During a family dinner with our parents, my husband’s junior, Seraphina, threw a projected delivery bill onto the table in front of me. She declared that she was having my husband’s baby, and demanded I split the one hundred and sixty thousand dollars for the delivery and postpartum care. I stared at my husband, utterly stunned. I desperately hoped he would offer an explanation. Instead, he took Sera’s hand and turned to me, saying, “Sera is so lonely. I promised her a child, my own flesh and blood. As my wife, it’s your responsibility to share the expenses. Stop trying to shirk it.” In that moment, a chilling realization hit me. Nine years of marriage—it was all a pathetic joke. Some people truly belong in the trash. Just as we settled in for dinner with both our families, my husband’s junior slammed a bill onto my face. She stood, chin lifted high, a smug, triumphant smirk plastered across her face, like she’d just won the damn lottery. “Alex wants me to be a surrogate for him. I’ve calculated the costs from pregnancy to delivery, plus postpartum care—it comes to a hundred and sixty thousand. We’ll split it.” A suffocating silence descended upon the dining table. My parents, who had been clinking glasses and chatting cheerfully with my in-laws, froze, utterly bewildered. I stared at my husband, speechless. I prayed he would tell me it was all a sick joke. We were a couple, married for nine years, and we had always been childfree by choice. Now, someone else was having his child, and I hadn’t even known about it. I couldn’t believe this was real. But there he was, my husband, his fingers intertwined with another woman’s. His gaze on me was cold, ruthless. “Chloe, this child will be my flesh and blood. As my wife, it’s your responsibility to cover half the expenses. Stop trying to dodge it.” Emboldened by Alex’s support, Sera Blackwood shot me a defiant look, then lightly kissed Alex’s lips right in front of me. Then, she produced a signed agreement. “Regarding me having Alex’s child, I have three conditions.” “First, from now until I give birth, you must serve me well until the baby arrives safely.” “Second, after the baby is born, to help me care for the child, Alex will stay with me on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. He can only return to you on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. You are not allowed to be jealous.” “Third, Alex’s and my child will be his sole heir and will inherit all of his assets. To guarantee the child’s inheritance rights, you must undergo a tubal ligation.” Listening to her outrageous demands, my parents finally snapped out of their initial shock. My mother’s face darkened, and she couldn’t hold back her anger. “What absurd nonsense are you talking about!” She turned to my in-laws. “Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, aren’t you going to do something about this?” Sera scoffed. “My godparents have already agreed to this.” Alex’s parents had long treated Sera like their own daughter. At her words, they both chuckled and nodded. “Yes, we are already aware of this matter.” Mrs. Sterling even tried to reason with me. “Chloe, you know that Sera’s father, Professor Blackwood, was Alex’s mentor. His only dying wish was for Sera to be cared for, to have a protector. Alex is merely honoring that wish.” “You’re an educated woman, you understand what it means to show gratitude, don’t you?” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “This repulsive affair, you call it gratitude?” Alex’s face immediately darkened. “Chloe, this is a notification, not a negotiation!” “Sera will be the mother of my child. If you speak to her like that again, don’t blame me for breaking ties with you!” I stared at him, utterly incredulous. “Alex, say that again!” He rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Chloe, I’m just trying to repay a debt of gratitude. Can’t you stop being so dramatic?” “Besides, Sera is intelligent, studious, and a high-achiever. Her excellent genes are more deserving of being passed on.” “Excellent genes?” I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Her excellent genes led her to sleep with a married man?” Sera’s eyes immediately welled up. Alex shot up from his seat, shielding Sera. “Sera comes from an academic background. What do *you*, a small-town girl, know about such things?” “Besides, you refused to have my child, and now you’re going to deny me one from someone else?” A sharp pain pierced my heart. His words infuriated me completely. Before we got married, he was the one who insisted he was childfree and would never have kids. To support him, I also chose to be childfree. For nine years of marriage, my parents had subtly hinted a few times for us to have children sooner. I had always shut them down, just to avoid putting any pressure on him. Now, it was becoming his reason to condemn me? In that moment, I finally understood: nine years of marriage was nothing but a cruel joke! If he didn’t want to make it work, then none of us would! I shot to my feet, slamming my hands onto the table and flipping it over in one swift, furious motion. Plates clattered, and a rainbow of sauces and food splattered all over Sera and Alex. Sera shrieked. Alex’s face turned beet red with rage. Before he could speak, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. Then I looked at Sera. “This garbage? I don’t want him anymore.” “You want him? He’s all yours!” “Alex, we’re getting a divorce!” I enunciated each word clearly, then turned and walked away. My parents, their faces grim, rose and followed me. Only a chaotic mess remained, and the pale faces of the Sterling family. Alex trembled, roaring at my retreating back. “Chloe! How dare you divorce me? You think that scares me?” “I’m telling you, go ahead and divorce! I’ll be just fine without you!” I didn’t look back. I hurried away from the Sterling house with my parents. I didn’t want to stay in that toxic place for another second! Alex, once you’re rid of me… Your good days are over too! After dropping my parents home, I returned to the house Alex and I shared, intending to pack my things. But as I reached the door, I saw all my belongings tossed outside, like trash. The door lock’s code had been changed. I called Alex, but he