After my third miscarriage, a strange woman burst into my hospital room.
Ive been with Julian Hayes for thirteen years! What gives you the right to carry his child?!
But Julian rushed to protect me.
I dont even know you. Stop spreading lies about me and my wife!
As the woman was thrown out, she screamed that Julian was a jerk.
I thought it was just a ridiculous scene.
Everyone always said I was Julians first love, after all.
Until I saw a thousand yellowed photos in his safe.
The pictures dated back to college, then through our professional lives, a hundred each year, spanning a decade.
There was also a letter, a sprawling five-thousand-word testament to their tangled relationship.
After reading it, I didnt cry or rage. I just sat on the floor, numb, for three whole hours.
I kept the photos as evidence.
Then I secretly hid the letter in a confidential file.
After that, I called Julian.
Care to explain?
Julian, who had just walked in, clearly froze for a second when he saw the photos.
Then, his face blank, he sat on the couch.
Explain what?
Whats your deal with this woman?
He glanced at the photos on the table again, then spoke after a long pause.
We were just friends. She was pursuing me, but I never agreed.
Yet, that letter detailed thirteen years of their intimate relationship.
I didnt tell him about the letter. I was about to speak, using the photos as proof.
But he waved his hand, sweeping all the pictures into the fireplace.
If youre bothered by them, then we dont need these things.
Before I could say anything, he turned his back to me and lit a cigarette.
This was his usual tell when he was hiding something.
Just then, his phone rang.
Only one name appeared on the screen: Valerie.
All his other contacts were saved with full names, except this one.
Julian answered calmly.
Before he could speak, Valeries voice, thick with tears, shrieked from the other end.
Julian, Ive been with you for so many years. How can you just walk away?
You only married her for her status, but your heart still belongs to me!
Julian, stop lying to yourself. I dont care that youre married. I just I love you.
A shock ran through me.
Julians hand trembled slightly.
Then he said, his voice deep.
My wife and I have a great relationship.
If you dare spread lies again, Ill make sure you can never recover.
Without waiting for a reply, he hung up.
Then, right in front of me, he deleted and blocked her number.
Seamlessly.
But after he did all that, he was slightly out of breath.
His eyes held an emotion I couldnt quite read.
All these years, he had always been calm and elegant around me.
I looked at him and suddenly asked.
Julian, did you marry me for money, or because you love me?
He didnt hesitate. Of course, I love you.
Before seeing that letter and the photos, I would have believed him wholeheartedly.
Before bed, he came to hug me, but I pulled away.
Julian didnt say anything. As usual, he handed me a warm glass of honey milk and watched me drink it.
After finishing it, I surprisingly didnt sleep soundly.
When I opened my phone, I received a message from someone named Valerie Reed.
Skylar Vance, do you know why you havent been able to get pregnant all these years?
Its all Julian Hayess doing!
Because he doesnt want you to have his child at all!
Hes been putting something in your drinks, ensuring you miscarry every single time!
I froze, looking at the empty nightstand.
Julian had already taken the glass.
I tiptoed into the kitchen and found the cups and bowls all wiped clean.
Julian was a clean freak, so he always made sure things were tidy, and he usually handled the chores.
My first instinct was disbelief. The next day, I sent a screenshot of the chat to Julian.
Without a word, he contacted his lawyer, sued Valerie Reed, and had her charged with defamation.
But within three days, Valerie appeared, red-eyed, outside our company building.
Julian, I knew you couldnt bear it. I was inside for less than three minutes, and you immediately bailed me out.
You still care about me, dont you?
I looked, stunned, at the man beside me.
Julian, is this true?
Julian remained expressionless.
This was just a warning. I wont tolerate this more than twice. One more time, and youre done.
Valerie smiled.
See? You still cant let me go.
She skipped towards Julian, trying to get close, but I slapped her hand away.
Valerie, please have some self-respect.
Julian is married. He is my husband now.
If you insist on being a homewrecker, dont blame me for being unpleasant.
I dont know which words stung her, but Valeries eyes instantly reddened.
What right do you have to marry him? Just because you have a couple of measly bucks?
Let me tell you, Skylar Vance, he doesnt love you at all. Youre the real homewrecker!
Passersby started staring, some even employees from our company.
Julian, however, cupped my chin and kissed me.
I froze, feeling only a bitter irony.
Since our marriage, Julian had kissed me only twice.
The first was at our wedding, an act for the crowd.
The second was on the street, an act for Valerie Reed.
Seeing Valeries cries grow louder, Julian pulled me into the car.
Valerie chased after us, but he ignored the traffic officers warning, speeding all the way home.
That night, the usually elegant Julian actually got drunk.
When he rolled over and pinned me down, the heavy scent of alcohol sprayed against my ear.
It was the first time Id been kissed so hard I couldnt breathe. When I tried to push him away, Julian murmured deeply.
Havent you always wanted a child with me? Fine, Ill give you one.
Julian, are you crazy? Im pregnant!
He frowned in confusion.
Valerie, stop being a child. Just kissing wont make you pregnant.
In an instant, my entire body turned to ice.
But the man continued rambling, a smile even playing on his lips.
You, youve always been so innocent.
Let Skylar Vance go through the suffering of pregnancy. Thats enough.
But I wont let her have a successful pregnancy. After all, her parents threatened me, forced me to marry her. Of course, I have to make her pay a price!
For you, I can endure
Looking at the man I had secretly loved for three years, I suddenly laughed.
At the time, all of New York knew I loved Julian enough to give my left arm.
Even when my parents introduced him to me, I still thought it was a gift from God.
Little did I know, it was Julians scheme.
After a wave of heartache, I slowly spoke.
