While I Waited, He Built Another Family

My husband was an elite mercenary. Three years ago, shortly after we got engaged, he accepted an S-Rank emergency mission. Before he left, he held me close and said, "This is my last mission. After this, I'm done being a mercenary. When I come back, we'll get married." I believed him. And I waited for more than a thousand days and nights. Three months ago, he finally came home. I thought my three years of waiting had finally come to an end. But just moments ago, I was on my way to tell him that I was pregnant with his child when I overheard his conversation with his lieutenant outside the study. "What about Vivian and Ethan? Ethan is already over two years old. He's your biological son. You can't hide this forever. If Miss Moretti ever finds out..." My husband shot his lieutenant a cold glare. "She'll never find out. The only child I'll ever acknowledge publicly is the one Isabella gives birth to. Tell Vivian to keep both herself and Ethan quiet." His lieutenant hesitated. "Aren't you afraid she'll leave you if she ever finds out the truth?" Adrian looked confident. "Isabella loves me too much. She won't leave." Ethan? Three years old? His biological son? So while I had been waiting all those years for him to come back and marry me, he had already built another family. He even had a two-year-old son with another woman. I stumbled back to my bedroom and called my father. "Dad, I want to come back to the family." Chapter 1 "What's wrong, Isabella? Weren't you the one who insisted on waiting for him for three years? What happened?" "Dad." The moment I opened my mouth, tears streamed down my face. Even though I didn't say a word, my father seemed to sense my emotions through the phone. After a long pause, he spoke gently. "My precious girl, don't cry. You're the little princess of the Moretti family. No one gets to make you cry. Dad's coming to take you home." After hanging up, I gently placed a hand over my stomach. "Baby, from now on, it's just the two of us. We don't need that bad daddy anymore." My mind drifted back to three years ago. When Adrian accepted that S-Rank emergency mission, he made me a promise before he left. "When I come back, "I'll marry you." Just that one sentence was enough. I believed him. And I waited for three years. During those three years, I heard countless rumors. People said Adrian had probably died during the mission. Others said he'd run away long ago and was never coming back. I ignored every rumor. All I did was count the days, waiting for him to come back and marry me. The conversation between Adrian and his lieutenant kept replaying in my mind. It felt as though thousands of needles had pierced my heart. The pain spread through my entire body, leaving me unable to breathe. Adrian had cheated on me three years ago. The three-year mission had been nothing more than a lie. All so he could stay with another woman and their child. The thought was enough to make my legs give out beneath me. I collapsed onto the floor. During those three years, because of the nature of his work and the confidentiality of his missions, I was never allowed to contact him first. I could only wait for him to contact me. Sometimes after a few days. Sometimes after several weeks. Whenever I didn't hear from him, I lay awake at night worrying. I was terrified of getting news about him. And even more terrified of hearing nothing at all. Through countless nights of crying myself to sleep, the memories of our five years together were the only thing that kept me going. Until he finally completed his mission and came back to me. Just as I sat there, completely lost, Adrian walked into the bedroom. The moment he saw me sitting on the floor, his expression changed. "Isabella, the floor's cold. Why are you sitting down there? Are you not feeling well?" Chapter 2 Adrian looked at me with a face full of concern. His beautiful eyes were filled with nothing but my reflection, just like every day before. Whether it was during the five years we were together before he left, or the past few months since he'd returned, Adrian had always treated me wonderfully. I truly didn't want to believe what I'd just heard. I quietly locked my phone and forced a smile. "I think my blood sugar dropped for a second. I just lost my balance. I'm fine." Only then did Adrian let out a sigh of relief. He carefully helped me to my feet. "Let's go to the Maldives tomorrow. I'll have my lieutenant book the flights. You've always loved the ocean. How about we take our wedding photos on the beach?" Adrian was as thoughtful as ever. But after what I'd just heard, those words only made me feel sick. "I don't want to." He froze for a moment, then gently placed his hand over mine. "What's wrong, Isabella? Why are you unhappy? Did something happen? We promised each other, didn't we? No matter what happens, we don't keep secrets from each other." Hearing those words, I finally couldn't hold it in anymore. I looked him straight in the eyes. "Adrian, is there really nothing you're hiding from me?" He paused for a moment, then smiled faintly. "What could