Lost My Husband When His Mistress Got Pregnant

After eight years of marriage and five years of IVF struggles, Madeline Evans finally found out she was pregnant.

Filled with excitement, she took the ultrasound report, eager to surprise Nathaniel. But what she discovered instead shattered her world: his illegitimate child was about to be born.

At the same time, she and the mistress, Zoe Jackson, were both bleeding. Desperate, Madeline reached out and grabbed Nathaniel’s sleeve, pleading with him not to leave. He coldly shrugged her off, walking away with Zoe in his arms, disappearing from her sight.

Devastated, Madeline left behind an abortion report and filed for divorce.

"If you don’t love me, then let’s end it."

——

"Doctor, please help me arrange an abortion."

Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the phone, her heart breaking with each word.

"Miss Evans, are you sure? It took you so long to conceive through IVF. Don’t act in haste. Talk to Mr. Evans. You were so excited about this child."

The mention of Nathaniel’s name made Madeline’s resolve firm. Her wavering heart became steely.

"No. Let’s schedule the surgery in three days. I don’t want this child anymore."

"Okay, understood."

After the call ended, Madeline sat at the table, staring at the ultrasound report. As she looked at the tiny shadow on the paper, she couldn't hold back her tears, silently sobbing.

"Baby, I’m sorry. I’m not worthy of being your mother."

She wiped her tears, but they kept flowing, as if trying to release all the pain and injustices she had endured over the past five years, tears that she couldn’t stop.

After eight years of marriage, Nathaniel and Madeline were as loving as ever. They traveled the world, often leaving others envious of their seemingly perfect life. Yet, only the couple knew the truth: it wasn’t that they didn’t want children, but that Madeline had always struggled to conceive.

Nathaniel had never used contraception, and after three years of trying, Madeline took the brave step of proposing IVF. But to her surprise, Nathaniel firmly opposed it.

"Madeline, it doesn’t matter if we don’t have children," he said gently. "I only need you."

The process of IVF was grueling, and Nathaniel couldn’t bear to see her suffer. But Madeline knew how much he loved children. She saw it in his eyes every time they visited friends with kids. He never held the children, respecting her feelings, but the longing in his gaze was unmistakable.

So, despite his objections, Madeline insisted, and after five years of IVF treatments, countless blood draws, injections, and repeated disappointments, she finally got pregnant.

When she left the hospital, Madeline needed a moment to absorb the reality of it all. After a few moments, she called Nathaniel.

"Madeline, I’m in a meeting. What’s wrong?" His voice was magnetic and gentle, but laced with concern.

Madeline fought to steady her emotions. She tried to keep her voice steady, though it shook with excitement. "Nathaniel, I have something to tell you. Are you working overtime tonight?"

"Why does your voice sound off? Are you crying?" He sounded genuinely worried. "I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you at the hospital. I know it was hard for you. Don’t cry, Madeline, I’ll be with you tomorrow."

"No, don’t worry. I’m fine. I just woke up," she reassured him. "Don’t work overtime tonight. Come home, okay?"

Her heart swelled with affection. Nathaniel always knew when something was wrong, always understood her without her needing to explain. He was gentle with her, afraid that she would break if he held her too tightly, but also afraid that she would slip away if he let go. This was how he loved her.

"Okay, I’ll come home early. Rest well."

Madeline was about to hang up and prepare for the night shift when suddenly a surprised female voice came from the other end of the phone.

"The baby kicked me. Do you want to feel it?"

Madeline’s heart skipped a beat. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Nathaniel, what are you doing? Who’s talking?"

"Nothing, just my colleague’s wife came by to visit him."

"But didn’t you just say you were in a meeting?" Madeline’s voice held a hint of suspicion.

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before the voice shifted gears. "The meeting just ended. Madeline, is what you wanted to say really that important?"

Madeline gently placed a hand on her stillflat belly. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and her voice bubbled with excitement. "Yes. You’re going to be so happy."

At nine o’clock that evening, Madeline had prepared a spread of Nathaniel’s favorite dishes, eagerly awaiting his return with the news that would change their lives forever.

The door opened, and Nathaniel stepped in, rubbing his tired eyes. As soon as he saw her, Madeline rushed to greet him. "Nathaniel, you’re home!"

He pulled her into a tight embrace, the exhaustion melting from his face as he kissed the top of her head. "I’m home."

