I Dropped My Pregnancy Test, He Cradled His Mistress

When the darkness swallowed me whole, I seemed to see that snowy night from three years ago again—the faint breathing of my baby inside the incubator, flickering, weakening… until it went completely still. When I opened my eyes again, all I saw was the stark white ceiling of the hospital. The sharp scent of disinfectant pierced my nose. Instinctively, my hand went to my lower belly. A doctor noticed that I was awake and spoke softly. “Congratulations. Your baby is safe for now, but you need to rest. You mustn’t be stressed again, or you might lose your baby.” I placed my hand over my belly. The faint rise and fall beneath my palm felt fragile. “Thank you, Doctor,” I murmured, then glanced around the room, searching for the person I desperately hoped would be there. But apart from the doctor who had just left, there was no one else. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. “So it wasn’t him. Maybe the housekeeper brought me here.” I laughed at myself. “Well, that’s better anyway. One less favor I’ll owe him.” Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, my phone buzzed on the bedside table. The screen displayed two messages from two different senders. The first was from Gifford. His words were curt and commanding. [Send over your Grandma’s moon necklace. Dakota likes it. Send it over right now.] My chest tightened, the air catching in my throat. That necklace… It was my grandmother’s dying gift to me. [Gifford] I typed, my fingers trembling. [You know perfectly well that necklace was left to me by my grandmother before she passed. And yet, for Dakota’s sake, you’re asking me to hand over the last keepsake of the only person who truly loved me the most.] I stared at the screen for a long time. Then, one word at a time, I deleted the message until there was nothing left but silence. The second message was from Devon Ulmann. I vaguely remembered calling him when I was half-conscious, begging for help. I’d thought that after rejecting his proposal, we’d never cross paths again. But in my most desperate moment, I didn’t expect that it was his number I had instinctively dialed. [Sorry, I couldn’t stay to see you wake up. But don’t worry. Your baby is safe. If you need anything, call me anytime, and I’ll come to you immediately.] [And hey, about what I said before? It still stands. If you ever change your mind, I’ll be waiting to marry you.] My fingers hovered above the screen, unsure if I should reply. Devon and I had grown up together, two children of powerful families, who everyone believed were destined to become in-laws one day. But in the end, I chose Gifford—a man with nothing to his name—and turned down Devon’s proposal. After our marriage, I secretly used my family’s influence and resources to help Gifford build his business empire. Whenever he faced financial trouble, I’d invest in his company under someone else’s name. It was no exaggeration that everything he had today… had been built on the sacrifices I made without him knowing. Suddenly, the door burst open with a crash from a heavy kick. “Austria! Are you dead or what?!” Gifford stormed in, his voice full of anger. His eyes darted to the phone in my hand, though he didn’t bother to see what was on the screen. “It was just a necklace!” he shouted with a scoff. “You couldn’t even bother to reply? Don’t tell me you didn’t see my message!” “I’m hospitalized,” I said hoarsely, my voice weak. My lower belly throbbed faintly with pain. “Hospitalized?” He gave a cold laugh, his gaze sweeping over the bed with disdain. “Putting on a show for who, exactly? Dakota’s been crying from chest pains ever since you refused to give her the necklace—” “That necklace,” I interrupted, my voice trembling, “is my grandmother’s heirloom, Gifford. You know exactly how much it means to me.” “It’s just a necklace,” he dismissed. “Once you hand it over to Dakota, I’ll buy you a few others, whichever ones you like.” He stepped closer, towering over me. “Listen to me. Have someone send it to her now. You owe Dakota that much. After all, you’re the one who set fire to her place.” He gave a derisive snort. “And to think you’d go so far as to fake an illness just to stalk me to the hospital? Your shamelessness makes me sick.” I didn’t argue this time. I only stared at him—the urgency in his eyes, the coldness in his voice. That look… It was the concern he had for Dakota, and the indifference he had for me. “So you knew I was here all along,” I muttered. “And even knowing that, you’d rather believe I’m pretending, just so you can force me to hand that necklace over to another woman, is that it?” He nodded impatiently, then sneered. “Haven’t you used enough