Chapter 1

What would happen if the legal wife confronted her husband’s mistress?

Riley imagined she would remain composed. After all, she was in the right, and she had every reason to fight, but her body unknowingly shook from anger. It was challenging to contain the hatred she harbored for this woman before her.

“What are you doing here?” Claire Monet, the young mistress, asked.

Riley Allen Martin, twenty-seven, the legal wife and accomplished jewelry designer, responded fiercely, “I decided to fight for my marriage.”

“But you've already agreed to the divorce,” Claire reacted, her big blue eyes narrowing and her face darkening.

Ignoring Claire, Riley attempted to walk past her, but Claire grabbed her wrist and pointed out, “I’m pregnant with Brian’s child.”

Pulling her arm away, Riley curtly said, “I need to talk to—”

"Ahhh! Miss Riley? What did I do to you?” Before Riley knew it, Claire was sprawled on the floor, calling, “Brian, she pushed me! Help! Our baby!"

Stupefied, Riley was shocked by the girl’s theatrics! Riley had seen such scenes in movies, where the mistress pretended to be mistreated by the legal wife, but she did not expect this from a twenty-year-old, innocent-looking girl.

Brian Martin, Riley's husband, rushed towards them with fury in his eyes. When Riley met his gaze, a firm slap hit her face, sending her gracelessly to the tiled floor.

"How could you, Riley? You knew Claire is pregnant! Why are you trying to take away the one thing you could not give me?!" Brian yelled while pointing a finger at Riley. "Why are you even here? Do you want to cause trouble? I know you are mad at me, but don't take it on Claire. She did not know I was married! She is innocent. I told you this many times!"

They were at the old Martins’ mansion, the house of Riley's in-laws. She knew Brian would introduce his mistress to his family that day, but Riley had very important news to tell Brian, so she came uninvited, hoping to talk with her husband. Unfortunately for Riley, Claire was the one who opened the door.

"I did not push her! She fell by—" Riley couldn't finish her words because she felt pain in her abdomen. She was in so much agony she thought her hips were breaking! Gasping for air and clutching her stomach, she raised her upper body from the floor.

As Brian pulled his mistress closer to him, his mother, Beatrice Martin, raced in their direction and snapped at Riley, "If anything happens to my grandchild, Riley, I will never forgive you! You were married to Brian for four years, but you could not give us a grandchild! You are a barren woman!"

"I did not push her! Would you rather believe Claire? Was I not part of this family for four years? I am still your daughter-in-law!" Riley retorted.

"Not anymore! You lost that privilege when you could not give me a grandchild! You shouldn't have come here and caused any trouble! You already agreed to divorce my son!" Beatrice yelled at Riley. Then, she turned to her son and ordered, "Bring Claire to the hospital quickly. We need to make sure my grandchild is safe!"

Riley shot her husband a deadly stare. For a fleeting moment, she saw guilt in his eyes, but after Brian glanced at the weeping woman against his chest, he rushed out of the mansion with Claire in his arms. He did not care about Riley at all.

Divorce? Yes, Riley and Brian had already discussed the divorce two weeks ago.

Months prior, her husband of four years had turned cold towards Riley. His kisses were short and unfeeling. He no longer made love to her. He came home late every night, and made excuses, saying he attended to his family's investments, but in truth, he was spending time with his young mistress.

How did she discover her husband’s betrayal? Two months ago, she received an anonymous email containing images of Brian and Claire entering a hotel and sharing late-night meals. In each picture, Riley couldn't help but notice the affection in Brian's eyes for the young woman, a gaze reminiscent of the one he once reserved solely for her.

Along with those photos was a copy of a sale deed to a condominium in Claire Monet's name. The email also suggested that Claire and her family were moving into the luxury residential home the next day.

Claire Monet had no money, and Claire's family certainly did not have any. She was a food attendant at a KTV bar. Only Brian could have purchased the condo for his mistress.

Riley barged into the condo the next day and caught Claire and her family as they moved their things. Naturally, her husband was also at the residential unit. He dropped a box of plates on the floor, shocked to come face to face with his wife.

Brian’s betrayal caused Riley emotional trauma, but she could not easily discard four years of happy marriage. Thus, Riley and her husband have tried to work out their relationship. Brian even took Riley on vacation, attempting to relive their honeymoon stage. They aired out their sentiments and promised to get past his infidelity.

Riley earnestly thought she could save her marriage, but two weeks ago, her husband did not return home one evening. Brian came back the next afternoon, telling her that Claire was two months pregnant and that he needed to take responsibility.

She could not forget those painful words that left his lips, the way he looked into her eyes filled with regret. Back then, Brian said, "I love you, Riley. I do. You will always have a special place in my heart, but I realize now that Claire holds more weight. I love her too, and she is pregnant with my child. It's the one thing you cannot give me. You know that I have always wanted to have a child. I'm sorry, Riley. I have decided to file for a divorce. I will marry Claire. I hope one day, you will find someone willing to accept you the way you are."

It was a slap on Riley's face indeed because it was true. Riley was diagnosed with a congenital fallopian tube blockage, which prevented her from getting pregnant. She received surgery a year ago, and she and Brian have been trying to conceive since.

So, that was her story. That was how Riley ended up in this tragic love story. Her husband, her lover and friend of seven years total, chose to abandon her for a woman he just met five months ago... because Claire was pregnant with his child.

"Riley, you need to leave," Brian's father, Darwin Martin, offered his hand. After he helped Riley up on her feet, he said, "Have pride in yourself, Riley. I respect those times you have been a good daughter-in-law, but we will not tolerate your actions today. That child in Claire's womb is innocent -"

Riley's eyes rounded in anger. She maintained, "Father, no -"

"Oh, stop it!" Beatrice interrupted. "Why can't you just leave this family with dignity? Can’t you accept that Brian is now in love with Claire? Just get out of here! We will call you when the divorce papers are ready!”

The mansion's caretaker quickly grabbed Riley and dragged her out the door. It was so humiliating for Riley. She gathered all her courage to be there, only to be hurt. No one was on her side, not her husband, not her in-laws, not the maids, and most certainly not the heavens.

Riley felt her cheek burning from Brian’s slap, and her abdomen was in terrible discomfort. Despite this, she forced herself to drive out of the Martins' estate in her BMW. However, as she continued down the road, the pain in her stomach grew more severe.

“Why did I even go there?” She scolded herself as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Stupid, Riley! Stupid!”

Riley sensed something trickle down her legs, and when she looked, she saw blood! Fear crept into her heart, and she cried, "No. No.” Placing a hand on her belly, she said, “My baby!"

It was ironic.

Brian wanted to divorce Riley because she could not give him a child, but earlier that day, she discovered that she was five weeks pregnant.

Riley pulled over on the side of the road. She rolled down her windows and called for help, "Anyone, please! Help me! I need to go to the hospital!”

As she waited for help, Riley continued to cry, her tears blurring her vision. All her misery came rushing back—her husband's betrayal, her in-laws' treatment, and the deception behind Claire's innocent face!

"Ahhh!" She shouted with clenched fists, "Why, Brian? Why?”

The door to her car suddenly opened, and a man's strong arms carried her frame.