Madeline breathed in deeply, noticing the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with something unfamiliar—a faint perfume. She frowned, confused. His colleagues were all men. Where did this scent come from?

Before she could dwell on it, Nathaniel took her hand and led her to the dining table. "Why the sudden feast? Is something wrong?"

"Yes, I have great news to share," she said with a glint in her eyes. "But first, go shower. You smell."

She gently pushed him toward the bathroom, her irritation flaring slightly. The scent on him was making her feel uneasy, though she couldn’t quite place why.

"Alright, I’ll be quick," he said, setting down his coat and phone before heading to the bathroom. Moments later, the sound of running water filled the air.

Madeline paced nervously, her heart racing with excitement. Over and over in her mind, she repeated the words she would say to him, her face glowing with joy.

"Ding Dong." The doorbell interrupted her thoughts.

Nathaniel’s phone, left on the table, pinged with a new message. Madeline glanced at it, noticing an unfamiliar number. But when she saw the content, her heart stopped.

"My stomach hurts so much, it seems like I’m about to give birth, Nathan, I’m so scared, can you come and be with me?"

"Nathan, the baby isn’t moving, is something wrong? Can you take me to the hospital?"

Madeline picked up the phone with trembling hands. The lock screen displayed a picture of her sleeping face, and as she stared at it, hot tears blurred her vision. The words on the screen felt like a slap in the face. In the past, friends had joked about Nathaniel being a henpecked husband, but now, seeing the message, his supposed deep affection felt so hollow, so cheap.

Just then, Nathaniel emerged from the bathroom, wiping his damp hair. He walked over, noticing Madeline sitting motionless at the dining table. He kissed her lightly on the cheek, pulling her into a halfhug, his voice soft. "What’s wrong? Are you worried about the results tomorrow?"

Madeline, her eyes unfocused, held his hand and asked absently, "Nathaniel, what would you do if I couldn’t get pregnant?"

Nathaniel gently turned her face to him, pressing his lips to hers. As he kissed her, he whispered against her lips, his voice low and soothing. "Madeline, the IVF process is too hard. I can’t bear to see you suffer like this. If it doesn’t work, we won’t have a baby."

Madeline’s heart shattered, the pain coursing through her as if it were tearing her apart. She fought to keep her composure and asked through the knot in her throat, "Don’t you want children?"

He hesitated, then pulled back slightly, his gaze steady and sincere. "You are the most important person in my life. Without you, nothing else matters."

Madeline let out a bitter laugh, a hollow sound that didn’t reach her eyes. She had never realized how skilled Nathaniel was at lying, at pretending. He could tell her he loved her while building a life with another woman.

She suddenly thought about the countless times he’d worked overtime this year. Was he really working late, or was he spending time with someone else?

His hand, which had been resting on her lower back, began to wander, his warm breath brushing against her neck. His breathing grew heavier

Normally, Madeline would have collapsed into Nathaniel's arms, surrendering to his touch with a quiet surrender. But tonight, she held herself together. She reached out and grasped his hand firmly, her voice level and calm. "Nathaniel, your phone has been ringing."

Nathaniel's response was hoarse, laced with impatience. "Don’t worry about it."

Madeline closed her eyes, the words she wanted to say rising in her throat, but she held back. The phone rang again, its harsh sound slicing through the quiet. Both of them flinched.

Nathaniel’s eyes grew dark, filled with frustration. He reached for the phone, his fingers hovering just as the call disappeared. His brows furrowed tighter. Without a word, he pulled away from her, stepping aside to answer the call. In the silence that followed, Madeline could hear the faint sound of a woman’s sobs through the phone.

Nathaniel muttered an annoyed "Hmm" before abruptly ending the call. He quickly changed into his clothes, barely meeting Madeline's gaze as he spoke. "Madeline, there’s an emergency at the company. I need to go."

Madeline’s breath hitched, and she tightened her grip on her hands, her nails digging into her palms as a wave of humiliation surged through her. Her throat ached with the understanding that he had to leave, but still, she fought to hold on, to make him stay. "Can you not go? You haven’t eaten the meal I made for you."

Nathaniel moved swiftly, gathering his things. He ruffled her hair affectionately, his voice soft but insistent. "Be a good girl, I’ll eat when I come back."