tricks over the years? You think I’d still fall for them?” A sharp pain tore through my belly again. This time, I had to grip the blanket tightly. I knew then that if I didn’t give Dakota the necklace, Gifford wouldn’t let me go. That was exactly why, all these years, that woman had the nerve to taunt and provoke me. “As you wish,” I said finally, my throat dry, the words scraping out between clenched teeth. “I’ll send her the necklace.” Giving in to what they wanted wasn’t surrender. It was survival… for the sake of the life still growing inside me. “It’s in the bottom drawer of my vanity. Have someone pick it up.” He froze for a moment, surprised by how quickly I gave in. Then, a smug smile flashed across his face as he turned to leave. “Get out,” I said quietly, my tone calm but final. “Once she has it, tell her never to appear in front of me again.” He paused at the door, glaring back at me. For a second, it seemed he wanted to say something. But instead, he just scoffed and slammed the door behind him. Finally, silence returned to the room. I picked up my phone again and quickly typed a message. [Five days from now, come pick me up. I’ll have the divorce papers ready by then.] After a pause, I added another line. [You meant what you said, right?] The moment I hit the send button, the pain in my belly seemed to ease a little. Devon’s reply came almost instantly. [I meant it. I’ll wait for you.] At that moment, sunlight filtered through the window, falling warm and golden on the back of my hand. ‘This time,’ I told myself, ‘I will never look back again.’

I didn’t hesitate for a second. As soon as I completed the discharge paperwork, I went straight home and started packing. The sound of a key turning in the lock came just as I was stuffing a folded pile of clothes into my suitcase. The zipper was only halfway closed, leaving a few of my favorite dresses exposed. When Gifford pushed the door open, his gaze swept across the open suitcase, and his brows immediately drew together. “Packing?” he asked, his voice carrying a note of suspicion. Flustered, I pressed a knit sweater on top to cover the clothes inside and forced out a stiff smile. “Mm, just changing seasons. I’m putting away the thick clothes.” My heart was pounding so hard it hurt. Even my fingertips trembled, terrified he’d see through me. He clearly didn’t believe it. He walked over, crouched down, and traced a finger along the edge of the suitcase. “You usually let the housekeeper handle this kind of thing. What’s gotten into you to handle this yourself today?” “Nothing,” I replied evenly. “Just wanted to keep myself busy.” His gaze lingered on my face, probing, but he didn’t press further. After a pause, he stood up and said simply, “I’m going to take a shower.” I let out a quiet breath of relief and quickly zipped the suitcase shut. But when I looked up, I saw that he hadn’t gone to the bathroom. He was standing still in the living room. Following his gaze, my blood ran cold. Lying on the dark carpet, glaringly white against the black, was the pregnancy test report I’d brought back from the hospital that morning. It must have fallen during the argument we had then. “What’s that?” His voice cut through the silence. Before I could even think, I lunged forward and pressed my foot over the paper. “Nothing… Just a receipt from the supermarket,” I stammered, turning around quickly, trying to keep my expression calm. “I was planning to use it for a return, but it slipped out of my bag.” His eyes dropped to my foot, and his frown deepened. “A receipt? Let me see it.” “No need!” My voice shot up, sharper than I intended, trembling with panic I couldn’t hide. “It’s useless anyway. I’ll just ask the housekeeper to handle the return later.” I stepped back slightly, blocking his view. “Didn’t you say you were going to shower? You should go. The water will get cold.” He stared at me for a few seconds, and I clenched my fists tight, praying he wouldn’t ask another question. The air between us hung heavy for a moment until his phone chimed. Obviously, it was a message from Dakota. He didn’t say anything else. He just turned around, grabbed his car keys, and walked out. The sound of the door closing hit me like a release. My knees gave out, and I nearly collapsed onto the floor. I snatched the pregnancy report from under my shoe, crumpled it tightly, and pressed it against my chest. Back in the bedroom, I yanked the suitcase zipper shut with a hard click. Staring at the door Gifford had just walked through, only one thought filled my mind. ‘Before I leave, I can’t let him find out I’m pregnant.’ With that, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Devon. [Change of plans. Come pick me up in three days.]

