He Cried and Begged When It's too Late

I stopped in my tracks, just outside the partially open door, my heart racing. I had returned early from my business trip to surprise my husband Adrian with a sealed deal—a partnership that would bring massive growth to his company and a key to a mansion as a gift. But what I heard inside made my blood run cold.

“Felicity is just convenient for my business but overall, she’s useless to me, so you don’t have to worry about her.”

I felt like the air had been sucked out of my lungs. What is my husband talking about… and with my secretary Carmela?

“What’s important now is the baby.” I watched as Adrian leaned closer to Carmela and kissed her belly. “This baby is gonna be an heir to the Rose Corporation.”

The betrayal was like a physical blow. All this time, I had trusted Carmela, confided in her. I thought she was just my secretary, but now I realized she had been more—so much more—to Adrian.

“Do you think she’ll agree if she learns about our baby?” Carmela was worried.

“She doesn’t have a say in this, Carmela. We announced it to the board already and they agreed. Once the project she has been working on was sealed, I’ll dispose of her and we’ll be happy. For now, let’s just tell her you’re necessary as the surrogate for an heir she couldn’t produce.”

My breath caught in my throat, my fingers tightening around the folder. Adrian, my husband of five years, was planning to throw me away like I was nothing. How could he do this to me when I had helped him build everything he has right now?

I wanted to storm in, to confront them both, but instead, I stepped back. I threw the keys in the nearest bin.

The whispers started before I even made it back to my office.

“Poor Felicity,” someone muttered. “She can’t have kids, so Adrian—”

“Shh,” another voice cut in, but I’d already heard enough. Their pity stung more than their words. I held my head high, ignoring the looks, but each one felt like another crack in the armor I’d built. They thought I didn’t care.

But I did.

That evening, I waited for Adrian in the living room, my hands clenched tightly in my lap. The clock on the mantle ticked loudly, marking every agonizing second until the door opened.

“Felicity,” he greeted casually, as if nothing had happened, his tie loosened and his demeanor infuriatingly calm as if he didn’t betray me.

“Care to explain what I heard today?” I asked, my voice trembling but sharp.

He didn’t flinch, didn’t hesitate. “You mean Carmela?”

I stood, unable to keep my voice steady. “She’s pregnant? With your child?”

“Yes,” he said simply, as if discussing a business arrangement. “It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

My chest tightened. “Nothing? You call having a child with my secretary nothing?"

“It’s not like that,” Adrian said, stepping closer. “She’s just the one carrying my heir. I love you, Felicity. This doesn’t change that.”

I let out a bitter laugh, the sound foreign even to my own ears. “It changes everything, Adrian! I’m your wife. Something like this should have been discussed with me. And, love? Well, your love is bullshit!”

Adrian sighed. “You’re overreacting. This is for the good of the company. Once the baby is born, I’ll dispose of Carmela.”

Lies. Does he really think I was stupid? He was cheating on me with that bitch!

“But for now, Carmela will stay here so I can take care of our baby. Be good to her. She’ll need the larger room, so you’ll move to one of the smaller ones.”

I stared at him, my heart breaking all over again. I’m done and whatever I say, it’ll not change a thing. “Do whatever you want,” I said coldly, turning away.

“Felicity—”

I didn’t let him finish. I walked out of the room, out of the conversation, and out of the life he thought he could control.

The city lights blurred as I drove aimlessly through the streets. I slowed the car and pulled into an unmarked parking lot on the outskirts of town. The building in front of me was plain, nondescript—just like I’d been told.

A woman in a tailored suit sat behind the desk. “What do you need?”

“I need to fake my death,” I said, my voice colder now. “Can you do it for me?”