As soon as he left, the emptiness in the house seemed to swallow her whole. Madeline, her hands trembling, grabbed her phone and searched for the unfamiliar number. She added it on Instagram

The woman's name was Zoe Jackson—she was beautiful. Madeline scrolled through her account, noticing the photo updates chronicling her pregnancy journey. And in every photo, there was always a man’s back. Madeline didn’t need to look closely to recognize him. It was Nathaniel.

Every time he had worked late or gone on a business trip, he had been with Zoe.

Madeline's heart clenched. She bit her lip, her eyes fixed on the screen as she tortured herself by scrolling through each new photo.

Then, another update appeared. Madeline clicked on it without thinking, her breath catching in her throat. The photo showed Nathaniel, his head bowed, halfkneeling as he put on Zoe’s shoes. Beside it, a ultrasound photo of a child—already formed, already real.

"The child looks so much like his father. I hope he can love me as much as his father does in the future."

The words echoed in Madeline's mind as she stared at the ultrasound photo, the image of the child becoming sharper and more real with each passing second. It was as if the ground beneath her feet had crumbled, and she was falling into an abyss. Her heart shattered completely. She had tried to hold it together for so long, but now, it all came crashing down. The last wall she had built inside herself was broken beyond repair.

Nathaniel truly had a child. No wonder he had insisted she not have one. No wonder he had discouraged their own attempts at starting a family. And the child—this little life—looked so much like him. Madeline couldn’t even deceive herself anymore. It was clear. He had a child with another woman.

Tears flowed freely as Madeline’s heart splintered into pieces. She set an appointment with the doctor, her hands shaking as she locked the ultrasound report into a box, a container that now held not just the paper, but the remnants of her broken heart.

Zoe's due date was just three days away, and she had scheduled the operation for that day. Madeline lay awake, wondering how Nathaniel would feel if he knew that on the same day, he would lose one child, while Zoe gave birth to another. Would he be happy for the arrival of his child with Zoe? Or would he mourn the loss of the child she could never give him?

But it was all a lie. While she had endured years of painful IVF treatments in hopes of giving him the family he wanted, he had already been building a family with someone else, and now the child was on the verge of being born.

Madeline felt foolish, utterly naive. She didn’t want the child anymore. She didn’t want Nathaniel either.

Later that night, as Nathaniel quietly slipped into bed beside her, pulling her into his arms, Madeline could smell the familiar perfume on him once again. This time, she knew exactly where it came from.

"Why haven't you slept yet? Are you waiting for me?"

Nathaniel's voice was muffled, his hand gently teasing Madeline's earlobe as he murmured. His tone, laced with the familiar indifference that had begun to suffocate her, only made her stomach churn more. Whether it was the perfume on him, her morning sickness, or the nausea that came from his presence, Madeline didn’t know. All she knew was that she couldn’t breathe.

Unable to hold it in any longer, she pushed him away and rushed to the bathroom. Her stomach heaved, forcing acid up into her throat, and she collapsed by the toilet, her entire body trembling.

Nathaniel quickly followed her, his hand rubbing her back with an almost mechanical concern. "What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell? I'll take you to the hospital."

He made a move to grab his coat, but Madeline, her face pale and her mind racing, quickly grabbed his hand and stopped him. "No, I just ate something bad," she lied, her voice strained.

Nathaniel seemed unconvinced but helped her back to bed. "I’ll get you some water," he said, his voice still tinged with worry.

Once he left the room, Madeline’s eyes immediately flicked to his phone, which was sitting on the bedside table. The screen lit up with another message from Zoe.

“I'm sorry, I'm too nervous. I'm about to give birth, and I'm too scared. I prepared some food. Can you come tomorrow?”

Madeline’s heart twisted. She pretended not to see the message, her body sinking back onto the bed. She closed her eyes, pretending to rest.

When Nathaniel came back with a glass of water, he gently fed it to her, his hands tender as ever. "Madeline, I’ll go with you to the prenatal checkup tomorrow," he said, his voice soft with an intention that felt foreign.

"No," Madeline replied, her voice quieter than she intended. "I’ve already told the doctor that I won’t do IVF."

Nathaniel’s eyebrows furrowed in surprise, but relief quickly followed. "Then we have to go and see the results from last time."

"The doctor said I am not pregnant," Madeline said flatly. "So you don’t need to go tomorrow."

Nathaniel stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately, he didn’t. Instead, he pulled her into an embrace and lay down next to her.