Time was running out. I quickened my pace, hastily packing the rest of my things. The door burst open just as I was finishing up the last of my luggage in the master bedroom. Gifford entered, supporting Dakota by the arm. Her belly was faintly rounded, and her face carried a deliberately delicate expression. One hand rested gently on her belly, as though she were the most fragile thing in the world. “The master bedroom is for Dakota,” Gifford said flatly. “You’ll move to the guest room.” His tone left no room for discussion, like a command from someone who believed Dakota was the true lady of this house. I froze for a moment, then let out a cold laugh. “And why should I? This is our marital home. The master bedroom belongs to you and me.” “It’s different now,” he said stiffly, avoiding my gaze. “Dakota is pregnant. She needs rest. The master bedroom is larger, and it gets better sunlight.” I looked straight into his eyes, every word sharp as a blade. “Whose child is she carrying, Gifford? Do you dare say it’s yours?” “Don’t forget who caused the death of our child,” I continued between my clenched teeth. “Don’t tell me you let my enemy get pregnant with your child.” His expression darkened instantly. “Goddamn it, what nonsense are you spouting, Austria?” he shouted. “Nothing is going on between me and Dakota. Don’t use your filthy suspicions to judge her!” “And don’t forget,” he continued harshly, “our child’s death wasn’t her fault. If you had taken better care of him, he wouldn’t have gotten sick and died from a fucking fever!” At that, Dakota shrank slightly into his arms, her eyes reddening as tears gathered at the corners. Her voice trembled, choked with practiced gentleness. “Don’t be so upset… If she doesn’t like it, I can sleep in the guest room. It’s fine, really.” But even as she spoke, her hand clung tighter to his arm, her eyes filled with pitiful grievance. “Look what you’ve done—you’ve frightened her!” Gifford snapped, stepping protectively in front of her. “I’m warning you, Austria. Behave yourself, or don’t blame me for the consequences.” I looked at the two of them—this nauseating scene, and a wave of disgust swept through me. This man, for the sake of a woman who had once caused the death of his own child, was not only driving me out of my own bedroom but also denying that shameful truth of what had happened. “Fine, I’ll do that,” I said finally, forcing down the anger rising in my throat. “But on one condition.” I pulled a document from my suitcase and handed it to him. “Sign this contract, and I’ll move out.” Without a moment’s hesitation, Gifford scrawled his signature across the paper. “There. It’s signed,” he said coldly with a mocking smile. “Now, get out of the master bedroom.” I took the document back and smiled faintly, raising my hand to show Dakota the diamond wedding ring on my finger. “Dakota, remember this—until Gifford and I are legally divorced, we are still husband and wife.” “And you,” I added, my tone sharp, “the moment you cross the line, you’ll be nothing but the third party in my marriage.” With that, I turned and walked away. At that moment, the last shred of attachment in my heart disintegrated completely. If Gifford had cared for me at all, he would have realized that the document he’d just signed was not a contract… but a divorce agreement. That night, I sent a brief message to Devon. [Plans have changed. You can come pick me up tomorrow.] He replied almost instantly with a simple [All right.] After turning off my phone, I smiled faintly and rested my hand on my still-flat belly. “Baby,” I whispered, “forgive me. I won’t let your father know about you. But to make it up to you, I promise, I’ll give you a home—a happy one.”

