After Discovering My Husband's Affair

"Cadence, you've really gone too far this time!"

"Do you have any idea how worried Duncan is? He’s been up all night searching for you."

I looked at her calmly. "And how do you know he hasn't been sleeping well?"

Leila hesitated, lost for words.

Clearly, during my absence, they've been spending a lot of time together. While Duncan was anxious about me, he still found time to be with Leila.

"Duncan Martin, what's all this nonsense?" Duncan protectively positioned Leila behind him. "There's nothing going on between us. Can you stop imagining things?"

"If you pull a stunt like this again, don't expect me to come looking for you!"

Bitterness swept through me. Despite Duncan's harsh words, he never left me wanting for anything. After I ran away, he frantically tried to find me.

Maybe I had been overly sensitive and paranoid since getting pregnant. Perhaps I really shouldn’t have tested his sincerity like that.

So after that, I became much more accommodating. When he traveled for work, I no longer checked up on him, and when he had late-night commitments, I didn’t pressure him to come home early. Even last night, when I had a high fever, I kept it to myself and didn’t let him know.

But he was anything but discreet. He hadn’t even bothered to hide the love marks on his neck.

I hesitated, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me. Feeling guilty, he passed me the coat meant for me, then decided to wear it himself. "Forget it; this coat doesn’t need washing."

Leila’s distinctive fragrance still lingered. Instinctively, I knew they must have been up to something last night. But I had no concrete evidence.

The unborn child inside me tugged at my heartstrings, as if telling me to stay calm and rational. Not to tear apart what could be a stable family over a bout of jealousy.

If he didn't care about me, he wouldn’t have come back today, nor would he have purchased so many baby essentials. He cared about me.

So, I didn’t confront Duncan Martin further. I buried those unsettling thoughts deep within, patiently waiting for our child's arrival.

But I underestimated Leila. She managed to insert herself into almost every corner of my life. Even on Christmas Eve, Duncan brought her home.

"Leila couldn’t get a ticket to go home; I couldn’t leave her to celebrate alone, so I brought her here."

"You’re okay with that, right?"

She was already inside; there wasn't much I could say at that point.

"Cadence, since we have a guest, why don’t you make a few extra dishes?"

I hesitated before replying slowly, "You know I can't cook."

Leila offered to take over the kitchen. "Cadence should rest instead. She’s pregnant and needs to take care of herself. I’ll handle it."

Duncan gave me a disapproving look, seemingly admiring the considerate Leila while feeling disappointed in me.

Lately, my pregnancy symptoms had worsened, and I couldn't keep food down. Duncan immediately tossed his fork aside. "Cadence Richards, what's your point by throwing up?"

"Leila, a guest, cooked for you. If you’re unhappy, just say it!"

Before I could respond, I rushed to the bathroom to vomit, hearing Leila from the living room say, "It's my fault. Knowing Cadence doesn’t like me, I shouldn’t have come..."

Duncan reassured her, "No, it's not that. She's just being difficult. It’s not your fault."

When I returned, Leila's eyes were red from crying. Duncan glared at me. "Apologize to Leila; she's our guest."