His hand, warm and possessive, gently circled her lower abdomen. Madeline’s body stiffened at the touch, and she instinctively recoiled. "Nathaniel, don’t," she whispered, the words barely escaping her lips. "I’m not feeling well."

A low laugh rumbled from his chest. "Don’t worry, I won’t touch you. Go to sleep."

But when Madeline awoke the next morning, she instinctively reached for his side of the bed, only to find the sheets cold and empty. For a moment, she froze, before a bitter laugh escaped her lips. Zoe’s due date was approaching. Nathaniel must have gone to be with her. She should have known better than to expect anything else. She really needed to change this habit of hers—of still hoping he would stay.

The breakfast from the previous night was replaced with a new meal, and a note from Nathaniel was left behind.

“Last night’s food has gone bad. I’ve already thrown it out. When you wake up, heat it up. Don’t hurt your stomach. Call me if you need anything.”

Madeline stared at the empty trash can for a moment, then poured the stillwarm breakfast into it, the weight of everything crashing down on her. It wasn’t the food that had gone bad. It was Nathaniel.

Madeline’s hands trembled as she hastily stuffed the last of her things into her suitcase. There wasn’t much to pack—just a small box containing the few belongings that truly belonged to her. Most of the things in her home had been gifts from Nathaniel. She didn’t want any of them anymore.

This time, though, she was determined. She wanted to go home and never leave. The outside world had grown too cold, too cruel. The man she had trusted with her heart—the man she thought would be her rock—was the one who had pushed her into this abyss.

She walked into the mall, her mind set on buying a gift for her parents to show them how much she appreciated them, even though she hadn’t been around as much as she should have. As she was about to pay for a suit she’d chosen for her father, her eyes caught a familiar figure entering the store. It was Nathaniel, followed by Zoe, her pregnant belly obvious as she shyly stepped in behind him.

Madeline froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She quickly ducked into the nearest fitting room, her breath shallow and frantic. She didn’t want to be seen. Not like this. Not when the truth was finally out, and everything had crumbled apart.

From the fitting room, she could hear their voices clearly. Zoe’s cheerful voice rang out, "Nathan, what do you think of this suit?"

Nathaniel’s voice was laced with impatience. “Whatever.”

Zoe, undeterred, continued to act coy. “Just try it on. Aunt Victoria never liked your usual style. She said I have good taste. She’s just back from her trip abroad, so let’s surprise her this time.”

Madeline’s heart, already shattered, took another blow. So, Nathan’s mother knew about Zoe. All this time, it had been Madeline buying Nathaniel’s clothes, trying to please a woman who had never once liked her. No matter what Madeline did, it was never enough.

She had been kept in the dark from the start, a fool in her own life, a mere shadow of the person she once believed herself to be. She smiled bitterly to herself.

Zoe pushed Nathaniel into the fitting room next door, and Madeline could hear the rustling of clothes as he changed. A part of her wanted to see what kind of clothes he was wearing now—what would make Nathan's mother finally approve of him?

Suddenly, Nathaniel’s voice cut through her thoughts, sharp and commanding. “Who let you in?”

Zoe’s voice responded hesitantly, “I wanted to help you sort it out.”

“No. You go out.”

Zoe persisted. “You didn’t do it right in the back, and the clothes will get wrinkled. I’ll be quick. We can leave after this, Aunt Victoria must be waiting.”

Nathaniel finally relented with a sigh, and Madeline could hear the soft hum of Zoe as she began to sort through his clothes.

“Nathan, you look so handsome. Aunt Victoria will be so happy.”

Unable to resist, Madeline quietly cracked open the door to peek at Nathaniel’s outfit. It was simple, nothing extraordinary. But as long as it wasn’t something she had picked out for him, Madeline thought bitterly, it would surely be praised by Aunt Victoria.

“I’ll go check out,” Nathaniel said, adjusting his collar as he walked toward the cashier.

“Yeah, you go first,” Zoe responded. “I’ll sit for a while, my legs are tired.” She leaned back in the chair and began to rub her legs, acting as if she were a spoiled child.

Nathaniel's expression was tinged with concern. Zoe, sensing his unease, reassured him softly, “Don’t worry so much. I’ll let you know if anything happens.”

