Chapter 1

"Alex! What on earth is wrong with you? I'm your wife, for goodness’ sake. Why can’t you trust me? Why would you think something like that about me?

I promise you, I have never been unfaithful, and this child—your child!—how can you trust the false evidence Esther provided?

Please, trust me, Alex! She wants to destroy our marriage. Why can’t you see her intentions? She aims to turn you against me, your wife, in order to claim you for herself.

I would never even think about being with another man besides you. Please, you have to believe me!" Margaret pleaded, dropping to her knees before the only man she ever loved, who was staring at her with sheer disdain and disgust. It was so heartbreaking for Margaret to see those emotions in his eyes.

"Believe you? Margaret Michaelson, do you

think I'm an idiot? You’re four months pregnant, and we haven’t been intimate in ages, not since two months ago.

So tell me, Margaret, how in the world did that child you carry become mine? Explain it to me! How is that bastard my fucking child!" Alex yelled, causing her to flinch and shut her eyes in humiliation and heartbreak. His words really caught through her heart like thousands of knives.

Everything felt overwhelmingly confusing, even to Margaret herself. What was happening to her? She couldn’t even comprehend it.

How could she be pregnant when no man touched her during that time? The only man she had ever been with was her husband, Alex.

The idea of sleeping with someone else never crossed her mind for even just a second.

Nevertheless, Alex was right. They hadn't been intimate during the month she became pregnant. So, how could this have happened? Where did she get this pregnancy from?

"What are you still doing here? Leave our home at once! How dare you betray my son and deceive him after all he’s done for you and your family? Don't you have any shame?

Ha! I thought you were wise. You couldn't even protect yourself if you wanted to cheat on my son and end up pregnant.

What were you thinking? That my son would be foolish enough not to uncover the truth and accept someone else’s child as his own? How could you even consider that? Just hiw dare you, Margaret!" Alex’s mother fumed, jabbing her finger at Margaret emphatically.

"Mom, please calm down! There's no need to waste your energy on a woman like her. It’s a disgrace that she became part of our family. What a blemish on our reputation!" Sandra, Alex's younger sister, said with disgust as she glared at Margaret.

Everyone felt disgusted by Margaret's action. After all, they didn't like her from the beginning. So this became an opportunity to throw her out of their house and get rid of her once and for all.

"Please, just believe me! I didn’t cheat on Alex; I haven’t done anything wrong. This pregnancy is for him. I can't even dream of betraying my husband.

I haven’t been with anyone else but him. Why can’t any of you believe me? Why have you been questioning my integrity ever since I married Alex?

I have been faithful throughout our marriage. I can’t imagine being with another man. Why would I even consider that when I love him so deeply? Please, all of you have to trust me." Margaret asserted.

She shouted desperately, urging them to believe in her innocence, yet all she received in response was disdain and dismissive remarks.

"Sister, you claim to love Alex, but the photos he holds in his hands prove your betrayal. You have been unfaithful, and the evidence is undeniable, yet you still stand here denying it.

"How could you tarnish our family's name like this? Mom and Dad placed their trust in you. Just look at how you have shattered their hearts and tainted our reputation with your infidelity.

And that's not even all. You dare stand here and lie instead of accepting your mistake! Just how could you be this wicked?"

Esther, Margaret's biological sister and the orchestrator behind her misfortunes, feigned innocence as she spoke, giving the

impression that she was genuinely hurt by her older sister's actions.

When Margaret cast her gaze upon Esther, a surge of rage overtook her, fueling an impulse to kill her.

And that’s precisely what she attempted. She leaped to Esther's side and began to strangle her. How dare that brat stand in front of her and say all those things after all the lies she had fed her husband?

"You brought all this upon me, Esther! You are my sister—my biological sister! How could you betray me like this? How could you do this to me?

You orchestrated it all! You know the truth, so tell Alex I never cheated on him. Those photos you showed him are all

manipulated. Why do you want to destroy my life? What have I ever done to you to deserve this?

I've been a good sister to you! Giving you my all. And this is how you oay me back? By running my marriage? How could you, Esther?"

Margaret cried out, continuing to squeeze her sister’s throat, blaming her for all her misfortune.

"Stop it, Margaret! Let go of her! How dare you attack Esther in front of me? Release her right now!" Alex yelled as he struggled to break Margaret's tight grip on Esther's neck.