In my fifth month of pregnancy, I walked in on Oliver Vance pinning our young nanny to the bed. I trembled violently with rage, but before I could utter a single word, he frowned and covered my eyes. "Stella, don't look. It's dirty." He unhurriedly put his clothes back on, pulled the blanket over the disheveled nanny, and then walked over to gently kiss my forehead. "She's just a toy to relieve my urges. How could she ever compare to you?" "A wife is a wife, and a nanny is a nanny. The respect and love I have for you are things she could never attain in her entire lifetime." I was so disgusted I threw up right then and there. Yet, as he patted my back, he said casually, "For the sake of the baby, you need to be more magnanimous. After all, the only reason I'm not touching you is that I'm afraid of hurting you." My heart went ice-cold. "What if I refuse to be magnanimous?" He sighed softly. "I don't want a divorce. But look at you, heavily pregnant. Who else would want you?" ... I shoved Oliver away and collapsed by the edge of the bed, vomiting stomach acid all over the floor. He glanced at the mess, his brow furrowing in distaste. "Call someone up here to clean this up, and have the mattress in the master bedroom replaced." He pressed the intercom button on the nightstand, then turned his gaze back to Lily, who was huddled under the covers, shivering. She peeked out with red, teary eyes, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. That pathetic, victimized look was blindingly obnoxious. "Mr. Vance, I'm so sorry... I didn't know Mrs. Vance would suddenly come in... Did I make her angry?" Oliver walked over and patted her shoulder through the blanket. "It's not your fault." He pointed at me as I struggled to catch my breath. "Stella, go rinse your mouth." He put on a mask of concern. "Don't scare Lily. She's easily frightened." I gripped the headboard and forced myself to stand up. "Oliver," I stared at him blankly, "this is our marital bed." Oliver picked up a pack of cigarettes from the nightstand. He pulled one out, but upon seeing my swollen belly, he paused and shoved it back in. "I know." He walked up to me and reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. I stubbornly turned my head away. His hand hovered in mid-air for a second before he casually pulled it back. "Stella, you're five months pregnant. The doctor said no intercourse." Oliver looked at me with absolute self-righteousness. "I'm a healthy man. Naturally, I have physical needs." "So you go after the nanny living in our house?" "Finding someone outside is dirty. Lily is right here under my nose, I know her background." His tone was so casual, as if he were doing me a favor by being considerate. Lily wrapped the bedsheet around herself and slipped out of bed. Barefoot, she walked up behind Oliver and timidly reached out to tug at the hem of his shirt. "Mrs. Vance, please don't blame Mr. Vance. I was willing... My family is poor, and Mr. Vance pays very well. I just want to give my family a better life." As she spoke, huge tears began rolling down her cheeks. Oliver reached back, grabbed her hand, and pulled her in front of him. "Did you hear that? I'm just trying to help her out." Oliver looked at me. "Stella, you are Mrs. Vance. It's beneath your dignity to make a fuss over something so trivial." Looking at their intertwined hands, tears blurred my vision. That was the hand that had once sworn to the heavens to protect me for the rest of his life. Yet now, he was holding another woman's hand, flaunting their "tenderness" right in front of me. "Tell her to leave," I said. The expression on Oliver's face cooled. "Lily's cooking suits my taste, and she takes good care of you. She's staying." "Oliver, looking at her makes me sick." "That's just morning sickness. It's physiological. Don't blame it on someone else." Oliver was getting impatient. He let go of Lily and pointed to the door. "Go get some fresh air. Don't come back in until the maids have cleaned the room." I didn't move. I just stood there, staring at him blankly. How did this face, one I had lived with for five years, become so terrifyingly unfamiliar? Oliver took a step closer and grabbed my hand anyway. "Stella, stop making a scene. For the sake of the baby in your belly, turn the page on this. We'll go back to living our lives exactly like before." I was about to argue, but he sighed. "If you insist on making a scene, and it ends in divorce..." He looked at my stomach. "You're five months pregnant. If you leave me, who would dare take you in? Who would take care of you?" My fingernails dug deeply into my palms. A piercing