The ceremony had reached the moment of the groom kissing the bride. But just as my husband Ethan Blackwood leaned in, he suddenly stopped. He turned away and kissed his secretary instead. He said, “Ava, I’m sorry. Forgive me for not being able to marry you in this lifetime. But if there’s a next life, I’ll propose to you in front of everyone. Will you marry me then?” Ava Miller’s eyes brimmed with tears as she nodded. I stood there on the stage, feeling like the biggest joke in the room. Around me, the crowd erupted into laughter and mocking whispers. “Clara Hudson spent five years chasing him just to get this wedding. And now? He humiliates her in front of everyone.” “She’s a simp. Does she even have any dignity?” Everyone was waiting for me to break down. But I simply removed my veil and smiled, I said, “Well, you’ve already kissed her. It wouldn’t make sense not to finish the ceremony, would it?” The moment the words left my mouth, the noisy banquet hall fell deathly silent. Every pair of eyes widened, fixed on me. Even Ethan and Ava, who had been locked in their shameless display moments earlier, stopped and turned toward me. “Clara, have you lost your mind?” Ethan snapped. In his arms, Ava looked startled. She said pitifully, “Miss Hudson, Mr. Blackwood kissed me only to make up for the past. You already have him. What more could you want? “If you insist on humiliating me like this, then I might as well die.” As if rehearsed a thousand times, Ava burst into sobs and ran out of the hall. Ethan glared at me and chased after her. He spat, “If anything happens to Ava, I’ll make you pay.” I watched them leave as if I were a mere spectator in someone else’s drama. When I turned back to the crowd, I saw mockery or confusion on their faces. I smiled bitterly. I’d spent five years with Ethan. I loved him wholeheartedly. Even this wedding was only happening because of the child I was carrying. I knew my place. I knew we weren’t equals. And so, during those five years, I’d bent over backward to play the role of a perfect wife. The glamorous life everyone envied was built on the tears and humiliation I swallowed in silence. “Such a disgrace,” Ethan’s mother sneered. Her disgust was written all over her face. Ethan’s father frowned and walked out as fast as he could. Only my mother stayed, desperately trying to smooth things over. I stood there, my chest aching with a pain that refused to subside. My fingers tightened around the bouquet I’d so carefully chosen, the thorns of the roses piercing into my palms. Yet I barely noticed the pain. I said, “That’s enough, Mom. You don’t have to do this. Ethan loves Ava. My marriage to him means nothing.” My voice was hoarse as I tried to salvage a shred of dignity. But instead of comforting me, she grabbed my arm and twisted it sharply. “Nothing? Men are all like this. Once you have the baby, he’ll come around. You’d better win him back, or you’re no daughter of mine,” she hissed. Ignoring my protests, she forced herself to go around the room, apologizing to everyone. I slipped into a quiet corner, my white wedding dress feeling like the cruelest joke of all. At some point, my vision blurred with tears. I had a mother and a husband. But I still felt all alone.
My mom hurriedly finished dealing with everyone and rushed to the hospital to take care of my brother. Left alone, I wandered down the street, still wearing the ill-fitting wedding dress. The sky seemed to hear my silent plea, gradually darkening with thick clouds before unleashing a torrential downpour. My phone buzzed incessantly. Mechanically, I pressed the answer button and held it to my ear. It was Ethan. His voice was cold and accusatory. “Clara, Ava was so upset by you and got into a car accident. Are you happy now? “I don’t care where you are, but you need to come home right now and cook something for Ava. “You need to apologize to her for what you’ve done.” I listened to his reprimand, feeling a surge of resentment. I shot back, “Why should I apologize since you humiliated me at my wedding?” There was a moment of silence on the other end, then I heard his cold voice again. He snapped, “I’ll make it up to you with another wedding. Right now, Ava’s health is the priority.” I gripped the phone, feeling a chill spread through me. My hands trembled as I hung up the call. I remembered the last time I was on a business trip and got into a car accident, breaking my leg. I begged Ethan to stay by my side, even if it was just for a little while. But he merely sent his assistant with some gifts. Yet now, with Ava in a similar situation, he couldn’t bear to leave her side. Ethan ignored me but cared so much for Ava. Looking at my bloodied palm, I suddenly realized that my five years of devotion had been a cruel joke. Just then, my phone rang again. Ethan, perhaps feeling guilty, sent a message trying to explain. Ethan: [Clara, I really do see Ava as my sister. Don’t overthink it.] [We’ll have the wedding again, and besides, you’re carrying my child. Where else can you go?] The text on my screen only made it all seem more ridiculous. He thought having a child meant he could control me. But he didn’t understand that all of this was because I loved him. Now, seeing things clearly, I wouldn’t be the same as before. As I was about to exit the chat, Ava sent a video. In the video, she appeared to have only minor scratches, so minor they were barely visible. Her hair was damp, and she was wrapped in a bathrobe, as if she had just stepped out of the shower. Ethan was by her side, carefully tending to her. He was even holding a black lace bra in his hand. I couldn’t bear to watch their disgusting display any longer. I blocked them both. The rain pelted down, cold and biting. I tried to move my numb legs, but a sudden, unbearable pain gripped my lower abdomen. Looking down, I saw blood mixing with the rainwater at my feet, a sight both oppressive and despairing.
