“Linnea, if you don’t have the surgery soon, your memory will deteriorate quickly and your life could be in danger! Are you really going to risk your life for a man who betrayed you?”
“I agree to the surgery.”
My mother held my hand tightly, tears streaming down her face. “But the doctor said… after the surgery, you might lose all your memories for a month. You need to be mentally prepared.”
“That’s enough. One month is enough time to get a divorce.”
Two weeks ago, I returned early from a business trip abroad.
But I found that my husband, Garren, wasn’t at work. Instead, he was dating a woman who looked almost exactly like me.
Her lower belly was slightly rounded—it was obvious she was pregnant. And… her belly was the same size as mine.
I immediately called Garren, but he showed no guilt at all. “People have to follow their conscience. While you were on your business trip, she was the one by my side. Besides, she’s a pregnant woman with no one to rely on. Where else could she go? If you kick her out now, aren’t you afraid people will talk?”
I froze, as if something had pierced deep into my heart.
So all seven years of our relationship weren’t worth a few months of her company?
I suddenly wanted to know, who would he really choose between a genius designer returning from studying abroad and a secret mistress?
***
The house was completely empty. I instinctively called his assistant.
“Mr. Thayer? Mr. Thayer isn’t at the office today. Didn’t he go shopping with you?”
As soon as I heard this, a thunderclap exploded in my mind. A growing sense of unease gripped me.
At that moment, my phone buzzed urgently. It was a message from my friend, Gissa. [Linnea, look! Could this be your husband?]
I hurriedly opened the video. In it, Garren was holding a woman’s hand, carefully placing a diamond ring on her finger, his eyes filled with unprecedented admiration.
And that woman looked almost exactly like me. Not only that, her lower belly was slightly rounded—the curve was exactly like my pregnant belly.
In an instant, I understood everything.
The video kept playing on loop…
“No, this is too expensive.”
The woman saw the diamond ring and waved her hands to refuse, looking like a frightened rabbit.
Garren brushed her hair aside and gently tucked it behind her ear, his gaze soft. “You deserve the best things in the world.”
I froze. He had once said the same to me long ago.
I forced back my tears and called Garren.
“Why are you calling me all of a sudden? Are you missing me?” His voice was lazy, casual, just like always.
I didn’t want to pretend anymore. I asked directly, “Who is she?”
He was silent for a moment, then admitted without hesitation. “Her name is Fenella. She’s… my subordinate.”
My fingertips began to tremble slightly, but my voice remained calm. “Let her go and I can pretend this never happened.”
But Garren just sighed softly. “Linnea, I can’t do that. She’s been by my side for so long and now she’s pregnant. I can’t just abandon her. Besides, if you kick her out now and things get messy, what would people think of you?”
What would they think of me? I was his lawful wife, who would dare speak against me? It was nothing but an excuse for him to protect Fenella.
I took a deep breath, my voice growing firmer. “Garren, you once said that you would never love anyone else besides me.”
“That was in the past. Fenella’s arrival completely changed my mind. I’m sorry, Linnea. You are still my wife, but she has to stay.”
Then he hung up.
Garren’s firm voice kept echoing in my ears. I stood there stunned for a moment, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
Suddenly, an invisible pressure spread from my temples, like a hammer striking my fragile nervous system.
The world before my eyes began to blur. I forced myself to leave the house and walked to the hospital entrance—but the moment I arrived, my strength gave out and I fainted.
When I woke up, my mother was holding my hand tightly, her words dripping with tears. “Linnea, if you don’t have the surgery soon, your memory will deteriorate quickly and your life could be in danger! Are you really going to risk your life for a man who betrayed you?”
“I’m willing to have the surgery, as soon as possible.” Without thinking, the words slipped out of my mouth.
My mother’s eyes brightened and a smile finally appeared on her face. “Good… but… the doctor said the surgery has serious side effects. After the operation, you may lose all your memories for one month.”
The air fell into silence for a moment.
“One month is enough. Have the doctor arrange the surgery as soon as possible.” My gaze grew even more determined.
Since Garren’s feelings had already changed, it was better for me to end it with my own hands.
And then… forget him.
