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Stepping into Hardship in Lavish Attire
Stepping into Hardship in Lavish Attire

Stepping into Hardship in Lavish Attire

8.3
/ 10
In the modern novel Stepping into Hardship in Lavish Attire, Zara Clare endures her billionaire husband Jonathan’s endless betrayal. But when his mistress leaves her bleeding and losing her unborn child, Jonathan abandons her to die. Surviving the tragedy, Zara vows to break free from his toxic family.

Chapter 1 of Stepping into Hardship in Lavish Attire

After ten years of marriage, Jonathan Richards had slept with nearly every colleague and friend I had.

I pretended not to see, choosing instead to focus on maternity checkups as usual with my eight-month-old belly. Until one time, I was on my way to a routine checkup when his latest fling drove me down.

I bled uncontrollably and begged him to take me to the hospital.

Jonathan looked at me with a face full of disgust.

"Zara Clare, when did you become so good at faking accidents?" His voice dripped with contempt. "If you think putting on an act will make me care about you, you are wrong. Even if you died in front of me, I wouldn’t spare you a glance."

After saying that, he took his new fling and drove away, leaving me there to bleed out alone.

By the time someone got me to the hospital, the baby in my womb had already suffocated and died.

My mom, unable to bear the shock, died from a fatal heart attack.

When I regained consciousness, my heart was already numb.

Sitting beside me was Jonathan’s grandfather, his face lined with sorrow.

"Let me go," I said flatly. "Whatever I owed the Richards Family, I have paid with my life."

——

My phone buzzed incessantly with incoming messages. I glanced down to find my screen flooded with photos—Jonathan and his mistress, Lily Patricia, tangled in each other’s arms.

While I had been fighting for my life, they had been celebrating in a five-star hotel, their bodies covered in love bites.

In one of the pictures, Lily rested against his chest, her smile full of provocation.

Unaware of the full extent of his grandson’s cruelty, this old man still wanted to make a last-ditch effort. He placed a stack of documents in front of me—ownership shares of the Richards Corporation.

"Zara, Richards is not a bad person at heart. You have loved him for so many years—can’t you give him another chance?" He pleaded. "As long as I'm here, no one will take your position as Mrs. Richards."

I didn’t respond. Instead, I played the video Lily had just sent me.

The sound of two people lingering immediately spread through the hospital room.

Su Shanshan gasped and asked:

‘Richards, do you really not feel bad about leaving Zara on the road like that?’ Lily’s voice was laced with amusement.

Jonathan, his lips pressed against her neck, let out a low chuckle. ‘Why would I? You are the only one I love. Even if she gave birth to my child, she’d never compare to you.’

The crude betrayal made the old man’s face turn ghostly pale. His body trembled, veins bulging in rage.

After a long, heavy sigh, he finally relented.

"The Richards Family has wronged you," he said. "I will handle the divorce. In seven days, you will be free."

His voice softened as he continued, "As for your mom and child’s burial arrangements…"

A nurse walked in, cradling a small, lifeless bundle.

Even fate seemed unwilling to let me continue suffering in this marriage.

My baby had never even taken a breath.

I turned my head away, struggling to steady my breath.

"Bury the child with the Richards Family. My mom's ashes… I will take them with me."

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