In the seventh year of my marriage to Alexander, the poor student we sponsored came to me with a swollen belly.
Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered timidly:
Chloe, since you can’t have children, I’ll do it for you. I have cancer and don’t have long to live. My biggest wish is to give Alexander a child, to repay your kindness.
Her logic stunned me. I turned to Alexander and asked:
“Are you sure the baby is yours?”
Alexander showed no guilt for his betrayal, answering matter-of-factly:
“I know this is hard to accept, but Luna is sacrificing her last days to fulfill your duty. Don’t be ungrateful!”
Before I could speak, Luna burst into tears, sobbing dramatically:
“Alexander, please don’t fight because of me. If Chloe doesn’t agree, I’ll go get an abortion right now…”
“Don’t say that! You and the baby are what matter most now. Even Chloe has to prioritize you!”
Watching Alexander hold Luna with a tenderness I hadn’t seen in years, I laughed bitterly.
If he wanted to play daddy to someone else’s kid, that was his business.
But I wasn’t taking the blame for this.
I went to the bedroom and dug out that old medical report I’d kept hidden for years, shoving it in Alexander’s face.
“Alexander, look carefully! Which one of us is infertile?”
He glanced at it, his face turning dark, then tore the report to shreds and threw the pieces at me.
He pointed a finger in my face, his voice shaking with rage:
“Chloe! How dare you forge a report saying I have azoospermia, just to stop Luna from having my child? You’re disgusting!”
In seven years of marriage, Alexander had never yelled at me like this.
My nose stung with unshed tears as memories flooded back.
After two years of trying for a baby, tests showed Alexander had azoospermia.
As we left the hospital, I was struggling to find the right words to tell him.
Suddenly, we were attacked by a business rival. I pushed Alexander aside and took a knife for him.
That knife pierced my uterus.
After emergency surgery, I asked the doctor to tell Alexander that my uterus was damaged and I couldn’t have children.
Back then, our love was strong, and I’d just risked my life for him.
Alexander held me like a precious treasure, sobbing uncontrollably.
He vowed that we didn’t need childrenhaving me was enough. He promised to love me forever.
How laughable that after just seven years, he’d forgotten those vows.
“I’m not lying! If you don’t believe me, go get tested again!”
Luna’s expression shifted slightly, her fingers tightening unconsciously.
But Alexander acted as if he’d been deeply insulted, veins bulging on his forehead:
“Chloe! I always thought you were kind and pure, but now you’re blaming me to cover up your own infertility!”
“Doesn’t Luna’s pregnancy prove you wrong?”
Luna chose that moment to grab my hand, her eyes red and voice trembling:
“Chloe, I understand the pain of not being able to have a child as a woman.”
“Don’t be too sad. After I’m gone, my baby will call you Mom. Treat him well, like your own, okay?”
Her audacity made me laugh coldly:
“You think you’re worthy of stealing my life?”
I tried to pull my hand away, not using much force, but she let out a sharp cry.
She fell back onto the couch, clutching her stomach and wailing:
“Alexander, my baby! Is my baby going to be okay?”
Seeing this, Alexander snapped. He slapped me hard across the face.
I stumbled and hit the coffee table, a sharp pain shooting through my lower back.
He knelt down immediately, cradling Luna and comforting her gently.
Then he turned to me, his eyes full of hatred:
“You vicious woman! Apologize to Luna! Now, right this second!”
I bit my lip, refusing to yield.
“Are you blind, Alexander? Can’t you see she faked that fall?”
“Luna is pure and kind! She’d never risk her unborn child!”
“You’re the one who’s been hostile to her and the baby since you found out!”
Alexander stormed over, grabbed my shoulders, and forced me to my knees in front of Luna:
“From today, you’re not allowed to go to the office. You’ll stay home and serve Luna.”
“Wash her clothes, cook her meals, fetch whatever she wants. If she’s even slightly unhappy, I’ll cut off your brother’s medical payments!”
Looking at the man I’d loved for ten years, I felt a chill run through me.
“Alexander, I want a divorce!”
Meeting my red-rimmed eyes, Alexander gritted his teeth:
“I won’t divorce you. Don’t make me say it again. Apologize!”
I clenched my fists, the taste of blood filling my mouth.
Thinking of my brother, whose health had just improved, I finally lowered my head.
