My husband had a low sperm count, and after 33 grueling rounds of IVF, I finally managed to conceive. On the day of delivery, I was hemorrhaging badly and needed an emergency C-section. My husband had barely signed the consent form when he rushed off to his childhood friend’s birthday party. But the surgeon just stood there. “Lily, the online system shows you’re single. This consent form isn’t valid…” I froze. It hit me then: my supposedly perfect marriage had been a lie all along. Later, my parents rushed to the hospital to sign for me. But the baby didn’t make it, too long without oxygen. After the surgery, my hand trembled as I signed the cremation consent form for my child. Then, without a second thought, I dialed a number. “Owen, are you free now? Meet me at the courthouse.” *** Owen still looked a little dazed after we’d gotten our marriage certificate. “Lily… did you really marry me?” Seeing his goofy expression, I couldn’t help but crack a smile. But it pulled at my incision, and I winced, my brows furrowing in pain. Owen frantically rushed me back to the hospital, pressing a careful kiss to my forehead. “I have to go out of town for some business. You focus on recovering. I’ll be back to pick you up.” Dragging my weak post-op body to marry Owen had exhausted me, and I drifted off to sleep. But in my hazy state, I overheard Caleb and his friend talking. “Your wife almost died! Why aren’t you changing the marriage info back in the system?” “Just wait. Seraphina is seriously ill, and her only wish is to marry me.” “But if your wife finds out, she could leave you anytime!” “No way? She’s suffered so much for me. How could she possibly leave?” When I opened my eyes again, Caleb’s face was filled with worry. “Lily, you’re finally awake! My mom made some chicken soup, drink it while it’s hot.” His cautious demeanor made me wonder if the earlier conversation had been a hallucination. I cut straight to the chase. “Caleb, why does the system say I’m single?” Caleb’s movements stiffened. “Maybe the hospital’s online system hasn’t updated the info yet. Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it.” He added, “I’m so sorry, I should have been there with you…” Catching the fleeting flicker of panic in his eyes, my heart plummeted. But I pretended it was nothing. “Yeah, their system definitely needs an update.” Caleb visibly relaxed and patiently ladled out chicken soup for me. “Don’t overthink things. Oh, by the way, where’s the baby?” The baby? I froze. Had no one told Caleb the baby was gone? Of course not. Caleb wasn’t my legal spouse, so no one would inform him. My chest tightened, and my voice wavered slightly. “The baby was too weak. Still in the incubator.” Caleb didn’t suspect a thing. He was about to say something when he suddenly shot to his feet. “Seraphina! What are you doing here?!” He was so agitated that the scalding chicken soup spilled all over my hand, instantly turning it red. But Caleb didn’t even notice, his eyes fixed on the small, delicate figure. He clenched his fists, his voice trembling with anxiety. “What happened? Are you feeling sick again? Why didn’t you tell me?” Seraphina’s small face was pale. “It’s nothing major, just my period seems delayed, and you had something more important…” She glanced meaningfully at me. Caleb lightly tapped her head. “Nothing is more important than you!” I couldn’t help but speak up. “Caleb…” Only then did he pull his attention away, looking at my hand. Before I could even speak, he frowned, tugged off my jacket without hesitation, and possessively wrapped it around Seraphina’s waist. “Exposing your legs in this cold weather? How old are you! Come on, I’ll take you to see a doctor!” From start to finish, he didn’t spare me another glance. In that moment, I realized just how foolish I’d been. 33 rounds of IVF, and Caleb had never once accompanied me. Always “working late” or “too busy.” I, someone so afraid of pain, had bitten down hard, like an idiot, learning to inject myself with ovulation shots, leaving my stomach a canvas of needle marks. It wasn’t that he was busy. His time, all of it, was for Seraphina. The signs of love and indifference were so painfully obvious. Caleb, I really don’t have the energy to keep playing this game with you. 2 I didn’t see Caleb for the next few days. Through her Ins posts, I knew he was constantly by Seraphina’s side. Expensive luxury goods flowed like water to her bedside. The giant screen facing the hospital was rented out, playing his blessings for Seraphina 24/7. Seraphina even posted an update with a picture of their tightly clasped hands. “I’m the happiest woman in the world.” I said nothing. Under the sympathetic gazes of the