Where is the medicine youve been using?
His mind was still hazy. Its behind the wedding photo in the living room, at the bottom of the velvet box.
That box held a global limited-edition diamond, his confession gift to me.
I cherished it like a treasure, never daring to open it casually.
Groping my way to the living room in the dark, I opened the box and carefully took out the medicine.
Then I threw the box out the window.
And with a crash, I smashed our wedding photo.
Julian finally sobered up.
He came into the living room, saw the shattered wedding photo, but said nothing.
If youre not happy with it, we can always take new ones later.
No need, I said softly.
You should take wedding photos with the person you love.
Julian looked a little surprised. I simply went to another room to sleep.
But the next day, he dragged me to retake a set.
Then, he took me to a lavish party.
Jewelry covered the tables, and the hall was filled with my favorite pink roses.
Julian knelt dramatically.
Today is my wifes and my three-year anniversary. This is a special surprise I arranged for her.
Guests cheered, but all I felt was the mans hypocrisy.
He was clearly using this as a way to make me pay for his guilt.
Just then, a voice spoke up.
Julian, youre so generous with Skylar!
Unlike how you used to be with Valerie Reed, so stingy! You even had to share one bowl of beef noodles!
Another drunk guest loudly agreed.
Exactly! You used to live with her in that rundown storage unit. That cramped, narrow bedyou two actually slept there for three years!
I really admire your perseverance. No wonder you succeed at everything you do!
Heartbreak mixed with shock.
Julian was a clean freak; our home was always spotless.
Sometimes, if I accidentally drank from his cup, hed frown and lecture me afterward.
I was about to confront him.
Slap!
A loud slap landed on his face.
The entire hall fell silent.
It wasn’t me who slapped him, but Valerie Reed, who had emerged from a corner.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, but filled with an unyielding defiance.
Julian Hayes, you coward who cant own up to his actions!
I walked with you from nothing to everything for seven years. You didnt end up with me, and I dont blame you.
But you disappointed me, and you wont disappoint Skylar Vance again!
Julian was uncharacteristically silent.
A few bystanders shook their heads.
Valerie, youre really too generous! Julian treated you like that, and youre still thinking about him!
Its truly his loss that he didnt marry you
I smiled. Alright, Julian. Were getting a divorce.
Ill take back all the house and company equity. You can be with the woman you love.
Julian panicked.
Skylar, dont be angry. They were just joking!
But just then, a server accidentally bumped into the champagne tower.
Countless champagne glasses instantly toppled, glass shards flying everywhere.
I instinctively protected my stomach, but a sharp pain made my vision blur, and I felt a gush of warmth down below.
Before losing consciousness, I heard urgent voices.
Julian, Valerie only has minor injuries, well take care of her!
Your wife is having a miscarriage, hurry and get her to the hospital!
But as my eyes closed, I saw Julian rush towards Valerie without hesitation.
He carried her into the ambulance.
When I opened my eyes again, the doctor looked at me, his gaze full of sympathy.
Ms. Vance, your baby couldnt be saved.
After this miscarriage, its likely you wont be able to have children again.
I touched my empty, faintly aching abdomen.
It was just as Valerie Reed saidI could never have Julians child.
I saved the miscarriage report and placed it with the letter.
Just then, I heard the nurses at the door murmuring.
Did you know? Mr. Hayes got a long scar on his back trying to save Ms. Reed!
Hes not even fully recovered, but hes rushing to bring Ms. Reed food and soup, constantly taking care of her.
My goodness, his wife probably doesnt get that treatment! I heard he and Ms. Reed were a couple before.
Could it be that Skylar Vance interfered in their relationship?
I said, my voice heavy, What are you talking about?
They jumped in fright and awkwardly scurried away.
Julian then hurried out of the adjacent room and came to my side.
Im sorry, you heard it at the party. I owe Valerie too much.
This time, lets just call it even for the past.
Listening to his sickening lies, I calmly handed him a document.
Sign this guarantee, and Ill forgive you.
Julian didnt even look at it, quickly signing his name.
But if he had bothered to glance, he would have seen that it was actually a divorce agreement.
When I was discharged, I wanted to walk out myself, but he insisted on driving me home.
I couldnt argue with him and was forced into the passenger seat.
But halfway there, his phone rang.
The number he supposedly blocked long ago now displayed on his screen.
Julian, the hospital has a power outage, Im so scared!
I remember before, whenever our rental had a power outage, youd hold me close and comfort me
Julian was silent for a moment, then turned to me.
Skylar, go home by yourself.
I looked at him, astonished.
But Julian, this is the countryside. You cant even find a ride here!
Valerie Reed heard my voice and started crying again.
Julian, dont worry about me. Its snowing, and its raining heavily outside. Skylar will surely have her old injuries flare up if she goes back alone!
Ill be fine alone!
Julian, clearly resolute, forced me out of the car and sped off in the opposite direction of my home.
I was left alone in the rain, my body aching.
After waiting a day and a night, a kind old man on a three-wheeled bike finally gave me a ride home.
I lay in bed, burning with a fever of 100 degrees, yet I saw Valerie Reeds SnapChat update:
Thirteen years of deep affection, finally achieved.
She was holding a mans handa hand still wearing *my* wedding ring.
I immediately called him.
Julian Hayes, come back now and divorce me.
You committed adultery, misused medication, and committed numerous other crimes. Im reclaiming all the money I invested in you!
There was a several-second pause, no one answered.
A moment later, Valerie Reeds smiling voice came through.
Skylar, why dont you check the headline news?
You’ve reached a gripping point in the story! Want to find out what explosive news Skylar discovers and how she finally gets her revenge?
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