When I woke up in the hospital, my belly, which had barely begun to swell, was now flat. I stared blankly at the ceiling above me, feeling a silence in my heart so deep it was almost suffocating. I had never intended to harm this child. But now, before it had even had the chance to fully form, it was gone. Maybe the baby was just too considerate, sparing me from the inevitable pain. I stayed in the hospital for a week, during which not a single person came to visit me. My mom spent all her time by my brother’s side. Ethan was undoubtedly busy comforting Ava, probably so caught up in his happiness that he’d forgotten all about me. When I was discharged, I returned to the apartment Ethan and I had shared as a married couple. I began packing my things. The irony didn’t escape me. I lived there for five years, but my belongings didn’t even fill a single suitcase. I had given so much of myself to them, foolishly expecting something in return. But deep down, I should have known better. Just as I was about to leave, Ethan came home. He looked worn out, with dark circles under his eyes. Of course, he was tired. Balancing his care for Ava and running his company must have been exhausting. When he saw me packing, he immediately snatched the suitcase out of my hands. He barked, “Clara, what kind of tantrum are you throwing now? “I’ve only been away for a week, and you’re already running off?” His tone was dripping with annoyance. I looked at him and suddenly found him unrecognizable. He knew what I cared about, yet he kept pushing his luck. I was tired of playing his games. I didn’t argue or yell as usual. Instead, I spoke calmly. “Ethan, let’s get a divorce. I mean it.” “Impossible.” His response was instant, his brows furrowed in disbelief. He frowned. “Clara, are you out of your mind?” “So what if there was a little hiccup at the wedding? Didn’t you already humiliate Ava in front of everyone? What more do you want?” My chest tightened at his words. Yes, I had caused a scene before. The first time I found out about Ava, I cried and screamed. But Ethan’s solution was to disappear, leaving me to face his family’s wrath. Everyone told me he was just playing around and that he would come back to me once we had a child. I had believed their lies, compromising time and again for a total jerk. But this time, I wasn’t going to back down. I said, “Ethan, I’ll have the divorce papers drawn up. You won’t have to deal with me again after this.” I ignored his protests, speaking only the truth that weighed heavy on my heart. Then I moved to leave with my suitcase, thinking he would not object. After all, he had never acknowledged my identity. But he grabbed my wrist. I looked up and saw his sullen face. “Playing hard to get won’t work on me,” he said. “You worked so hard to marry me. Don’t think I’ll believe you’re giving up so easily. Otherwise, why would you have spent years simping me? “And don’t forget your brother. If you dare hurt Ava again, I’ll cut off his medication.” Even now, he held himself above me. I was disgusted. I had once loved Ethan, even agreeing to have a child because he said he wanted one. But in the end, all of it became tools for him to control me. And now, he was even using my brother against me. Seeing my silence, he must have thought I was reconsidering. He warned, “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you said earlier. You’re still carrying my child, so I won’t stoop to your level.” I watched him leave and laughed bitterly. The child he spoke of was already gone. I lugged my old suitcase and set out to find a place to live. Once settled, I returned to the office, punching in as usual, as if nothing had happened. I guess that made sense. It wasn’t exactly a proud moment for the Blackwood family, and they would do everything to keep it quiet. As long as they didn’t bother me, it was fine. I found a lawyer and drafted a divorce agreement, having it delivered straight to Ethan’s desk. From start to finish, Ethan sent me just one message. Ethan: [You will regret this.] I didn’t pay it any mind. I knew I would never regret my decision. But the very next day, as I was reporting to my manager, my phone started ringing incessantly. It was my mom, saying there was a problem at the hospital and I needed to come right away. I was puzzled because I had just transferred money to the hospital account the day before, so there shouldn’t have been any issues. But my mom was insistent, crying and even threatening me. Left with no choice, I rushed to the hospital. As soon as I pushed open the door to the ward, my mom slapped me hard across the face. I held my cheek, stunned. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. Suddenly, reporters swarmed in from who knows where, their camera flashes blinding me. My mom shouted, “Clara, you heartless girl. Ethan has done so much for our family, and you want to divorce him? “I can’t stand by and watch you make this mistake. You’re carrying his child, and you’re rushing to divorce him. Is it because you have someone else on the side? “If you’ve made a mistake, go apologize. Ethan will forgive you.” I stared at her in disbelief. She was slandering me and accusing me of cheating when it was Ethan who had been unfaithful. Rage boiled within me, and I struggled to catch my breath. From the crowd, Ava stepped forward. She smirked, “That’s right, Miss Hudson. Admit your mistake. Mr. Blackwood is such a good man; seeing the divorce papers you sent broke his heart.” I looked over and saw Ethan sitting on the sofa. He made no move to stop any of this. It dawned on me this was what he meant by “regret”. He was trying to force me into submission. He wanted me to know that defying him would only lead to my ruin. Ethan finally spoke up, his voice magnanimous. “Ava is right. Just apologize, and I’ll forgive you.” I glared at him with growing hatred. I only wanted a peaceful divorce, considering all he had done for me. But now, he was pushing me to the brink. I forced myself to stay calm. “I’ve done nothing wrong. It’s you who are in the wrong.” I pulled out my phone and brought up something interesting. I continued, “Why don’t we all take a look at this? See how Mr. Blackwood rolled in the hay with his secretary, Quite the thrill, isn’t it?” My voice was clear and loud, leaving everyone in the room speechless.
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