

Chapter 1 of After My Husband’s Fake Death, He Brought His Pregnant Mistress
On our son's birthday, my husband took him out for a simple celebration. But both of them were killed in a car accident. What was meant to be a memory turned into a lifelong scar.
After that, I spiraled. Depression consumed me, and I attempted to take my own life more than once.
It wasn’t until I was pulled back from the edge again that I was told the cruelest truth of all: the child I had been carrying, my husband’s last gift, was gone.
Out of guilt, I chose to live. Not for myself but for the love I still carried for him and for the baby we lost.
Three months later, while walking through downtown, I looked up at a giant screen and froze. Holden Brennan was standing there, alive, hosting a press conference, proudly announcing Claire Carver.
I couldn’t believe he was still alive.
When I finally returned home, he was there, standing in the living room as if death had never touched him. Alive. Whole. And beside him stood a woman, heavily pregnant.
At that moment, I finally understood that my husband had never died.
Holden spoke without hesitation, "I’ve always loved Claire. If you hadn’t drugged and seduced me, if we hadn’t had that child, I would’ve been with her long ago."
"The fake death was only to protect Claire’s child. Now, I’m bringing her into this house as my rightful wife."
So it turned out that what I believed was love had been nothing but lies. Holden had never loved me. And since that’s the truth, then he’ll pay for every single wound he’s left behind.
……
I had longed for him day and night, and now, there he stood, alive, right in front of me. My eyes blurred as tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.
But Holden stood cold and distant, unmoved. He spoke to me like I was nothing more than the help.
"Claire is pregnant now. Take good care of her. It’s not easy for her."
As he spoke, he gently helped Claire into a seat, his gaze soft, full of tenderness only meant for her.
I stared at the man I once loved, my lips trembling as I forced a smile.
"Honey, it’s me. Why are you back all of a sudden? I’ve missed you so much."
I ran toward him, desperate to hold him, but he shoved me away without hesitation. I crashed to the floor.
Kneeling, I looked up at him in disbelief, my body trembling, tears spilling from my eyes.
"Don’t touch me. Just do your job as the housemaid."
I had given birth to his son. I had mourned him in silence for six months, staying loyal even in death.
And now, he was treating me like a servant to his mistress.
A bitter laugh slipped from my lips as I stared at him, my eyes burning with hatred. But Holden only frowned and continued, "Claire is allergic to mangoes, and she doesn’t eat green vegetables. Make sure you remember that when cooking."
"She likes her room spotless. Clean it thoroughly every day."
I bit my lip, eyes wet with unshed tears, listening as he listed every one of Claire’s preferences. Bitterness rose in my throat. We had been married five years, and not once did he remember what I was allergic to.
"And where’s Brody? Claire likes fluffy things. From now on, he’s her dog."
At the sound of his name, Brody dashed in from the backyard, tail wagging. When he saw me on the floor, he gently tugged at my sleeve with his teeth, his soft face rubbing against my leg, easing my pain for just a moment.
I had found Brody when he was still a stray puppy. Back then, Holden couldn’t stand him, he claimed he was allergic and used to beat him, threatening me never to let a single strand of fur appear in the house.
Brody had been so tiny, so thin. I had begged on my knees for days before Holden finally agreed to let me keep him on one condition: he was to stay in the backyard.
All because Claire said she liked dogs, Holden suddenly had no problem with it. The allergy he once claimed to have was conveniently forgotten. The dog I had raised with love was handed over to someone else like he meant nothing. I didn’t even get a say.
Holden called Brody over. Maybe it had been too long, but Brody still remembered him. He bounded over happily, tail wagging, and jumped onto both him and Claire. She stumbled, clutching her belly in pain.
Holden’s eyes darkened. Without a word, he shoved Brody away and pulled out the same whip he used to discipline him.
I couldn’t stand by. As his owner, I threw myself forward and shielded Brody with my body, the lashes landing hard on my back.
He didn’t hold back. The whip cracked with full force, pain tearing through me until I screamed. My tears spilled, my body trembled uncontrollably before I collapsed in agony.
Holden’s pupils shrank. He hadn’t expected me to protect Brody like that. Just as he looked down, guilt flickering in his eyes, Claire stepped in and gently took his hand, resting it over her belly.
“Brother Holden, it’s okay. I’m fine,” she said sweetly, handing the whip back to him while helping me up. “The dog really is too aggressive. It needs discipline. Poor Alexis got caught in the middle. It hurts me more than it hurts her.”
Her soft voice worked only on Holden. His anger melted as he looked at her with satisfaction, gently stroking her head. As she helped lift me, she wore the smile of a victor.
I glared at her, then used the last of my strength to shove her hand away.
She staggered back deliberately, landing in Holden’s arms with tears brimming in her eyes.
“Brother Holden, I think big sister really hates me. What did I do wrong?”
“No one in this house dares to bully you, Claire,” he said, his voice full of affection.
Seeing the woman he loved appear so wronged, he immediately redirected his fury toward me. He stormed over, his voice thundering as he scolded me for being hostile.
I looked up at his furious face, my own pale, my body trembling. A bitter laugh slipped from my lips. This man, who showered affection on his mistress, couldn’t spare a single glance for his wife. Not once did he ask how I’d survived the past six months. Not once did he ask about the child I lost.
His fury was contagious. My sadness twisted into fierce hatred. As he gripped me, I wiped away my tears and stood firm.
Pointing to my old, yellowed wedding ring, I spoke, “Do you remember this ring? I wore it every day, even after you ‘died.’ I mourned you faithfully for six long months.”
“Why did you fake your death? Why come back now as if nothing happened? Answer me!”
“And don’t you dare lay another hand on Brody? He’s family to me. Next time, I won’t just block the blow…”
He stood there, stunned by my trembling defiance, unable to speak.
Claire coughed softly, laced her fingers through his, and raised their hands high.
“See it clearly now? Brother Holden faked his death because he wanted to be with me. He’s always only loved me.”
But he dropped her hand and lowered his gaze, avoiding my eyes. She didn’t mind. Instead, she stepped closer, flashing a ten-carat yellow diamond.
“This was specially designed by Brother Holden. Isn’t it beautiful?”
Her radiant glow and the care she received stood in sharp contrast to my worn, fading appearance.
She pointed at my threadbare coat and tiny, tarnished diamond ring, then burst out laughing.
Grabbing my hand to inspect the ring, she sneered, “Wow, this is the smallest diamond I’ve ever seen. And it’s turning yellow…”
Her sparkling diamond blinded me, shining as sharply as her malice.
I stared coldly at her fake politeness, forced a smile, and slapped her.
“Claire, are you alright?”
“Alexis, what do you think you’re doing?!”
It wasn’t even a hard slap, but she clutched her belly and dropped to her knees, pretending to have a contraction. Holden, alarmed, rushed to her side, his eyes full of worry.
Then he turned on me, kicking me hard in the stomach. “Now you’ll feel what she felt!”
I collapsed, clutching my belly in pain, curling up in agony. Sweat drenched my forehead as I stared at the loving couple before me with burning hatred.
Tears streamed down my face.
Holden, she only faked a contraction, and you ran to her side. But me? I tried to die again and again for you. I lost our child, and you didn’t even care.
Pain overwhelmed me, and I blacked out. But the tears never stopped flowing freely from my eyes.

