I possibly be hiding from you?" I fought back the tears burning behind my eyes and nodded lightly. I didn't scream. I didn't demand answers. If the man I had loved for eight years could look me in the eyes and lie without hesitation, there was nothing left for me to ask. "Good. Let's get some sleep. I'm tired." "Good. Let's get some sleep. I'm tired." Early the next morning, we were woken by a knock at the door. Adrian opened it. A woman stood outside with red, tearful eyes. In her arms was a little boy, about two years old. "Adrian, Ethan kept crying for his daddy. He wouldn't sleep all night. I know you told me not to come here, but I really had no choice." A trace of panic flashed across Adrian's face. He instinctively turned to look at me. "Isabella, don't misunderstand. This is Vivian, the medic on our team. Her husband was my teammate and one of my closest friends. He died protecting me during a mission. I've only been helping take care of her and Ethan because I felt sorry for them." Before I could say anything, Vivian spoke through her tears. "Miss Moretti, I know you and Adrian are getting married. I didn't want to bother him. But Ethan is still so young. He keeps asking for his daddy. I really don't know what to do." I cut her off and asked calmly, "If Ethan wants his father, Adrian, are you his father?" Adrian shot Vivian a sharp glare before turning back to me. "Of course not. He's already over two years old. How could I possibly have a child that old? His father died protecting me. I've been looking after them ever since. Ethan just sees me as his father. It's all a misunderstanding." I studied the little boy's face carefully. He was still young. But his features looked remarkably like Adrian's. My father would be here tomorrow night to take me home. I didn't want to make a scene. Suppressing the pain in my chest, I nodded. "I believe you. Take good care of them. I'm going upstairs to get some more rest." I turned and walked upstairs. Adrian followed close behind me. "Isabella, are you upset? I promise they won't affect us." Before he could finish, Vivian spoke again, her voice trembling pitifully. "Adrian, while you were away this past month, Ethan hasn't been eating or sleeping well. He's not feeling well either. I want to take him to the hospital for a thorough check-up. But I don't know anyone here. Could you take us?" "You know I have no one left. Ethan is all I have. If anything happens to him, I won't be able to go on." I turned to look at Adrian. He didn't answer right away. But the look in his eyes gave him away. He was worried about that little boy. I gave a slight nod. "He's just a child. If he's sick, that's what matters. You should take them to the hospital. After all, his father died saving your life." Relief spread across Adrian's face. Even his voice became noticeably lighter. "I'll take them to the hospital and come right back. Thank you, Isabella. Thank you for understanding." As soon as he finished speaking, he walked straight to the door and lifted Ethan into his arms. The movement was so natural that it was obvious he'd done it countless times before. He was in such a hurry that he didn't even change out of his pajamas. I watched Ethan rest his head comfortably on Adrian's shoulder. Then I watched the three of them walk away together. They looked exactly like a family of three. I placed a hand over my stomach. Our child was inside me too. But Adrian's first thought was never about me. My heart felt as though it had been thrown into a bottomless abyss. It kept sinking until there was nothing left. Chapter 3 After they left, I went to the hospital alone. The doctor smiled as she looked over my test results. "Everything looks good. You're about eight weeks along, and the baby is developing normally." She reminded me to take my prenatal vitamins every day and scheduled another checkup for two weeks later. When I got home, I began packing. I donated most of the things I didn't plan to take with me and packed only what truly mattered. Adrian returned that afternoon. The moment he stepped inside and saw how empty the house looked, he frowned. "Isabella, why does the house look so empty?" "I donated some things. I wanted to replace them." He gave me a suspicious look and was about to say something when Vivian appeared behind him with Ethan. She lowered her eyes apologetically. "I'm sorry for disturbing your life. Once Ethan gets better, we'll leave." Her words sounded humble, but her hand tightened around Ethan's shoulder. Then she looked up at Adrian with red eyes, as though she had nowhere else in the world to go. Adrian immediately turned to me. "Isabella, Ethan's condition isn't very good. The doctor said he'll need long-term treatment. Vivian and Ethan don't know anyone here." "So I told them they could stay with us for now. I'm already talking to an agent about renting the apartment downstairs. They'll move out in a week." I closed my eyes tightly, trying to suppress the bitterness rising in my chest. Before he left this morning, he had promised me that they would never affect our lives. And now, he wanted them to