My Vitamins Were Swapped For Contraceptives

“What?”

Eliana Harvey felt like she’d just been struck by lightning. For a moment, she couldn’t speak. Couldn’t even breathe.

She snatched the bottle of vitamins from Zora Morales’ hand, twisted off the cap, and emptied the multicolored pills into her palm.

These were the same multivitamins she’d been taking for three years. How the hell could they be birth control?

“This... this can’t be right. There has to be a mistake.”

“Eliana, I didn’t want to believe it either,” Zora said, her voice calm but firm. “But these results came from multiple independent lab tests. I’m certain. Those vitamins you’ve been taking? They’re contraceptives.”

Zora knew Eliana needed to hear it plainly—needed to feel the weight of it.

The revelation hit Eliana like a punch to the chest. She clung to the vitamin bottle, dazed. So much had happened since last night. Her mind was still reeling.

“Eliana, how did you get these vitamins each time? Or rather—who recommended them to you?”

Zora’s question snapped her back into focus. Eliana tried to remember.

“A few years ago, I was shopping with Iris at the department store, and she introduced me to them. She was trying to conceive back then, too. She said lots of women abroad took them—claimed they were good for reproductive health and boosted immunity.”

“She also recommended a foreign pharmacy service. I’ve been buying them from there ever since.”

Eliana opened the app on her phone and showed Zora. Zora downloaded the same app immediately.

“Eliana, I’m going to order a bottle in my name. I’ll run more tests on them. If my results match yours, we’ll know the supplier is guilty of selling counterfeit medication.”

“But if the bottle I receive contains only vitamins—not contraceptives like yours—then we may have a tampering issue that isn’t linked to the supplier or manufacturer.”

“So... Zora, are you saying someone may have secretly swapped my vitamins with birth control pills?”

Zora’s hypothesis sent a shiver down Eliana’s spine. Just suspecting it made her break out in a cold sweat.

Pharmaceutical sales were tightly regulated. It bewildered her to think anyone would go to such lengths to keep her from conceiving.

Filled with doubt, Eliana checked the surveillance footage from the estate, hoping to catch anyone who might have tampered with her bedside vitamins. Yet, apart from herself, only Elisa Smith, the housekeeper, occasionally tidied the drawer while cleaning.

Elisa had been appointed by Christopher’s grandmother specifically to help Eliana conceive, preparing special soups and nutritious meals every day. It couldn’t have been Elisa. As for Christopher? He never even touched the drawer.

With no leads from the footage, Eliana waited for Zora’s conclusive results, deciding to keep the incident to herself for now.

Later that evening, after learning that Mrs. Mason had woken, Eliana returned to the hospital. Despite everything between her and Christopher, Mrs. Mason had always treated her kindly over the past three years.

As she approached the hospital room, Eliana overheard snippets of conversation between her mother-in-law and Mrs. Mason:

“Mom, I have great news—Christopher has a child now. I’m a grandmother, and you’re a great-grandmother!”

“Really? When did Eliana get pregnant?”

“Oh, not Eliana—Octavia and Christopher’s child.”

“Octavia?”

“Yes. The child is four now. A boy!”

“What? Four years old... So he was born before Christopher married Eliana. That’s outrageous! Keeping such a secret is deceitful!”

“Mom, why are you angry with Christopher? Eliana has been married into the Harvey family for years and hasn’t shown any sign of pregnancy. Thank goodness for Octavia, or our family name would be in jeopardy.”

“But he’s married to Eliana now, and parading another woman’s child around—what will Eliana do?”

“Hmph. If she knows, that’s all the better for us. Mom, I know you don’t like Octavia, but he's part of our family. I've already decided to bring my grandson home from Birmingham soon.”

The words made Eliana freeze at the door. Christopher and this other woman’s child had been a secret from her all this time.

Knowing her mother-in-law was planning to bring Christopher’s illegitimate child into the Harvey household, Eliana chose not to enter and face the humiliation.

She turned to leave—but ran into Christopher in front of the elevator.

“Where have you been today?”

She had vanished early in the morning, and he had called her several times with no response. She usually never missed his calls. And if she did, she would quickly return them.

Noticing her silence and the tears welling in her eyes, he sensed something was wrong.

“Are you not feeling well?”

Thinking she might be unwell, he reached out to check if she had a fever. But Eliana stepped back, evading his touch.

“Christopher, let’s get a divorce!”

Eliana’s voice quivered as she spoke, then she quickly ducked into the elevator.

“What?”

Christopher was still processing her words when his phone rang abruptly. The screen showed only one name: “Octavia.”

“Octavia, what’s going on? Don’t worry. Even if the paparazzi caught you, it’s fine. I’m here...”

As Christopher comforted Octavia over the phone, Eliana, tears streaming down her face, made a call of her own.

“Brad, you mentioned your company urgently needs a few screenwriters. If I come over, would that work?”

“Absolutely. That would be wonderful!”

The man on the line was Bradley Peterson, the son of Eliana’s adoptive parents.

Shortly after Eliana’s marriage, Bradley had pursued a career in film and media abroad, leaving behind the Peterson family real estate company. Recently, Bradley had mentioned he needed experienced screenwriters.

Eliana had graduated with a degree in film studies, hoping to become a successful screenwriter. But her marriage to Christopher right after college had led her to follow his wishes and focus on starting a family.

Now, realizing her three years of devotion had been for nothing, she saw no point in waiting for her mother-in-law to bring Christopher’s child and Octavia into their lives before being pushed aside. She intended to leave willingly—stepping away from the betrayal before it destroyed her.

“Great. Then, Brad, I’ll arrange my travel documents soon and aim to be there next month!”

“That’s fantastic, Eliana—I can’t wait. See you soon!”

Bradley’s voice was warm with anticipation.

When Eliana hung up, she’d already left the hospital. Snow had begun to fall outside. The cold wind bit through her as she bundled her wool coat tighter around herself. She lifted her head and closed her aching eyes. The cool touch on her face—it was hard to tell if it was the snow or her tears...

That night, Eliana didn’t return home. She stayed at Zora Morales’ apartment.

Upon hearing of Eliana’s decision to leave, Zora supported her wholeheartedly. No wife would tolerate a husband’s cheating and a secret child.

The next morning, Eliana returned to the estate to pack her belongings.

Christopher arrived just as she was descending the stairs with her suitcase.

With a few quick strides, he reached out and grabbed her suitcase.

“Eliana, let’s talk!”