The sound of the guest room lock turning echoed softly as I sat curled up in the corner of the bed, holding my belly and looking through a worn photo album. On one of the yellowed pages was a picture of my first child just after he was born—his tiny mouth curved in a faint smile, warm and soft like a ball of cotton. “What little treasure are you looking at, Austria?” Dakota’s voice broke the quiet. Gone was her fragile, pitiful tone she used in front of Gifford. Her words now dripped with blatant malice. When I ignored her, she lifted the moon-shaped necklace that hung from her neck, tilting her head slightly as if to show it off. My chest tightened. I lifted my gaze to meet hers. I didn’t want to fight with her—not now, not while I still had to protect the baby I was carrying—but that necklace… that was the last thing my Grandma, the person who loved me the most, had ever left me. If it weren’t for my baby, I would never have agreed to give that precious heirloom to the woman who had hurt my firstborn. “Girl,” she said, smirking, “I don’t even want to keep a dead woman’s old necklace.” Her tone sharpened, cruel delight glinting in her eyes. “But knowing that I stole it from you—that’s what really thrills me.” “Dakota,” I replied, forcing my voice to remain steady, “what exactly do you want?” “What do I want?” she asked back, scoffing. “You, of all people, should know best. These years, haven’t I made it obvious? Every single thing I did was to provoke you little by little.” Before I could react, she yanked the necklace off her neck in one quick motion. Realizing what she meant to do, I cried out, “Don’t!” “Dakota, all the things you’ve done to hurt me—I can let them go. I won’t hold them against you. Just… please, give my grandmother’s necklace back,” I begged. But she only curled her lips into a cruel smile, her words cold enough to freeze the air between us. “I don’t need your forgiveness,” she sneered. “I just love watching you in pain. That’s what makes me feel alive.” Then, she let go. My grandma’s necklace hit the floor with a sharp clink, the sound slicing straight through my heart. “Austria,” she said mockingly, “this isn’t enough.” The heel of her stiletto came down hard. And with a crack, the beautiful jade pendant shattered into several pieces beneath her shoe. “No… don’t!” I could only watch, helpless, as the moon-shaped jade pendant—carved by my grandmother’s own hands—was crushed before my eyes. Suddenly, I remembered that day so clearly, when Grandma called me to her bedside for the last time. “Sweetheart, don’t cry for me anymore. If you keep crying, you’ll stop being pretty.” “Here,” she said, pressing the necklace into my palm, “this moon pendant—I made it myself. I hope that even when you go through darkness, you’ll shine again, just like the moon.” She caressed my cheek with a smile. “Wear it, hm? And think of it as Grandma staying by your side.” Over the years, I had replaced so many things—earrings, rings, bracelets—but that necklace had never left my neck. It was the one thing I treasured most. Now, it lay shattered on the floor, my memories trampled into dust. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. Tears welled in my eyes, spilling down not from sorrow, but from the sharp and unbearable ache in my chest. Dakota looked at my pale face and laughed triumphantly. Grinding her heel against the broken pieces once more, she said, “Already heartbroken? It’s just a worthless keepsake. The real pain… hasn’t even started yet.”

After giving me that threat, Dakota snatched the album from my hands and produced a lighter. The flame caught instantly; the photos were engulfed, and within moments, the album was reduced to a charred black bundle. I watched helplessly as the smiling face of my firstborn in the photo was devoured by fire, the paper curling and turning to blackened ash. “Dakota! Are you fucking insane?!” I lost whatever shred of reason I had left. I lunged forward and shoved her to the floor, my nails digging deep into her arm. She screamed and kicked at me, but pain didn’t stop me. I wanted to strangle her to end what she had done. All I could see was that heap of ash growing smaller and smaller—the memory I had hidden away for three years. “Stop!” Gifford burst into the room and pulled me away from Dakota. I slammed against the wall; my back went numb, but I still struggled to throw myself at her. “Gifford! Don’t you have any conscience?” I spat at him. “That woman burned our son’s photos, and you’re still protecting her?” “It was just an old photo album! Do you have to be like this?” He put Dakota behind him, his brow knotted. “She’s pregnant. What happens if you hurt her?” “Pregnant?” I laughed, but the laughter was drowned by the rush of tears. “What about my son? He’s been dead for three years! Who will make up for him?” “If it weren’t for that woman, our son wouldn’t have gotten sick and died!” I snapped. I threw myself forward, trying to shove past Gifford to drag out the one who ruined everything. “Have you had enough of this?” He tightened his grip on my wrists and stopped me from getting any closer to Dakota. “I told you she didn’t do it on purpose. Can’t you understand that?” “No!” I shouted back. “I swear I’m gonna kill that bitch!” At that point, I had lost all reason; I only wanted to go down together with that woman. What I didn’t expect was for Gifford to raise his hand and hit me once more. The sound was crisp in the stunned silence that followed. His arm froze in midair; for a moment, his face showed panic and something like regret. His Adam’s apple bobbed as if he wanted to say more. But I couldn’t hear anything anymore. The burn on my cheek stung, but it was nothing compared to the collapse inside my chest. I looked at him and felt the last fragments of hope in me shatter completely. He stood there rigid, remorse and fluster flickering across his eyes. In that instant, the air hung heavy. He seemed about to speak, but his throat closed, and he could only watch the light in my eyes dim bit by bit. “Gifford, look at her… Isn’t she crazy?” Dakota suddenly shrank into his arms, her voice sweetly affected. “When she hit me just now, her eyes were red like she wanted to kill me. I was so afraid…” “Now, she plays the victim? If you ask me, she needs to be taught a lesson,” that bitch suggested. Just like that, Gifford’s brow tightened again; whatever guilt he’d felt evaporated under Dakota’s words. He lowered his hand and turned his expression cold. “Austria, you’ve terribly disappointed me.”

