He Took My Children, I Took His Peace

I went for my routine prenatal checkup and she called me wasteful.

Yet the thirty million dollars jeweled necklace around her neck sparkled blindingly.

“Running to the hospital all the time—don’t you get it? If something happens to the baby, I’ll lose my bet with Mark again.”

“I don’t want your husband. He’s too rough every time we sleep together. He even hurt me last night. Miss Joyce, please control your husband!”

Another bet.

Poor unborn children—seven of them—never even got to call me “Mom” before leaving me forever.

My palms clenched into fists.

Red-eyed, I glared at her.

"Miss Murphy, you have legs, don't you? You can leave anytime you want—no one's stopping you! Is being a mistress something to be proud of?"

Valerie's eyes reddened as she clutched her chest, wounded. “Miss Joyce, do you think I want this?”

Mark supported Valerie's shoulders, his cold gaze piercing me. “You know Val is strong-willed and keeps her promises. How could she leave without winning the bet? Why must you humiliate her like this?”

Valerie hit Mark’s chest, crying until her eyes were red. “This is all your fault! If you hadn’t trapped me, I wouldn’t have to live with the shame of being called a mistress.”

Tenderly, Mark wiped away her tears and softened his tone, “Only the unloved are mistresses, you’re not.”

My breath caught and I looked up in disbelief.

“Stop crying. You're newly pregnant. Too much crying isn't good for the baby.”

My whole body trembled and my chest hurt.

A child?

Valerie has a child?

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“I didn't want to tell you because I feared you'd react like this.” Mark’s voice was calm, but the contempt in his eyes stabbed me deeply. “Looks like Val was right after all—you really are jealous of her.”

I was so shocked to see his reaction.

The way he looked at me was like how he’d stared at the driver who hit me with his car—wild and furious, like he was ready to lose control and beat him to a pulp.

Only when I held him did he stop.

Mark cried, saying he loved me, so he couldn't bear anyone hurting me.

Yet now, for another woman, he repeatedly hurt our child, repeatedly betrayed my trust.

Valerie shyly buried her face in Mark's chest, lifting her chin triumphantly at me. “No name, no status. I won't bear your child! Unless... you divorce her!”

I slowly turned to look at Mark. My palms clenched in unease.

Would he agree to Valerie's demand?

Mark frowned, glancing at me. His tone was unexpectedly light as he said, “Fine.”

I held my breath when I heard it and tears streamed down my face as I turned to leave.

Back home, I began packing my things only to find the pledge Mark wrote when he was eighteen.

[I, Mark Morgan, swear I will never betray Luisa Joyce. I will cherish her, trust her and love her forever. If I break this vow, I’ll spend my life alone, never knowing love again.]

A lifetime turned out to be only seven years.

Mark had just entered the room. 

He didn't see me toss the paper into the trash.

This fool husband still believed I was carrying his child.

“It's just an act. You're still pregnant. No need to empty everything out for real.”

I let out a mocking laugh. “Then how else could I calm Valerie down? If she ignored you, you’d be mad again, wouldn’t you?”

Mark fell silent for a moment.

After a while, he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.

“You know I care deeply for her. This divorce is only temporary. Once she gives birth, I'll come back to you, okay?”