Nathaniel frowned slightly, but didn’t press the issue, turning instead to pay the bill. Madeline quickly closed the door behind him and sank into the chair, waiting for Zoe to leave.

"I know you're in there," Zoe's voice rang out, startling Madeline. Her heart began to race, and she held her breath, paralyzed by the fear of being exposed, as if she were the one in the wrong.

Zoe, however, paid no mind to her silence and spoke as if to herself, “Nathan is so good to me. He really loves this child. I just hope you can stop bothering him. Of course, even if you insist, you'll end up with nothing."

Madeline's blood boiled in her veins. Zoe, the one who had interfered, was now talking as though she had every right to claim Nathaniel. It was as if she was issuing a command, demanding Madeline leave.

Her hand gripped the door handle, and for a moment, Madeline considered rushing out to confront them. But then, the weight of helplessness sank in. She let go of the handle and sank back into the chair. What was the point of going out? She had already decided to leave. Why make this any more humiliating than it already was?

Even knowing Nathaniel had betrayed her, Madeline couldn’t bring herself to confront him as he protected another woman, the one who had taken her place.

She closed her eyes, resigned. In just two days, everything will be over. At least she'd leave with some dignity and the memory of eight years of marriage with Nathaniel.

"Who are you talking to?" Nathaniel’s voice came from outside, tinged with suspicion.

"No one," Zoe replied smoothly. "I was just talking to the baby. He must be so eager to meet his father. Are you looking forward to it, too, Nathan?"

"Let’s go," Nathaniel replied curtly, as Zoe eagerly led him out, chattering about the beautiful future they would have with the child.

As Nathaniel instinctively placed a hand protectively on Zoe's stomach, Madeline waited for them to leave completely. The moment they were gone, she stepped out of the fitting room.

The shop assistant, noticing her tearstreaked face, asked gently, "Miss, why are you crying?"

Madeline absentmindedly raised her hand to her face, feeling the wetness on her fingers. Confusion swept over her as she wondered why she had been crying. She didn’t even realize when the tears had started.

She wandered out of the house, not returning until it was dark. The quiet emptiness of the place greeted her, and Nathaniel still hadn’t come home. She didn’t care. Her stomach growled with hunger, reminding her she hadn’t eaten all day. She made herself a bowl of noodles, but as she ate, Nathaniel finally returned, holding a bowl of hot and sour noodles.

The scent of alcohol lingered around him, but as he stepped into the house, a strange emptiness seemed to settle in his chest. Yet, when he saw Madeline, his concern softened. He smiled and, though slightly tipsy, asked, "Madeline, why are you eating so light today?"

"Oh, I forgot," Madeline murmured, only then realizing that, despite her love for spicy food, she had made a simple bowl of clear soup noodles. Was it some maternal instinct? She didn’t know.

She got up, walked to the kitchen, and added a generous amount of chili peppers to her noodles. The spiciness hit her immediately, and she choked, coughing violently as tears streamed down her face. Nathaniel rushed over to wipe her tears, gently patting her back.

Once she regained her breath, he took her noodles away and swapped them for the hot and sour noodles he had brought. He didn’t mind eating her leftovers. "It’s too spicy for you. Eat these," he insisted.

"I’m not hungry," Madeline said, pushing the bowl back toward him.

Nathaniel looked at her indifference and suddenly remembered the strange feeling he had earlier when he noticed things were missing from their home. "Madeline, there are a lot of things missing at home."

Madeline nodded, her voice steady. "It's useless. I put it in the utility room."

Nathaniel frowned, displeased. "How can it be useless? Those were the gifts you gave me. I like seeing them around. They make me feel at ease. I’ll take them out and put them back where they belong."

Madeline panicked, afraid he’d catch her in a lie. She quickly stopped him. "I don’t think they look good there. You’ll get more gifts in the future."

Though Nathaniel felt something was off, he pushed the discomfort aside. He remembered what his mother had said earlier when he took Zoe to meet her. He and Madeline still had a long way to go, and if she didn’t like it, he wouldn’t force it.

"Okay, whatever you want," he muttered, trying to dismiss the nagging feeling in his chest.

Later, when Nathaniel cleaned up, took a shower, and lay down beside her, Madeline had already closed her eyes, asleep.

Nathaniel hugged her tightly, pressing her close as a wave of unease washed over him. Whether it was from the alcohol or the thought of Zoe about to give birth, something in him felt unsettled. Even with Madeline in his arms, he felt the growing fear of losing her.