Gifford turned his head toward the corner of the room, where a dog, chained by an iron link, lay quietly watching us. He was the pet Dakota had bought just last month. My heart leapt to my throat, and every hair on my body stood on end. “Lock her up with General,” Gifford ordered coldly, his tone leaving no room for discussion. General—that was the dog’s name. “No!” The word tore from my throat in a hysterical scream. I stumbled backward, nearly falling as I scrambled away in a panic. “Gifford, please! I’m afraid of dogs, and you know that! I’m allergic to their fur, have you forgotten?” Suddenly, a sharp pain clenched in my lower abdomen. I pressed a trembling hand to my belly, where a tiny life was taking root. “I can’t be agitated… I really can’t…” My voice cracked as I begged, “Please don’t do this…” I didn’t dare tell him I was pregnant, but the terror in my voice was real. “Afraid of dogs? Allergic?” Dakota sneered, unfastening the dog’s chain with a lazy flick of her wrist. “You’re such a good actress, Austria. General’s been here all along, hasn’t he? Funny how I never saw you show any sign of fear or allergy before.” I trembled uncontrollably, forcing the words out in a whisper. “That’s because he’s always been chained far away from me.” She laughed softly and nudged the dog with the tip of her shoe. “Allergies pass if you endure them. Fear can be overcome, too. You’ve just been spoiled. Time to reflect on that, don’t you think?” The dog wagged his tail and began to inch closer, a low growl rumbling in his throat. I felt the blood drain from my face, and my body went rigid with cold dread. I turned to Gifford, my eyes wide with pleading. “Gifford, my stomach hurts… Please… just this once, let me go…” “Reflect on your actions, and fix that temper of yours,” he interrupted sharply. “Dakota’s right—you’ve been coddled too long. Spend the night here, calm down, and maybe then, you’ll realize what you did wrong. This is for your own good.” Just like that, the door slammed shut with a deafening bang. The click of the lock that followed hit me like a hammer to the chest. Gradually, like a predator, the dog crept closer and closer. My skin began to itch, the allergic reaction already setting in, while waves of pain twisted in my belly. I could only curl up against the wall, frantically waving my arms to keep the dog away. But more than the fear of the animal, what terrified me most… was that this fragile yet precious life inside me might be forced away… by its own father’s cruelty. Cradling my belly, I whispered desperately to the child within me, “Baby… your father treats me like this only because he doesn’t know you exist.” “Please…” I begged, “don’t leave me because of him.” The night dragged on endlessly, thick with fear and silence. I didn’t dare fall asleep. I was terrified that the next time I opened my eyes, I would no longer feel the faint but stubborn pulse of life stirring beneath my hand.

