I went back to the villa that was supposed to be our marital home to pack my things and leave.
But the password lock on the front door failed again and again.
Just as I was about to call Rachel, the door opened from the inside.
Tyler stood there wearing my pajamas, arms crossed, his face full of annoyance.
"What are you doing here?"
Before I could even question him, Rachel arrived. She immediately pulled Tyler behind her as if shielding him, then explained hurriedly, "Ivan, don't misunderstand. Ever since I got pregnant, I've been sleeping lightly. Tyler moved into the villa so he could take care of me more conveniently."
"Besides, the lease on the apartment near the hospital hasn't expired yet. Why don't you keep staying there for now? Just make do for a bit. Once the baby is born and we get our marriage certificate, you can move back in."
I stared at her in disbelief.
"I paid half for this house too. On what grounds did you let him move in without my consent? And on what grounds do you get to decide where I live?"
What she didn't know was that this villa was worth far more than she imagined.
My father, unwilling to see me suffer, had covered eighty percent of the price in advance.
On paper, Rachel and I had each paid half.
A trace of guilt flickered across her face as she looked away.
The next second, Tyler shouted smugly, "Because the property deed has my name and Rachel's on it!"
"I didn't even call security to kick you out—purely out of respect for Rachel!"
I turned to Rachel in shock. Only then did she explain reluctantly, "Tyler grew up with me. He's practically family. He won't be getting married, and he'll be raising the child in the future. I'm the mother—of course, I have to leave him some security."
"Besides, you and I are going to get married sooner or later. I won't abandon you no matter what. Does a name on a deed really matter more than our relationship?"
Staring at the woman in front of me, spouting such twisted logic, I almost couldn't recognize her.
I had thought she simply didn't love me enough.
I never imagined that even the little affection she had left was already soaked in calculation.
This was the woman I had humbled myself to love for ten years?
It wasn't worth it.
Not at all.
Seeing my eyes reddened, Rachel instinctively took out a cigarette and lit it—then suddenly remembered she was pregnant. Flustered, she hurried away to extinguish it.
Tyler seized the chance to step closer, jabbing my shoulder hard with his finger.
"I'm sick of you petty, effeminate little men who nitpick over everything! Rachel wants to support me—what's it to you?"
"If you know what's good for you, get the hell out of here!"
I raised my hand to knock his away—but he suddenly shoved me with both hands, hard, sending me straight into the artificial lake beside the villa.
Hearing the splash, Rachel rushed back. Tyler spread his hands innocently.
"I didn't touch him."
Her hurried steps slowed. She looked at me struggling in the water, her gaze icy.
"That's enough. Stop pretending."
"Tyler isn't the kind of person who plays these petty tricks."
"Quit this pathetic act and climb out yourself."
Water flooded my mouth. My legs began to cramp.
"It was him—! Save... save me!"
Realizing something was wrong, panic finally flashed across Rachel's face. She reached out instinctively.
Suddenly, Tyler clutched his head and cried out, "Rachel, the wind is so strong. My head hurts again—it's killing me!"
She hesitated for only a second. Then she turned around decisively, shielding Tyler as she led him back into the villa.
Bang.
The door slammed shut—as if sealing off my last chance at survival.
I didn't know how long I struggled. Just as my consciousness began to fade, a pair of pale hands finally pulled me out of the water.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a face that was both familiar, and strangely distant.