pain. But it couldn't compete with the chilling cold in my heart. Satisfied with my pale, defeated expression, he turned to Lily. "Go change your clothes. I want the soup you make for dinner tonight." Lily's tears vanished into a bright smile as she answered crisply, "Yes, Mr. Vance." As she walked past me, her footsteps faltered for a fraction of a second. With her back to Oliver, she stuck her tongue out at me and silently mouthed two words: "Old hag." Dinner consisted of four dishes and a soup. Every single dish was loaded with spicy peppers. The glaring red color immediately triggered that familiar wave of nausea. Ever since I got pregnant, I couldn't stomach the slightest hint of spice. He knew this perfectly well. Lily sat next to Oliver, wearing a brand-new white sundress. It was maternity wear I had just bought yesterday; I hadn't even had time to cut the tags off. On her, it fit loosely, making the neckline dip dangerously low. "Oh my," Lily covered her mouth, looking at me with feigned surprise. "Mrs. Vance, I'm so sorry! I completely forgot you can't eat spicy food. Back in my hometown, we put spice in everything, it's just a habit..." She turned to look at Oliver, her eyes welling up with tears again. "Mr. Vance, did I mess up again?" Oliver picked up a piece of spicy chicken and chewed it slowly. "It's fine. I actually really like the flavor." He set his chopsticks down, putting on a placating tone. "Stella, you used to love spicy food too. Don't be so delicate. The baby needs a variety of nutrients; you should at least eat a little." I stared at the bowl of rice in front of me, soaked in chili oil. "I'm not eating that." I pushed the bowl away and stood up, ready to head back to my room. "Sit down." Oliver's tone shifted back to an authoritative command. "We're eating as a family. Since when does the lady of the house leave the table first? What will the staff think?" I took a deep breath and sat back down. "I'm not hungry. I'll just watch you two eat." Oliver didn't bother replying. He picked up a piece of spare rib, meticulously removed the bone, and placed it in Lily's bowl. "Eat up. You're too thin." Lily smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Mr. Vance." She took a bite of the rib, the grease shining brightly on her lips. "This dress of Mrs. Vance's is so comfortable. The fabric is so soft." Lily smoothed her hands over the dress. "I saw it thrown on the sofa earlier, and I thought she didn't want it anymore, so I put it on. You don't mind, do you, Mrs. Vance?" My hands, resting on my lap, clenched into tight fists. "I literally just bought that. Why would you assume I didn't want it?" I asked. "It's just a piece of clothing," Oliver interrupted. "Lily is young, she looks good in white. If you like it, I'll have my assistant buy you ten more tomorrow." Lily shot me a triumphant look and lowered her head to continue eating her rib. After dinner, I returned to the bedroom. The mattress had been replaced, but the air still seemed to hold the lingering scent of what had happened. I opened the closet, looking for some pajamas. What used to be a meticulously organized closet was now a complete disaster. My silk nightgowns were balled up and shoved into a corner. Several of my more expensive lingerie sets were missing. I turned around, walked out of the room, and went down to the maid's quarters on the first floor. The door wasn't fully closed; it was left slightly ajar. Lily was standing in front of a mirror, holding my missing lingerie up against her body, humming a little tune. I pushed the door open and walked in. Lily jumped in shock, dropping the lingerie onto the floor. "Mrs. Vance..." Without a word, I bent down, picked up the lingerie, and marched straight to the kitchen. Lily chased after me. "Mrs. Vance, what are you doing?" I grabbed a pair of heavy shears from the kitchen counter and started ruthlessly cutting the lingerie to shreds. Lily shrieked and lunged at me, trying to snatch them back. I violently swung the shears toward her. "Get back! Don't touch me!" Terrified, Lily screamed and collapsed onto the floor. "Mrs. Vance... are... are you trying to kill me?" Looking at her pathetic, trembling act, I felt my stomach heave again. "Kill you? I wouldn't want to dirty my hands." I didn't stop until those expensive pieces of lingerie were nothing but a pile of shredded fabric on the floor. "Pick them up. You said you liked them." I slammed the shears down on the marble counter with a resounding clack. "Now they're garbage. A perfect match for you." "Stella!" Oliver's voice suddenly boomed from behind me. He strode over and snatched