"Madeline, are you asleep?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Madeline’s eyelashes fluttered, but she didn’t respond. His anxiety deepened, and he leaned down, kissing her lips with reckless abandon.

Sensing things might go too far, Madeline pretended to stir, letting out a soft sound as she pushed lightly on his chest. "Don’t make trouble, I’m so tired."

Her playful voice eased some of his tension. He held her tighter, his words slurring slightly as he whispered, "Madeline, if I did something wrong, will you forgive me?"

She didn’t answer right away, her voice calm. "Go to sleep. I want to sleep."

"No, you promised me," Nathaniel persisted, his tone desperate. "You promised we’d be together forever, no matter what."

Madeline opened her eyes and met his gaze. Her words were deliberate, each one full of weight. "As long as you don’t let me down, I won’t leave you."

Nathaniel stared at her for a long moment, his expression softening as the words sank in. Finally, he pressed her head to his chest, his voice barely a whisper. "Madeline, I love you. I won’t betray you. We’ll grow old together."

Madeline sneered inwardly. Nathaniel, you lied to me, you betrayed me, so don't expect anything I said to mean anything to you.

When Madeline woke up, the rich aroma of rice filled the air, and she blinked, slightly disoriented. After quickly changing her clothes, she stepped out and saw Nathaniel in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, frying eggs.

"I'm taking a break today. You mentioned there’s a new movie coming out—I'll go with you to watch it," he said, his voice soft, his gaze tender as he looked at her.

Madeline didn’t feel moved by his words. She wondered if he had said the same thing to Zoe. But now, she didn’t care. She pursed her lips, offering a brief response before sitting down to eat.

Noticing her cold attitude, Nathaniel assumed it was just because she had just woken up and didn’t think much of it.

After breakfast, Nathaniel changed into his clothes and turned to Madeline, surprised to see her still in her sportswear. "Aren’t you going to change?" he asked, confusion creasing his brow.

Madeline shook her head. "No, let's go. The movie is about to start." She stood up and walked out without another word.

Nathaniel frowned. Normally, when they went out, Madeline would always dress up. He wondered if she was still concerned about the pregnancy. He wanted to comfort her but, thinking of the child about to be born, he bit back his words. Instead, he simply caught up with her and gently took her hand in his.

Madeline looked down at their joined hands, her expression neutral, showing neither joy nor sadness.

The movie they watched was a tragic love story. To protect the heroine, the hero had done many things that hurt her, and the heroine struggled with love and betrayal. Many girls in the cinema were softly crying over the tumultuous love between the two characters.

Nathaniel seemed moved. He recalled the times when Madeline had cried her heart out while watching melodramatic love stories. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a tissue and extended it toward her.

Madeline, lost in the movie, turned her head at the interruption. Her clear eyes met his, calm and indifferent. "What’s wrong?" she asked coldly.

Nathaniel felt a flicker of unease. There was something different about her, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. "Why aren’t you crying today?"

Madeline didn’t take the tissue. She let him hold it and then spoke, her voice cold and laced with mockery. "What’s there to cry about? It’s just disgusting things done in the name of love. It makes me sick. If I had known it was this ugly, I wouldn’t have come."

The unease inside him deepened. Nathaniel couldn't shake the feeling that Madeline was speaking about him. But when she turned back to the movie, her actions seemed normal, and he couldn’t find any real flaws in her behavior.

As his phone vibrated persistently in his pocket, Nathaniel pulled it out irritably. Seeing the caller ID, he briefly considered ignoring it. But after a moment, he reluctantly answered it, his tone impatient.

"Nathan, I'm in the hospital, waiting to deliver. The doctor needs family members to sign. Can you come over?" Zoe's voice came through the phone, clear and urgent. Madeline, however, seemed not to hear it.

Nathaniel hesitated, his face a mixture of concern and uncertainty. After a brief moment of thought, he turned to Madeline, speaking quickly. "Madeline, I have to leave early. Wait here for me to come back."

"Will you come back?" Madeline asked, her gaze steady, unwavering as she watched him.

Nathaniel, too preoccupied to notice her strange tone, hurriedly nodded. "I'll be back soon." And without waiting for a response, he left in a rush.

