My Husband Cheated With His First Love

"Noelle, I'm pregnant."

Elina's smug expression was impossible to miss as she tossed the ultrasound photo onto the table in front of Noelle Kelley. It was Noelle's wedding anniversary. That morning, she'd texted Patrick Jordan, asking him to meet her for dinner at the penthouse of the Grand Hotel. She had something important to discuss.

Instead of Patrick, Elina walked in, delivering what she thought was "good" news—her pregnancy.

"Congratulations," Noelle said, her smile steady, polite, and sincere to the core.

Elina's eyelid twitched in disbelief. "Noelle, are you out of your mind?"

Elina had just dropped the bombshell that she was carrying Patrick's child, and all Noelle could say was congratulations? Noelle's marriage had been nothing but a piece of paper for the last three years. Patrick had leeched off the Kelleys while cheating on her. Surely this had to sting?

Before, Noelle would have lost it—ripped the ultrasound to shreds, demanded hospital proof, thrown a fit. But now, she felt nothing. After battling breast cancer, stomach cancer, and heart disease in silence, she wasn't about to waste what little energy she had left on a lying husband.

Her real reason for meeting Patrick today was to tell him about her health and agree to a divorce, giving him the freedom he so clearly wanted. And he hadn't even shown up. Noelle pushed the ultrasound back toward Elina. "Your baby's first photo. Keep it for the memories."

Elina was caught completely off guard, staring at Noelle's fragile silhouette.

After a beat, Elina scoffed. "Noelle, playing the gracious wife now is pointless. Have you forgotten how you used to act? No matter what, Patrick is never going to love you again."

Noelle's smile didn't waver. "I truly congratulate you. As the fourth—or maybe fifth—mistress, you've finally found the leverage to move up."

Elina's eyes narrowed. She knew Noelle wasn't genuinely happy for her. Despite Noelle's naivety, she'd always been fiercely protective of Patrick, refusing divorce again and again.

"By the way," Noelle added, "I won't be standing in your way with Patrick anymore."

What did she mean by that? Elina felt a chill of hidden meaning. "You... you can't possibly be agreeing to a divorce with Patrick, are you?"

Noelle simply smiled, sidestepping Elina's question.

"Patrick never really cared about the other women, but now that you're carrying his child, your biggest rival is Charley Jenkins."

Charley was Patrick's first love, and much of Noelle's illness had come from the stress of dealing with Patrick's constant cheating. If Elina could outmaneuver Charley, it would be a sort of poetic justice for Noelle.

Elina was stunned. What was wrong with Noelle today, actually encouraging her to go after Charley? She was completely baffled.

The table was spread with a feast of expensive dishes, but neither woman touched a single bite. The meal ended uneaten.

Noelle climbed up to the rooftop garden, looking out at the bustling city below, the glittering lights mocking her. Her pale face carried an empty, indifferent expression. Alone in the world, without family, and now gravely ill—why even hold on? Why beg Patrick for money to endure endless rounds of chemo when she could just end this miserable existence?

*

Down in the hotel lobby, Elina felt uneasy about the whole encounter and called Patrick.

"Mr. Jordan, just as you instructed, I showed Noelle the ultrasound... No! She wasn't angry... She actually congratulated me, said my only rival is Charley, and told me to fight harder..."

Silence on the other end.

Elina hesitated. "Mr. Jordan, Noelle never said whether she wants a divorce... but something about her feels really off."

Patrick was about to ask more when a sharp scream ripped through the phone.

A moment later, Elina's voice trembled. "Mr. Jordan, Noelle... she jumped."

In her final moments, Noelle had caught sight of Charley's huge billboard across the street. Ha... even in death, Charley was there. Fate was cruel.

What Noelle didn't know was that Patrick was right there in the hotel lobby. When he heard the news, he ran toward her, feeling an agony he'd never known before.

*

Crash! A glass shattered, jerking Noelle awake as a man stormed toward her, fury etched on his face, smashing another glass right beside her.

"Noelle, are you trying to get me wasted again? Once was enough! I told you, I have to go to the office. I'm not doing anything else. Stop spying on me all the time."

Noelle was stunned. She slowly lifted her head. This was her and Patrick's home, but... why was Patrick here? He'd moved out ages ago.

The man she'd loved for a decade stood close, his gaze burning with rage. She blinked. Didn't she jump? If she wasn't dead, she should be in a hospital. The table held two untouched breakfast plates and, bizarrely, a bottle of red wine. A bottle of red wine sat absurdly beside the breakfast plates. Then again, she had been drinking it.

Six months into their marriage, Charley had come back, and Patrick spent every waking moment with her, ignoring his work. Out of jealousy, Noelle had slipped sleeping pills into his drink to keep him home. But one of Patrick's people tipped him off, leading to a fight that spiraled into a screaming match before he walked out. After that, he rarely came home.

Back then, a naive Noelle believed a marriage certificate gave her power. The Kelley family had lent Patrick a huge sum to save his company, and he owed them. Later, Patrick did "repay" the Kelleys by merging their assets under his control.

Patrick shouted, "Say something! Cat got your tongue?"

Right! Everything was exactly the same as before!

Noelle realized she'd been given another chance. She was back in time, six months into her marriage, her family still intact. She could change everything now.

Patrick had hit his limit. He didn't want another round of fighting with Noelle. He'd promised Charley he'd meet her in the city center at nine, and he needed to get going.

"Noelle, I can't stand sharing a life with you anymore. You can keep being Mrs. Jordan, but I won't be sharing this home with you!"

He turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Noelle called after him. When Patrick glared back, impatient, she spoke calmly. "If that's how you feel, let's get divorced."