the shears from my hand. "Have you lost your mind?!" Lily immediately cowered behind Oliver, sobbing uncontrollably. "Mr. Vance, save me..." "Mrs. Vance had the shears... she... she was trying to kill me." I was trembling with rage. "Save the performance." "She's a thief. She stole my lingerie to wear." Oliver glared at me darkly and pulled Lily closer to his side. "So what?" "Because of a few pieces of clothing, you pull a knife on someone?" "Lily is young and curious, she just wanted to try them on." "Did you really have to humiliate her so viciously?" "Try them on?" I sneered. "Oliver, did you forget who the lady of this house is? What right does she have to 'try on' my things?" "Maybe you won't be for much longer," Lily mumbled softly. Oliver didn't contradict her. "Stella, you've been entirely too emotionally unstable lately. For the good of the baby, starting tomorrow, you are to stay in your room and rest. You are not to go anywhere." Oliver kept his word. I was locked in my bedroom for three whole days. The door was only unlocked on the day of my scheduled prenatal checkup. I sat on the living room sofa, staring blankly at the wall clock. Oliver walked downstairs in a custom-tailored suit, with Lily trailing behind him. She had changed into a Chanel suit and was wearing a bracelet I had never seen before. Oliver shot me a quick glance. "An emergency meeting came up at the company. I can't get away." "Go to the checkup by yourself," Oliver said as he adjusted his cuffs. "I'll come find you after the meeting." Lily stepped forward, dutifully helping him straighten his tie. Her body subtly leaned into his, her chest brushing suggestively against his arm. Instead of stepping back, Oliver smirked, allowing her to playfully tease him. The look of sheer enjoyment on his face was nauseating. "Mr. Vance, why don't I go with Mrs. Vance?" Lily looked up at him, her eyes wide and innocent. "I want to see what the baby looks like, and I can take care of Mrs. Vance." Oliver patted her head. "Such a good girl, Lily. Alright, go together." I didn't want to be in the same car as Lily, but Oliver didn't give me a chance to refuse. In the car, Lily pressed herself right up against Oliver. While Oliver was reviewing documents, Lily peeled a grape and held it up to his lips. Oliver naturally opened his mouth and ate it, even playfully licking her fingertips. I was his legal wife, yet in that moment, I felt like a completely redundant third wheel, forced to sit there and spectate their flirtation. When we arrived at the hospital, Lily shot me a triumphant smirk. "Mrs. Vance, let's go." There was a long line outside the ultrasound room. Lily insisted on supporting me, but her acrylic nails were secretly digging deep into my arm. I gasped in pain. She just gave me a sickeningly sweet smile. "Mrs. Vance, your belly is so big. Do you think there's a monster inside?" "I heard people back in my hometown say that if you don't accumulate good karma, the baby you give birth to won't make it." My chest heaved with fury. I forcefully yanked my arm away from her grip and raised my hand to slap that foul mouth of hers. But Lily purposely threw herself to the floor. "Ow!" she shrieked, clutching her ankle. "Mrs. Vance, if you didn't want me to help you, you could have just said so! Why did you push me?" People in the hallway immediately turned to look, pointing and whispering. "Why is that pregnant woman so aggressive?" "Is that her nanny? The poor girl looks terrified." I looked at Lily, putting on her little show on the floor, and felt nothing but disdain. "Get up. Stop playing dead," I ordered coldly. Lily squeezed out a few crocodile tears. "Mrs. Vance, I twisted my ankle. It hurts so much, I can't walk." Right on cue, Oliver called Lily's phone. A glint of malicious joy flashed in Lily's eyes as she quickly answered. "Lily, are the checkups done?" Oliver's voice came through the speaker. "Mr. Vance..." Lily wailed tearfully, "Mrs. Vance pushed me on purpose and yelled at me. My ankle hurts so bad, I can't even walk." The line went silent for two seconds. "Stella, are you out of your goddamn mind?!" Oliver's roar echoed through the entire hallway. "Stay right there. I'm sending the driver back to pick up Lily. When your checkup is done, get an Uber home yourself." Beep—beep—beep— Oliver hung up. The looks from the bystanders grew even more judgmental. "That woman has a rotten heart, bullying a young girl like that." "She looks so innocent, who knew she was such a psycho?" "No wonder her husband doesn't care about her. She deserves it." Standing in the crowded hospital hallway, I felt as