Leaving Behind My Nine-Year Marriage

I cut off the person on the phone, my voice quiet as I lowered my gaze and pressed my lips together.

“Just give me a few more days. That’s all I ask.”

When Michael returned to the hospital ward, I had just ended the call.

Noticing the faint smile tugging at the corner of my lips—a smile he hadn’t seen in a long time—something in his chest twisted uncomfortably.

But he had just promised Daniela he’d be home soon to sing lullabies for her and the baby.

So, he didn’t have time to ask who I’d been talking to.

He assumed it was probably my cousin—the only female relative still in contact with me since we got married. After all, I no longer had any friends of my own.

Without turning back, he gathered his files and said coldly, “Ashlyn, something cropped up at the office. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

In the blink of an eye, tomorrow had passed and the day after.

And the day after that—he never showed up.

Instead, thanks to mutual acquaintances, I kept receiving videos of him and Daniela.

He took her to dinner, at galas.

He looked like a giddy young boy in love, showing her off to everyone like she was the greatest prize.

On the day I was discharged from the hospital, Michael posted a nine-grid photo on his social media.

In the golden hues of sunset, he stood on a romantic hot air balloon platform, gently cupping Daniela’s rosy cheeks as they kissed passionately.

I left a comment.

[Wishing you two a lifetime of love, and a healthy baby on the way.]

Ten minutes later, my phone rang. It was Michael.

I didn’t pick up.

Thirty minutes after that, I finished the discharge process alone.

And just as I walked past the OB-GYN department, I saw Michael, and beside him was Daniela.

I overheard a young nurse at the consultation desk say sweetly to Daniela.

“Mrs. Hudson, your husband really adores you. He comes with you every time, and even warms the ultrasound gel himself so you won’t feel cold during the checkup.”

The surrounding pregnant women looked at her with open admiration.

My hand moved subconsciously to my stomach.

I remembered...

There had been a child here once.

On the day of the car accident, I suffered a miscarriage due to blood loss. I cried while making a video call to Michael.

But all I saw was a naked Daniela on the screen, smiling as she said, “Mrs. Hudson, your husband lost a game to me, so as punishment, he’s currently tied to the bed. Is there something you need from him?”

I said nothing and hung up.

Not even a minute passed before Michael called back.

Holding a teary-eyed, wronged-looking Daniela in his arms, he exploded at me.

“You’re so petty and pathetic, Ashlyn. Always making trouble!”

And then, with disgust in his voice, he added, “You couldn’t even hold on to your own baby. What can someone like you possibly do right?”

“Honestly, I wish that truck had finished the job and killed you.”

Snapping back to the present, I was about to take a detour and walk away— but Michael walked toward me with that cold expression and snapped, “Why are you just standing there like an idiot?”

Startled, I instinctively tried to explain. “I wasn’t following you. I really just ran into you by coincidence. I’m sorry if I disturbed you.”

“Wait.”

He frowned, and at the sound of that single word, I caught the flicker of jealousy in Daniela’s eyes.

She clutched his arm a little tighter and smiled at me sweetly. “Mrs. Hudson, thank you again for the blood donation. Without you, I’d still be so dizzy today. You saved me and my baby!”

“Michael, won’t you bring Mrs. Hudson home with us? Please?”

Michael dotingly tapped the tip of her nose and gently replied, “My sweet angel, whatever you say goes.”

Since I had to return to the house to gather my things anyway, I didn’t refuse Daniela’s “kindness.”

Inside the spacious black car, silence hung heavily—until, as if right on cue, I spotted something wedged between the seat cushions.

A pair of still-damp lace panties.

“Oh my!” Daniela gasped. “How did that end up here?”

“Michael, didn’t you say you took care of it already?”