My Vitamins Were Swapped For Contraceptives

Outside the solicitor's office, Eliana Harvey waited for Christopher Harvey to arrive so they could begin the divorce process. After everything that had happened the night before, she knew their marriage was past saving. Even if Octavia’s child had been conceived before the wedding, even if he’d never physically cheated, the way he focused on Octavia and their child—the favoritism—was something she could neither forgive nor accept.

She waited until the office closed for lunch, and finally spotted Christopher heading toward her.

“Eliana, is this your handiwork?” Christopher demanded, storming up the steps and shoving his phone in her face.

“What are you talking about?” Eliana asked, confused—until she saw the photos on his phone. Pictures of Christopher with Octavia and their child had leaked online. Octavia was a high-profile actress, and having a child with a married man was plastered all over the entertainment news—a full-blown scandal.

Eliana was taken aback. Why was Christopher—when she was the victim—coming at her with such anger?

“What do you mean, Christopher?”

“Are you really going to play dumb?” he said through gritted teeth, his grip tightening around her wrist. “Did you send that text this morning, threatening I’d regret it if I didn’t show up? Is this your doing?”

“So, Christopher, you’re accusing me of leaking your affair online?”

Stunned by his anger and accusations, Eliana felt she had to clarify. “I didn’t do it. The message I sent was just…”

She remembered what he’d told her before—that he didn’t want to upset his grandmother because of her fragile health. She’d been afraid he wouldn’t show for the divorce, so she’d sent him a firm text to make sure he followed through. All she’d meant was that if he didn’t come, she’d go ahead and file on her own.

“Enough, Eliana!” Christopher barked, cutting her off before she could finish.

“Mark my words: if anything happens to Octavia and Gage because of this, I won’t let you off the hook!” With one last cold, heartless warning, he turned and walked away.

Eliana stood at the office entrance, watching his car disappear. The chill wind slipped down her collar, and she wrapped her arms around her shaking shoulders. This was the man she’d been married to for three years. He had betrayed her and hurt her—and now he was blaming her for a scandal involving another woman.

“That jerk Christopher, throwing you under the bus to protect her? What kind of man does that?” Zora Morales fumed when she pulled up to pick Eliana up. She was furious at how Christopher had misunderstood and insulted her friend, but she couldn’t deny a grim satisfaction that the media had finally caught wind of Christopher, Octavia, and their love child. “Octavia having a baby out of wedlock with a married man? That’s going to hit her career in the entertainment industry hard. Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person!”

Unlike Zora, Eliana stayed calm. She stared out the window at the familiar city, saying a silent goodbye. She’d planned to finish the divorce and then leave, but now she didn’t want to wait another day.

“Zora, my visa was approved this morning. I’m leaving in a couple of days. Please take care of yourself.”

Eliana glanced back at Zora, her heart tight with reluctance to leave behind her closest friend.

“Why so soon?” Zora asked, surprised. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her best friend—a sister, really. Still, she understood that leaving was the only way Eliana could escape this deep despair.

Determined to move on, Eliana booked a flight for the next day. Her luggage, however, was still at the mansion. The last time she’d tried to leave, Christopher had stopped her. And earlier, the housekeeper had refused to tell her where her suitcase was hidden.

Eliana decided to return to the mansion while the housekeeper was out on her usual afternoon shopping trip. As she approached the door, a group of tabloid reporters suddenly swarmed her:

“Ma’am, are you Mrs. Harvey, the wife of the CEO of Harvey Group? Did you know about today’s news regarding your husband’s illegitimate child?”

“There have been rumors for years that actress Octavia was Mr. Harvey’s true love. Were you aware of their past? And why didn’t Mr. Harvey marry Octavia instead?”

“When you and Mr. Harvey married, had he already ended things with Octavia? When did you learn about their child?”

“Or has Mrs. Harvey known about the child all along and silently approved?”

The reporters bombarded her with questions, leaving Eliana momentarily stunned, unable to respond.

Three years ago, when she married Christopher, there had been no wedding ceremony because his father had died shortly before. Over the years, Christopher had never included her in public appearances, making this her first exposure as Mrs. Harvey—in the most ironic way possible.

As Eliana stood frozen, unsure how to handle the press, a luxury car pulled up to the mansion entrance. An elegant middle-aged woman stepped out—Winona. A sense of foreboding washed over Eliana as her mother-in-law approached.

Sure enough, Winona walked straight to the reporters and spoke without hesitation.

“I'm Winona Harvey, Christopher’s mother. Thank you all for your interest in our family matters. Allow me to answer your questions.”

“First, as his mother, I know my son’s heart. Over the years, the only woman he has truly loved is Octavia. I admire her goodness and understanding. She was always our ideal choice for a daughter-in-law.”

“Unfortunately, my son was ensnared by a manipulative woman, which led to his separation from Octavia. Noble as she is, Octavia kept her pregnancy a secret and moved abroad with the child.”

Her words set the reporters off at once:

“Who is this manipulative woman who came between Christopher and Octavia?”

“What do you think?” Winona sneered, casting a mocking look at a pale-faced Eliana.