“I’m sorry.”
Luna deliberately rubbed her stomach:
“What did you say, Chloe? I didn’t hear you.”
Alexander glared at me:
“Louder!”
“I’m sorry!”
I shouted, tears of humiliation welling in my eyes.
Luna nodded with satisfaction, then said in a sugary voice:
“Alexander, I’m hungry. I want grilled lamb chops and pigeon soup.”
“You heard her. Go cook.”
I hurried into the kitchen, tears streaming down my face.
The next day, while shopping at the import grocery store, my phone buzzed incessantly.
My team members flooded me with messages:
“Chloe, Mr. Alexander said you’re not coming in. What’s going on?”
“Chloe, you weren’t at the project meeting today. Mr. Alexander let Mr. Wang take over. What happened?”
I stared at the screen, unsure how to respond.
Then, a notification popped up in the work WhatsApp group. It was from Alexander:
“After investigation, Chloe has been found guilty of embezzling company funds. She is hereby terminated.”
A wave of shocked question marks followed the announcement.
“Is this for real? Did Mr. Alexander make a mistake?”
“Chloe would never do something like this!”
Reading those words, I felt frozen to the core.
Alexander was framing me. He was trying to destroy my career!
He wanted to cut off all my escape routes, force me to stay in this house, serve Luna like a slave, and raise her child.
As I started typing a response, I was abruptly kicked out of the group.
Rage and resentment burned through my mind.
After calming down, I called Mr. David, who had always wanted to work with me.
I agreed to join him, but asked for a favor.
“Excellent, Chloe! With you on board, I’ll dominate the market!”
I had to get out of this disgusting house. I would make them pay for what they’d done.
But when I got home, the scene stunned me.
The living room was cluttered with luggage. A man sat on the couch, legs crossed, picking at his feet and spitting sunflower seed shells everywhere.
A woman next to him was wearing my clothes, eagerly trying on my necklaces and bracelets.
Frowning, I suppressed my anger.
“Who are you? Why are you in my house?”
The foot-picking man looked me up and down, his tone dismissive:
“Oh, you’re Alexander’s barren wife?”
The woman put down the jewelry box, hands on her hips:
“We’re Luna’s parents, here to enjoy life with our daughter!”
Luna emerged from the bedroom, pretending to be sweet as she took my hand:
“Chloe, don’t mind them. My parents worked hard all their lives in the countryside and haven’t seen much.”
“Since I’m pregnant and you’re taking care of me anyway, I thought I might as well bring them here. It’s just two more people.”
I shook off her hand coldly:
“I agreed to take care of you for Alexander, not your parents!”
Her mother strutted over, sneering:
“What? A barren woman like you dares to be picky?”
“Don’t you know who’s in charge here? My daughter is the lady of this house!”
Luna’s father sprawled on the couch, wiping his foot-picking hand on the cushions, and pointed at me:
“Stop yapping and get me some tea! I’m thirsty. And bring out all the fancy food rich people eatI want to try everything!”
Luna dropped her act, a nasty smile spreading across her face:
“Chloe, my parents are old. Cut them some slack.”
“If you don’t take good care of them, I can’t promise Alexander won’t get angry again…”
Until David helped me with my plan, I couldn’t afford more trouble.
Gritting my teeth, I stormed into the kitchen.
But then I heard Luna’s mother’s loud, poorly hushed voice from the living room:
“You stupid girl! Why are you so slow?”
“If Alexander won’t divorce her, why not make her mess up so he hates her for good?”
“Once they’re divorced, Alexander’s money and house will all be yours! You’ll be the rightful Mrs. Alexander, and your dad and I can live in luxury!”
“Ugh, you’re too dumb to pull it off. I’ll call your aunt and have your cousin Bobby come help.”
Hearing their blatant scheming, I dug my nails into my palms until they nearly bled.
But what confused me more: didn’t Luna have cancer and limited time?
Why did they not seem concerned at all?
Suspicion coiled in my mind like vines. I immediately took out my phone and contacted a private investigator online.
Just as I put my phone away, Luna’s mother yelled again:
“Hey, Barren! Why isn’t food ready yet? Trying to starve us?”
I swallowed my anger and started cooking.
But when I served the meal, Luna’s father threw his fork down:
“What is this crap? No flavor at all! Are you messing with us?”