doctors, I handled my discharge papers alone. Only that day did Caleb finally call. He demanded, displeased, “Where’s the baby? Why won’t they let me see them?” “I haven’t recovered, and you must be incredibly busy. I left the baby with my parents.” He caught the sarcasm in my tone. For once, he sounded a little guilty. “Lily, you’ve been through so much. Wait until I—” I hung up without mercy. Caleb, I hope you’re still as calm when you find out the truth. Back home, I instructed the maid to pack up all my belongings. The scattered items were all memories of Caleb and me. There was the limited edition collectible figure he’d waited 12 hours in line to get me, and the good luck charm he’d prayed for at a temple when I first got pregnant. But how could these tiny acts of affection compare to even a thousandth of what he gave Seraphina? With a single fire, I burned them all to ashes. I was planning to move abroad with Owen; the visa application takes five days. I just wanted to spend these last few days in peace. But Caleb wouldn’t let me. He suddenly burst in and grabbed my collar, choking me. “Lily! Where have you hidden Seraphina?!” I managed to gasp out, “I don’t know.” Caleb’s gaze darkened. “You better actually not know! Otherwise, I won’t let you off the hook!” He threw me aside. I gasped for air, still unwilling to give up. “Caleb, do you even remember I’m your wife?” Caleb’s steps faltered. He hurriedly threw out an explanation, “Don’t overthink things. Seraphina’s mother asked me to take care of her before she died. She’s my sister.” Then he left without looking back. I laughed at myself, bitterly. In the past, even if I disappeared for half a month on a business trip, Caleb never bothered to ask. He really *was* worried about this “sister” of his. I went to the embassy to submit my paperwork. When I returned, I found Caleb had already found Seraphina. “Silly girl, why run off? If you’re pregnant, just have the baby. I’ll take good care of you and our child!” But Seraphina stubbornly shook her head. “No! How could I bear to have a baby born without a dad?” Caleb panicked, blurting out, “You’re my legal wife! How could he be without a dad!” A pang of sorrow hit me. I wasn’t paying attention and stepped on a fallen leaf, making a loud crunch. Both of them noticed me then. Caleb instantly flustered. “Did you hear something?” I shook my head. “I just got back.” He let out a sigh of relief, then hesitated. “Lily, Seraphina might need to stay here for a while. Is that okay?” I smiled, walking straight to my room. “Would it matter if I said no?” “Lily!” Caleb couldn’t help but raise his voice. But Seraphina suddenly said, “Caleb, I’m a little hungry. I heard Lily is a great cook, could she make me something?” Caleb looked hesitant. “Wouldn’t that be a little awkward?” Seraphina’s mouth immediately drooped, and tears welled up. “I knew it, I shouldn’t have come here to impose. It’s okay, I’ll just leave—” Caleb immediately interjected, “Lily, you’re the lady of the house, hurry and play hostess!” Not wanting to cause further trouble, I went to the kitchen and made a dish for Seraphina. When Caleb saw the dish, he paused. Pork Rib and Pear Soup. A dish I’d once joked I’d make if we ever broke up. The word ‘pear’ sounds like ‘leave’ in Chinese, a subtle, bitter joke now. Before he could ponder its meaning, Seraphina had already taken the bowl of soup. But after just one sip, she suddenly shivered and threw the bowl onto my chest! I was drenched from head to toe, standing there, humiliated, while Seraphina innocently covered her mouth. “Oops, I’m so sorry, it was too hot… I just dropped it…” 3 Seeing her reddened eyes, Caleb’s face immediately darkened. “We’ve been married for five years, and you can’t even do this right? Or are you upset with Seraphina and deliberately targeting her?” I tried to explain, but he was already anxiously cupping Seraphina’s hand. “Does it hurt? Wait here, I’ll bandage it right away.” I suddenly felt utterly disheartened. Out of sight, out of mind. I left the villa and checked into a hotel. But the day before my departure, I realized I’d forgotten my documents at home and had no choice but to go back. The villa was hosting a party. Caleb stood beside Seraphina, a perfect couple, surrounded by guests. Some guests whispered. “Mr. Turner is so good to his wife! Look at Seraphina’s designer clothes, that must be hundreds of thousands!” Someone in the know corrected him. “Are you blind? The woman who just walked in is Mrs. Turner!” The first person looked embarrassed. “Oh, really? Her clothes look like they cost barely anything, doesn’t really look like it—”
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