After the divorce, I became someone he couldn't afford to be with.

When I got home,Kate had already changed into my pajamas and was sprawled across the bed. My head was pounding.Something in me snapped—I stormed over and grabbed at the fabric. "This is mine.Take it off!" Finn shot to his feet.A bowl of porridge crashed to the floor. "Isabella,are you done?You're the one who agreed to let Katie move in.What's with the jealousy now?"His voice was ice."She's my ex-wife.We have a normal relationship.Can you stop being so neurotic?" Kate sat up,eyes glistening with hurt,and tugged at Finn's sleeve."Finn,don't be harsh to her.I'm clearly the problem here—I've upset Miss Henson.Just let me change back into my own clothes.I'll leave right away." Finn pressed her back down and patted her head."It's not your fault.I've spoiled my wife too much." He reached for my face.I flinched away. He paused,then withdrew his hand.His tone softened."Alright.I know you're sensitive because you love me,but Katie and I are completely innocent.You've been the one picking on her."He gestured at the mess on the floor."Clean that up,make her a fresh bowl,and apologize.Then we're done." I stared at him,eyes burning. Who was this man?I didn't recognize him at all. I remembered once bumping into a stranger on the street and blurting out an apology.Afterward,Finn had looked at me with such seriousness."From now on,you never have to say sorry to anyone.I'll say it for you." I believed him. But I should have known—promises are like wind.They scatter the moment they blow. When I didn't respond,Finn grabbed my arm and dragged me down the hall,shoving me into the study. "Stay in there and reflect.You can come out when you've thought this through!" The door slammed.The tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over. I crouched on the floor.In less than two minutes,my sleeves were soaked through. Half an hour later,I noticed a folder on his desktop computer—separate from his medical research files. Kate Simmons's Little Space. I opened it. Hundreds of her photos.Intimate ones.The save dates were almost daily,spanning over a year.More than three hundred in total. So that's what this past year had been.He and Kate,rekindling everything behind my back. With trembling hands,I scheduled an abortion for the day during Spring Festival. New year.New life. At dinner,Finn opened the study door with a trace of satisfaction on his face. "Food's ready.Katie's very forgiving—six hours locked up was enough to let her vent.Come eat.The baby needs nutrition." So that was it.Kate was happy,and his mood followed hers like a tuning fork. I walked to the table expressionless and picked at my food in silence. Finn,meanwhile,was a whirlwind of attentiveness—peeling shrimp,serving dishes,ladling soup.All for her. "Katie,you haven't had my cooking in five years.Taste it—how is it?Everything's just the way you like." I froze. Finn had told me he couldn't cook. Not only that,he'd never remembered what I liked to eat.Whenever I asked,he'd say his job was too demanding—he didn't have the mental bandwidth for that kind of thing. Turns out it was only because he didn't love me. As I headed back to my room,Finn called out. "Bella,sleep in the guest room tonight.Katie's used to the master bedroom—she'll have trouble sleeping otherwise." I stopped. Then I turned toward the piano room instead. It didn't matter where I slept.After the abortion,I'd be gone. That night,I woke to the rhythmic creak of the bed.And beneath it,their hushed voices.

"Finn,the soundproofing here is terrible.Aren't you worried she'll hear?" "Worried about what?Isn't it more exciting this way?Just let go a little.Even if she finds out,I can explain." "She owes me for saving her—that washed-up heiress.She'll believe anything I say." "Besides,her parents are bankrupt,and she's carrying my child.She can't leave me." My eyes flew open.My nails dug into my palms,and sleep was no longer an option. I dragged myself up and sat at the piano,letting the music drown out their noise. It didn't take long for them to show up at my door. The moment I opened it,I was met with Finn's deep frown—and Kate in a short skirt and plunging nightgown. "Isabella,do you have any idea what time it is?You're banging away on that piece of junk just to keep Katie awake,aren't you?" Kate chimed in,her voice dripping with fake sweetness."I'm really sensitive to noise.Even a little sound keeps me up.I hope Miss Henson can be more considerate." I looked at them both and let out a cold laugh.I had nothing left to say. "Fine.Got it." I shut the door and called my dad. "Dad,I want to come abroad and take over the new company." I heard him leap up from his office chair."That's wonderful!Your mom and I miss you so much.Hurry and come!" After hanging up,I made a pallet on the floor of the piano room and slept there. When I woke the next morning,half the piano keys had been pried off. This piano was the only thing Mom and Dad left me after the bankruptcy.It had been with me for six years.I was deeply attached to it. I couldn't hold back anymore.I stormed into the bedroom and yanked Kate up by the arm. "Who told you to touch my piano?Who said you could go into my room?" Just as I was about to slap her,Finn grabbed my wrist. He was holding a pack of sanitary pads—probably something he'd just bought for her. "Isabella,have you lost your mind?Who said you could hit anyone?" I ignored him and tried to wrench free. Finn's face went cold.He roared at me. "Enough!You're just looking for reasons to pick on Katie.You're attacking someone over a broken piano!" "And the house is mine.Since when is that room your private space?Katie has every right to go in.Stop acting like you own the place!" I lowered my hand.In his eyes,I was just a lunatic. While I was trying to figure out how to repair the piano,Finn called in a few workers. He ordered them to drag it out and throw it away. I tried to stop them.I fought so hard I split my head open. In the end,I lost my strength and could only watch as the piano was hauled off like scrap metal. After that,Finn sealed up the piano room and took back my key. He brought over a first-aid kit and carefully bandaged the wound on my forehead. Seeing me sitting there in a daze,he leaned in to kiss me—but I pulled away. His brow furrowed,a flicker of disappointment crossing his face."Bella,why are you avoiding me?" "I'm doing this for your own good.So you'll stop fighting with Katie over a piano.It's not good for either of you." "You're pregnant.You can't afford intense mood swings,you know?" I almost laughed.This piano room had been personally designed and renovated by Finn. Knowing I'd loved piano since childhood,he'd bought stacks of sheet music for me. He used to sit with me for hours while I played. When he got lost in the music,he'd pull me into his arms. "Bella,will you play piano for me for the rest of our lives?What I mean is—I want to spend my life with you." I cut off the memory and ripped off the bandage he'd just applied.