Madeline didn't try to stop him, her gaze fixed on the screen as the movie’s ending unfolded. The hero sacrificed himself to save the heroine, and she, overcome with regret, died alone. Amid the sobs echoing from the theater, Madeline’s lips curled into a bitter, silent sneer.

Her phone buzzed with an update from Zoe’s social media. "The baby will be born tomorrow, and his father is really nervous." Two photos accompanied the post—one showing Nathaniel talking to a doctor, his back turned, and the other a closeup of Zoe's hospital wristband.

Madeline's eyes narrowed as she recognized the hospital in the photo—the same one where she was scheduled to have an abortion tomorrow.

Madeline didn’t wait for Nathaniel to come back. As soon as the movie ended, she stood up and left, heading home immediately.

Just as dinner was ready, the door swung open, and Nathaniel rushed in, out of breath. His eyes softened with relief when he saw her sitting at the table.

“Why did you come back first? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me?” His forehead was damp with sweat, and his chest heaved with each breath. He untied his tie and collapsed into the chair across from her.

Madeline casually took a bite of noodles, her tone indifferent. “I was hungry, so I came back first.”

Nathaniel took a moment to catch his breath. “Don’t you want to know where I went?”

She looked up briefly, asking without a trace of real curiosity, “So where did you go?”

He hesitated for a moment, then avoided answering her question. “Mom’s back. She wants to see you.”

Madeline set her chopsticks down, wiping her mouth before speaking. “Let’s go. It’s been so long since we’ve seen her. We can’t be rude.”

Nathaniel let out a quiet sigh of relief, taking her cold hand in his as they made their way to Victoria’s house. He slipped her hand into his jacket pocket, his voice soft and reassuring. “Why are your hands so cold? Eat less cold food. I’ll give you a hot bath when we get back.”

Madeline felt the warmth of his hand against hers, but a coldness seemed to settle deep inside her, making her heart feel frozen.

When they arrived, Victoria sat elegantly on the sofa, her face lighting up with a smile as soon as she saw Nathaniel. She immediately rose and moved toward him, pushing Madeline aside as she drew him close, her eyes scanning him with approval. Her praise poured out relentlessly, all directed at him, while Madeline stood silently, unseen.

"Good son, I know you're the most filial. You won’t let me be without a grandson. Zoe..."

Nathaniel cut her off quickly, his voice tinged with urgency. "You take a rest first." His gaze flickered nervously toward Madeline.

Madeline seemed unaffected, her focus entirely on the family drama playing on the TV. She appeared completely absorbed, as if she hadn’t heard a word.

Nathaniel frowned, glancing at her with confusion. This wasn’t like her. She used to hang on his every word, every detail, and would never be so detached, least of all watching TV on her own.

Victoria, noticing Madeline's indifference, grew angry. Her red nails almost seemed to point accusingly at Madeline’s face. “Are you dead? Do you have no sense at all? Go and prepare the dishes! You’re useless! It's bad enough that you can’t give birth to a child, but now you can't even do basic housework. My son really is unlucky to marry you.”

Madeline turned slowly, her gaze cold as she met her motherinlaw’s. The sharpness of her stare seemed to catch Victoria off guard, but it quickly fueled her rage.

“What is that look? How dare you stare at me like that? Waiting for Zoe’s child?” she spat.

“Mom!” Nathaniel’s voice rang out sharply, making Victoria flinch. Seeing his livid face, she swallowed the rest of her words, her irritation still simmering beneath her breath. “Why are you shouting?” she snapped before reluctantly adding, “Let’s eat.”

At the dinner table, Nathaniel silently served Madeline, picking up food for her with a tender care that contrasted sharply with the tension in the room. Yet, Madeline only took one bite before pushing her plate away, her voice calm. “I already ate. I’m not hungry now.”

Nathaniel didn’t seem to mind. Without hesitation, he picked up the leftovers in her bowl and ate them. Across the table, Victoria’s teeth ground together in frustration, but she dared not speak up after receiving one of Nathaniel’s hard, threatening glares. She swallowed her anger, but it was clear she couldn’t even stomach her food.

After the meal, Nathaniel was the only one who ate. He could feel the tension in the air, especially with his mother, and feared she might say something she shouldn’t. So, he quickly ushered Madeline out of the house and back to their own place.

The moment they stepped inside, Nathaniel hadn’t even had time to take off his coat when he heard Madeline ask, almost offhand, "Who is Zoe?"