......

I had been so worn out from the night before that I didn't wake up until noon.

Having washed up, I went downstairs to prepare something to eat but found that a sandwich and a glass of milk were already placed on the dining table.

There was also a sticky note on the table: "Darling, warm it up in the microwave before eating, don't eat it cold."

Seeing my husband's message warmed my heart.

Just as I was putting the sandwich and milk in the microwave, the doorbell rang.

I went to open the door and was greeted by a woman with a pregnant belly standing at the doorway.

......

"Who are you looking for?" I asked her.

She glanced at me and then peeked into the room behind me.

"Let's talk inside!"

I frowned. Why would I let a stranger into my house?

I said, "If you have anything to say, just say it here!"

Hearing what I said, she looked somewhat displeased.

"Are you scared that a pregnant woman like me will harm you or something?"

"Just tell me who you are and what you're here for. It's that simple," I expressed, slightly irritated.

She cut a glance at me and said in an almost deadpan voice, "I am the mother of your husband's child. Can I go in now?"

No sooner had she said that than my mind seemed to crash, leaving me blank for a couple of seconds.

By the time I snapped out of it, she had already stormed in like the owner of the house, taking a seat casually on the sofa.

With a grim expression, I turned around to face her. "Lady, words have weight, you can't just say anything."

At that moment, the microwave's timer dinged from the kitchen.

Her attention moved towards the sound, shifting her gaze in the direction of the kitchen.

"Oh, you haven't had your breakfast!" She sneered slightly and chuckled in her response.

I walked over to her and adopted a sterner approach. "Please leave, you're not welcome here."

She lounged leisurely on the sofa, lifting her head to look at my growing exasperated face before suddenly bursting into giggles.

Her laughter was more of a mockery, laced with a hint of triumph.

"Does that mean you're scared? Do you know who the daddy of my baby is?"

I wanted to ignore her, but her words opened the door for fear to creep into me.

I feared that the peaceful and blissful days I was living in would be shattered by this pregnant woman from nowhere.

Seeing my dazed expression, she laughed even more proudly.

"You must have guessed it, from the looks of it." She displayed herself pompously, gently caressing her pregnant belly. "Bingo!"

"It's your husband's."

A proud and arrogant smile spread across her face as she boasted. "He said he's going to divorce you soon and give me and the child a legitimate status."

"But he's also taking into account your feelings—you, an orphan with no one to rely on—he just doesn't have the heart to break it to you.”

As she spoke, my expression remained calm, but my heart was already weighed down with shock and despair.

The pain was too much to endure.

Oh, how I wished what this pregnant woman was saying was all false.

He couldn't possibly betray me, betray this marriage.

Just the night before, we had been happily together.

How could he have been seeing someone else behind my back?

Looking at my humiliated expression, she laughed lightly. "Don't blame him, blame your infertility. You can't possibly expect him to go without his own flesh and blood because of you!"

Her words, sharp as a weapon, stabbed my heart deeply.

Yes, I was unable to conceive.

Was this his reason for betraying me?

If he cared this much and longed for a child this deeply, why hadn't he said so sooner?

Looking at my pale face, the woman got up from the sofa, walked over and stood in front of me.

"This house is about to change owners soon!" She finished, leaving triumphantly.

I was stunned and turned to look at her as she left.

She walked very gingerly, her hand specifically clinging to her pregnant belly.

Even though her words were full of sarcasm and hostility, seeing her now, pregnant with new life, I suddenly felt an inexplicable envy.

......

I remembered how desperately I too had wanted a child, to become a mother.

Tears fell in a sharp downpour.

I hated his betrayal and even more so, I was heartbroken over why I could not conceive.

Half an hour later, my husband rushed back anxiously.