move into our home. When I opened my eyes again, my expression had already calmed. I was just about to speak when I noticed Vivian standing at my bedroom door, holding Ethan's hand. "Miss Moretti, please don't blame Adrian. He's only worried about Ethan. Ever since I was pregnant, Adrian has taken on the responsibilities my late husband should have had. So it's only natural that Ethan depends on him." "He's still so young. I can't explain to him that Adrian isn't really his father. But if you're really unhappy, I'll take Ethan and leave." I lowered my eyes and looked at Ethan's pale little face. I was going to be a mother soon. No matter what his parents had done, I couldn't bring myself to turn away a sick child. "Fine. They can stay." Tomorrow, I would be gone anyway. Whatever kind of family they wanted to be after that had nothing to do with me. The thought should have made it easier. Instead, it only made my heart ache for the future I had once believed belonged to me. Chapter 4 Adrian visibly relaxed. "I'll make dinner tonight. You should rest." Vivian immediately followed him toward the kitchen. "I'll help. I know what Ethan likes." Ethan sat alone at the dining table.He looked up at me and pointed toward the counter. "I want toast." I hesitated, then walked over to get it for him. Looking at his small face, I couldn't help wondering whether my own child would be this cute someday. But the moment I leaned closer, the innocence disappeared from Ethan's face. He glared at me. "You're a bad woman." "You're trying to steal my daddy." "I hate you." "When you leave, Daddy and Mommy can be together forever." Before I could respond, he grabbed a piece of toast covered in peanut butter and took a bite. Seconds later, his expression changed. Before he could finish chewing, he suddenly looked like he couldn't breathe. His little face turned bright red. Clutching his throat, he fell heavily from the chair. The sudden scene stunned me. I hurried over to check on him. No matter what he had just said to me, he was still only a child. I couldn't stand there and watch something happen to him. Just then, Vivian let out a piercing scream. "Isabella! What are you doing!" She rushed over, shoved me aside, and anxiously called Ethan's name over and over. When he didn't respond, she stood up and looked toward the kitchen counter. Then she noticed the empty peanut butter jar beside him. Her eyes turned red as she looked at me and shouted, "Miss Moretti! If you don't want Ethan and me staying here, we'll leave! But why would you do something like this to a child? He's only three years old You could have killed him!" "Ethan has been allergic to peanut since he was little. I've never let him eat anything like this. How could you be so cruel? You actually gave him peanut butter!" "I didn't. I didn't give it to him." But Vivian didn't give me a chance to explain. She cut me off immediately. "So are you saying Ethan went into the kitchen, found the peanut butter, and spread it on the toast himself? He's only three! What could he possibly know?" Without even looking at me, Adrian strode forward, picked Ethan up from the floor, and headed straight for the door. "Enough. We're taking him to the hospital first." He didn't say a single word to me. But after five years together, I could clearly feel it. He was blaming me. As he walked past me, I grabbed his wrist and looked at the side of his face. Word by word, I said, "Adrian, it wasn't me." He stopped. A flash of impatience crossed his face. "Let go. I need to get Ethan to the hospital." The moment he finished speaking, Vivian shoved me hard. Then she followed Adrian straight out the door. The push came so suddenly that I wasn't prepared. I fell heavily onto the floor. My lower back slammed into the corner of the coffee table. Instinctively, my hands flew to protect my stomach. A sharp pain instantly spread through my entire body. I couldn't help crying out in pain. A sharp pain instantly spread through my entire body. I couldn't help crying out in pain. Adrian paused and was just about to turn around. But Ethan suddenly began crying weakly in his arms. "Daddy…" Adrian's attention immediately snapped back to him. The next second, the door slammed shut. I sat on the floor, one hand protecting my stomach, staring at the closed door. My tears finally fell. Not because he had chosen Ethan. But because, even after everything, some foolish part of me had still hoped he would turn back for me. He didn't. And this time, neither would I. I pulled out my phone and called my father. "Come get me. Now." Five minutes later, several Moretti family bodyguards arrived. Enduring the pain in my lower back, I forced myself to stand. The bodyguard immediately stepped forward and supported me. With his support, I slowly walked out of the house. Outside, a black luxury sedan was already waiting. The bodyguard opened the door for me. I got into the car and left the place where I had once believed I would spend the rest of my life. Before we drove away, I sent Adrian one final message. We're over, Adrian. Then I removed my SIM card and threw it away.