Finn was about to say something when Kate suggested taking me shopping for New Year's gifts—as an apology. I wanted to refuse,but he pulled me into the car. When we got out,I realized where we were:the boutique. The Manager lit up the moment she saw Finn and Kate,her face breaking into that indulgent"auntie smile." "You two!It's been years—did you run off on a world tour or something?" "I still remember how Dr.Gilbert used to bring Katie here every other day to buy her clothes.I was so jealous I could die." I stood off to the side.Finn shot me an awkward glance. "You've got it wrong,Manager.Katie's my ex-wife now.She's here to buy something for my current wife." The Manager's face fell.She looked almost...disappointed. Once inside,I understood why.Their photos were still on display—Finn and Kate,frozen in time.You could tell they'd been deeply in love. The Manager was clearly a fan of theirs,still sighing over what they'd had. Strange thing was,the sourness I'd felt at first slowly faded as I listened. While they reminisced,I quietly contacted Attorney Blake to draft the divorce agreement. Over the next two days,Kate used the excuse of"keeping Finn company"at the hospital. And I stayed home.It was actually...peaceful. Until the eve of Lunar New Year. Finn looked up from his rice during dinner."Honey,why didn't you buy New Year's couplets this year?" I set down my chopsticks."Forgot." His hand froze mid-air,rice suspended on his spoon. "Forgot?Then how are we supposed to decorate?" "We won't." He stared at me.Started to say"Then—"but stopped. Every year before this,I'd bought the couplets.Decorated the house.Made it feel like a celebration. My answer caught him off guard. The next day—New Year's Day—Finn said he had a shift at the hospital.Kate tagged along,same excuse as always. Before leaving,he turned to me,his tone generous,like he was granting me a favor. "If you want me to spend the holiday with you,I can ask someone to cover." He opened his mouth to add something,but I cut him off. "No need." He froze.Then left in a huff,slamming the door behind him. A while later,Kate sent me a video. They were in the hospital equipment room.Kissing like the world didn't exist. "Finn,we've never done it at the hospital before.Want to try?" "You in a white coat,me in a nurse uniform—admit it,you just want something new." Finn's breathing was ragged.He lifted her onto the table,knocking over a rack of reagent bottles. "Katie,give me a child too.Bella can raise it with ours—you won't have to lift a finger.How does that sound?" I couldn't watch anymore.Couldn't listen. Finn—who treated medicine with total dedication—broke every rule for her. And me?I was just the breeding tool.The nanny. Another message from Kate popped up. "Isabella Henson,Finn doesn't even have a shift today.He just wanted to bring me here.New positions.New places.New thrills he's never had." This time,I didn't spiral. I called a cab.Went to the hospital.Had the surgery. On the cold operating table,the doctor tried one last time. "Miss Henson,the baby is perfectly healthy.With your condition,if you terminate...it may be very difficult to conceive again.Are you certain?Should we contact the father?" I closed my eyes. "No need.Abort it." He shouldn't come into this world.I won't let him be born without a father. But midway through the procedure,I started hemorrhaging. And suddenly,I was the one in danger.

In my haze,I heard the doctors using my phone to call my emergency contact—Finn. Not a single call was answered. "What kind of husband is this?His wife is getting an abortion,going under the knife,and he won't even pick up?" "It's New Year's Eve,for God's sake.Does he have any conscience?" "If something goes wrong and we need a signature,what then?" The doctors were sweating with anxiety,but something inside me kept holding on. In the end,the bleeding stopped. When I opened my eyes,the surgery was over.I could be discharged the same day. After entrusting Dr.Reynolds with a few things,I dragged my battered body to get my medication and pay the bills myself. In the lobby,I ran into Finn and Kate. Her neck was covered in hickeys.He tried to explain. "Katie suddenly had an allergic reaction.I was just getting her some medicine." "Bella,why didn't you tell me you were coming?Did you even eat the New Year's dinner?" He was blaming me—for almost ruining his fun. But I no longer had the heart to argue. I said nothing and walked straight toward the exit. Finn tried to follow,but Kate stopped him. "Finn,we still have to check the pharmacy storeroom..." I walked faster and didn't hear the rest. My ID was in my hand.I didn't want to bring a single thing from that house. I hailed a cab and went straight to the airport. Mom,Dad—your daughter is coming to spend New Year with you. After sending the message,I turned off my phone and boarded the plane. After Finn and Kate finished in the pharmacy storeroom,he still wanted to know why Isabella had come to the hospital. A bad feeling crept over him.Just as he was about to call her,her surgeon approached. "Dr.Gilbert,Miss Henson asked me to give you these—her divorce agreement and medical report."