I said it was standard nutritious meals for pregnant women.
But Luna frowned:
“Chloe, my parents are here for once. Can’t you make something they like?”
When Alexander came home, he saw this scene. Without asking, he yelled at me:
“Useless! Can’t even take care of Luna and her parents properly! What good are you?”
With Alexander’s backing, Luna’s parents grew bolder:
“Alexander, I really like that big master bedroom. Let your dad and me have it.”
Alexander agreed without hesitation:
“Fine, the master suite is spacious. You two take it. Chloe, move to the servant’s room tonight.”
Looking at his cold face, the last flicker of hope in my heart died.
In the following days, Luna’s family ordered me around, making unreasonable demands.
To avoid complications, I endured the disgust and complied.
One evening, Luna nestled in Alexander’s arms, her eyes suddenly tearing up:
“Alexander, I’ve never had a proper birthday my whole life. With my time running out, I really want to celebrate one before I go.”
Alexander held her tightly, his heart aching:
“I’ll arrange it. You’ll have a grand birthday party.”
Luna’s birthday was set for the weekend. I thought I could finally rest.
But near midnight that day, Alexander called.
When I answered, it was Luna’s voice:
“Chloe, I’m suddenly craving the sour plum drink from that old shop in the south district. Go buy it for me now.”
I rubbed my temples irritably:
“It’s almost midnight. The night market will be closed by the time I get there.”
“No! I want it now!”
Luna’s voice sharpened:
“Alexander, I really want something sour right now! Sour means it’s a boy! If Chloe refuses, does she hate our son?”
Before I could respond, Alexander took the phone:
“Chloe, if Luna wants it, you go buy it! Deliver it within an hour!”
I hung up, looked at the divorce papers I’d prepared on the nightstand, and felt resolve harden inside me.
I jumped out of bed, grabbed the papers, and ran out.
The shop in the south district was closed, but I had the owner’s contact from before. After much pleading, he agreed to get up and make a batch for me.
When I delivered the sour plum drink to Luna, she was playing games with friends and said she didn’t want it anymore.
Suppressing my anger, I handed Alexander a resignation document:
“My resignation papers. You need to sign them.”
He gave me a suspicious look.
I said expressionlessly:
“It’s company procedure. Your signature makes the resignation official.”
Just then, Luna called out:
“Alexander, I lost the game! Come help me!”
He frowned, took the pen, and signed quickly.
He didn’t notice the divorce papers hidden underneath.
I picked up the documents and let out a long breath.
Step one, finally succeeded.
But as I turned to leave, Luna stopped me:
“Chloe, wait. My jacket is in the lounge. Go get it for me.”
Seeing her sly expression, I felt a twinge of alarm.
Luna softened her tone, even sounding “considerate”:
“Chloe, once you get my jacket, you can go home and rest.”
I glanced at the loungeit was just across from the living room, with Alexander and Luna playing games nearby. It should be safe.
“Fine.”
Pushing down my unease, I walked to the lounge.
The room was dark. In the dim light, I could make out a tall, bulky man lying on the bed.
The jacket was draped over a chair behind him. I reached for it.
Suddenly, the man opened his eyes.
A rough hand grabbed my wrist, and he grinned stupidly at me:
“Cousin was right! Pretty lady is here! Bobby wants kisses…”
I froze in shock, trying to pull away, but his grip was iron-tight. He dragged me toward the bed, puckering his lips.
“Let me go!”
I slapped him across the face, but he seemed unfazed, still grinning.
He tore at my clothes with more force.
In that moment, I understood what Luna and her mother meant by “make her mess up.”
I struggled desperately, screaming for help.
But the noise from the living room drowned out my cries.
In desperation, I kneed him hard between the legs.
“Ah!”
He cried out in pain, finally releasing me.
I scrambled up, my clothes disheveled, and burst out of the room.
I saw Luna nestled in Alexander’s arms, a triumphant smile on her face.
“Luna! You bitch! You’ll pay for this!”
Eyes red, I charged over and slapped her across the face. The sharp crack cut through the party noise.
Alexander jumped up, shoving me away:
“Chloe! Are you fucking crazy?!”
He held Luna protectively, his eyes filled with hatred.
Just then, my phone vibrated. A message from David:
“Done.”
Good. I didn’t have to put up with these two anymore!
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