Moonlight streamed into the room, carrying with it the faint trace of Dakota’s perfume through the crack of the door. She stood in the doorway, which had been locked just hours ago, holding a small night lamp in her hand. The soft glow illuminated her face, her smile curving like that of a venomous snake. “Wow. You’re still awake? Can’t sleep because the dog scared you?” She shook the pregnancy test report in her hand as if it were a trophy. “I have good news for you,” she said with deliberate sweetness. “I’m pregnant—with Gifford’s child.” Her smile widened as she admitted, “Actually, even back when you married him, he and I were already together.” I shrank back into the corner. The dog had already been taken away, but the red welts on my body still burned. The pain in my lower abdomen came in waves, growing sharper each time until I could barely breathe. “Bitch,” she continued, her voice dripping with scorn. “Did you really think you had all of his love?” “You’re so damn funny,” she sneered. “That man you’ve been guarding so faithfully all these years—he’s been mine from the very beginning.” “There’s something else you should know,” she added, shifting into a quieter and almost playful tone. She crouched down to my level, her voice lowering as if she were about to share a story. “Your first child didn’t die because I opened the window that night and let in the cold air.” In an instant, my blood froze. “That night,” she said slowly, savoring each word, “I took him out myself—and threw him straight into the snow in the yard.” She licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with twisted excitement. “He was so small—just a tiny bundle turning purple from the cold. I didn’t bring him back inside until the next morning. The whole time, he didn’t even cry or make any noise. Tell me, wasn’t he such a well-behaved little boy?” “You…” My lips trembled as I bit down hard, tasting blood in my mouth. After losing him, I had spent three long years torturing myself with guilt, believing it was my own carelessness that caused his death! Dakota smiled like a devil. “You thought it was just a cruel winter that stole him away. But it was me. I was the one who sent your baby to hell.” “Every ounce of guilt and self-torment you’ve carried these three years?” It’s all been a joke!” Her laugh filled the room. Hatred coiled through my bones like poison, squeezing the air from my lungs. Seeing me collapse only made her laugh louder. And then, she went berserk. “How dare you appear in the picture and steal Gifford from me?! Everything that happened to you? You deserved it!" The next second, her voice lowered. “Enjoy my little secret while you can… because the next one going to hell… will be you.” With that, the psycho turned and left, leaving me struggling in the dark. I wanted to lunge at her and tear her apart with my bare hands, but my body refused to move. I could only watch her retreat, her victory-laced smile disappearing beyond the door. A tearing pain ripped through my belly, and warm liquid trickled down my thighs. I knew, in that instant, that the baby inside me—the one who had barely arrived—was gone. By dawn, the locked door finally creaked open. Gifford stepped in, his gaze briefly flickering to the blood on the floor. For just a split second, something like pity flashed in his eyes. “You’re on your period,” he muttered, frowning. “Why didn’t you say something instead of making a mess like this?” He tossed a clean towel toward me, his tone softening slightly. “Come on, clean yourself up—” Before he could finish, Dakota’s voice floated in from the doorway. She was holding her waist, her face painted with delicate fragility. “Gifford,” she called sweetly, “I have an early prenatal checkup today. Why don’t you ask her to prepare something nutritious for me and bring it to the hospital? It’ll be a good chance to see if she’s really changed, and if she can behave properly with us now.” Gifford hesitated. His eyes flicked between us, guilt shadowing his expression. “Oh my, that’s a lot of blood,” Dakota said suddenly, widening her eyes in mock concern. “Austria, I came by last night and even brought you some sanitary pads. Why didn’t you use them?” Then, as if struck by realization, she gasped. “Wait… you didn’t do this just to get Gifford’s sympathy, did you?” She clapped a hand over her mouth, pretending she’d said too much. “Austria! You almost fooled me!” Gifford snapped, his face darkening. “Did you hear what she said? Go to the kitchen, make a nutritious meal, and bring it to the hospital, third floor.” I stared at his back as he turned to leave with her. Then, for the first time in a long while, I laughed. “Gifford,” I muttered, “you didn’t even ask where all this blood came from. You just assumed I was trying to win your pity. How ridiculous.” He didn’t know it yet, but today would be the last time he ever saw me. Slowly, I pushed myself up, steadying against the wall. I didn’t go to the kitchen. I didn’t go to the hospital. Instead, I took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and sat quietly for a moment. Today was the day Devon had promised to come and take me away. Before I left, I prepared three parting gifts for Gifford. One was my pregnancy report. One was our divorce agreement. And the last was a voice recorder—containing every word Dakota had said to me last night. In the mirror, my reflection looked ghostly pale, but in my eyes burned a small yet steady flame. “Gifford. Dakota. For the five years you stole from me—for the lives of my two children—I’ll make sure you pay it all back… with interest,” I swore.