr. Cadwell truly loves his wife. It's rare to see a successful man personally cooking like this and if Madam has a child in the future, I bet Mr. Cadwell would make a great father, too."

Hearing this, Sean turned to look at me. "Nicki's body is fragile. Pregnancy would take too much of a toll on her. I can't bear to let her suffer. For her, I'd rather never have children."

As if to prove his sincerity, he pulled out his phone and asked his secretary to schedule a vasectomy for him. Half an hour later, he handed me the confirmation message with the appointment details.

I stared blankly at this man, who seemed so deeply devoted.

Almost as if he couldn't wait, he took me to the hospital that afternoon. He kept comforting me along the way. As though certain I'd feel touched and guilty over his sacrifice.

"Nicki, don't worry. I only want you. Children don't matter." Sean held my cold hand with his warm hand.

I forced a faint smile. I never realized the man I had loved for seven years could act so convincingly. Perhaps even he didn't know that he already had two children.

At 3 PM, we arrived at the hospital. The doctor later conducted the preoperative examination for his procedure.

Sean didn't show any fear before his surgery. Instead, he gave me a reassuring smile. "Nicki, be a good girl and wait for me. I'll be out soon."

Sean was wheeled into the operating room.

I needed to follow his instructions or stay where I was. Instead, I turned around and headed toward the obstetrics and gynecology department. I had already scheduled an abortion online two days ago.

Just as I was about to enter the clinic, my phone buzzed with a message. It was a provocative text from Yelena. The photo showed her heavily pregnant belly alongside an array of rare, expensive supplements.

"He said that after getting a vasectomy, we could go without condoms. That it would feel better."

"Do you really think he loves you? Why would he want my child to be his only heir If he did?"

"If you're smart, you'll leave on your own. I'm the only one who can be Mrs. Cadwell!"

Disgust churned in my stomach again. "Sean, you're utterly filthy."

A man like him didn't deserve my child.

Lying on the hospital bed, I gently touched my belly as tears streamed down my face. "Baby, please don't blame Mommy."

The doctor handed me the consent form for the procedure. My hands trembled as I signed, each stroke of the pen feeling like it drained all the strength from my body.

Two hours later, the procedure was over. By the time I opened the ward's door, there would be no sign of Sean left in my womb. I cried quietly as my heart ached while lying numb from the anesthesia on the hospital bed.

Sean got the news from somewhere, rushed into the ward like crazy and hugged me. "Nicki! Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? Why did you have an abortion without telling me? It was our child!"

I struggled free from his embrace. "Sean, you have no right to talk about the baby. Do you even realize what you've done?"

Panic flashed across Sean's face for the first time. "Nicki, are you listening to rumors? I've never done anything to hurt you!"

Even now, he was still lying. I pulled out my phone and showed him the provocative message Yelena had sent me.

Sean's eyes widened in shock. His face turned ashen as he saw the damning "evidence" from his mistress.

Fury burned in my eyes as I hurled the phone at him. "Sean, I trusted you! I gave up my career for you, treating you as my only family. And this ... this is how you repay me? With betrayal?"

He collapsed to his knees with a thud, sweat dripping from his forehead. "Nicki. I was blinded by lust, I made a terrible mistake. Please, give me another chance."

I shook my head firmly. "Impossible. I'm done with your lies."

Sean had just undergone surgery and was weak but insisted on kneeling. After three hours, he fainted.

Yelena showed up shortly after, having caught wind of what happened. She gritted her teeth, glaring at me with resentment. She glanced at the unconscious Sean. Her eyes sparkled with smug triumph.

"Nicole Sawyer, you're finally getting it. The one he doesn't love is just a side chick. If your child were born, it would just be an illegitimate child. At least you've got the sense to hit him."

Before I could say anything, she dropped to her knees and started slapping herself.

"Ma'am, it's all my fault. I was delusional and I foolishly tried to get involved with Mr. Cadwell. If you need to hit or punish someone, let it be me. Just ... don't make me abort my child!"

Her twisted words enraged me. I raised my hand to slap her, but the sober Sean grabbed my wrist.

"Nicki, she's pregnant. Don't do anything rash!"

I scoffed repeatedly. "You're still defending her now, really? Sean, it's over between us!"

Sean's face darkened as he kicked Yelena out.

"Nicki, stop it. I was with her because someone drugged me. She's nothing more than a tool for me to vent my desires. You're the one I truly love."

"You're the only one in my heart, always. I don't blame you for the child. Let's go back to being the loving couple we used to be, alright?"

I couldn't help but laugh at his audacity, but I was no longer interested in arguing with him. After all, the plan to fake my death was finally going to be executed tonight. What harm would it do to let him hold on to a shred of hope?

I wiped away my tears and stopped making a scene. I let Sean pull me into his arms.

The entire afternoon, he acted as if we were newly in love again. He fussed over me and expressed his affection. However, I just looked at him coldly the entire time until his phone buzzed again.

I caught a glimpse of the screen. It was a message from Yelena.

"Babe, the baby misses you. Do you really have to ignore me for so long?"

"Tonight, you can pick the positions."

Sean instinctively turned the phone face down on the table. Five minutes later, he still couldn't hold back. "Nicki, there's an urgent issue at the office. I need to go handle it."

I nodded in silent agreement. "Sean, I would be nothing more than ashes when you returned."

That evening, a team disguised as nurses entered my ward. They placed a lifelike mannequin in front of me. It wore clothes similar to mine and styled to look almost identical.

In the dead of night, the flames jumped up instantly and burned the entire ward. Sean had reserved a private room for me. So, there was no risk of hurting anyone else.

I hid in the shadows, watching the fire grow larger. Then, I called the emergency hotline with a husky voice, reporting that someone was trapped in the hospital fire. Once that was done, I quickly left through the emergency exit.

I got into a mysterious car and disappeared without a trace. As we drove away, I caught a glimpse of Sean's car. He seemed to have just left his office.

That man ran a red light and headed straight for the hospital.

I wiped away the last tear from the corner of my eye and silently said goodbye to him in my heart. "Goodbye, Sean. May we never meet again."