didn’t pick up. I had no choice but to try a SnapChat video call. It connected. But the person on the other end was Sera. She was sprawled across *my* wedding bed, wearing *my* favorite nightgown, her chest half-exposed, covered in fresh hickeys. Seeing me, she arched an eyebrow, her expression smug and taunting. “Alex and I are busy making babies, is there something you need this late?” I was about to speak when she casually dangled her hand. My vision blurred as I saw the diamond ring on her finger. It was my wedding ring, the one Alex and I had exchanged, a unique piece I had crafted myself. Just days ago, Alex had claimed he was taking it to be cleaned and polished. I never imagined he’d give it to Sera. Even the decorative items I used to place on the nightstand had been replaced by intimate photos of her and Alex. There were pictures of them kissing, and others of them embracing. Noticing my gaze, Sera flashed a wide smile. “Oops, my bad, Chloe. Alex said this house is mine now, and all that old junk shouldn’t be here, so I had your things thrown out.” I clutched my phone, my knuckles white. Taking a deep breath, I asked, “Where’s Alex?” She blinked. “Alex? Oh, he’s in the shower.” She sighed dramatically. “You know, Alex is so insatiable. He kept insisting on another round. I’m just… waiting for him.” A wave of nausea washed over me. “Oh, right. Alex said since you’re the one who asked for the divorce, you should just take your things and leave.” “After all, he bought this house.” Before I could reply, Alex emerged from the bathroom, stepping into view. He was wrapped in a towel from the waist down, his upper body bare, his chest covered in red marks. His eyes still held traces of lingering desire. He immediately pulled Sera into his arms, his hands roaming over her. Sera feigned embarrassment. “Alex, Chloe’s watching.” Only then did he notice me. His face instantly changed, becoming annoyed. “Didn’t you want a divorce? Why are you crawling back in the middle of the night? This place has nothing to do with you anymore!” The fury in my chest finally erupted. “Alex, don’t forget, I put up the money for this house! And the startup capital for your company? I sold two tech patents for that! Even your first major deal came through my connections! Did you really get so full of yourself just because people call you ‘Mr. Sterling’? What right do you have to kick me out?” Alex had been on his high horse for too long; it had been ages since anyone ripped off his facade. Hearing me expose his dirty secrets, his face twisted in extreme ugliness. “Chloe, don’t flatter yourself! Everything I have now, I earned myself, and it has nothing to do with you! On the contrary, if you hadn’t married me, someone from your humble origins, would you be enjoying this good life now? For nine years, you and your parents have bled me dry. What right do you have to bark at me?” My heart ached with a searing pain. I looked at his face, contorted with rage, and my last shred of hope died. “Alex, for these nine years, every single penny my parents and I spent, I earned with my own two hands! Without me, do you really think an incompetent fool like you could be where you are today?” He gritted his teeth, seething. “I’m a high-achiever, how dare you talk about me like that? Do you honestly think the company can’t function without you? Chloe, who the hell do you think you are!” “You want to cause a scene, huh? Fine! I’ll give you one! Tomorrow, we’re filing for divorce, and you’re out of the company! I’ll show you that the company runs just fine without you!” “Alex, since you’re showing no mercy, don’t blame me for doing the same!” “Your company? It’s going down!” I sneered and was about to hang up the video call. Alex was so furious he stomped his foot, roaring just before the call ended. “Chloe, you think you’ll have a good life without me, without the company?! I’ve already spoken to every company in A-City! You won’t find a single job here! I’m going to make sure you can’t survive!” I hung up the video call without hesitation and turned to leave. I was afraid if I waited another second, I’d lose control and storm in there to destroy those two scumbags. The next day, I drafted divorce papers and went to the company to find Alex. Just as I reached the company entrance, I was stopped by a security guard. I frowned. “I’m the company’s Vice President…” The guard sneered, cutting me off. “Vice President of what? Early this morning, the company issued a notice—you’ve been fired!” “And, Mr. Sterling gave specific instructions: Chloe and dogs are barred from entering here from now on.” I clenched my fists, my chest aching with rage. Just then, Sera and Alex walked out together. Sera’s voice dripped with mock concern. “Oh, isn’t this Vice President Chloe? Why aren’t you going in?” Before I could speak, she feigned surprise, covering her mouth. “Oh, right, I forgot. Alex fired you. You’re a nobody now.” The security guard chuckled obsequiously beside her. Alex wore a sneering smile. I took a deep breath, pretending not to hear, and fixed my gaze on him. “I’m here to discuss the divorce.” A glint flashed in Sera’s eyes. Alex scoffed, pulling out an agreement and handing it to me. “I already prepared the divorce papers. Sign them.” I took them and glanced at the contents. My temples throbbed. “You want me to walk away with nothing?” The divorce agreement stated clearly that Alex wouldn’t leave me a single asset! How *dared* he? Alex smirked coldly. “What else did you expect?” Sera crossed her arms. “Isn’t that obvious? This is Sterling Corp. Everything you’ve enjoyed before was Sterling family property. What right do you have to claim any of Alex’s assets?” “Alright, if you want to save some face, just sign it.” Seeing me hesitate, Alex sneered, “I knew you wouldn’t let go of your comfortable life. Why the act earlier? Chloe, if you humbly agree to cover half of my expenses for Sera’s delivery, and go to the hospital for that tubal ligation, I might just give you another chance. Otherwise…” “No, I’ll sign.” I cut him off abruptly, pulled out a pen, and swiftly signed my name. Alex’s face was grim. “Chloe, you actually…” “Alex!” He hadn’t finished his sentence.
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