if I had been stripped naked and thrown into a blizzard. It was freezing. So incredibly freezing. The baby in my belly seemed to sense something and shifted restlessly. In that moment, my eyes burned painfully, yet they were so dry I couldn't shed a single tear. Perhaps, to a man, five years of loyalty will never compare to the thrill of a new toy. I finished all the checkups by myself. Holding the ultrasound printout, staring at that tiny silhouette, my hands shook. The doctor had said, "The fetus is measuring small. The mother needs to ensure proper nutrition and avoid extreme emotional stress." I walked out of the hospital. It had started to drizzle. I stood on the curb trying to hail a cab, but during rush hour in the rain, it was nearly impossible. The rain soaked through my hair and clothes, the chill seeping into my very bones. It was late into the night by the time I finally got home. As soon as I opened the door, I saw Lily resting her foot on Oliver's lap, whining delicately. "It hurts... Mr. Vance, be gentle." Oliver reached out and held her foot. "Bear with it for a minute. I'm almost done applying the ointment." "You're so good to me, Mr. Vance," Lily cooed. "If only Mrs. Vance had even half of your gentleness." A look of nostalgia crossed Oliver's face as he uncharacteristically revealed his true feelings to someone else. "She didn't use to be like this." Ten years ago. We lived in a cramped, dingy basement apartment in a sketchy part of town. For a startup pitch that existed only as a PowerPoint presentation, Oliver drank with potential investors until he got a bleeding ulcer. He was tossed onto the curb like a dead dog. I had to carry him all the way home on my back. I weighed barely ninety pounds. Carrying his six-foot frame, I had to stop and gasp for air with every single step. The streetlights stretched our shadows out long and thin. "Stella, put me down," he mumbled against my back. "No." I gritted my teeth, forcing my steps to remain steady. "If I put you down, someone else is going to pick you up and take you away." He laughed, tears mingling with his laughter. "When I make it big, I swear to God I'll make you the happiest woman in the world." That night, I wiped him down, fed him broth, and stayed by his side the entire night. He didn't think he was suffering. In fact, he thought those were the most hopeful days of his life. Because he knew that all he had to do was turn around, and I would be right there. Oliver's gaze darkened. "But ever since Stella got pregnant, it's like she's a different person. She's become completely unreasonable." "I've sacrificed so much for this family, suffered for so many years. What's wrong with me wanting to enjoy myself a little now?" Lily curled up against his chest like a kitten. "Don't be mad, Mr. Vance. After all, Mrs. Vance isn't feeling well physically, so it's normal for her to be a bit moody. We just have to be understanding." Oliver let out a cold snort, grabbed her hand, and brought it to his lips for a kiss. "She really doesn't know how good she has it." I stood in the entryway, soaking wet, the rainwater dripping from the hem of my coat onto the hardwood floor. I was shivering from the cold. Oliver finally seemed to notice me. "You're back?" "Oliver," I looked at him with entirely different eyes for the first time, "let's get a divorce." The room instantly fell silent. Oliver stared at me intensely. "What did you just say?" "I said, divorce." "Stella, my patience has a limit." Oliver's voice was laced with ice. "Throwing around the word 'divorce' over some trivial misunderstanding again. Do you have any idea what will happen to you if we actually divorce?" "I do." "You know, and you still have the nerve to bring it up?" Because the thing that made me absolutely certain about the divorce is that you truly have changed. "You don't know shit!" Oliver slammed his fist onto the coffee table. "Without me, you wouldn't even have money for groceries! That kid in your belly will be born a fatherless bastard!" Lily shrank back into the corner of the sofa, looking terrified, but her eyes were gleaming with sick excitement. I looked at the furious man in front of me with total calm. "That's my business. It has nothing to do with you." Oliver laughed out of sheer anger and violently yanked off his tie. "Fine. Perfect. Stella, you've got some nerve. I'd love to see if you can survive three days out there without Oliver Vance." He spun on his heel and stormed into his study. Ten minutes later, he emerged with a document and threw it directly in my face. "Sign it."
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